Mario Leonardo Emilio O. Aportadera is currently a faculty member of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo. As a physician, he teaches BS Biology courses such as Human Anatomy and Parasitology, and as a lawyer, he teaches pre-law courses such as International Law, Political Theories, and Introduction to Law.

Dr. Aportadera received his B.S. in Biology degree from the University of San Agustin – Iloilo where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of The Augustinian Mirror Magazine. He took his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Santo Tomas and was awarded the Thomasian Poet of the Year of the USTETIKA Literary Awards in 1986.

He was a delegate in the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s Friendship Programme for the 21st Century from May to June 1986. He joined the Manila Doctors Hospital for his post-graduate internship and served as President of the MDH Post-Graduate Interns Organization. Because of his deep love and devotion for learning, he also took his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of San Agustin, Iloilo, and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Augustinian Law Gazette. He is both a practitioner of general medicine and general law in Iloilo.

In his article published in 2016 entitled “Balance Sheets do not Define Friendship,” he discussed how the mainstream media biasedly report on the economic and trade relations of the two countries, the Philippines and China. He also wrote articles related to the issues of the South China Sea explaining the intricacies of the issue while urging Filipinos and Chinese to have an open mind in dealing with a complicated issue like the South China Sea dispute.

Dr. and Atty. Aportadera also came up with a publication entitled, “Mama had a Knack for Storytelling” in 2017, where he shared and imparted the stories of his mother on how the Chinese think and their way of life. Dr. and Atty. Aportadera was born to a Chinese mother and a Filipino father.

His effort as an individual in promoting and advancing Philippines-China relations at the grassroots level is evident in his sensible observation and enunciated retort against anti-China and biased media reporting.