Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation Inc.: solid landmark in Zamboanga del Norte

MANILA, Philippines – As schools in Metro Manila suspend classes in the face of the Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, educational institutions outside the capital are gearing up to prevent the spread of the virus in their locality.

In Zamboanga del Norte, one school has taken the lead in preparing for the onset of the disease before it reaches the province.

“Before the opening of classes and as a result of an informal survey conducted by the Extension department, the Dipolog Medical Center College tied up with the Department of Health to educate incoming students from both public and private schools within the city about the A(H1N1) virus. DMC faculty members and senior med-tech and nursing students fanned out all over the city during the first week of classes to give informative lectures on how to deal with the virus,” shares Albert Concha Jr., assistant vice president for Academic Affairs.

“On campus, preventive lectures and actual demonstrations on how to deal with the virus has been conducted in all levels and instructions have been given on the steps to be taken if a student is taken ill with the virus,” he adds.

Such initiative has been the hallmark of the educational institution since its founding back in the 1970s.

The Dipolog Medical Center (DMC) was founded in 1974. Three years later, the 15-bedroom hospital founded by 15 medical practitioners and a former archbishop started a two-year Midwifery course and renamed itself the Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation Inc.

“The incorporators decided to venture into the challenging trade of being an education provider because they felt the need to respond to the increasing demand for medical professionals locally,” says Concha. “Aside from giving an option for the people of the locality to acquire a medical degree and eventually good employment, our first paramedical course – the 2-year Midwifery course – provided the people of Zamboanga del Norte with amply trained health care personnel capable of serving them competently.”

In 1991, it offered a BS Nursing degree course. In this sense, the school is a pioneer in the city, the first Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-accredited paramedical institution in Dipolog. Today, the school offers courses in many fields, including nursing, hotel and restaurant management, criminology, among others.

Concha says that DMC College “gives utmost priority to our students. We live by our philosophy as a foundation and we try to validate every cent that the students spend for their education by giving it back in terms of providing them with the best facilities for optimal learning, hiring the most qualified instructors, and investing in state-of-the-art technology to keep our students in line with what universities in our country’s major cities might have. Basically, we try to be competitive so that our students will also learn to be competitive.”

DMC College ranks among the best schools in Region 9. CHED recognizes that the school has the best facilities and laboratories in the field of nursing, information technology and hotel and restaurant management. The school also offers training for budding broadcasters via a tie-up with 100.5 HotFM Dipolog that allows students to work for the station as part of the training in mass communications.

“Most students, especially those in health care courses, are busy with their academics, but surprisingly, some find time to contribute their ideas and thoughts to HotFM’s programs, especially those that stimulate their minds and emotions. They listen to the station to keep abreast of what has been going on in the campus, and to express their opinions,” he says.

The school also nurtures its students to be pro-active and productive members of society, encouraging them to actively participate in the nation’s development such as through elections.

Concha says that many of the students have been active in past elections as volunteers in watchdog groups. “We have also made our computer facilities available to different organizations for use in quick count activities. This election will be no different. Our Student Affairs Department will be organizing symposiums which would invite candidates, mostly local but also national, so our students can interact with our local candidates and leaders,” he explains.

But it’s not all school and work that DMC College offers its students. The school’s Founding Anniversary held every August and the College Days are special occasions for faculty and students alike.

“This is the time when the students are treated with a live concert. Last year, we had Parokya ni Edgar, and the previous year we had Kamikazee. Also, during the Founding Anniversary, our students have friendly competitions among themselves in athletics and the arts, such as our literary-musical show, cheer-dance competition and Ms. DMC contest,” Concha says.

College Day, on the other hand, is celebrated during the second semester. “Students are given the chance to plan and organize the activities themselves; usually, the highlights of this celebration are the Torch Parade, with students in costumes according to their theme, and various sports competitions.”

The school recently hosted the Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators (PSITE) National Convention, together with PSITE Region 9.

“Our willingness and capability to spearhead, organize and facilitate these kinds of activities are our way of promoting Zamboanga del Norte as a great tourist spot despite the misconceptions about Mindanao,” Concha relates. “We also actively participated in the recent province-wide Hudyaka ZaNorte, which was successful in drawing tourists to our region. We are confident that as the years go by, we can slowly eliminate the stigma associated with our place.”

As the school continues to expand and provide quality education, Concha says that they will nurture their students and fulfill their goal to attain university status in ten years.

“A DMC College Foundation student is an ideal member of society who is academically competent, thoroughly skilled in the practical setting, God-fearing, wholesome, dedicated and sufficiently prepared to make his journey to success. He is one who stands up for change.”