Class Legacy

The Legacy of Class 1969 ... 40 Years After
The Generous Class

By Yoland & Lino Alcasid


Forty years is a long time; for some, it is a lifetime. But that one glorious day in April 1969 doesn't seem that long ago. That day has been forever etched in our memories. That day, 415 young and ambitious men and women marched triumphantly to receive their diplomas after five long, demanding years of medical school. That day, we left the hallowed halls of the UST College of Medicine full of determination and a little bit of trepidation, unsure of what lay ahead. But with a great deal of youthful enthusiasm and energy, we were off, full speed ahead. Eighty percent of us immigrated to the USA in the early '70s. Those who chose to stay and those who returned after training made great strides in their own specialties.

Being the first class to take the MCAT, the Class of 1969 would prove to be formidable. Remember the Interns' Strike? But in spite of the difficult years of study, we still managed to have fun. We partied, hung out, went on trips, to movies and dates; as a matter of fact, more than a few ended up being married to each other. Remember what fun it was to be the first interns to serve at the Luneta OPD? We graduated 4 Magna cum laudes, 27 cum laudes; swept the top 10 in the 1969 June National Boards and almost duplicated the feat the following December. Even in its infancy, our class had exhibited its generous streak. We sponsored the Music in Mosaic Concert, featuring Raul Manglapus and the Blue Jays, Helen Gamboa and various pop stars, the proceeds of which funded the Intern's Library. We shared our time, our talents and our resources at the tragedy that was Ruby Tower, working tirelessly to help those who were affected by the earthquake. These are but a few of what we did. And this generosity of spirit would continue.

The first few years after graduation were devoted to establishing our careers and raising our families. Most of us went into rewarding and successful private practices and some went into academics and research. Our first big reunion was held in Columbia, MD in 1982. It was so wonderful to see how much we had accomplished in such a short time. Who could forget our Silver Jubilee celebration in Atlantic City and the one that followed in December in Manila? Somehow the 25th year celebration always seems to be the most meaningful. And we celebrated in a big way, giving $45,000 to the Surgical ICU of the UST Charity Hospital. Every 5 years since then, our class has contributed to different causes as part of our legacy. For our 30th anniversary in Philadelphia, we gave to the Wall of Honor. That same year, we started the Annual Teacher of the Year Award which we funded for 8 yrs. Five years later, celebrating our 35th year at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, we initiated the Giving Tree, each leaf costing $500.00. We are proud to say that individually and as a class, we have given a total of $415,000.* (see table below) Through generous donations, we have held successful medical missions in different provinces, in Tarlac, Nueva Vizcaya, Cebu, Davao among others and this year, Sta. Cruz, Laguna. We have given to the missions in Ethiopia and have never forgotten our classmates and their families who needed financial help. Going forward, we are funding the Medical Missions for the next five years allotting $10,000 every year as part of our legacy. God has blessed us abundantly and we are only too happy to share our blessings.

The great age of technology happened on our watch and we have had to learn to navigate the world of the Internet and use it to our advantage. We have seen the practice of Medicine change, relying more and more on the new technology. Through the years, with e-mails and cell phones, we have kept in touch. We have traveled together, on cruises and tours, and explored our country on our visits home. As we look forward to many years of peaceful retirement, we are now happily relinquishing our careers to our children who followed our footsteps. We are relishing our new roles as doting grandparents and elder mentors sharing what we have learned from our experiences.

And so as we celebrate our Ruby Anniversary, we raise our glasses and toast our accomplishments, proud that we have shared what we have achieved, using the very talents and resources that God has given all of us. And we lift our voices in praise of God who made all these possible. We remember the 28 classmates who have left us, too young, too soon. But God had other plans for them. We miss them greatly and we remember them fondly. They too are part of our legacy. With grateful hearts we salute and honor our parents and all those who have helped us reach our dream... and to our Alma Mater, where everything started and who opened a lot of doors for us, Thank You.

WE ARE THE GENEROUS CLASS OF 1969
AND THIS IS OUR LEGACY
WE ARE THE CLASS THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!!!


TOTAL GIVING

25th year$ 45,000Surgical ICU
30th year$ 210,000 individually
$ 75,000 as a class		Wall of Honor
35th year$ 75,000 @ $500/leafTree of Life
40th year$ 10,000Medical Missions (Partial payment of a 5 yr. commitment)
Total: $ 415,000