By Michael Beatty, RSPCA, Brisbane
The room oozes comfort and class. In one corner an intricate water feature cascades
through ferns into a dimply lit rock pool and in the other a brass sculpture by famous Filipino artist Impy Pilapil depicts a ballet dancer in a pose of exquisite grace.
On the teak coffee table expensive picture books on Filipino art and decorating struggle for dominance with “Dignity and Courage” a black and white photographic essay on poverty.
No, this is not a six star hotel suite or the living room in a luxurious private villa. This is a Makati dentist’s waiting room.
“I wanted it to feel homely,” says 62 year old Dr Leonardo Rosero.
If homely means a living room tastefully stacked with furniture and artifacts I could
never afford in a lifetime, then he’s succeeded. In fact he’s succeeded whichever way you look at it, because he’s been one of the Philippine capitol’s most respected and influential dentists for over 30 years. These days his patients include movie stars, politicians and more recently-Australians.
“I’m seeing at least 20 Australians a month. They fly in from Sydney, Melbourne and
more recently, Brisbane. It’s mainly cosmetic surgery but I do a lot of root canal
treatment as well. Many will then take a holiday while they’re waiting for the caps to be made. I always put temporary molds in so they don’t frighten the children!”
Dr Rosero, who graduated from the University of Southern California in 1969 and then
practiced for a year in the United States before returning to Manila, has a strong sense of humour and a long association with dentistry. Both his parents were dentists, as were his two brothers and sisters. Two out of his three children are also dentists. The exception is his youngest son who has graduated in Fine Arts.
“Thank goodness for that!” he jokes. “Otherwise the dinner table conversation would
have been very boring!”
The reason for his recent Australian success is of course financial. Australian dental fees,particularly for cosmetic work, are often way beyond most workers. Robert Graham who operates “Dental Holidays” through his All About Asia travel agency says that 90% of his business is simply word of mouth referrals.
“People realize that they can get the same work done for less than half the price. They travel to the PI, get the work done and then come back and tell their friends.”
By Filipino standards Dr Rosero’s fees are high. Many Australians travel to Angeles
City, once the home of America’s Clark Air Base, where the prices are even lower.
“I book a lot of people into Angeles,” says Graham. “But the only dentist I personally recommend is Leonardo. He was my dentist when I was living there 15 years ago.”
It’s perhaps worth noting that another of Dr Rosero’s patients is the Philippine
Ambassador to Australia Teresa Lazaro.
Despite parental “guidance” Dr Rosero had not initially wanted to become a dentist.
“I wanted to work in a bank. But the reasons were strictly hormonal. All the pretty girls worked in banks. I lasted a year and then gave it away. I couldn’t stand being bossed around. I wanted to be my own boss. I felt the only way I could do this was by becoming a dentist and opening my own practice.”
Understandably Australian dentists are less than impressed at seeing potential patients heading overseas. They warn of dodgy workmanship, suspect hygiene and even more expensive repairs. But Graham says this is simply a matter of the patient doing his or her “homework”.
“Would you hire an employee without checking their references? Of course not! It’s the same with hiring an overseas dentist. Ask around and do the research before you leave.”
In case you’re wondering, I too had decided to take the plunge. What would have cost me close to $11,000 in Australia I had done in Dr Rosero’s Makati clinic for $3,500. I also managed to fit in a five day holiday on Boracay Island, surely one of the most idyllic spots in the world, while I was waiting for the caps. And guess what? I didn’t frighten the children!
The opinion of indivuduals may not represent the exact views of Meditour.
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