UP Medical Alumni sponsors variety show in San Francisco

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino Queen of Rock and Roll, Elizabeth Ramsey, headlines the Variety Show “Balikprobinsiya" for the benefit of the Regionalization program of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine on July 2, 2008 at the Hyatt Embarcadero. This program provides scholarship to deserving students from the provinces in the Philippines who meet the requirements for admission to the most prestigious medical school in the country. Ramsey is very well-known to generations of Filipino audiences for her vivacious and entertaining songs and rambunctious comedy. The Variety show marks the first day of the 23rd Annual Grand Convention of UPMASA (University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America) hosted by the Northern California Chapter. The Variety show also highlights Daniel Chan, San Jose Magician of the Year, who will dazzle you with his fast paced magic, comedy, pick-pocketing, mind-reading, juggling, escapes, dog tricks, and acrobatics to create the ultimate variety show. Classical Violinist Marvin Suson and UPMASA Singing Idol Christian Frando provide the musical entertainment. To top it all, 9 couples, mostly Physician alumni of the U.P. College of Medicine, will compete for the coveted title “UPMASA National Ballroom Dancing Champion 2008". Three judges from the Bay area’s popular dance studios, Allegro Dance Studio and the Regal Ballroom, will critique and ensure that the best couple wins. Dancing for all will follow the program. The rest of the five days’ convention from July 2-6, 2008, include Continuing Medical Education lectures from distinguished physicians from the U.S. and the Philippines with this year’s theme “Medical Emergencies". There will also be golf (at the world famous Harding Park) and tennis tournaments (San Francisco Tennis club) participated in by UPCM alumni and Bay area residents. Aside from the alumni business meetings, convention participants will have fun and reminisce with their schoolmates at the evening socials: Welcome Reception “Masquerade" on July 3rd, the San Francisco Bay cruise with fireworks display along the San Francisco Bay on July 4th and the Saturday Dinner Gala “Baile-Latin Night". This year also marks the Centennial celebration of the University of the Philippines. Dignitaries from the Philippines, such as UP President Emerlinda Roman, Dean of the U.P. College of Medicine Alberto Roxas M.D., Chancellor Ramon Arcadio M.D., and Philippine General Hospital Director Carmelo Alfiler M.D., will grace the convention. UPMASA is a charitable and educational tax exempt organization that have been in existence for more than 25 years composed of 15 chapters all over the U.S.A. and Canada. The loyal members are alumni of the U.P. College of Medicine who provide support for the patients of the Philippine General Hospital and their alma mater, the U.P. College of Medicine. In addition to the funds that the organization donates for the infrastructure of both institutions, UPMASA supports research, faculty development, updating the medical library, medical computerization, scholarships to train doctors who will serve the provinces, family planning, tuberculosis programs, pharmacy and yearly medical missions to different provinces in the Philippines. The Northern California chapter invites the Bay area residents to join them for the Variety show and the San Francisco Bay cruise on the 4th of July. If you wish to attend any of the festivities, please call convention chairpersons: Dr Lene Martinez (510) 818-9100 lenemart@pacbell.net or Dr Edgar Oteyza (707) 651-3340 edgar.oteyza@kp.org. - Philippine News