New physician acknowledges her roots at special UHM Filipinx commencement ceremony

Pictured: Celina Hayashi is cheered on by classmates after finishing her speech at the Filgrad. Vina Cristobal photo.

By Deborah Manog Dimaya, UH Med Now Correspondent

The University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa (UHM) John A. Burns School of Medicine celebrates twelve new physicians of Filpinx heritage. Eight of them marched, with other UHM graduates, who voluntarily participated in the 3rd Annual Filgrad, short for Filipinx Graduation Recognition Ceremony.

The new Dr. Celina Hayashi was one of the student speakers at the Filgrad.

Hayashi proudly draped her Filipinx stole around her neck and addressed the crowd. During her speech, she asked her fellow graduates to close their eyes in memory of those special to their hearts who could not witness the day’s occasion, herself whispering “thank you mama and papa.” She thought of her grandparents whom emigrated from the farmlands of Ilocos Norte, Philippines in 1946 in order to give their children and future grandchildren the opportunity to pursue a better life through higher education in America. Through their sacrifices in coming to the US and the backbreaking work they endured as the lowest-paid “sakadas” in Hawaiʻi‘s pineapple fields, was she able to become Dr. Macadangdang Hayashi.

“My grandparents taught me the importance of our vibrant and special culture. That it engulfs every cell in our bodies. Although some may believe that humble beginnings being farmworkers in the provinces may be modest memories to leave in the past, I wear these as badges of honor, as vital roots that connect us all and enable us to flower and bear fruit,” Dr. Hayashi said in her speech.

She also urged her fellow graduates to continue pursuing their dreams after graduation and to be proud of their own unique gifts and abilities.

“For me, I believe my greater purpose is to help improve access and quality of health care for our Filipinx community, especially the nanas and tatas whom I hold so dear to my heart, to whom we must thank for fostering our wonderful Filipino community here in Hawaiʻi.”

Dr. Hayashi, Makawao native, will begin her MD residency at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, where she will train in Family Medicine. Hayashi earned her B.A. in Biology from Scripps College in 2014 and graduated from King Kekaulike High School in Pukalani, Maui.

Watch the “wiki” (short) viral video about Filgrad