By Eunhice Corpuz 

For many, the dream of donning a crisp laboratory coat with a gold nameplate marked a pivotal transition to a full-fledged intern. But for Far Eastern University (FEU) Medical Technology students, that moment vanished when their Pinning and Coating Ceremony (PCC) for the Batch 2025 Medical Technology Tamaraws (MedTech Tams) was canceled. This traditional rite of passage, meant to celebrate their hard work and achievements as future healthcare professionals, left students with a profound sense of loss and "what-ifs.”

The Medical Technology Society (MTSoc) released a statement confirming that the PCC for the Batch 2025 MedTech students was canceled last June 9. According to the statement, Institute of Health Sciences and Nursing (IHSN) Dean John Yason asserted that the event was not approved due to current institutional policies.

The discussion about these “institutional policies” that held back the occurrence of the event wasn’t disclosed and clarified since, at the time of writing, the Dean is on leave. 

Also, beyond last month's announcement, there's been no further information about the event.

Sorrows and woes

In an interview with FEU Advocate, graduating MedTech Tam and outgoing fourth-year Batch Representative Sebastian Salonga voiced his disappointment regarding the cancellation of PCC. 

“Actually, when I first heard it way before the start of the academic year [2024–2025], nagulat talaga kami sa mga pagbabagong policy na binaba ng administration. Na ganito ipapatigil ang ganitong seremonya, which is [sa] una shocking, pangalawa lahat ng negative emotions, such as disappointments and frustrations lumabas,” the senior student expressed.

As one of the cast for this almost blockbuster series, Salonga sees the ceremony as the culmination of years of effort, a moment that validates their struggles and achievements. It symbolizes the beginning of a path where all their sleepless and stressful nights of striving pay off. 

“It is significant because it is like a culminative activity talaga ng all of the hard work na napagdaan ng isang aspiring Medical Technology, starting from the first year. Actually, when we first heard about that kind of ceremony, parang naging symbolic siya na we achieved something na hindi rin namin akalain na magagawa namin,” the graduating MedTech student explained. 

PCC was supposed to be their shining moment on stage, the pilot episode of their life that tragically never aired. Hence, since it wasn’t pushed through, several members of their batch expressed disappointment at being unacknowledged by the Institution. 

Furthermore, the graduating student himself stood firm that the cancellation is disheartening, as it invalidates the three years or more of effort of MedTech students. He asserted that the amount of workload they endured and survived wasn’t given the recognition it deserved. 

D. All of the above

With all the productions and preparations meticulously handled, the MTSoc ensured it was successfully orchestrated. The outgoing president of MTSoc and incoming fourth-year student Melissa Moleño shared details of the preparations for this year’s anticipated PCC. 

“The preparations started as early as June 3, 2024, right after the new set of officers for the Medical Technology Society took office. Even before I was appointed as President, the Executive Board had already been coordinating with the MedTech Department and the IHSN Office. From the start, we were informed about the restrictions on events like the Pinning and Coating Ceremony, so interns were also made aware early on,” Moleño explained. 

She also highlighted their discussions with the Psychology Society, who faced a similar challenge while organizing their Pinning and Candle Lighting Ceremony for Psychology students.

“We coordinated with the Psychology Society, since they were facing a similar concern, and we thought presenting a united front might strengthen our case,” the incoming fourth-year student stated. 

Moleño stressed that during the preparation, they exhausted every possible option to ensure the event would push through amid the restrictions. 

“We conducted a survey to check if students were willing to shoulder the costs, since one of the issues raised by the Dean was related to finances. We also crafted a position paper to formally appeal and explain the importance of the event before we coordinated directly with the Dean,” she added. 

However, even after considering all possible adjustments and options, the proposal ultimately wasn’t signed by the Dean, as an existing policy restricts its approval, rendering the decision final. 

Despite the long efforts to push through with the PCC, the outgoing President of MTSoc revealed that the intended theme for the event, if it had occurred, was ‘The One Where They Are Interns,’ adopted from the popular sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

To live for the hope of it all

Given that the student body did every possible alternative to make ends meet, it speaks volumes about the Institution’s lack of transparency and accountability in canceling the event. 

Withstanding the cancellation, Moleño mentioned that the IHSN Student Council, Office of Student Involvement, formerly Student Development, and MedTech Department expressed full support of the event.

The MedTech Department Head, Kerfelcel Retoriano, conveyed that there were two proposals, one for the graduating MedTech Tams and one for the incoming interns. 

“There are two proposals, one for the current batch and the other for the incoming interns. So, at my level, I already approved the Pinning and Coating, but then Dean John needs to approve [it], so dun na nagkaroon ng clarificatory meeting with the MTSoc,” Retoriano said.

He specified that the two proposals are a combined proposal intended for the two batches of MedTech students. 

“The current batch will have their PCC followed by the incoming batch, but then it was changed to sabay na. When it was first presented to Dean John, according to the MTSoc, Dean John had an apprehension about the implementation [of the event] because he found it redundant since the current batch of interns will be graduating on July 23,” the department head shared. 

Retoriano also stated that amid these setbacks, he is looking forward to the Batch of 2026 having their PCC.

“It will happen and I’m looking forward to the incoming interns having their pinning and coating since it is also a way of the department supporting and celebrating the students' success, and compared to other MedTech schools, they are also doing it [PCC],” he added. 

When the department head was asked if there would be an alternative for the PCC to happen, he stated that the Dean wants another event to happen aside from the ceremony itself. 

“According to Dean, the PCC should be accompanied by another event. I think more of a seminar-type of event so that Dean John can justify the ceremony. So, like a seminar/pinning and coating event,” Retoriano conveyed.

Despite the long wait, the students' passion shined through in their efforts to make the PCC happen. The MedTech Tams’ hope remains steadfast: to see themselves proudly wear their white laboratory coats with gold nameplates.

Every student deserves the recognition they have long earned, especially such momentous rites that acknowledge their efforts since the very beginning of their academic journey. The cancellation wasn't just another missed event; for the MedTech Tams, it was a rejection that cut deeper than any low quiz score or barely passed exam. After all, MedTech Tams deserve a Chandler and Monica ending as long as they believe in their ‘pivot!’-level effort and lobster moment.

(Illustration by Chynna Mae Santos/FEU Advocate)