Mission Valley – Dr. Marc Nelson Licup Matanza is a young Doctor of Chiropractic whose eight-year medical career has helped numerous patients in the South Bay area and now just recently re-located in Central San Diego, Mission Valley to cater to both South Bay and Central San Diego. Though raised in the United States, the chiropractor is proud to be a Filipino and represents his heritage with pride and honor. Dr. Matanza reaches out to the Filipino community through practice and various Filipino-American non-profit organizations.
The affable chiropractor is the son of former actor and recording artist Nyorly Licup, known in the Philippine entertainment industry as Nyorly Zamora, with wife Reggie Licup. During his visit to Manila in 2002, Dr. Matanza did a brief stint on GMA’s defunct soap opera “Habang Kapiling Ka.” To many who know him and his family, such interest in show business is no surprise. Mr and Mrs Nyorly Licup are respectively from Pampanga and Bataan. Both grew up in Mandaluyong City. Dr. Matanza was born in Manila and moved to San Diego at the age of three. The local school districts Dr. Matanza attended were, Penn Elementary School, Bell Middle School and Morse High School. San Diego State University was where Dr. Matanza obtained his Bachelor’s degree in biology in 2004. Soon after, Dr. Matanza attended Life Chiropractic College West, where he graduated with the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic in 2007.
To proudly look back at the humble beginnings, Dr. Matanza first opened for business in June of 2009, in a one story clinic in National City. Dr Matanza, said, “The clinic started off with nothing but the knowledge obtained through the years of school and life experiences”. Not only did the doctor’s skill and knowledge build the clinic, the support from family and friends created the foundation in which the clinic stands today. Growing up as a Christian, his mother Reggie, spiritually supported him in all his endeavors. Chiropractic, a system of complementary medicine based on the manipulative treatment of the
misalignments of the joints. With that being said, why did Dr. Matanza choose that field of study? He vividly remembered that he was only 11 years old when his father encouraged him to be a doctor, particularly a Chiropractor. Asked what he loves most about his chosen career, he answered, “Chiropractic is only beginning to be widely accepted in the medical community and it shows tremendous beneficial health advantages, being that it is non-invasive and cost-effective.”
The key focus of San Diego A.C.T.I.V.E Chiropractic and Wellness Center is the health of every patient that walks in. The clinic specializes in automobile accidents and personal injury. His clinic understands the worry, frustration and confusion that victims undergo during an auto accident. He has an allied Healthcare team that can provide the Patient their exact needs. From Special testing, such as X-ray, MRI, CT-Scan, Orthopedic, Neurologist as well as Psychiatric help. He offers options with legal assistance that work on a lien basis, meaning, if there is no recover then there is no fee. That alone takes the stress off of the injured victim. The clinic offers a wide variety of chiropractic treatments, such as, advance rehabilitated therapy using different types of techniques such as chiropractic adjustment, flexion-distraction table, intersegmental traction table, paraffin wax for hands, infrared therapy, neuromuscular re-education, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activity, heat and ice therapy, manual therapy, myofascial release technique and post isometric relaxation technique. Another form of treatment the clinic offers is massage therapy. With qualified Trigger-Point massage therapists, whose expertise are in trigger point therapy and full body relaxation, will make the clinic experience a great one. Adding to this, medical equipment is prescribed and provided at his clinic at a discounted price for his patients.
Anyone at any age can come to the clinic for treatment. Dr. Matanza has treated patients as young as one week old to as old as ninety three years of age. As stated, “You are never too old or too young to receive chiropractic care”. Dr. Matanza treated infants with bowel movement and for colic relief. The patient who was ninety three years of age suffered from chronic back pain and migraines, in which Dr. Matanza treated and cured. According to Dr. Matanza, most of the male Filipino patients complain of extremity pain in the shoulders, arms, knees and feet. The female Filipino patients commonly suffer from built up tension and stress at the base of the neck and upper back. These are due to day-to-day stressors at home or at work especially when one’s job requires heavy lifting.
About seventy percent of the patients that Dr. Matanza treats are Filipino and thirty percent are of different ethnic backgrounds. The doctor is bilingual in Tagalog and Spanish, which is very conducive to his Hispanic and Filipino patients. He proudly shared that his clientele has grown mostly through referrals. Dr. Matanza stated, “Based on the feedback I received from my patients, they come to me for treatments because of my vast knowledge and understanding of their ailment. Most importantly, I am able to execute an effective course of treatment for them.” He went on and said, “I take each patient’s complains seriously and respond with sensitivity to resolve their discomfort”.
After three and a half years of practice in the National City clinic, Dr. Matanza decided to open a two story clinic in the Eastlake/Otay Ranch area and now in Mission Valley, where he currently retains business. With all the success he is now enjoying, Dr. Matanza is working towards achieving one more goal. That is to open a satellite clinic in the Mira Mesa or Sorrento Valley area. He wants to reach out to the residents in the north county especially to the Filipino community. During his spare time Dr. Matanza does autocross, racing his Supercharged Porsche 911 anniversary limited edition and New Porsche 911 Turbo and Porsche Boxster. He is a member of Porsche Club of America. He also loves to go to the gym. In fact, he won in a bodybuilding contest a few years ago. He eats organic food and lives a healthy lifestyle. The doctor further added, “This is why chiropractic is in line with my health philosophy.”
For Dr. Matanza, fulfillment does not only come from a successful professional life. It also comes from helping others. He gives back to the community by rendering free chiropractic services to the South Bay residents and does a seminary educational presentation regarding health every three weeks in downtown San Diego. The talk focuses on top health concerns. Recently, he appeared on Fox 5 local news on behalf of the Rotary Club of Chula Vista to talk about the organization’s fundraising efforts to provide medical aid and food supplies to the indigent Filipinos in the Philippines.
Dr. Matanza is very active in the community. He recently participated at the annual wine and food festival at the Otay Ranch mall where he is also a vendor at the Farmer’s Market every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Adding to this, he is a member of the Eastlake Business Association, Eastlake Welcoming Services Professional Network, Lion’s Club and American Chiropractic Association among many others.
Visit San Diego A.C.T.I.V.E. Chiropractic & Wellness Center 1463 E. Plaza Blvd. National City, CA. 91950 to make an appointment. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. To learn more about Dr. Matanza and his services go to http://www.sdactivechiropractic.com.
