LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – Baby Clarisse (not her real name) was born with a heart defect.

With the aid of Heart Warriors Philippines (HWP), a non-governmental organization supported by Senator Imee Marcos. She is now receiving medical treatment at the Cardiac Center of Bicol Medical Center (BMC).

During her visit to Camarines Sur on Monday, March 18, Marcos praised the BMC administration for establishing a state-of-the-art cardiac facility to treat patients with various heart diseases.

"I'm deeply impressed with your facility, commitment, and young doctors. Ang swerte-swerte ninyo, at meron kayong facility na ganito," she said.

(You are lucky, and you have a facility like this.) 

Marcos has been providing medical assistance to pediatric cardiology cases through the HWP, an NGO with the primary goal of empowering parents and guardians not to lose hope in the face of life-threatening cardiac conditions, particularly in children. 

"I'm glad that you no longer have to transport these children to Manila and that they can stay at home with their loved ones and parents," Marcos said. 

“Ang totoo, napunta ako rito para makita kung anong nangyayari sa Bicol Medical Center. Palakpakan natin ang mahuhusay na doctor at ituloy-tuloy natin suportahan,” she added. 

(I came here to see what's going on at the Bicol Medical Center. Let's give a round of applause to the skilled doctors and continue to support them.)

“My daughter was diagnosed with a congenital heart disease -Tetralogy of Fallot or CHD-TOF. Kumbinasyon daw sya ng four congenital heart defects that affect infants and children gaya ni baby. Bluish po ang kulay nya ng ipanganak ko sya, and yan po ang paliwanag sa akin na heart condition nya. After ng operation, malakas na sya, nakakapaglaro at malakas na din pong dumede kaya malaki po talaga ang pasasalamat namin sa tulong ng lahat ng doctors sa PHC, dito po sa BMC Cardiac Center at sa Heart Warriors Philippines po na tinutulungan po ni Sen. Imee Marcos,” Madera added.

(It is said to be a combination of four congenital heart defects that affect infants and children like my baby. His color was bluish when I gave birth to him, and that's what explained to me his heart condition. After the operation, he is strong, he can play and his feet are also strong, so we are very grateful for the help of all the doctors at the PHC, here at the BMC Cardiac Center and at the Heart Warriors Philippines that Sen. Imee Marcos is helping.)

Idelyn Madera, a 39-year-old mother from Magarao, Camarines Sur, expressed her gratitude to Marcos for the successful medical intervention that Baby Clarisse underwent at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in December 2022 when she was just 1 year and 5 months old.

“Salamat po Senator Imee Marcos sa pagbisita mo sa amin dito sa Bicol. Sa benepisyo mo na binibigay, [sa] GL o Guarantee Letter sa Philippine Heart Center upang maoperahan sa puso ang aming mga anak na may Congenital Heart Disease.  Salamat din po Kay Dra. Jhuliet Balderas na pumunta rin po dito sa BMC Upang mabisita ang kanyang mga pasyente nya dito sa Bicol. Salamat din po sa masipag at matulungin na si ate Ruby Laurencio President of Heart Warrior of the Philippines.”

(“Thank you Senator Imee Marcos for visiting us here in Bicol.  The Guarantee Letter (GL) and assistance helped our children with Congenital Heart Disease to undergo heart surgery.  I would like to also extend my gratitude to Dra. Jhuliet Balderas for coming here at BMC to visit her patients in Bicol, and to Ate Ruby Laurencio, President of the Heart Warrior of the Philippines, Inc., thank you for your help.” ) 

Following her heart procedure in 2021, Baby Clarisse undergoes routine examinations conducted by cardiologists at the BMC Cardiac Center.

Madera (far right)  said she is thankful, along with fellow mothers, that BMC decided to establish a specialty center for those with heart ailments. She said this initiative saves time and resources and alleviates the inconvenience of traveling by bus from Naga to Manila. Baby "Clarisse" (middle). Photo credits: Madera FB) 

She also extended her gratitude to Dr. Juliet Balderas of PHC; the BMC management under the stewardship of Medical Chief Ronnie Gigantone III, Dr. Eloisa Claveria Barrion, BMC Pediatric Interventional Cardiologist and Head of BMC Cardiac Center; Dr. Elmo Bombase Jr., and BMC cardiovascular operating room head for their assistance in ensuring the success of the operation.

Kathleen Montañez, a 35-year-old mother and resident of San Fernando, Camarines Sur, took to Facebook to express her gratitude to Senator Marcos for extending assistance to the young heart warriors.

“To our angel senator, Senator Imee Marcos dakulaon po an samong pasasalamat sa saimong padagos na pagtabang samong mga nangangaipo lalo kan panahon na kaipuhan ming dakulaon na amount para sa operasyon kan samong aki.

Sa pag sponsor po nin libreng operasyon sa puso sa mga heart warrior na taga Bicol kan nakaaging taon. Dios mabalos po Sen. Imee,” she said in vernacular.

(To our angel senator, Senator Imee Marcos, we are deeply grateful for your continued assistance to those in need, especially when we need a significant amount for our child's operation. Thank you for sponsoring free heart surgeries for the heart warriors from Bicol last year. Thank you, Senator Imee.)

Montañez’s 4-year old son has a defect in his pulmonary arteries.

Marcos dedicated herself to advocating for pediatric patients, driven by the fact that two out of her three sons suffer from a congenital heart defect.

“The issue of children with heart problems. My first two sons were born with a hole in their hearts. Like all the parents here, parati ako nasa doctor, parati ako nagpapakita kung ok na yung anak ko. Pag humina, ninenerbyos na ako, pag pumayat, eh natatakot na ako, kumakalampag na kami lahat, holding hands na kami ng ibang magulang,” Marcos said.

(I always saw the doctor, I always wanted to know if my child is OK. When my child became weak, I got nervous when my child lost weight, I was scared, we're all shaking, other parents were holding hands.)

She said she started with the PHC in 2019, partnering first with the leading state-run hospital for medical and surgical treatment of heart diseases.

“With them, we have already helped about 2,000 patients, 2,000 families, roughly, with the group of the Heart Warriors that we have worked with throughout the years. Yung Nanay ko kasi ang nagtatag ng Philippine Heart Center. Our commitment to world-class cardiac care and surgery has been long standing. My family’s being very committed to this establishment of a specialist hospital,” the senator added.

Bicol Medical Center (BMC) Chief of Clinics Mary Jane Guazon-Uy said that they are determined to put up their cardiac center in Naga City and provide the best facilities for the patients and other medical practitioners. 

The BMC Cardiac Center started its operations in 2019. Amid the pandemic, the center continued to train its personnel and supplement necessary equipment.

In 2021, they reopened the Cardiac Center with Dr. Eloisa Claveria Barrion as head. (ASM/ PIA 5)