by Robbie Pangilinan
There was a time when music and medicine were the life of 27-year-old Bien Lugtu, daughter of Andy Lugtu, the President, CEO and Chairman of Manila Nature's Link Corp. (MNLC), known as the manufacturer and distributor of Malungai LifeOil.
Bien graduated medical school last May 2017 from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and is currently a post-graduate intern at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. She will take the Philippine Licensure Examination on September 2018.
“After which, I am hoping to enter an otorhinolaryngology-head & neck surgery residency program. My parents have always given me the freedom to pursue my passions and to find my purpose and I think that this is a good fit for me. I still have a long way to go,” says Bien, who has always dreamed to become a doctor while she was growing up.
But her heart longed to play music. Bien started playing the guitar when she was 13. She looked up to Marcus Miller, Abraham Laboriel, Tal Wilkenfeld, Lalay Lim and Paul Yap. She played for their church and for a few bands throughout the years.
“Tetelestai was the name of the band I was in with my cousins and our music mentor. We regularly played in church, around three times a week, we had events here and there and we were in an episode of Solemn Sessions for Light Network. Later on, I also joined this band called The Fix and we played a few times a week in Resorts World and sometimes a few small gigs here and there. We played a lot of Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Norah Jones, etc. In my spare time I taught kids how to play the guitar as well,” shares Bien, who likes smooth jazz/vocal jazz, funk, blues, soul and rock.
Bien tried to juggle music and medicine, playing on weekends and summer, semestral, and Christmas breaks, except during examination week. Eventually she had to make a choice.
“It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. I chose medicine and I have no regrets. Medical school was no joke and I had to give my time for a greater purpose; to serve my future patients,” says Bien who admits that once in a while she would still play with med school friends for small competitions in school.
Though she once ended up in a different career path, Bien knew in her heart that she belongs to the field of medicine.
“I remember the day I decided to enter medical school was when my dad took me to East Avenue Medical Center. At the time he was the Chairman of the Breast Care Foundation. He showed me around and I saw the patients that the foundation was helping. We talked and he offered me support if ever I decided to get into the field. I realized I wanted more; I remembered my dream as a child. And I said yes,” Bien says.
She gets inspiration from her parents, who always encourage her to do something novel, something purposeful, something original. Her entrepreneur dad has taught her that taking one profession and merging it with entrepreneurship would create something remarkable. Her mom has been hands-on and supportive throughout the years and from her Bien learned about compassion, patience and resourcefulness.
“I also remember my professor telling me, ‘You can be great if you decide to be.’ My decision was not only about becoming a great doctor, but becoming the best person I can possibly be,” she adds.
It also helped that the family business was about health and wellness. Though Bien is not yet involved as she focuses on her studies, she has once researched and made the first package insert for LifeOil. She hopes that she can one day contribute in the company’s health and wellness and research and development.
“I don’t just want to continue the family business. I want to create something that could expand it or enhance it. The family business is all about health and wellness and I want to contribute something to that as a doctor,” she says.
She wants to using her profession and LifeOil as an avenue to advocate for health, wellness and primary prevention.
Bien may not be into music as much as she used to. But now, medicine is the music of her life, and she plans to continue playing it and help others.
