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!

To our honored guests, Dr. Marirose Eala, Dr. Soledad Navarro, Dr. Maria Teresa Garcia, Dr. Gay Raralio, to our PDCP teaching staff, support staff, co-residents, family, friends and guests, a pleasant morning to all of you.

They say nothing worth having comes easy. As I look back on my PDC journey, I get this mixed emotions. My resident life was not like any others, but I'm sure Dr. Karlo can significantly relate to being the only one who finished in the batch and someone whose training was greatly affected by the pandemic. It took me several years to get to where I stand now. There were many challenges, adjustments, feelings of failure, and burnout. But there was not a time in my resident life when I thought of giving up. I would constantly remind myself that this is what I want and would love to do in the following years of my practice.

Today as I stand here, the feeling is surreal. The last time I stood here was when I had my general case presentation; now, I am finally graduating. Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been with me since day one.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my family, especially my parents, who financially and emotionally supported me in my training. Thank you for always praying for my success and teaching me to have a positive attitude in any circumstances. To my now husband, thank you for being with me and for the endless encouragement as I finished the last leg of my training. You always remind me that the Lord will never put me in situations I cannot overcome.

To all the consultants who have mentored me: Dr. Noel, Dr. Georgia, Dr. Fina, Dr. Liza, Dr. Daisy, Dr. Jasper, Dr. Nina, Dr. Mia, Dr. Gia, Dr. Mina, Dr. Bai, Dr. Fen, I am very grateful for all the knowledge and skills you have imparted. Thank you for the privilege of seeing your work, co-managing with your patients, and for the numerous consultations and case discussions. All the things you have done for me have molded me to become a better clinician in our profession. Also, I can never forget how you encouraged me during my lowliest days as a resident. I remembered how I flunked a report, and many were concerned about why I was performing that way. Thank you for giving me another chance and for always believing in me.

To our support staff, Ate Dahl, Mery, Ate Tin, Ate Lorna, Ate Jane, Ate Nerisse, Ate Belen, Mang Lando, Kuya Pilards and Kuya Ian, thank you for making our lives easier. Alam ko pong madalas nakakapagod lalo kapag sunud-sunod ang pasyente, halos wala na kayong pahinga sa pagliligpit and assisting, thank you so much. Madami po akong pasyente na malalaki and mabibigat at sobrang combative, alam ko pong nanginginig na ang braso nyo sa pag-headlock maka-work lang ako na mabuti, thank you po sa patience nyo na ka-work kaming mga residents. Kay Ate Dahl and Mery na very supportive sa lahat ng admin work, thank you kasi nagiging smooth ang mga co-manage ko dahil sa unlimited guide na binigay nyo sakin. And to Ate Tin, our training secretary, thank you for being our Nanay, taga-salo ng mga stress and problems ng residente. Thank you for everything pati sa pag-aayos ng mga schedules namin from reporting to patients. Thank you Ate Tin! Thank you for making PDC a second home for me.

Lastly, thank you to the residents whom I have known and befriended. Thank you so much to my seniors, who helped me adjust to the training program. They were my go-to people every time I needed something. To my juniors, Dr. Karlo and his batch, thank you for the company nung mag-isa nalang ako sa AEPD 4. I can never forget the times we spent making reports for Friday conferences, kahit saang coffee shop basta makakatambay tayo hanggang late night kahit na 60% nun gumagawa ng report then 40% nagdadaldalan lang tayo. Tapos every Friday morning, pare-parehas tayong nagbe-breakdown sa kaba bago mag-present. Congratulations to us Dr. Karlo, we have remained true to our word na tatapusin natin ang training kahit anong mangyari basta laban lang. And to my super juniors, Dr. Triccia and Dr. AF, thank you din for the friendship and for supporting me kahit last part na tayo ng residency ko nagkasama. Know that I appreciate each of you!

Once again, thank you to Pediatric Dentistry Center Philippines for shaping me into a better version of myself. Before I end, I would like to leave a short quote which I found to our current residents, "Success is no accident, it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." I hope that you also find joy in doing our craft despite any challenges that come your way. Thank you.