Rain has a way of rewriting even the best-laid plans.

When inclement weather prompted the suspension of classes and work in Manila on August 6, the opening of Salubong 2026 was cancelled. Through the unwavering commitment of the UP College of Medicine Class of 2030 and the Salubong core team, the onsite program was rescheduled to August 7 and 8. More than a logistical adjustment, the pivot set the tone for a welcome defined by care, dedication, and a willingness to show up amid uncertainty, offering the freshies a glimpse of a community that will remain beside them even when things do not go as expected.

The delay only seemed to heighten the excitement, and the welcoming ceremony captured the many moods of starting medical school, from first-day jitters to unfiltered fun. Team cheers brought out each group’s personality, while the games gave the freshies and upperclassmen room to interact beyond formal introductions. Those first impressions carried beyond the program, helping the freshies choose a buddy they could approach with their questions and worries, knowing they were turning to someone who had once wondered about many of the same things.

By then, what had existed in acceptance letters, online group chats, and weeks of anticipation had become tangible. The freshies could finally put faces and voices to familiar names, interact beyond their screens, and see their batch take shape through conversations and shared moments. That sense of companionship echoed in the inspirational message of internist-endocrinologist, writer, and Kwentong Callroom Podcast co-host Dr. Ella Mae Masamayor. She offered an honest reminder that the years ahead would demand more than intelligence. The freshies would also need people to lean on and space for the parts of themselves that medicine should never eclipse.

The second day offered a different kind of exploration, giving the freshies a closer look at the life they could build beyond the classroom. The Org Hop event introduced them to organizations, advocacies, and interests they could pursue during their years at the college, while the Amazing Race revealed new sides of their batchmates through friendly competition. By the Grand Culmination Night, the possibilities they had discovered and the friendships they were already building had come together in a celebration that felt distinctly their own.

Salubong was not limited to the two days on campus, with asynchronous activities held before and after the main program allowing the festivities to continue throughout the week. The enthusiasm was equally visible online, where Salubong 2026 drew an active audience across Facebook and Instagram. The filled venues, strong digital engagement, and support from numerous student organizations and partners showed that the event had succeeded not only in drawing people in but also in bringing them together.

Of course, no welcome would be complete without a few treats to take home. Freshies received Naked Collagen from Future Glow, pastries from Mom & Tina’s Bakery Cafe, Flutter Coffee merchandise and loyalty cards, and a Motivo discount code, making their Salubong experience even sweeter. Fiasfud and Gallo Scrubs hosted onsite booths, while SM Supermalls, QuickFX, and TrueLearn rounded out the sponsor lineup behind Salubong 2026.

By the end of the event, however, the most meaningful thing the freshies took home was not something that fit inside a goodie bag. It was the memory of a welcome that arrived later than scheduled yet felt no less complete.

The rain could not stop the beginning that Salubong was meant to celebrate. Years from now, it may simply be remembered as the opening scene in the Class of 2031’s story.