ADB, Philippines. Held on December 3–5, 2025, the global spotlight shone on Manila and GCM seized it. The 11th edition of the ADB International Education & Skills Forum, under the banner "Applying a Fresh Lens to Unlock the Power of Human Capital,” convened education ministers, global development leaders, academic innovators, and policy‑makers from over 40 countries, with more than 300 participants committed to shaping the future of education across Asia and the Pacific. 

At the heart of this gathering were calls to rethink what education means in a rapidly changing world - from digital transformation and climate resilience to health‑sector readiness and cross‑sectoral collaboration.

GCM’s Presence and Purpose 

Represented by Dr. Felisse Marianne Z. San Juan, Chief Internationalization Officer, and Mr. Aldren H. Hila, International Linkages Officer, GCM did more than attend, it actively engaged. The team positioned GCM not just as a medical college, but as a prospective partner in Asia’s evolving human‑capital ecosystem: 

- In the Forum’s networking area, GCM displayed collaterals and program profiles for all participants to peruse a deliberate move to showcase GCM’s offerings and internationalization vision. 

- Interactions with ministers, education leaders, and institutional representatives opened doors for potential collaborations, exchange programs, and even future campus visits in Cebu. 

- With ADB's emphasis on future‑oriented sectors including health, aging care, green economies, and technology‑enabled services, GCM’s medical program gains renewed relevance. 

ADB’s Clarion Call and Why It Resonates 

In his keynote, Hon. Masato Kanda, President of Asian Development Bank (ADB), urged stakeholders to view education as the most strategic investment in the region. He spoke of bold partnerships, cross‑sector cooperation, and the urgent need to align education systems

with evolving labor markets, from AI and tech to biotechnology, healthcare, and sustainable development. 

This message aligns closely with GCM’s aspirations to internationalize, expand its reach, and contribute to human capital development especially in health education. 

What GCM Gains and What Lies Ahead 

By stepping into the region’s premier education‑policy forum, GCM signals readiness for cross‑border collaborations, attracting interest from embassies, universities, agencies, and NGO partners, and conversations with education ministers, institutional heads, and international development agencies created a rich pipeline of potential partnerships from student exchange, joint research, to international recruitment and funding collaborations. 

GCM’s Promise to the Region: From Participation to Purposeful Action 

GCM’s involvement in the 2025 ADB Forum was more than an institutional appearance, it was a strategic milestone. By showing up, showcasing, engaging, and extending invitations, GCM has shifted from observer to participant in Asia’s education‑development conversation. 

Moving forward, what counts is not just the presence but the follow‑through: forging partnerships, mobilizing networks, refining curricula, and aligning institutional strategy with regional priorities. After Manila, GCM is no longer simply a medical college in Cebu — it is now a rising node in Asia’s evolving human‑capital ecosystem. 

For GCM’s leaders, faculty, and stakeholders: Congratulations and the horizon just expanded. The journey ahead is ambitious, but after this Forum, it’s also vastly more possible. 

Gullas College of Medicine(GCM) continues to expand its global presence as its Chief Executive Consultant, Dr. David Koil Pillai, and Chief Internationalization and Strategics Communications Officer, Dr. Felisse Marianne Z. San Juan, completed a successful visit to Indonesia from November 27 to December 2, 2025.

Invited by Indonesian academic and consular leaders, Dr. Pillai and Dr. San Juan met with top universities across the country to explore strategic partnerships aimed at elevating cross-border medical education and research. The delegation engaged with students, university heads, and international relations officers, creating new avenues for collaboration between the Philippines and the Republic of Indonesia.

During their visit, GCM and several well-known institutions in Indonesia discussed the areas for collaboration including student and faculty exchange program, joint research and publication opportunities, shared use of facilities and laboratories, collaborative academic conferences, and offering GCM’s Medicine program to prospective Indonesian students.

Dr. Pillai highlighted his goal to continuously offer GCM’s Medicine Program with affordable fees, state-of-the-art facilities, and high-quality education to aspiring medical students not just in the Philippines, but internationally. To add up, Dr. San Juan emphasised that the engagement aligns with the GCM’s mission to nurture globally competitive medical professionals and broaden international academic reach.

This initiative marks a significant step in building stronger academic bridges between the two countries and opening doors for a broader ASEAN cooperation in medical education and research. As GCM continues to champion global perspectives in the field of medical education, its leadership remains dedicated to creating international alliances that will benefit the current and future generations of healthcare professionals. The visit concluded with a tour in one of Indonesia’s esteemed medical schools and discussions about the institutions’ commitment to collaboration and mutual growth.

The Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) released APMC Advisory 2025-04, an addendum to its earlier Advisory 2025-03, to further clarify the internship pathway available to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who wish to undergo clinical training in the Philippines.

Addressed to Deans of Medical Schools and Directors of APMC-accredited hospitals participating in the National Internship Program, the advisory reiterates that FMGs are not required to enter the APMC National Internship Matching Program. Instead, medical schools may directly assist their foreign graduates in completing the required postgraduate clinical training.

Clarifying the Postgraduate Internship Option for FMGs

According to the Manual of the National Internship Program, specifically page 27, foreign graduates of medical schools are exempt from the mandatory postgraduate internship required of local graduates. However, medical schools are expected to support FMGs by providing opportunities for clinical training within their base hospital after the completion of clerkship. This training is formally recognized as Postgraduate Training.

APMC emphasized that this provision enables medical schools with FMGs to independently conduct postgraduate internship training programs tailored to their graduates, while still using the APMC Postgraduate Internship curriculum as a general framework.

FMGs Not Required to Join National Internship Matching

The advisory explicitly states that FMGs do not need to participate in the APMC National Internship Matching Program. Instead, each medical school may establish and implement its own postgraduate internship training program for its foreign medical graduates.

This change streamlines the process for FMGs and ensures that medical schools retain control over the training pathway of their own graduates, allowing for a more efficient and direct transition into postgraduate clinical practice.

For the Guidance of All Medical Schools

The advisory was issued and signed by Dr. Alberto B. Roxas, MD, FPCS, FPSCRS, Executive Director of APMC, who reiterated that the provisions of Advisory 2025-03 dated August 13, 2025 remain valid.

Medical schools and accredited training hospitals are encouraged to review the updated guidelines and provide appropriate support to FMGs under their institutions.