Meet Our Expert Doctors

Virgilio M. Novero, Jr., MD, FPOGS, FPSREI, FPSGE is the Head of CARMI and one of the pioneers in the practice of IVF in the Philippines. He has done over a thousand IVF cycles. Dr. Novero is the first Filipino to have trained under Professor Paul Devroey at the prestigious Center for Reproductive Medicine at the Free University of Brussels in Belgium where Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) was discovered. He is currently among the busiest local IVF practitioners and has consistently reported to have excellent pregnancy rates, among the highest in the country.

Dr. Novero obtained his medical degree from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in 1986 and had his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Philippine General Hospital in 1988-92. He went on to complete his Fellowship in Infertility and Reproductive Medicine at the Free University of Brussels in 1994-95 where he performed hundreds of IVF-ICSI cycles and gained experience in TESE, MESA, and endoscopy in reproductive medicine. Upon his return to the Philippines, he became among the pioneers in the practice of IVF initially at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Greenhills, San Juan. But it was at the Victory ART Lab in Makati City in 2003 where he began to be recognized as among the leading local IVF practitioners with consistently world-class pregnancy rates over the following years.

With his solid background in IVF and with a relentless drive to improve by regularly attending international postgraduate courses in reproductive medicine, he has become a recognized expert in basic and advanced infertility including ART, male infertility, and gynecologic endoscopy. He has authored numerous chapters in local infertility textbooks, and as well as case reports and research articles in local and international journals. He has delivered hundreds of lectures in local and foreign conventions, seminars and postgraduate courses.

Dr. Novero is board certified with the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecologic Society (POGS), the Philippine Society of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (PSREI), and the Philippine Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy (PSGE). He was president of the PSREI in 2010 and is currently a member of the PSREI Committee on ART, the national committee tasked to oversee the practice of IVF in the country. He is an Associate Professor at the Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of the Philippines Manila. Aside from being the head of CARMI, he is the concurrent head of the Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City. He has been the Philippine representative to the Asia Pacific Initiative in Reproduction (ASPIRE) since 2008.

Angela S. Aguilar, MD, FPOGS, FPSREI, FPSGE is one of the more visible young infertility doctors around, being a current or past officer or active member of the POGS, PSREI and especially the PSGE where she is best known for facilitating endoscopy courses throughout the country. A graduate of the UP College of Medicine (Intarmed program) in 1991, Dr. Aguilar completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Philippine General Hospital in 1997. She pursued her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the same institution in 1999-2000. She recently received her Master in Business Administration degree from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in 2010. She is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UP College of Medicine and the Philippine General Hospital. She is also a favorite lecturer on various infertility topics in many local conferences and postgraduate courses, mostly on gynecologic endoscopy, endometriosis, and reproductive endocrinology.

Ma. Asuncion A. Fernandez, MD, FPOGS, FPSREI is the first graduate of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship program of St. Luke’s Medical Center- Quezon City. This program also included minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (hysteroscopy and laparoscopy). Dr. Fernandez had her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in this same institution. She finished her Doctor of Medicine in Virgen Milagrosa University, San Carlos City, Pangasinan. A fellow of the POGS and the PSREI, she further enhanced her field of interest by having the following: a preceptorial course in Obstetrical-Gynecologic Ultrasound (University of the Philippines Manila-PGH Dept. of OB-GYN), an advanced training in Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgery with Asian Institute of Telesurgery IRCAD, a Residential Hands-on Training with EART (Embryology Academy for Research and Training) in India and being in fertility expert meetings and International workshops on ART (Assisted Reproductive Techniques). Presently, Dr. Fernandez is the Training Officer of the Fellowship Program in REI in SLMC QC. She is also Assistant Professor 1 and the Department's Second Year level Coordinator in St. Luke’s College of Medicine William H. Quasha Memorial.

Eileen M. Manalo, MD, FPOGS, FPSREI, FPSGE is among the more respected and established fertility doctors in the country and an up-and coming ART practitioner. She is a graduate of the UP College of Medicine and finished her residency training in OB-GYN and fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the UP- PGH. She had further studies in assisted reproductive technology (ART) at the National University Hospital and Mt. Elizabeth Medical Centre in Singapore and at the National Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital at Hanoi, Vietnam. She is currently an Associate Professor at the UP-College of Medicine and the PGH, where she also serves as a ranking OB-GYN Department consultant. She is a past member of the Philippine Board of Obstetrics Gynecology, a founding member and past President of the Philippine Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (PSREI, 2009). In 2008, she served as the youngest President of the Philippine Society of Climacteric Medicine (PSCM). She is a current Board member at the Philippine Society for Genecologic Endoscopy (PSGE). She is a most sought out speaker at the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS), the PSREI, and PSCM annual conventions and has likewise delivered several lectures in various international congresses. She has contributed to several national Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) specifically on the management of the menopause, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. She has also written chapters on reproductive endocrinology and on the menopause in local textbooks. Aside from St. Luke’s Medical Center- Global City, she is currently an active consultant at the Makati Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, and Asian Hospital and Medical Center where she also serves as section chief of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She is a member of the International Menopause Society, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and the American Society of Reproductive Surgeons.

Debbie Guani Dy Meguizo, MD, FPOGS, FPSREI, FPSGE is one of the up-and-coming IVF practitioners in the country. A board-certified member of the POGS, PSREI, and the PSGE, Dr. Meguizo had additional hands-on training in controlled ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval at the ART Consulting centers at Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in 2010. She is a graduate of the UP College of Medicine (1996) and took up residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology (1997-2000) at the Philippine General Hospital. She later completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the same institution in 2002.

Danilo Jose C. Milla, MD, FPOGS, FPSREI, FPSGE is a board-certified member of the POGS, PSREI and the PSGE and has experience in doing ART cases in the past 12 years. He had his preceptorial training in IVF at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Greenhills, San Juan and at the Victory ART Laboratory in Makati City (1999-2001). Dr. Milla is a medical graduate of the UERMMMC (1990) and obtained his residency in OB-GYN from the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (1996). He completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (1998-99) at the University of the Philippines- Philippine General Hospital as the first scholar of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. Dr. Milla has been a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine since 2001 and over the years, has been chosen to steer several Clinical Practice Guideline committees of PSREI on reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Concepcion Ilao-Oreta,MD, FPCS, FPOGS, FPSREI, FPSGE, FPSLS is the current head of the Advanced Reproductive Care Unit of the St. Luke’s Medical Center- Quezon City and has completed over 200 cases of IVF over the years. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (1982) and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Philippine General Hospital in 1987. She had her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Illinois, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1989-91). She had further training in assisted reproductive technology at the Rush-Presbyterian- St. Luke’s Medical Center and at the Tu Du Hospital in Vietnam (2006). Dr. Ilao-Oreta is a board certified fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons, the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, the Philippine Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Philippine Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy, and the Philippine Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons where she was a member of the Board of Directors from 2003-2009. She established the fellowship program of the Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at St. Luke's Medical Center- Quezon City in 2003 and was program director until 2008.

Jesusa B. Banal-Silao, MD, FPOGS, FPSREI, FPSUOG, FPGSE is a board-certified physician in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound, and gynecologic endoscopy. One of the most active young REI practitioners, Dr. Banal-Silao obtained her medical degree from the UP College of Medicine (1993) and completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology (1997) at the Philippine General Hospital where she also had her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Menopause (1998-1999). In 2006, she had her observership training in In-Vitro Fertilization and Assisted Reproductive Techniques at the Scripps Fertility Clinic, Scripps Green Hospital Torrey Pines, La Jolla California, USA and underwent hands-on Training Course on Ovum Pick-up and Embryo Transfer at IVF Van Hanh, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in 2009. Dr. Banal-Silao is a clinical associate professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the UP College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital (UP Manila). She is currently a member of the board of the Philippine Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (PSREI), Philippine Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (PSGE), and the Philippine Society of Climacteric Medicine (PSCM). She has delivered numerous lectures in reproductive endocrinology and infertility in local postgraduate courses, seminars, and workshops.

Dennis G. Lusaya, MD, FPCS, FPUA obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Santo Tomas and later finished his General Surgery and Urology residency training at the Santo Tomas University Hospital. A trained urologic oncologist with training on robotic surgery, Dr. Lusaya is also an expert in male infertility with extensive experience in microsurgical reversal of vasectomies and surgical retrieval of sperm to be utilized during IVF-ICSI.

Dr. Lusaya is a graduate of the Urologic Oncology and Endourology Fellowship at the St. Vincent's Hospital, affiliate of the University of Melbourne in Australia from 1994-1995. He is an expert in the treatment of prostate cancer, urinary tract stones, ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy, percutaneousnephrostolithotomy (PCNL) and microvascular reconstruction of surgically obliterated vas (reversal vaso-vasostomy).

He has performed the most number of successful open radical prostatectomy cases in the Philippines. His excellent open surgical skills combined with a profound understanding of the principles of urologic oncology complement his keen surgical interest in laparoscopic treatment of genitourinary tract malignancies and robotic- assisted urological surgery. Dr. Lusaya has published numerous articles in several peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Endourology, International Journal of Urology and the Philippine Journal of Urology. He has been invited to speak in various local and foreign conferences in urology.

Dr. Lusaya is a Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Urology, a member of the American Urological Association and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Santo Tomas University Hospital and the Head of the Subsection of Urologic Oncology at St. Luke's Medical Center-Global City.

Nikko J. Magsanoc, MD, FPCS, FPUA graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in 1995 and subsequently completed his residency training in Urologic Surgery at the Philippine General Hospital in 2001. He took his fellowship training in Pediatric Urology at the Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School in 2004. He is one of the pioneers of Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery in the country. Dr. Magsanoc’s clinical interests include male infertility, no scalpel vasectomy, and microsurgical vasectomy reversal. He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. He is the chief of the Subsection of Pediatric Urology at the St. Luke’s Medical Center, Bonifacio Global City.

Michael Eufemio L. Macalalag, MD, FPCS, FPUA is a board-certified urologist with several years of experience in managing male infertility including surgical sperm retrieval in azoospermia in conjunction with IVF procedures. He is a graduate of the UP College of Medicine (1995) and subsequently completed his urology residency at the Philippine General Hospital. He later went to the National University Hospital in Singapore for further training in Andrology, Minimally Invasive Urology, and IVF-ART in the male.

Frances Monette Bragais, MD, FPUA earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Santo Tomas in 1995 and completed her residency in Urology at the National Kidney and Transplant Center in 2004. She had had further training in andrology and microsurgery for male infertility at the Cleveland Clinic in 2007 where she was exposed to numerous cases of simple and complex cases of male infertility, many in conjunction with assisted reproductive technology.

Carmela Lapitan, MD, FPCS, FPUA graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in 1991 and subsequently completed her urologic surgery training at the Philippine General Hospital in 1997. At the Changi General Hospital in Singapore, she acquired fellowship training in female urology and incontinence, infertility and impotence in 1999. She obtained a master’s degree in clinical medicine (urology) from the University of the Philippines Manila in 2005. Dr. Lapitan is an affiliate urology consultant of the St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City and a consultant urologist of the Philippine General Hospital. She is currently a clinical associate professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and a research associate professor at the National Institutes of Health-Manila. A dedicated researcher and lecturer, Dr. Lapitan’s work includes authoring and presenting clinical papers in andrology and male aging, male infertility, incontinence, patient safety and medical informatics. She is among the favorite lecturers on male infertility topics locally especially on varicocele treatment and the surgical treatment of male Infertility.

Eva Marie C. Cutiongco-de La Paz, MD, FPPS, FCCMG is one of the most respected clinical geneticists in the country being the Director and a Research Faculty of the Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines-Manila. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from the UP College of Medicine and completed her Pediatrics residency at the Philippine General Hospital in 1992. She studied Molecular Genetics at the International Center for Medical Research in Kobe University in Japan and took her subspecialty training in Clinical Genetics at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada. Dr. De la Paz was a TOWNS (Ten Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service) for medicine in the field of genetics in 2007, a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee for genetics in 2002, and a TOYS (Ten Outstanding Young Scientists) in 2007. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the UP College of Medicine and the Philippine General Hospital. She is a fellow of the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists and a member of the American Society of Medical Geneticists.

Cesar Joseph C. Gloria, MD, DPBIM, DPBAI, DABIM, DABAI obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the UP College of Medicine (1995) and had his residency in Internal Medicine at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center (1997-2000) and pursued his fellowship in Allergy and Immunology in the same institution (2000-03). He is board-certified with the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine, the Philippine Society of Allergy/Immunology, the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor of the UP College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital.

Alejandro Ortigas, MD, DPPS, DPSAAI obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center College of Medicine (1990) and had his Residency training in Pediatrics in Mt. Sinai Medical Center-Elmhurst Hospital and Upstate Medical Center-State University of New York (SUNY)-Syracuse in 1997. He pursued Fellowship Training in Allergy-Immunology at the Louisiana State University (LSU)-New Orlean's Children’s Hospital from 1997-1999. He is board certified with the Philippine Society of Allergy-Immunology. He is also an Associate Professor at St. Luke's College of Medicine and serve as an Associate Dean from 2006-2011. At present, he is the Head of the Allergy-Immunology and is the Associate Medical Director for Medical Education at St. Luke's Medical Center.

Edward Oliveros, MD, FPCS, FACS, is an expert in overweight, obesity, and weight reduction management, specializing in the field of bariatric and metabolic surgery. Overweight and obesity is managed through conservative (diet, exercise, counseling), non-surgical, and surgical programs. Dr. Oliveros was part of a team who performed the first gastric bypass surgery and laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery for obesity and weight loss in the Philippines. He is currently the Chief of the Section of Bariatric Surgery at St. Luke’s Medical Center Quezon City and a consultant of the Weight Management Center of St. Luke’s Medical Center Global and Quezon City.

Dr. Oliveros finished his training in General Surgery at St. Luke’s Medical Center Quezon City. He took a Preceptorship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota and underwent further training in Weight Reduction (Bariatric) Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, USA and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, USA. His training in Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (LAP-BAND) Surgery was at the Monash University-The Avenue Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.

Dr. Oliveros is a board certified General Surgeon and a Fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Society of General Surgeons, and Philippine Association of Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgeons. Internationally, he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons and Endoscopic & Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity & Metabolic Disorders, and Asia-Pacific Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Society. He is a founding member of the Philippine Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery and a member of the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight & Obesity and the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

Anne Mahalia C. Angeles, MD, FPOGS, FPSUOG, Maria Ellen Chotangco-Acebo, MD, FPOGS, FPSUOG, Leovigildo L. Comia Jr, MD, FPOGS, FPSUOG, Sandee G. Go, MD, FPOGS, FPSUOG, Nanette A. Laurente, MD, FPOGS, FPSUOG, Australia H. Luz, MD, FPOGS, FPSUOG, and Airen J. Sigue, MD, FPOGS, FPSUOG comprise our pool of experts in obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound. Among them, they have provided ultrasound guidance in thousands of cases of fresh or frozen embryo transfers. They have also provided ultrasound guidance in difficult cases of oocyte retrievals and similar procedures.

Ma. Thea U. Ancheta, MD, DPBA, Eric Bandola, MD, DPBA, and Finina A. Quintos, MD, DPBA compose CARMI’s highly experienced team of anesthesiologists. Among them, they have provided anesthesia in a few thousand cases of IVF and other related fertility procedures over the past several years under various clinicians, making them the most experienced specialists in the field.

Jennifer Rose Soriano, MSPSYC is currently affiliated at the International Institute for Neurosciences of St. Luke’s Medical Center as a consultant clinical psychologist specializing in psychological assessment, rehabilitative interventions (inclusive of counseling and psychotherapeutic procedures), and community-based researches. She is also an active associate for the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) and a part-time college professor in the Psychology Department of St. Joseph’s College Quezon City. Ms. Soriano completed her master’s degree in clinical psychology at De La Salle University Manila and had graduated from St. Paul University Quezon City for her bachelor’s degree in psychology. With her intensive academic training and clinical exposure, she had developed the essential knowledge and skills appropriate for handling varied clinical cases that could be best addressed through the services catered by the Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Infertility (CARMI).

Wynette Marie Noel Solis , obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Sciences at the University of the Philippines – Manila. In 2008, she interned at the Philippine General Hospital as a Clinical Psychologist at the Rehabilitation Ward. Currently, she is completing her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of the Philippines – Diliman, in preparation for her doctorate. Wynette Marie is a member of the allied specialist group Dementia Society of the Philippines and is affiliated with the Institute for Neurosciences – Global City. She provides neuropsychological assessment, cognitive behavioral therapy and caregiver psychoeducation. Apart from being a clinician, she also works as a research psychologist under the Research and Biotechnology Division. Her research interests include neuropsychological test validation and genotyping studies. Wynette Marie has attended several training programs and conferences with regards to psychotherapy and assessment.