Dr. Kyzyl Karlo Serilo

Good morning honored guests, consultants, residents and staff of the Pediatric Dentistry Center...

Standing here in front of all of you today, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of adrenaline as I am giving a speech on a Friday in the PDCP conference room. Fridays held a very special place in every resident's hearts and minds because journal reports and clinical conferences were held on a Friday. Swerte ang mga residente whose reports were postponed today to give way for the graduation, but I think mas ma-swerte kami ni Dr. Ajae since we're finally graduating.

I reminisced the whole journey of my PDCP residency while I was preparing this speech, there's so much to be said, and for today I'll share words of gratefulness.

First and foremost I would like to thank my mother who is here with me today, who has always been so supportive of my desire to strive for excellence in the field of profession. I owe all that I am right now to all the hard work you've done, and from where I go now I'll make sure to pay it back you. She requested not to make it sentimental, pero she was the first consultant I grew up with, kaya ako naging matatag sa training.

To the consultants, Drs. Noel, Georgia, Fina, Liza, Gia, Nina, Daisy, Jasper, Mia, and those not here, Drs. Fenella, Mia, Bai, Chibelle and Cristy; thank you for being the font of all knowledge, wisdom and prowess from which I was able to learn so much from. Becoming a graduate of this program was very much worthwhile as all of what you had taught was able to make me become a better dental professional especially in the field of pediatric dentistry.

To my junior residents, Dr. Triccia and Dr. AF and especially my co-resident Dr. Ajae, who was with me the entire time; the journey of residency was so much easier na kayo naging kasama ko. You felt like siblings who I never had and the best friends I could call in this side of the country in a way I could call also call Manila home. Drs. Bea, Shane and Mark, my super juniors, I could confidently say you'll be in good hands with them. To our super seniors Drs. Ira, Aileen, and Gja, thank you for being guiding influences in the earlier parts of the residency; you inspired us that as you finished the same program, we could too!

To the support staff, Ate Tin, Ate Dahl, Ms. Mery, Mang Lando, Kuya Ian, Mother Jane, Mother Lorns, Ate Neris, kayo naman naging second parents namin dito. Lalo na si Ate Tin, ang inang reyna nilang lahat. Pag nababaliw kami, siya aming tinatakbuhan kung hindi siya ang sanhi at kung ganun nandun sina Ate Dahl at Ms. Mery na matakbuhan. Pag yung tatlo maligalig na, si Ate Lorna at Ate Neris taga-comfort sa'min habang si Ate Jane magku-kwento kung ano ang sanhi. Si Mang Lando at Kuya Ian lagi rin naming kakulitan sa lounge pag-bored kami, lalo na si Mang Landong hindi nauubusan ng kwento.

Nostalgic as it is, it's also quite as amazing how things were different from when I started in 2018. Ang dami talagang nangyari. For one, I didn't expect any of us to be wearing a mask during momentuous occasions like today. Truly, even as the COVID-19 pandemic did change our day-to-day lives we're now in a much better state than we were at its start. And while I have until now remained negative for COVID-19, I did test positive for a far sinister diagnosis.

Sometime last year, I felt a bump in the road of residency, or rather a bump down below. After a thorough medical work up, I received a diagnosis of Stage I testicular cancer last year, and had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy from March to August. I would not have made it out of cancer treatment if the residency had not made me a more resilient character. Truly, the program teaches beyond and more than attending to the dental needs of children: it brings out the strong qualities within oneself to truly become deserving of the certificates we earn upon completion.

I am thusly thankful of the many friends and family who were part of this journey: my undergrad clinical instructors in pediatric dentistry, Drs. Teena Domingo, Rachelle Descallar and Rea Horfilla, who nurtured and inspired my desire to pursue this specialty; the Philippine Pediatric Dental Society, Inc. (PPDSI) for granting me an academic scholarship; to my Magpantay family in QC, Dr. Lyde Alday-Magpantay, Kuya JP and Ate Thea Magpantay-Santos, and Ate Jezrel and Mirho Magpantay; I was able to survive Manila if not for the warm home-cooked meals and the survival lessons you shared whenever I could go home to Fairview; my ninang Tita Arlene, Tito Antonio "Tonton" and my cousin Dr. Aurora Victoria "Abby" Avelino, for offering me a home Capital Towers in Towers when I resumed my residency during the pandemic and after cancer treatment.

There are not enough words to express how thankful I am for coming out of this training program, but let me close with one last "Thank you" to you all!