Dr. Marcelito “Mars” Custodio Mars Custodio was a healer in every sense of the word. As a physician, he spent decades in oncology, offering care and comfort to patients navigating some of life’s most difficult terrain. His approach to medicine was deeply human—marked by quiet empathy, unwavering presence, and a belief in the dignity of every life he touched.
After retiring from clinical practice, Custodio turned to painting, a passion that had long simmered beneath the surface. His canvases became extensions of his compassion: soft, meditative, and often imbued with the emotional depth of someone who had witnessed both suffering and resilience. Collectors and friends came to know him as “The Painting Doctor,” a title that captured the gentle duality of his life’s work.
Custodio’s art was exhibited at the Philippine Center in New York and shared in joint shows with fellow physician-artists, bridging the worlds of science and creativity. His legacy lives not only in the homes that display his paintings, but in the lives he helped shape—with brushstrokes and bedside care alike.
