Dr. Alpha Joanna Gavenia-Galang

To our honored guests, Dr. Marirose Eala, Dr. Soledad Navarro, Dr. Maria Teresa Garcia, Dr. Gay Raralio, to our PDCP teaching staff, support staff, co-residents, family, friends and guests, a pleasant morning to all of you.

They say nothing worth having comes easy. As I look back on my PDC journey, I get this mixed emotions. My resident life was not like any others, but I'm sure Dr. Karlo can significantly relate to being the only one who finished in the batch and someone whose training was greatly affected by the pandemic. It took me several years to get to where I stand now. There were many challenges, adjustments, feelings of failure, and burnout. But there was not a time in my resident life when I thought of giving up. I would constantly remind myself that this is what I want and would love to do in the following years of my practice.

Today as I stand here, the feeling is surreal. The last time I stood here was when I had my general case presentation; now, I am finally graduating. Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been with me since day one.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my family, especially my parents, who financially and emotionally supported me in my training. Thank you for always praying for my success and teaching me to have a positive attitude in any circumstances. To my now husband, thank you for being with me and for the endless encouragement as I finished the last leg of my training. You always remind me that the Lord will never put me in situations I cannot overcome.

To all the consultants who have mentored me: Dr. Noel, Dr. Georgia, Dr. Fina, Dr. Liza, Dr. Daisy, Dr. Jasper, Dr. Nina, Dr. Mia, Dr. Gia, Dr. Mina, Dr. Bai, Dr. Fen, I am very grateful for all the knowledge and skills you have imparted. Thank you for the privilege of seeing your work, co-managing with your patients, and for the numerous consultations and case discussions. All the things you have done for me have molded me to become a better clinician in our profession. Also, I can never forget how you encouraged me during my lowliest days as a resident. I remembered how I flunked a report, and many were concerned about why I was performing that way. Thank you for giving me another chance and for always believing in me.

To our support staff, Ate Dahl, Mery, Ate Tin, Ate Lorna, Ate Jane, Ate Nerisse, Ate Belen, Mang Lando, Kuya Pilards and Kuya Ian, thank you for making our lives easier. Alam ko pong madalas nakakapagod lalo kapag sunud-sunod ang pasyente, halos wala na kayong pahinga sa pagliligpit and assisting, thank you so much. Madami po akong pasyente na malalaki and mabibigat at sobrang combative, alam ko pong nanginginig na ang braso nyo sa pag-headlock maka-work lang ako na mabuti, thank you po sa patience nyo na ka-work kaming mga residents. Kay Ate Dahl and Mery na very supportive sa lahat ng admin work, thank you kasi nagiging smooth ang mga co-manage ko dahil sa unlimited guide na binigay nyo sakin. And to Ate Tin, our training secretary, thank you for being our Nanay, taga-salo ng mga stress and problems ng residente. Thank you for everything pati sa pag-aayos ng mga schedules namin from reporting to patients. Thank you Ate Tin! Thank you for making PDC a second home for me.

Lastly, thank you to the residents whom I have known and befriended. Thank you so much to my seniors, who helped me adjust to the training program. They were my go-to people every time I needed something. To my juniors, Dr. Karlo and his batch, thank you for the company nung mag-isa nalang ako sa AEPD 4. I can never forget the times we spent making reports for Friday conferences, kahit saang coffee shop basta makakatambay tayo hanggang late night kahit na 60% nun gumagawa ng report then 40% nagdadaldalan lang tayo. Tapos every Friday morning, pare-parehas tayong nagbe-breakdown sa kaba bago mag-present. Congratulations to us Dr. Karlo, we have remained true to our word na tatapusin natin ang training kahit anong mangyari basta laban lang. And to my super juniors, Dr. Triccia and Dr. AF, thank you din for the friendship and for supporting me kahit last part na tayo ng residency ko nagkasama. Know that I appreciate each of you!

Once again, thank you to Pediatric Dentistry Center Philippines for shaping me into a better version of myself. Before I end, I would like to leave a short quote which I found to our current residents, "Success is no accident, it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." I hope that you also find joy in doing our craft despite any challenges that come your way. Thank you.