They say all things start from a vision.
Our Lady of Fatima University (then Our Lady of Fatima College of Nursing) was a dream of Jose Olivares, the co-founder of Fatima University Medical Center. The school, beside the hospital, was planned to serve as a training ground for nurses and midwives.
Fifty years and thousands of graduates later, OLFU and FUMC continue to develop healthcare providers through their legacy of excellent education and compassionate value formation.
OLFU consistently produces board top-notchers, while the FUMC is the only ISO-certified hospital with modern facilities in the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) area.
The two institutions commemorate their 50th founding anniversary with a special edition coffee table book entitled “50 Years: A Glorious Journey to Greater Heights.” The coffee table book, according to its author Robert Bjorn Santos, narrates the history of OLFU and FUMC from their humble beginnings to where they are now, through the perspective of the people who were and are part of them.
“Our published materials are quite limited so we interviewed people such as retired employees, alumni, family members, scholars, current students, and faculty,” Santos told MS Young Life.
Santos, who’s also an OLFU alumnus and one of the university’s administrators and board of trustees, said they asked these people about their most memorable moments, how they ended up working in Fatima, and the learning and experiences they remember most.
The book also articulates the numerous accomplishments of Fatima as evidenced by the various recognitions and accreditations it received here and abroad. It also details the expansion of the university from Valenzuela to Quezon City, Antipolo, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija; and the medical center from Valenzuela to Antipolo.
Furthermore, it summarizes the contributions of the institutions in the field of research; and its impact in society through quality education, healthcare, extension services, scholarships, and charitable works of the founders and current administrators.
Santos said the coffee table book is a follow up to Fatima's photo exhibit staged during its 45th anniversary.
In celebration of their golden year, they also launched the SPARKS (Synergizing Partnerships in Advancing Research Knowledge and Services) International Academic Conference of OLFU.
The international conference is set on Sept. 15 to 16 at the Novotel Hotel in Cubao, Quezon City. The event brings together global and local academicians and professionals, all aligned to the theme, “Fusing Strengths in Building Academic Diplomacy in Higher Education in Asia.”
SPARKS’s registration is accessible at www.sparksconference.com. For more information on the institutions, visit www.fatima.edu.ph for Our Lady of Fatima University and www.fumc.com.ph for the Fatima University Medical Center. -BL
