DAVAO CITY — A new era of heart care began on June 27, 2026, with the inauguration of the Brokenshire Heart Institute at Brokenshire Medical Center. The facility promises to keep Mindanao’s cardiac patients closer to their families by delivering advanced treatments that once required exhausting journeys to Manila or Singapore.
A Dream Nearly a Decade in the Making
The opening fulfilled a vision that began almost ten years ago, when AppleOne Medical Group and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines saw the urgent need for regional cardiovascular services. What started as a conversation evolved into a full‑spectrum heart center equipped with cutting‑edge technology and a dedicated team. The day was both a celebration and a declaration that world‑class care has finally arrived in the south.
Among the guests, the emotion was palpable. Hospital leaders, doctors, nurses, and partners gathered not just to cut a ribbon but to mark the end of an era of helplessness. For years, families had scraped together savings to fly loved ones to the capital or overseas, often losing precious time. Now, that narrative is being rewritten.
What the Institute Offers
The Heart Institute is designed to cover every stage of cardiac health. It provides preventive screenings, non‑invasive diagnostics, and complex invasive procedures such as coronary angioplasty and stenting. Electrophysiology services and cardiac rehabilitation programs ensure that care continues long after the operating room.
Central to its capability is a state‑of‑the‑art catheterization laboratory featuring the Davao Region’s only Nemoto Press Duo Elite All‑In‑One contrast injector. This technology allows precise imaging during delicate heart procedures. Combined with the expertise of its medical team, the institute can now handle cases that were previously impossible in Mindanao.
Immediate Impact and Hope
The results were felt within days. In its first two weeks of soft operations, the institute cared for more than 20 patients and successfully performed pacemaker implantations. These are not mere statistics; each number represents a life that did not have to endure a stressful, costly medical evacuation. For those families, the institute is already a sanctuary.
Dr. Elfred Batalla, the Heart Institute Director, recalled the difficult decisions of the past. “There was a time when patients from Mindanao were almost always referred to Manila, and many complex heart cases were eventually sent to Singapore,” he said. Today, those words carry a different weight—they are a reminder of how far the region has come.
A Partnership Built on Compassion
The institute is a testament to the power of collaboration. AppleOne Medical Group, the healthcare arm of AppleOne Group, joined forces with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines to bring this project to life. Ray Go Manigsaca, Chairman of AppleOne Group, emphasized that elevating living standards in the Visayas and Mindanao is at the core of their mission.
Medical Director Dr. Michael N. Jamiana and CEO Ronald Manuel C. Santos quietly worked behind the scenes for years to ensure the facility would meet international standards. Their dedication, along with the tireless efforts of nurses and support staff, is what makes the institute beat. Engr. Venus H. Manigsaca, Vice Chairman of AppleOne Group, called the healthcare workers “the heartbeat of the Brokenshire Heart Institute.”
A Hub for the Entire Region
The institute’s location in Davao City is strategic. It serves as a referral hub for the Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Western Mindanao, BARMM, and surrounding provinces. A heart care coordinator system guides each patient through the journey, from initial consultation to rehabilitation, ensuring no one navigates the complex system alone.
The hospital, originally founded in 1917, already held notable firsts in Mindanao—the first hospital‑based child neurodevelopment center and the first IVF laboratory. The new Heart Institute adds another chapter to that legacy. It is a promise that advanced medicine will no longer be a privilege reserved for those who can travel far.
A New Beat for Mindanao
As the sun set on the launch day, the message was clear: the future of heart care is now firmly planted in Mindanao soil. The Brokenshire Heart Institute is more than a building with machines; it is a symbol of equity, a place where hope is restored and hearts are mended.
