Ramon Sison(1929-2009)
- Actor
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.
