A life in motion: Lyle’s journey as an Occupational Therapist

For 27 years, Lyle Duque has been a constant force for change in occupational therapy in the Philippines. From private practice to academic and professional leadership and advocacy at national and international levels, his career spans the full spectrum of the profession—and beyond. Yet, his journey began like many others: with skepticism. But like many other journeys, his started off unclear. 

“I wanted to become a medical doctor,” Lyle admits, reflecting on his early ambitions. Searching for a pre-medical course, he stumbled upon occupational therapy without knowing what it truly entailed. “I didn’t even understand what occupational therapy was until I started working with patients,” he says. During these early patient interactions, the true scope and impact of occupational therapy became clear. Occupational therapy considers the whole person—their physical, psychological, and social needs. “As we say in occupational therapy, we work to help people do what they want to do, need to do, and are expected to do in their everyday lives,” Lyle explains. 

Throughout his career, Lyle has worn many hats. While primarily a clinician specializing in pediatric and neurological rehabilitation, he also operates his therapy center in Tarlac City, two and a half hours north of Manila. Beyond clinical work, he has been an academic, a member of the national professional regulatory board for occupational therapy, and an advocate for his profession. One of his proudest achievements was helping to pass the Philippine Occupational Therapy Law in 2018. Finally, the “law recognizes the unique value of our profession.” Today, as part of the Interim Professional Regulatory Board for Occupational Therapy, Lyle continues to shape the future of the field. His leadership extends globally. As a former Program Coordinator for Education at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), Lyle has worked with emerging occupational therapy programs worldwide—from Argentina to China. “I’ve had the opportunity to witness how occupational therapy is developing in different cultural, educational, and healthcare contexts,” he says. 

For Lyle, the most profound moments in his career come not from policy victories but from the patients he has helped. One story stands out: a young lady who has Down syndrome. When Lyle first met her at around five, her future was uncertain. But she defied expectations with the support of an interdisciplinary team and a dedicated family. Brina graduated from college and became an Ambassador for the Special Olympics, even meeting former U.S. President Obama at the White House. “Her success wasn’t just about therapy,” Lyle emphasizes. “It was about collaboration and understanding the whole person.” 

This approach focuses on the patient and considers their overall well-being. Occupational therapy often involves helping a stroke survivor eat again independently or aiding a child with special needs to start school. The work feels personal and makes a real difference.

“It’s the small milestones that matter,” Lyle says. “Being able to sit through a TV show without fatigue or simply visiting a neighbour—these are life-changing achievements.” 

Occupational therapy plays an important role but deals with many issues in the Philippines. The Department of Labor and Employment has labeled it as a profession with shortages. Less than 6000 registered occupational therapists work to serve the country's population, which exceeds 100 million.

Equitable access is another hurdle. “Most therapists remain in urban areas,” Lyle notes. “But we need them in rural communities where services are scarce.” He continues to advocate for both increased numbers of professionals and better distribution across the country. 

When asked what advice he would give young people considering occupational therapy as a career, Lyle’s answer is clear: “If you want to positively impact people’s lives while working in diverse settings, occupational therapy is for you.” The profession has given him the freedom to work in private therapy centers, universities, homes, and communities—sometimes all in the same week. “I need variety,” he laughs. “And occupational therapy has never stopped challenging me.” For Lyle Duque, the journey that began with skepticism has become a lifelong mission to improve lives—one patient, one policy, and one professional at a time. 

Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and wellbeing through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement (The World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2012). 

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists is a Non-State Actor in Official Relations with WHO. To learn more about its work please visit https://wfot.org/