What are the odds that the moments we remember most are not always the most impressive ones, but rather the first ones?
First times have a way of staying with us. Throughout history, we have celebrated firsts: the first person to step on the moon, the first ship to circumnavigate the globe, the first antibiotic that altered the course of medicine. Yet, in our own lives, the firsts that stay with us are often much quieter. They are the moments when we step into unfamiliar territory, uncertain of what lies ahead but hopeful for what is to come.
Every new chapter begins this way. The first day at a new school. The first time meeting people who may one day become lifelong friends. The first glimpse of a place that will eventually feel like home. These moments may seem ordinary at first, but they often become the memories we carry long after the journey has begun.
For the newest students of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM), those firsts are about to unfold.
But before the first lecture, the first dissection, the first laboratory examination, and the first sleepless night, comes Salubong 2026, the college’s annual student-led welcome tradition. Happening on August 6–7, 2026, this year’s celebration carries the theme “Asterhaven: Charting the Voyage of the Nation’s Healers,” inviting incoming students to imagine medical school as the beginning of an extraordinary voyage. More than an introduction, Salubong marks the first step into a community built on excellence, compassion, and service.
At its heart, Salubong is about belonging. Organized by the outgoing UPCM Batch 2030 class, it introduces freshmen to the traditions, culture, and values of UPCM while creating opportunities to build friendships with classmates, mentors, and the community they will grow alongside over the coming years. It reminds every new student that while the voyage ahead will be demanding, no one has to navigate it alone.
The celebration also extends beyond the incoming class. On August 6, the college grounds at Henry Sy Building will be open to visitors through a variety of partner booths showcasing food, merchandise, and local brands. Whether you are craving fresh poke bowls and seafood-inspired dishes from Fiasfud, looking for stylish and functional medical apparel from Gallo Scrubs, or hoping to bring home exclusive Salubong merchandise, there will be something worth exploring. Beyond shopping and dining, the booths provide an opportunity to support local businesses while experiencing the vibrant atmosphere inside one of the country’s premier medical institutions.
Of course, Salubong is only the beginning. Soon after come the experiences that every medical student remembers: putting on the maroon scrubs embroidered with their name and batch number, stepping into the anatomy laboratory for the first time, meeting patients during clinical rotations, and celebrating small victories after difficult examinations
However, not all firsts are triumphant. There may be a first failed exam, a first all-nighter that does not feel worth it, a first moment of doubt, or a first quiet breakdown after a long week. But there are also firsts that remind us why the journey is worth taking: the first semester starter, the first Pista sa Medisina, the first Lantern Parade, the first wellness activity, the first inside joke with friends, the first post-exam meal, or the first time realizing that the people around you are no longer just classmates but your own people.
Perhaps that is why firsts remain unforgettable. They remind us that growth always begins with uncertainty and that every accomplished physician, teacher, researcher, and leader once stood exactly where every freshman stands today: at the beginning.
As another academic year begins, Salubong 2026 celebrates more than the arrival of a new batch of students. It celebrates the courage to begin, the excitement of new possibilities, and the shared commitment to becoming healers in service of the Filipino people.
Whether you are an incoming medical student, a member of the UPCM community, or simply someone looking to experience the excitement of a new academic year, everyone is welcome to be part of the celebration. Save the date on August 6–7, 2026, visit the partner booths, discover exclusive merchandise, support local businesses, and witness the beginning of the voyage of the nation’s future healers.
After all, every unforgettable voyage begins with a first step.