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Beauty can always be associated with a woman. For all the aspects of beauty seems to be in itself the definition of a woman in its purest and banal --- the figure of a woman.

But when will we ever realize that beauty needs the sculpture of an artist? And in some special occasion it is from the hands of a man who knows beauty so well, so to speak.

We are talking about DR. BENJAMIN TAN ALONZO, a major player in the cosmetic surgery industry, owner of Beaufaces Cosmetic Surgery and Facial Center, past president of Philippine Academy of Aesthetic Surgery (PAAS), auditor of Philippine Society of Liposuction Surgery, mentor of Pan Pacific Aesthetic Institute and a member of four international aesthetic surgery organizations namely American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Asian Pacific Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Japan Society of Aesthetic Surgery and the International Society of Aesthetic Surgery. On civic organization, he is the Assistant Governor of District 3780, Chairman of Rotaract- District 3780; and a host of other cosmetic surgery, medical, civic and public service affiliations.

Besides having a soft hand in cosmetic surgery, transforming every woman to be beautiful as she can be, and a Rotarian by heart Dr. Alonzo is first and foremost a typical father who sees to it that he bonds with his family despite his rigorous schedule.

“I see to it that we hear mass every Sunday, and after that we go to the mall to eat out or watch movie, stuffs like that. Sunday is certainly family day for me except for emergencies like work and civic activities for Rotary” he stresses. His children describe him as strict and disciplinarian, but at the same time a good friend who lets them be and doesn’t enforce what course they will take in college.

Dr. Alonzo is also a man of sincerity not only to his family and to his profession. He practices what he preaches, as he maintains a beautiful body inside and out with his physical workouts of golf at Veterans, a session of badminton with friends, or just plain swimming. He also pampers himself to relieve the stress of work via body massage and spa, or just a mile of brisk walking everyday in his subdivision to sweat out and keep fit.

Aside from being a father to his family, he also wants to make an impact as a father to his colleagues, as he wants to be remembered as an honest and dedicated mentor among his fellow cosmetic surgeons.

“I want to be regarded as a cosmetic surgeon with heart and compassion to my colleagues and patients as well. Cosmetic surgery is more of ethics and winning the trust of our patients, that’s why I always tell my fellow surgeons that in order to improve the industry we have to make sure that we gain the trust of our clients. I admit competition is very stiff in this profession, but it should be healthy competition. We must not be bicker at each other to preserve the quality and credibility of our profession.”

During his term as president of Philippine Academy of Aesthetic Surgery, he improved the reputation of his organization and the impression of cosmetic surgery as a safe and practical way of being beautiful inside and out. He also increased the membership base, improved the competencies of his members by exposing them to different seminars and involved them in various international conventions to gain worldwide exposure for continuing education and to keep abreast on the latest technologies and techniques in various cosmetic surgery procedures.

Dr. Alonzo said joining Rotary is also his other way of bringing back his blessings in the medical profession. “I have been an active Rotarian for 20 years.  I have so much to thank for to our Lord, this profession has been very good to me and to my family. I believe there is much more than being a cosmetic surgeon. I realized that a lot of our less fortunate countrymen needs more than superficial beauty. And yes, beauty comes from within. When you see a child once a harelip can already smile after we gave him free surgery, or a beggar who can’t chew because he needs set of denture, and now has one, or a poor woman with glaucoma given a free eye check up and reading eyeglass. That’s rea l beauty because you have helped transformed lives of the seemingly helpless. Our club conducts monthly medical and dental mission. Our recent trips were in Palawan, Marinduque, Sual, Bulacan and Pampanga.”  

“We are beautiful, no matter what they say,” is certainly not one of Dr. Alonzo’s tenets because he espouses the scientific way to becoming beautiful.

With all his passion for his service and genuine concern for his patients through his various medical missions and his pure love for his family, we are very definite that Dr. Alonzo is beautiful no matter what they say.

***Published at Manila Bulletin on Fathers Day issue***
By: Catherine Padol

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