By Ray Angelo Barbiran Monje Φ2022, Franced Haggai Gamboa Nidar Φ2022 and Franco Guillermo Se Rondain Φ2022
Loyal in service through education and endowed with a humble soul, Brod Pio Renato Figer Villacorta Φ1977 stands as a true testament of what it means to be the ideal physician-teacher. Born in the city of pine trees and chilly weather, Brod Pio started his education in the same place where he grew up, Baguio City. As the youngest among 10 siblings, he decided to take up Medicine since no one else in the family donned the white coat. After two years of studying in the cool surroundings of UP Baguio, he decided to step out of his comfort zone and separate from his family to study BS Zoology in UP Diliman. Despite his fears of not being accepted at the UP College of Medicine, Brod Pio believed that fate had put him in the distinguished halls of Calderon. When asked why he chose to study in UPCM, “Siyempre this is the premier medical school. It’s for my parents and the tuition, malaking tulong sa family. Galling din ako UP, so tuloy na sa UPCM.” With fate and determination on his side, Brod Pio started his medical journey towards a lifetime of service, excellence, and an exemplary teaching career in UPCM.
Life in PHI
As the adage often goes: there is a destiny that makes us brothers. Before joining the Most Venerable Fold, Brod Pio shared how he immediately felt at home with the Phi upperclassmen during the orientation activities of the Fraternity. He had reservations about joining the initiations since he was already affiliated with another Greek organization, but perhaps it was his fate that made him sign up for the Most Venerable Fold. His life as a Phi medical student taught him how to live a balanced life. He comments that his learnings in Phi carries over into his daily responsibilities as a medical student. With his brods by his side, Brod Pio never felt alone in all his endeavors whether it be academics, service-oriented projects, sports and social activities. “Phi is your north star talaga, di ka iiwan kahit anong problema.” Now, he exclaims that, “If I go back to med again, I will certainly join Phi.”
In his days where he was still part of the resident body, his batch was unified in all of its endeavors. He even recounts a story that their batch leader, Brod William Honorato Eclar Romero Φ1977, established Pagkakaisahan sa Kalusugan ng Mamayanan (PagKalMa), the service arm of the Fraternity. Since fraternities were suspended at that time, PagKalMa, which in reality stood for Phi Kappa Mu, gave the brotherhood a legal presence in the college to conduct its activities in the midst of the situation then. Now, after his batch has taken their own career paths here and abroad, their bond as brods could never be broken as they continue to keep in touch with each other through batch reunions and Viber. “We’re still close, between the seas and between countries,” he uttered proudly.
Calling to Become a Professor
After medical school, due to some complications in his petition for a US Visa, Brod Pio found himself at a crucial crossroad of his early career. Here, he was unsure of his choice to either wait for the processing of his petition for a green card or apply for residency training. It was only until he had a conversation with Brod Mariano “Nano” V. Dela Cruz, Jr Φ1954— the longest running Chair of the Department of Anatomy and Brod Pio’s inspiration— that he gained clarity. Here, Brod Nano urged him to teach in the Basic Sciences, and so Brod Pio applied, left his job as a Baguio City Health Officer and started working as an Instructor in the Department of Anatomy.
While still waiting for his US visa petition, Brod Pio enjoyed teaching Anatomy for two years before moving on to general surgery residency in PGH. At that time, salaried items for residents were limited, so he had to endure the first half of 1st year residency without compensation. Coincidentally there was difficulty in recruiting faculty to teach in the basic sciences and to address this exodus of faculty from the basic sciences, the college offered its young faculty the option to teach during the first half of the academic year and pursue their residency for the remaining half of the year, essentially doubling their residency time but with pay. Although Brod Pio had already resigned from the Department of Anatomy, it was at this moment he knew just how much Brod Nano cared for him since Brod Nano sought him out at the Department of Surgery and encouraged him to take that offer too. This offer was declined because it would take too long (10 years) for him to finish a general surgery program. Nevertheless, because of the influence of Brod Nano in his life, he got him as his wedding ninong.
As a Professor and a Surgeon
Before Brod Pio’s teaching career became the success we know it today, he entered a general surgery residency in the United States after completing his surgery training at the UP-PGH. This is where he realized a life in the U.S. was not for him. He decided to go back, and again, it was fate that led him back to the UPCM for lo and behold there was a vacant faculty position at the Department of Anatomy whose chair at that time was Dr. Arlene Samaniego, a Phi sis. This allowed him to practice general surgery and teach anatomy at the same time.
For Brod Pio, whether it be surgery or teaching, he enjoys both equally for different reasons. Surgery allows him to use his hands, while teaching Anatomy feels very rewarding especially in the UPCM where the students are motivated and eager to learn.
Leading the Department of Anatomy
After 21 years of being part of the faculty of the Department of Anatomy, Brod Pio was given the chance to serve as its chairman. Despite not being the most senior faculty, he took the challenge to lead the department, guided by the Fraternity’s cardinal virtue of Leadership. With him at the helm, the department thrived and was awarded the Most Outstanding Basic Science Department 5 times out of his 9 years as chairman. According to him, he only enabled and nurtured the department to achieve its fullest potential.
During his term, he supervised the modernization of the facilities of the department which included the installation of an elevator that allowed efficient transport of cadavers from the embalming facility at the ground floor to the 3rd floor Dualan dissection laboratory of Calderon Hall. His most notable achievement and legacy to the department was the introduction of the soft-embalming method of cadavers, which preserved the body to a more life-like state, in contrast with the traditional method of formalin preservation. This enabled the clinical departments to enhance their skills training by using these, “soft,” cadavers which would ultimately translate to patient safety.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the college was not left unaffected. Delivering quality education and addressing the needs of the students proved to be a new challenge. However, the younger faculty, which included Brods Ronnie Enriquez Baticulon Φ2003 and Christopher Salamaed Constantino Φ2009, helped in addressing these obstacles.
Brod Pio also gave tribute to Brod Nano’s service to the college, by establishing the Mariano V. Dela Cruz Jr. Academic Excellence Award in Anatomy. Named after a Brod who raised the standard of service in the College of Medicine, reflected through his 14 years as the chair of the department, this award is given to the most deserving LU3 medical student who has garnered exemplary marks across all modules of anatomy. The student also receives monetary rewards with funding coming from the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA) where most of the contributors to this perpetual fund are PHI alumni brods and sisses. As humble and low-profile as Brod Pio is, he is proud to carry the name of Phi, being the chairman of the department.
Brotherhood with Brod Randy Abdulla Φ1977
After numerous years of service together in the Department of Anatomy, Brod Pio recognized Brod Abdel Jeffri “Randy” Abubakar Abdulla and Dr. Noel Giron Guison, both from Φ1977, as his closest batchmates. Brod Noel also served the Department of Anatomy as chair for 6 years before becoming the Dean of the San Beda College of Medicine. Brod Randy would serve as Brod Pio’s right hand man as the vice-chair of the Department. Their close interactions as faculty members and general surgeons have strengthened their bond through the years. Brod Randy entered the Department of Anatomy when Brod Pio left for general surgery residency and Brod Randy followed suit by also pursuing the general surgery program at PGH. Their synergy resonates too in clinical practice, for when a complex case is presented to either of them, Brods Pio and Randy would consult with each other and find a solution together. As such, the similarities of their career track have definitely made their brotherhood stronger. Brod Pio further commends Brod Randy for tirelessly working as Chair of the Regionalization Program of the College of Medicine.
To the Fraternity
For the brods, his advice is to nurture the bond that exists among us— in any way. Everyone should be able to respect each other’s individualities and different personalities as we are all brothers. “The Fraternity would be there for you, but you should be there for the Fraternity,” he said, emphasizing that the Fraternity is our second family and second home.
With pure confidence, Brod Pio declared that the Phi Kappa Mu would always evolve and adapt to the ever-changing situations. Whichever path the journey of a brod would take him, the Fraternity would be there as long as there are brods to keep it alive, together with the support of the alumni. The resident body should keep the spirit alive and in turn, the spirit would live within all of us.
With decades of service and leadership rendered by Brod Pio, inspiring excellence in his faculty members and the thousands of students he has taught, he serves as a model in personifying the four pillars of the Phi Kappa Mu.
