I originally wanted to pursue Neurosurgery as my specialty while teaching Gross Anatomy & Neuroanatomy in my alma mater UP-PGH; hence, my initial foray as a neurosurgical resident in PGH in the year 2000. However, I unexpectedly found my true professional calling in being an Orthopedic surgeon and a medical instructor/teacher. I decided to leave PGH (the government sector in general, really) and try the private sector. I went into The Medical City via a residency in General Surgery (albeit Neurosurgery was still foremost on my mind). During the course of my GS training, I discovered a lot of other possibilities in the other surgical subspecialties (e.g., vascular surgery, plastic surgery, & orthopedic surgery). However, it wasn't until the year 2002, the end of my two year stint as 'de facto first assist' to Dr. Tony Rivera (who was then the executive officer of the Makati Medical Center's orthopedic residency training program), that I got my offer to train for Orthopedics. And the rest, as they say, is history -- I transferred to Makati Medical Center (under Dr. Tony Rivera & our internationally acclaimed department head, Dr Ramon Gustilo) and continued residency training in Orthopedics from end of 2002 until my graduation in 2006.My Orthopedic areas of practice include: Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery; Joint Arthroscopy & Arthroplasty; and Orthopedic Trauma.Basic & Clinical Medical Research (therapeutic & diagnostic).