ARCANE was supposed to be executed as a normal webinar, a webinar where students will be tasked to take down notes, write reflection papers about; a webinar where students will try their best not to fall asleep because this is just another ordinary webinar. But later did the organizers know that this small webinar would turn out to be a phenomenon.
It started off like an empty gas tank, it was put aside for a while due to the influx of requirements the organizers have to accomplish. Not until false information on COVID-19 started to rise and cases started to increase rapidly, fuel was added to the tank especially when one of the organizers implied “we could do more despite just being students in a local mother organization. We could GIVE more than what we had originally planned.”
Topics that can be tackled related to COVID-19 began popping up, the organizers started inviting various speakers who are only seen on television or social media, later did they realize, their little webinar would turn out to be a four-day event filled with videos, posters, and webinars which will be graced with highly-specialized, passionate, and dedicated speakers. It took a while to fill up the gas tank and as the launching date quickly approached, the organizers started putting on their gears, called up their crew, and they were finally ready to start their engines.
Participants excitedly raced to the starting point to witness the officials announce the opening of Arcane, and this was where the event jump started with SEREIN: Shedding Light on COVID-19, a video and a couple of interactive games were posted in the organization’s social media platforms and this was a day allotted for participants to be refreshed with the basic concepts of the virus.
When the green flag was waved down, engines started roaring as they go on full speed to reach the first lap — LETALIS: Exploring the Different Faces of the Pandemic the first webinar which took place last April 21, 2021, a webinar hosted by four well-known speakers namely Dr. Ron Resurreccion, Ms. Melanie Quintos, Dr. Al Joseph Molina, and Dr. George Lim where they tackled on the psychology, economics, public health, and medical perspective of COVID-19.
As the crowd continues to cheer for more, racers quickly zoom to their second lap aiming to have a fulfilling run in CONTEGO: Challenging the Pandemic, renowned speakers — Dr. Daisy Ilagan and Dr. Rhona Bergantin just made the crowd cheer louder as they discussed the different testing procedures, diagnostic workup, and technical guidance for COVID-19 patients last April 22, 2021.
And now for the third and final lap, with the crowd up on their feet, all engines were put on full throttle to see who will reach HALCYON: Rising Above COVID-19 first, where our notable speakers Dr. Albert Domigo, Dr. Melvin Sanicas, and Dr. Eva Cutiongco-De La Paz magnified the vaccines, variants, and preventive measures for COVID-19 last April 23, 2021!
And with that, Arcane ended with a loud bang.
This event turned out to be something for the books. An event where it can be noted that students can make a difference. An event where students can contribute to the current situation we are in with the voices we never thought we had. Arcane did not only raise awareness with regards to the different perspectives or procedures of COVID-19 but this event gave everyone the ability to believe in themselves, that we, no matter who we are, no matter what professions we may have, we can all #RiseAboveCOVID19 together.
And as the event officially closed last April 24, 2021 the UST Organization of Medical Technology Interns showcased their video made especially for calling everyone to contribute in rising above COVID-19 together. We will get over all these hardships and trials, and we, as one body, as one nation, will once again stand strong.
In the meantime, let us continue to look forward to brighter days ahead. Let us continue to have faith and hope. Let us continue to #RiseAboveCOVID19.
Because we are stronger together.
ADVT.
