The Answers With…Leo Fores
Dr. Leo Fores’ ophthalmology clinic could easily be the backroom of a gallery, with works of art covering most of his wall space, a large painting propped on the examination table, and others scattered about.
Some of Leo’s earliest memories are of him and his siblings tagging along with their parents to the Luz Gallery and Sining Kamalig in the 1970s, where his parents bought, among others, early works by BenCab, Cesar Legaspi, and Ang Kiukok, all of whom eventually became National Artists.
When Leo was 8 years old, his father gave him a Tudor watch that had belonged to his own father; it remains one of the highlights of Leo’s treasured vintage timepiece collection.
“I wore it all the time, played basketball with it, and it’s still alive. It’s still with me,” he says.
At one point, Leo says he had as many as 30 vintage watches, but since they deteriorate over time, he’s whittled them down to 10, shifting to neo-vintage and more modern pieces.
He also cherishes his trove of Montblanc pens, one of which he always carries in his shirt pocket, although he never uses it for writing prescriptions or charts. For those, he uses a plastic ballpoint pen.
Leo had always been fascinated by numbers, and at one point, fancied himself a future engineer or a banker. Still, family expectations superseded any attempts at resistance; his great uncle, Jose, was one of the founders of the hospital at which he works, and his father, Ed, was a revered gastroenterologist.
After 24 years in the medical profession, Leo says he learned to love his chosen path, with no “what ifs?” whatsoever. Today, the numbers he enjoys analyzing are the flashing ticker tape numbers of the financial markets.
We spoke to him seated amid his medical equipment and his art.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Make my double espresso from freshly ground coffee beans.
Do you have a uniform for certain occasions?
Barong for formal events. Bespoke shirts, barrel leg pants from Japan, and comfortable sneakers for work.
Why opt for bespoke?
Better fit, and no one else has the same shirt.
What do you most crave at the end of the day?
Sleep.
What is your exercise routine, and how often do you do it?
I try to walk or run when I can.
What does success look like to you?
A happy family.
Did you always want to be a doctor?
No. But I am very happy having chosen the medical field.
What’s your favorite drink?
San Miguel Super Dry.
What dish most impresses you?
My wife’s meatballs!
What do you collect?
Art. Watches. Pens.
How did you get into art?
My parents started collecting in the ’70s. I decided to start my own collection in 1999.
What was the first artwork you bought? What’s the most recent addition?
First was a small work on paper by Marcel Antonio from The Drawing Room. My most recent is a beautiful pen and ink piece by Kiko Capile.
Most prized one?
An early work of Ronald Ventura from 2002.
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
Play the guitar.
Do you wear a watch?
Always! Even when I sleep.
How did you get into watches?
Papa gave me my first watch when I was eight years old.
What’s the most recent addition to your watch collection?
A 2006 IWC Doppelchronograph with a balanced dial and well-crafted bracelet.
Which one’s your favorite?
A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
The smallest good deed is greater than the grandest good intention.
What’s your favorite hotel?
The Siam in Bangkok. Breathtaking architecture, delicious food, quiet. My paternal grandmother was Thai.
What’s always in your hand luggage?
Emergency medications, wireless earphones, and a pen.
Why the fascination with pens?
Papa loved pens. So, he’d give us whatever he wasn’t using anymore. I have always liked writing. Up to this day.
Most recent date night?
I had dinner with Cristina, my wife, at Sala.
Most recent trip?
We went to Greece. The highlight was quaint Santorini.
How much do you trust your gut instinct?
100 percent!
Last box set or Netflix binge?
Adolescence was unique in the sense that everything was done in one take. The acting was fantastic as well.
Who do you admire the most in the world?
My Papa. He worked for everything he had. Unmatched work ethic.
What do you do that’s still analog?
Kenwood AM-FM Receiver connected to my computer in my clinic.
How do you find calm?
By listening to music…
What type of music do you listen to?
‘50s and ‘60s Jazz; ‘70s and ‘80s music on my digital analog players, iPods, my iPhone, and all my computers.
Bowie or Dylan?
Bowie.
What song is currently in your head?
God Only Knows by The Beach Boys/Brian Wilson.
Do you dance?
I have two left feet. Haha!
This article originally appeared in Robb Report Philippines’ Watches and Jewelry Issue, August 2025.