COVER STORY
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METRO MANILA, PH – It’s a brand new day. The cool January breeze rustles the trees that surround the Belo-Kho residence, their leaves casting playful shadows on the windowsills where sunlight gently spills in..
Inside, the Philippines’ famed “doctor to the stars,” Dr. Victoria “Vicki” G. Belo, has already ticked off the first few items on her morning to-do list: a light workout, a quick deep dive into the latest in aesthetic medicine, and a filling breakfast. Discipline and self-care has always been integral to Dr. Belo, qualities deeply admired by those who knew her.
Now, she sits in a make-up chair preparing for a special sit-down shoot celebrating her decades-long journey in the beauty industry.
“Natural, parang walang make-up,” she comments on her look, as she looks in the mirror. “Kaunti lang, yung nakakafresh.” The warmth of her smile is enough to know she is satisfied.
After all, it is because of her legacy that hundreds and thousands of patients have gained confidence in their own skin, bare or glammed up.
Dr Belo’s journey began at age 11, eleven years old, when persistent acne sent her on weekly visits to dermatologists in search of a cure. “I had a lot of it.” she recalls.”The pustules, redness…it just kept coming back.”
The experience was far from pleasant. Long waits, minimal pampering, and limited solutions left her yearning for something better.
“There were very few dermatologists back then.” she says. “I would wait for 2-3 hours. It was not a very happy experience because there was no elegance, no pampering, no warmth.”
It was in these moments that inspired her to dream:
“When I become a dermatologist, my clinic will be beautiful. I’m going to have fresh flowers, new magazines, and I would definitely clean not just the pimples, but even the blackheads and whiteheads.” she says as she smiles as if it were a recent memory.
Apart from acne, it was finding a cure for fat that also motivated her to enter the medical field. “I was so self-conscious about my skin, it would affect my whole life,” she shared. “I wanted to be the best dermatologist I could be.”
For the past 35 years, she has had the relentless determination to find cures not just for acne, but a plethora of concerns. These include pigmentation, skin dullness, anti-aging fixes, and more. From laser treatments, peels, facials, and other advanced innovations, Belo has remained at the forefront of aesthetic medicine in the country for its continuous efforts and provisions. The plaques, certificates, and trophies at the Belo-Kho residence that bear the Belo name are a testament to Belo Medical Group’s expertise.
This year, Belo Medical Group is marking this milestone by shining a spotlight on 35 individuals—patients from different walks of life—each with their own Belo story to tell.
“I’m really proud when so many people come to me and say “hey, you really helped me. You really cured me.” Dr. Belo beams.
At the heart of it all, she reminds herself:
“Who am I doing this for? I’m doing this for the patient. It’s never about anything else.”
The joy of knowing she has changed lives is the most rewarding part of her journey.
“It’s good to know I did the right path, I helped so many people along the way. That’s much more gratifying, knowing that you’re making people’s lives better because of what I do.”
With decades-long experience in medical aesthetics, Dr. Belo knows that beauty comes not only with great skin, but also within. As founder, president, and medical director of Belo Medical Group, she established the company’s core values based on the acronym HOME: Honesty and integrity, striving as One team, embodying Malasakit (care), and leading for Excellence.
“We go extra. In Belo, we don’t just do what we need to do, but hopefully we also make you feel loved and welcome. We really care about you.”
Apart from meeting her patients’ goals and addressing their skin concerns, it is really their self-confidence that inspires Dr. Belo to continue her work.
“I think Belo has changed the landscape of dermatology and aesthetic medicine in the Philippines. It’s been a very personal journey,” she reflects.
“35 years? I already see the children of the patients I treated before with acne, who are now going through their acne journeys. It’s very gratifying to know that their parents still know how we helped them.”
As she speaks, emotion wells in her eyes. Gratitude, joy, and the profound fulfillment of a life’s work well done.
“I really do this for God. In the end, I want Him to say, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’”
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