MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipinos graduated as new medical doctors in Ciego de Avila, Cuba, under the Cuban government’s program of providing free but high-quality medical education to needy students from less-developed countries.
The new Filipino doctors are Herbert Baguiza of Antipolo City and Robert Corpuz of Cabanatuan City. They were among 75 new doctors representing some 40 countries who graduated from the Institute of Medicine in Ciego de Avila after six years of study.
Philippine Ambassador to Cuba MacArthur Corsino went on the 500-kilometer, seven-hour trip by bus from Havana to Ciego to attend the graduation ceremony. The Ambassador was one of the guests of honor together with Ciego de Avila government and party officials and school officials.
In his remarks, Corsino expressed appreciation for the program, which he said was an effective instrument for building friendship on the people-to-people level. He noted that there are 30,000 foreign students from developing countries enrolled in various branches of knowledge all over Cuba.
Dr. Baguiza and Dr. Corpuz also received citations for academic excellence and awards for their contribution to the cultural life of Ciego de Avila. They capped their years of participation in Ciego festivities with a stirring rendition of Guantamera, a song of Cuban origin.
Under the Cuban system, medical students must pass intensive examinations equiva-lent to board exams after completing all required courses before they can become doctors of medicine upon graduation.
The foreign students usually arrive in Cuba with no knowledge of Spanish but soon master the language after six months of study in the initial part of their program.
Dr. Corpuz assisted the Philippine Ambassador in translating portions of his message into Spanish. Corsino said he hoped more Filipinos would avail of the scholarships offered to them by the Cuban government. – Pia Lee-Brago