On June 18, 2008, the faculties of the different academic units of the Medical Center-Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy and the Graduate School-met at Casa Camba, New Manila, Quezon City, for a different kind of gathering: UERMMMCI´s first ever general faculty assembly. The objective of the assembly was to gather all UERM faculty members for an evening of bonding and camaraderie, at the same time to learn about what true workplace relationships were all about.

The get-together was in two parts. The first part was a program with a keynote speaker, Professor Nenita V. Habulan, who talked on “Relationship in the Workplace: A Path to Unity.” The second part was for games, raffles and other fun activities. Dr. Habulan´s inspirational talk set the pace for the activity. Despite the short notice, the faculty of the College of Medicine was adequately represented-thanks to the persistence of Dr. Natividad A. Salazar, who also did a lot of solicitation for the raffles. The College of Nursing faculty came as a force to reckon with, with an almost perfect attendance. The College of Physical Therapy faculty took time off from their 20th-anniversary preparations to show their support for this activity. Not to be outdone, the Graduate School faculty joined in the festivity, ready with their dancing shoes but which, unfortunately, were not used because of time constraints.

This year´s faculty assembly was organized by the Graduate School under the chairmanship of the Dean, Dr. Teresa S. Ludovice-Yap, and assisted by the Graduate School´s versatile College Secretary, Dr. Marivic A. Villamor, and Office Assistant, Manilyn C. Recide. The affair was well attended by officers of the Medical Center headed by the President, Dr. Romeo A. Divinagracia, the Deans of the different academic units: Drs. Alfaretta I. Tan-Reyes (Medicine), Carmelita C. Divinagracia (Nursing), Arnel V. Malaya (Physical Therapy) and Teresa S. Ludovice-Yap (Graduate School), the Department heads from the College of Medicine and faculty members from the academic units. Former College of Medicine Deans Drs. Erlinda V. Valdellon and Georgina T. Paredes also attended the affair.

To show their unwavering support, administration officials composed of the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer and Director of the Human Resource Development Office, Ms. Johannah N. Trinidad; the Budget Officer and Comptroller, Ms. Iris B. Militar; the Management Information System Department (MISD) chief, Ms. Tessie B. Cheng-Cua; the Acting Chief Librarian, Ms. Maria Julia M. Noces, and the Registrar, Ms. Imelda L. Delos Reyes joined the faculty members. The University Hospital was well represented with the presence of the Hospital Administrator Dr. Andres D. Borromeo; Assistant Administrator for Total Quality Management, Dr. Geoffrey R. Battad; the Head of the University Health Services, Dr. Henry A. Yañez; and the Chief of Clinics, Dr. Maribeth T. Delos Santos.

The evening was capped with fun and group games which the participants enjoyed. Gifts, small and big, cheap and expensive were raffled off to the lucky winners. Regardless of the articles they took home, the participants were well fed, with lechon augmenting the meals. Teresa S. Ludovice-Yap, MD, MPH, PhD