Order of Asclepius Welcomes 5

by Abraham Saad and Maybelle Tolosa

Five first year students were added to the OA family as they made it through the screening process of the Order of Asclepius last June 13 up to July 12, 2008 held at Roxas hall, WVSU, La Paz, Iloilo.
From the initial population of 18 applicants, five were able to finish the entire process and earned their rights to be called Asclepians, Batch 32. Among the five neophytes were:
Joseph Herrera, Ronald Galaez, Rhona Dei Anayan, Louvelle Thess Sorolla, and Stella Danica Bernasol. This has been the Order’s smallest recruit since its foundation.
“This is nothing to be sad of,” said LH Kristine Bernadette Vilano when asked about her impression on the evident drop in the number of applicants.
“The remaining five are the ones who gave their trust to the Order and they are the ones worthy to be recruited,” she added.
The number of applicants was not the lone problem faced by the Order during this year’s recruitment. This year’s screening process lasted for several weeks unlike the traditional process, which only lasts for 9 days. This is due to the last visit of the devastating typhoon Frank which has imparted its own tolls on the screening process. Flooding of Iloilo City and other parts of the province has caused a rescheduling and relocation of the screening and has added few more weeks in the entire screening process.
Nonetheless, this year’s recruitment is a complete success. The Order of Asclepius has been around for over 32 years now and no matter how much difficulties it will encounter, no problems will ever be insurmountable.