For Bobby Valle, a 60-year-old father from Castilla, Sorsogon, parenting has always come with its own set of joys and hurdles. But raising a child with Down syndrome magnified the uncertainties — from where to seek help, to how to afford the necessary care, to simply understanding the condition itself.
Like many parents in rural parts of the Philippines, Valle faced a fragmented healthcare system with few answers and even fewer specialists. But that is about to change with the construction of the country’s first-ever Down Syndrome Hub, now rising at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) in Daraga, Albay.
The groundbreaking ceremony held on March 14 marked more than the beginning of construction—it marked a seismic shift in the country’s approach to developmental disabilities.
Funded by the Paul Foundation, a Netherlands-based family foundation, and facilitated by global NGO Liliane Fonds and its local partner NORFIL Foundation, the project aims to become a national model for inclusive healthcare.
“This hub will be more than just a medical facility,” said Ma. Teresa Nuqui, Executive Director of NORFIL Foundation. “It will serve as a safe space where families can find guidance, children can receive specialized interventions, and communities can foster a deeper understanding of the capabilities and potential of persons with Down syndrome.”
Designed as a one-stop-shop, the hub will offer a full suite of services—from pediatric consultations and genetic testing to therapy sessions and family counseling—all under one roof.
Its location on the topmost floor of the hospital’s heart center building underscores the aspiration to elevate not just medical care, but also the societal value of children with disabilities.
Hub design photo by Chiara Beltramini
Hub design photo by Chiara Beltramini
A Father’s Voice, A Region’s Reality
For Valle, the hub is a long-awaited answer to years of uncertainty. His son, now a teenager, had to be taken to hospitals twice a week in his early years before specialists could finally identify his condition.
The financial toll, the emotional strain, and the stigma from uninformed neighbors made each step heavier than the last.
“Pagkabata pa lang po nito halos dalawang beses sa isang linggo nasa hospital po kami,” he recalled. [When he was still a child, we were at the hospital almost twice a week]
In a region where access to specialized care is limited, Valle’s story is far from unique. For every family like his, the Bicol Down Syndrome Hub is a lifeline.
Parent Bobby Valle from Castilla, Sorsogon
Decentralizing Hope: Making Specialized Care Local
Unlike Metro Manila’s Philippine General Hospital, which already operates a one-stop disability center, Bicol has long suffered from a shortage of developmental pediatricians and support programs. Willie Houben, Program Manager of Liliane Fonds, knew this inequity had to be addressed.
“The journey started with my first exposure to the one stop disability hub in Philippines General Hospital in Manila in 2018” he said. “And from that date I hoped that also the children with disabilities in the province and in remote areas would have access to such kind of facilities and getting the same quality of care.”
From that inspiration came collaboration. A pilot project with the Norfil Foundation and support from the Paul Foundation soon blossomed into a full-scale hub design, tailored to the needs of children with Down syndrome in the Bicol Region.
The facility’s offerings will include a genetic consultation room, a centralized patient database, and telerehabilitation services through a custom-built app, enabling families from far-flung barangays to receive remote consultations and referrals.
Addressing More Than Just Medicine
Beyond the stethoscope and diagnostic charts, the hub embraces a holistic view of care. It will not only track the progress of individual patients but also consolidate data to provide a clearer picture of the prevalence, challenges, and family dynamics surrounding Down syndrome in the region.
Dr. Eric Raborar, Medical Center Chief at BRHMC, underscored its broader impact:
“Yun ang kagandahan nito—iko-consolidate para mabigyan ng picture, especially sa Bicol Region. Ano ba ang picture ng mga pasyenteng may Down syndrome? Yung pamumuhay ng kanilang pamilya? Makikita kung ano ang mga weaknesses, ano ba yung most common na ginagawa ng mga magulang sa mga anak nilang may Down syndrome, at bakit iyon ang mga common na ginagawa nila.”
[That’s the beauty of it—it will be consolidated to give a clearer picture, especially in the Bicol Region. What is the situation of patients with Down syndrome? What is the life of their families like? We will be able to see their weaknesses, what parents commonly do for their children with Down syndrome, and why those actions are frequently taken.]
The hub aims to shift mindsets. To tell parents like Bobby Valle that their child is not a burden, but a life worth investing in.
“Hindi dapat maging pabigat sa pakiramdam ng isang magulang, andito na yung hub to support you,” Raborar added. [A parent should not feel burdened—this hub is here to support you.]
Hub design photo by Chiara Beltramini
Hub design photo by Chiara Beltramini
A Model for the Nation
What started as a vision born out of compassion and equity is now laying the foundation for systemic change.
Once fully operational, the Down Syndrome Hub in Albay hopes to serve as a prototype for other regions across the Philippines.
It also aligns with a larger mission—bridging the healthcare gap between urban centers and rural communities.
“Access to quality healthcare should not be a privilege of those in Metro Manila,” said Houben. “It is a right—especially for children with disabilities.”
A Legacy of Compassion
At the heart of it all is the Paul Foundation, a family initiative born out of personal motivations and a deep desire to make meaningful change.
Their commitment, alongside the strategic coordination of Liliane Fonds and NORFIL Foundation, is now materializing into brick and mortar—and eventually, into hope and healing.
As construction continues, families like the Valles are already beginning to dream again. For once, they are not walking this path alone.
“Ngayon, may sagot na sa tanong namin,” Bobby said. “Hindi na kami maghahanap kung saan dadalhin ang anak namin. Andito na.” [Now, we have an answer to our question,” Bobby said. “We no longer have to search for where to take our child. It’s here.]
This is more than just a hub. It’s a statement: Every child, regardless of diagnosis or geography, deserves a future. | with report from Angela Antivola
