9th CAPPING AND PINNING CEREMONIES: A JOURNEY TOWARDS EXCELLENCE

By Rashayne Lois Villareal

The most awaited event by the Bulacan State Universitys Bachelor of Science in Nursing Level 2 students was held on November 28, 2013. At last, after surmounting seemingly multiple Herculean tasks, this very special moment had come. It was no other than but the BulSU CONs 9th Capping and Pinning Ceremonies with this years theme: Performance Towards Excellence to Empower the Nurses for a Better Future. The essence of the Capping ang Pinning Ceremony is all about the culmination of the initial journey to the professional nursing education. In other words, this would make every BSN student be officially called student nurse. At two oclock in the afternoon, the program started with a processional march in the aisle of the Immaculate Conception Parish Cathedral and minor basilica. The euphonious and solemn music played spontaneously as the College of Nursing faculty members, and as well as the 58 candidates of Capping and Pinning Ceremony who were escorted by their parents, walked in the midst of the aisle. A few minutes after the processional march and after everyone had found their respected seats, it was followed by the Eucharistic Celebration. It was led by Rev. Msgr. Pablo S. Legaspi Jr. His homily revolved around the duty of being a nurse. He admonished the student nurses to love and to treat their patients as their own family and to serve them not just for the sake of salary. He said that the work of the Lord Jesus Christ extends through their service to fellowmen. Following the homily is the ceremony proper. It was commenced through the warm greetings of the Masters of Ceremony, Mrs. Mart Juaresa C. Yambao, MAN and Mr. Marcial M. Espiritu, MSN, MM. Next is the entrance of colors and the singing of National Anthem and BulSU Hymn. The opening

remarks was given by the College of Nursing Dean, Loida O. Crespo, Ph.D. while the introduction of the Guest Speaker was delivered by the College of Nursing Assistant Dean, Jane Marie O. Sumodlayon. The Guest Speaker was Hon. Leah S. Paquiz who is a Registered nurse; a graduate of Master of Public Health, Master of Arts in Nursing Major in Nursing Education, and Doctor of Education Major in Educational Administration; a Congresswoman and the Representative of the Ang Nars Partylist. She is also the current President of PNA (Philippine Nurses Association). She called the Ang Nars Partylist as the vanguard for nurses and that its advocacy is to fight for the rights of nurses and to improve the National Health Care Delivery System. Before speaking any further, she asked the candidates to dedicate a round of applause for their hardworking and loving parents. On her speech, she said that when a person is still young, he has an invisible crown on his head, but when he grew older, he makes this crown visible. She called this as the crown of righteousness. She added that through service, a person became the extension of Gods hands to people. She emphasized that in order for nurses to have a better future, they have to exhibit excellence in their performance, thus, upgrading the reputation of the nursing profession in the society. She discussed the current condition of Filipino nurses in our country such as the lack of jobs and those volunteer nurses rendering service while being the one who is paying hospitals. She insisted the student nurses to dont allow themselves to be modern day slaves. In order to achieve her advocacy, Tamang trabaho, tamang sweldo, she said the quotation a thousand steps start with one step. She is looking forward for a day wherein the nursing profession will gain more prestige. She introduced the idea of modern day entrepreneur nurses, having their own clinics in every barangay while doing vital sign taking, physical assessment and medical referrals. Most of all, having the right to be called by their title Nurse before their names just like other professions. She proudly labelled the nursing profession with the terminology Care Specialists. Nurse Leah S. Paquiz shared these four Core Humanistic Values: Love of God, Love of Country, Integrity and Fortitude. She followed this by a narration of a very inspirational story about the frogs who wanted to reach the top of a tall tower. The conclusion of the story is to dont let your spirit become feeble due to criticisms of men and be like the smallest but deaf frog who became the only one to reach the top of the steep tower due to not being able to hear the mockery of others. She adviced the students to dont loose hope, pray and trust God, and be confident. She had awakened and strengthened many souls by further saying, Get out from the packs of your fears , enter into the box of courage. She also uttered the very heart striking quotation of William Jennings Bryan, Destiny is not a matter of chance, its a matter of choice. Its not a thing to be waited but a thing to be achieved. She had ended her speech by saying that the nursing students are the seeds of change of the nursing profession and let achievement be everybodys goal. After receiving sweet sounding round of applause by the audience, the Guest Speaker was awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation by the CONs Dean and Assistant Dean. The next part of the program is the symbolical entrance of the pioneer of Nursing profession, Florence Nightingale, being portrayed this year by Ms. Nica Marie O. Lumba, BSN 4A. Then, the most remarkable and momentous part of the program was the imposition of caps and pins. The Conferment of 15 male and 43 female

candidates was executed by Dean Loida O. Crespo. Each candidates, together with their parents, wore their best smiles as they approach Florence Nightingale to light each of their nurses lamps which is a symbol of nursesdevotion, commitment and care towards the sick and injured. Each candidates shine brightly like stars as their turn came to be called by the Masters of ceremonies and finally be capped by the CONs Assistant Dean Mrs. Jane Marie O. Sumodlayon and be pinned by their parents. As their nurses lamps blazed with flame, the Over-all Clinical Coordinator Jennifer S. Centeno, M.S.N. led the Nightingales Pledge. Then, it was followed by the singing of the very meaningful Batch songentitled At the Beginning. Many students become teary-eyed as they have approached their parents, offered a rose, and sung the dedication song You. The Over-All student Chairman, Henry Oliver T. Baustista, gave his acknowledgements at the end of the ceremony. The Over-All Faculty Chairman, Florabel T. Sera Josef, MAN delivered the closing remarks. The event ended at pass fiveoclock in the afternoon.