The Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City launched its 71st Founding Anniversary celebration on November 9, 2026, marking more than seven decades of healthcare service to Filipino veterans, their dependents, and other patients, the hospital said in a press release.
The commemoration carries a five-year institutional theme spanning 2025 to 2030: "Saluting Our Past, Inspiring Our Future: 71 Years of Healing Heroes." The anniversary program extends through December 3, 2026, with a series of events honoring staff, veterans, blood donors, and medical trainees.
Flag-Raising Ceremony Opens Week-Long Festivities
The anniversary opened with a formal flag-raising ceremony attended by former hospital directors, current officials, employees, and personnel dressed in Filipiniana attire. The ceremonial tone underscored the institution's character as the sole tertiary hospital under the Department of National Defense (DND).
Dr. Joselito P. Quines, chairperson of the VMMC 71st Anniversary Committee, delivered remarks honoring those who built the institution's legacy over the decades.
"As we salute our past, we pay tribute to the visionaries, pioneers, and generations of dedicated men and women whose sacrifices and unwavering commitment have shaped the proud legacy of VMMC," Dr. Quines said, according to the hospital's press release.
Five DOH-Certified Specialty Centers Recognized
The VMMC Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Committee formally recognized the hospital's five specialty centers certified by the Department of Health (DOH) during the anniversary program.
The certified centers are: Eye Care, Orthopedic Care, Physical Rehabilitation Medicine, Lung Care, and Mental Health.
Director with 30-Year Career Honored During Program
VMMC Director IV Dr. Peter Paul Reuben G. Galvez took the occasion to introduce Dr. Eloisa S. De Guia, VMMC Director III, who has served the institution for more than 30 years. Dr. De Guia addressed the hospital's history of operating under constrained conditions.
"We have faced challenges, limited resources, and demanding days, but we persevered. We adapted, supported one another, and continued to serve. That is the VMMC spirit," Dr. De Guia said, as quoted in the hospital's press release.
'Kasaysayang Kinulayan' Photo Exhibit Opens at VMMC Lobby
Hospital officials formally opened "Kasaysayang Kinulayan," a 71st Anniversary Photo Exhibit installed at the VMMC Lobby. The exhibit traces the institution's transformation from its origins as the post-war Veterans Memorial Hospital into its current form as a modern, multi-specialty tertiary medical center.
The exhibit serves as a visual record of institutional evolution spanning seven decades, from the postwar period to the present. The November 9 observance concluded with a Eucharistic Celebration held at the VMMC Ecumenical Chapel.
Anniversary Events Continue Through December
According to the VMMC press release, the anniversary program continues with the following scheduled events:
- November 12: Research event
- November 25: Operation: Lifeline 37th Anniversary — awards for blood donors
- November 26: Employee awards
- November 27: Christmas lighting ceremony
- December 1: Gift-giving for veterans
- December 3: Residents' and fellows' commencement
VMMC's Role as the DND's Sole Tertiary Hospital
VMMC is the only tertiary hospital under the Department of National Defense, serving Filipino veterans, active military personnel, their dependents, and civilian patients. The institution's anniversary reaffirmed its stated commitment to compassionate healthcare, continuous innovation, and institutional transformation, the hospital said in its press release.
Photo credit: Photos courtesy of VMMC