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Dra. Vicki Belo on building her beauty empire: ‘Malalim ang pinaghuhugutan ng career ko’
At the launch of “Gift of Smile” photo exhibit —a CSR project of Belo Medical Group in partnership with Operation Smile Philippines helping children with cleft lip and palette — Dra. Vicki Belo took to the stage and explained why this particular endeavor is close to her heart. “I know what it feels like to be bullied,” she said. “Ampon ako, at na-bully rin nuong bata ako.”
“The Gift of Smile” is an eloquent demonstration of what Dra. Vicki Belo does: The woman transforms her so-called weaknesses into strengths.
A post shared by Vicki Belo, M.D. (@victoria_belo) on
“You tell me I’m fat and ugly, okay fine. I’ll make myself pretty and I’ll make myself feel better,” Dra. Belo says. “I’m an expert at my problems. I’m an expert on acne because I’ve had so much of it. I’m an expert at lipo because enemy ko talaga yan.”
From a 40 sqm-clinic at Medical Towers in Makati, Belo now has 11 clinics across Metro Manila — plus one in Cebu and another in Davao. Her company also boasts of beauty products and a line for babies, too.
“Malalim ang pinanghuhugutan ng career ko,” she says.
Below she shares her beginnings, how she keeps evolving, the people she listens to for advice, and Scarlet Snow Belo (Only!) of course.
I had no idea my career was going to be like this. When I graduated in Thailand for dermatology, I went to the States to study laser in Harvard. Then my parents called me and said they were buying me a clinic in this new building called Medical Towers. They wanted to buy me a 100 sqm. clinic. Sabi ko, wag. Then we negotiated and agreed to 40 sqm. When they asked why so small, I said, baka I’ll have no patients. Mabuti nang maliit ang clinic. Pag may isang patient sa waiting room, wow, mukhang puno.
Regine Velasquez is my good luck charm. She was my first celebrity patient and she’s still my patient to this day. She was in my clinic two weeks after I opened.
When people ask me who my partner is, I say the Lord. It was all so effortless. Patients just kept coming. It was like a word of mouth thing. I was just go go go. I’d make decisions by myself.
I brought the first lasers here in Manila. People weren’t aware of lasers then, so ang daming rumors — kesyo it will burn your brain. I had to come out on TV to do a lot of PR, and when I came out, a lot of people said, what’s this doctor doing? Unethical daw. So I prayed. Lord, unethical ba talaga? I got scared. I God asked for a clear message. He gave me two signs by way of two patients. After the second patient, naka-blinders na ako talaga. God you said go on so that’s how I did it.
I listen to a lot of audio books on business. I attend seminars, because you pick up so much. You have to keep evolving and continue being dynamic because Belo is already 28 years old.
But I’m not a businesswoman and I’m getting into a certain age. The business is getting too big na for me. These days, it’s become a little too competitive and cut-throat. I get shocked at the level at which people would go to compete and get ahead. I can’t believe it.
When I’m confused with the business I ask for Cristalle’s advice. She has an idea na because when she was a child, I would ask for her opinion. I’d ask Quark also, of course. My ex-husband too because he’s a Hardvard MBA, but I get depressed with him because he’s too cerebral. And of course, Hayden. There’s Agnes Lopez, our General Manager and her team. I told them, kayo na sa business. I just want to make people beautiful.
I always tell my people, everybody can have all sorts of gimmicks, left and right. I’ve had so much competition go up and down over the years. But I said if you can make a person more beautiful and you’re the best at it, they will keep coming back.
My passion is to make people happy by making them beautiful. That’s what I can do. That’s my area of influence.
Scarlet really likes being a doctor. Like for Operation Smile, she would be in every operation. Hindi siya natatakot. I feel that’s because Hayden is a doctor and I’m I doctor. I think this one talaga might become a doctor. She might be my only hope for a successor, but I don’t know. I’ll have to hang on for another 15 years, ha ha
(????I think my soft tummy is better because it makes me more huggable).
A post shared by Scarlet Snow Belo (@scarletsnowbelo) on
Yesterday, I found out we are the most affordable. People think that Belo is the most expensive but we haven’t raised prices in so long that we’ve become the cheapest! Should we raise our prices? But I like many people. We need to keep our prices reasonable.
I love my job because it forces me to look good. I think if I wasn’t Dr. Belo, I would be so fat because I love to eat chocolates. I have to look good!
I think everybody’s entitled to their own opinion about cosmetic surgery. If you don’t like it, then don’t. But don’t judge people because they just want to feel better. Like me, when I had lipo and got thinner, I felt so much happier and I got more confident. Before, I would never talk to people. I’d always feel ugly and hide because I’m conscious.
Malalim ang pinanghuhugutan ng career ko. I’m adopted kaya I’m bullied. People would make fun of me, ampon lang yan. But that’s my ano. I always turn my weaknesses into strengths. If you’re given lemons, make lemonades. You tell me I’m fat and ugly, okay fine. I’ll make myself pretty and I’ll make myself feel better. That’s my thing. I’m an expert at my problems. I’m an expert on acne because I’ve had so much of it. I’m an expert at lipo because I hate fat. Enemy ko talaga yan. Varicose veins? Dami ko niyan. I’ll really work on it kasi it’s my problem.
I’m good at seeing opportunity. When God gives me a window, or a door, I usually see it and I go through it. I feel a lot of people don’t see it or go through it. They’re so scared. But I believe God really gives everybody a chance. — LA, GMA News
To know more about Dr. Belo and her beauty clinic, visit the website.
