Ramon Sison

Born and raised in a small town in the Philippines, Ramon showed dancing  and musical talents at an early age. His parents, Florentina and  Salustiano Sison, conservative landowners with substantial landholdings,  encouraged him to become a doctor but discouraged him from the  uncertainties of pursuing a musical or showbiz career. He followed his  parents' advice. However, he could not refuse when offered a role in a  movie and later opportunities to play the piano and act in radio and  television programs while attending the University of the Philippines  pre-med and medical school in Manila. After obtaining his medical degree  in 1955 he went to Georgetown University for post-doctoral  specialization. He practiced medicine in the mid-West for nine years  where he played piano in a jazz band with medical colleagues in  Springfield, Illinois. During those years he also played double bass  with the conservatory symphony of MacMurray College in Jacksonville,  Illinois. Shortly after moving west to Beverly Hills, California, with  no intention of pursuing an acting career in Hollywood, he found himself  one day in 1976 playing the role of medical officer opposite Gregory  Peck in a hospital scene of "MacArthur". Since 1976 he has appeared in a  number of movie, TV and equity-waiver stage productions in Hollywood.  He has been active as president or member in many community, civic and  professional organizations in Southern California. He has been president  of the Philippine Medical Association of Southern California and the  University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Southern California.  He was 1st vice-president of the Association of Asian Pacific American  Artists which annually presented the Jimmy Awards. He served the State  of California for six years as member of the California Medical Board by  appointment by then Governor Jerry Brown. For sixteen years he served  the federal government as a reserve army medical officer and served to  rank of full Colonel. In 1991 he was knighted "Chevalier De Grace" into  the Ordre Supreme Militaire Imperial Orthodoxe Constantinien De  Saint-Georges in Tarragona, Spain. He is a lifetime member of Mensa.