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Ilocos Norte’s 1st med school grads wear abel Iloko gowns

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The pioneer batch of Ilocos Norte's first medical school incorporated the abel Iloko in their graduation gown signifying their commitment to becoming as Doctors for Ilocanos. (Photo courtesy of Jhey-ar Mangati)


BATAC CITY—Embracing their culture, the 14 pioneering members of the graduating class of the Mariano Marcos State University-College of Medicine (MMSU-COM) incorporated abel Iloko (traditional Ilocano textile) in their graduation gown.

The graduation of MMSU-COM’s pioneer batch was held last June 24, 2019 at Teatro Ilocandia here.

In an interview, Dr. Gretchen Ranada, associate professor of MMSU-COM and consultant of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC), explained that the incorporation of the abel Iloko “represents the significant role of culture in health care.”

Known for its superior quality, the abel Iloko has been a part of the Ilocano’s life cycle covering one’s birth, adulthood up to death.

“We have always known the abel cloth to be intrinsic to Ilocano culture and Dr. Ricardo Guanzon, the dean of MMSU-COM, saw that it was fitting to incorporate this textile in celebration of this momentous event for the pioneering batch,” highlighted Dr. Ranada.

She further mentioned that the placing of the abel Iloko on the graduation gown signifies the commitment of the graduates to becoming as “Doctors for Ilocanos”.

“The medical students of MMSU are scholars of the state, hence, we have instilled to them the value of becoming Doctors for Ilocanos by training them to become subservient healthcare providers to the Ilocanos most specially the less fortunate and the needy,” upheld Dr. Ranada.

Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, Medical Center Chief of MMMH&MC, echoed during her inspirational message at MMSU-COM’s commencement exercises the importance of having more Doctors for Ilocanos.

“In the past years, we did not have enough doctors in MMMH&MC to cater to the growing number of patients, thus, we tried to invite resident doctors from big hospitals in Metro Manila to fill the gap but this was only a temporary solution to our problems back then,” Dr. Otayza lamented.

She, however, expressed gladness over how the partnership and efforts of various people and government agencies led by MMMH&MC and MMSU produced fruitful results leading to MMSU-COM’s establishment in 2015 and the graduation of its pioneer batch this year.

“Establishing MMSU-COM was our solution to the scarcity of doctors in Ilocos Norte and we wanted to have Ilocano doctors who shall commit to stay here in the province and we are assured that they have the energy, love, and compassion for their fellow Ilocanos,” emphasized Dr. Otayza.

Dr. Otayza further revealed that through the establishment of MMSU-COM, various doctors currently working in MMMH&MC expressed their intention to give-back to the community through teaching.

As MMMH&MC is now gearing up for its increase to 700-bed capacity, Dr. Otayza challenges the graduates of Ilocos Norte’s first medical school to “set high standards and refuse mediocrity in serving the people.”

The MMMH&MC also serves as a based hospital for internship and training site for the medical students of MMSU-COM. (John Michael Mugas)

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