Dr. Miguel Mancao

A PASSIONATE PHYSICIAN INSIDE OUT

They say a medical career is a long and difficult path to take. However, Dr. Miguel Mancao chose to ignore, this to become one of the best and reputable general surgeon here in Cebu. His dedication that spans over decades serving patients at CebuDoc Group was passed on to his children, most especially to his son, Dr. Peter Mancao. Dr. Miguel recently celebrated his 90th birthday and has retired from his practice. Healthful had a chance to sit down with the older Mancao and here’s to share our conversation.

Q: Who was your biggest influence, why you chose a career in medicine?
A: My father Pedro Mancao was a school supervisor of the Department of Education during the American Occupation. He was our biggest influence to study and be professionals. My brother took up law while the other one took up engineering.

Q: Can you describe your relationship with your children? How about your relationship with Peter?
A: I have seven (7) children. I am very close to all of them because in spite of my busy schedule when I was in active practice, we always got together on weekends. With Peter, he was the only one here with me in Cebu when his siblings migrated to the US and I can say that I was part of the training he underwent in surgery here in CebuDoc.

Q: Did you ever wish to have a son to follow in your footsteps? Or to have him take another profession?
A: It is always our wish that one of our children will follow our footsteps. It is a bonus that three (3) of them (my children) decided to take up medicine. I am happy they decided to take up medicine. The joy a parent feels when a son or daughter decides to take up medicine is immeasurable.

Q: What kind of a dad are you?
A: I am the kind of dad that leads life by example; showing my children that working hard and being happy at work are things that can go hand in hand.

Q: Was it hard to have another doctor in the family? How did you manage to take time off even while in active practice?
A: It made things easier for me especially for the transition to eventually retiring from active practice. When I was in active practice, I usually took time off every October to attend the American College of Surgeons meeting in the US and visit my children in California, Atlanta, Florida, Alabama and New Jersey.

Q: As a doctor, how do you adapt to this modern world?
A: I had to take up additional courses in laparoscopic surgery in the 1992 and I was in my 60’s. I just keep up with the new developments in surgery.

Q: You’ve been with CebuDoc Group since it started, how was it different then?
A: I was with CebuDoc Group from Day 1 and have seen how it grew to what it is today. And as they say “what a journey it has been” from the time Dr. Jun Larrazabal Jr. arrived from the US and joined CebuDoc and now under the leadership of his son Dr. Yong.

Q: What for you is a good doctor? Any tips you can give to new doctors? How about to Peter?
A: A good doctor is one who can communicate with the patient. One who treats the patient not the disease. My advice to the young doctors is to listen and talk to your patients. Peter I think has learned that from me. I have seen how he handles his patients in the hospital and the clinic

Q: What is your most outstanding accomplishment as a doctor? And what does success mean to you?
A: Being able to train our young doctors thru my work as a surgeon. And success to me means when you are confident to have them (the younger doctors) treat you.

“Success to me means when you are confident to have the younger doctors treat you.”

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