HEMODIALYSIS? It now dictates everything. Figuratively speaking, it has become almost synonymous with suffering.
Why?
In medical terms, it is a life-sustaining process. Let us be clear: those who need hemodialysis are patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or acute kidney failure.
Now, consider the numbers. Based on records from the National Kidney Institute (NKI), there were around 70,000 ESRD patients in 2025, while some seven million Filipinos are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Imagine how many of them require regular hemodialysis nationwide.
Closer to home, in Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region, some 257,000 dialysis claims were filed in just the first six months of 2025. That alone underscores one reality—hemodialysis is no longer optional; it is in demand, including in Negros Occidental.
LIFE-SAVING EMERGENCY
Let us be medically conscious about renal and kidney diseases—conditions that often require patients to undergo hemodialysis two to three times a week.
Hemodialysis is, in essence, a life-saving intervention meant to prolong life for those suffering from kidney failure. The process, which takes three to four hours, involves drawing blood through a vascular access (fistula, graft, or catheter), filtering it through a dialyzer to remove waste and excess fluids, and returning the cleansed blood to the body.
So, what does this mean on the ground?
Enter the politicians—public servants who recognize the urgency. A hemodialysis center has now become a necessity. Every district, every city, if possible, wants one.
But it is not that simple. It cannot be built overnight. It requires space, significant investment, and, more importantly, a pool of nephrologists—specialists in kidney care—willing to establish and operate such a facility.
INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE
Sagaynons and residents of northern Negros Occidental are, therefore, incredibly fortunate.
Negros Occidental 2nd District’s Cong. Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III, together with Sagay’s Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” Cueva, joined forces to construct a facility beside the Alfredo E. Marañon Sr. District Hospital (AEMSDH), dedicated to a hemodialysis and diagnostic center.
A private partner, the Holy Mother of Mercy (HMOM) group led by Drs. Jude Thaddeus Garcia and Nestor Amante, will lease the building and manage its operations.
Beyond dialysis, the HMOM Hemodialysis and Diagnostic Center in Sagay will also offer chemotherapy and physical therapy services for cancer and stroke patients. The facility officially opened on March 20 as one of the highlights of the city’s 30th Sinigayan Festival.
Most importantly, PhilHealth members from Sagay and nearby areas in northern Negros Occidental may avail themselves of these services free of charge.
GIST OF THE PIECE
But beyond the structure and the services, this piece is really about one thing—real care for people.
Real care is about consistently prioritizing both emotional and physical well-being, grounded in empathy and respect for human dignity.
The Marañons are not just politicians; they have become, in many ways, practitioners of this kind of care. Cousins Thirdy and Bebo are carrying forward a legacy in public service—one that has long been written into the history of Negros Occidental.
NOTABLE LEGACIES
Recall the Marañon brothers—the late governors Joseph “319” and Freddie “02.” Their legacies continue to shape the province:
For environment and agriculture:
* Sagay Marine Reserve, a 32,000-hectare protected seascape
* Provincial Ordinance No. 007-07 declaring Negros Occidental as the country’s “Organic Farming Capital” and banning GMOs
* Negros First Ranch in Murcia
For health services:
* Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City
* Negros First Provincial Blood Center (NFPBC)
* Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) for indigent families
For education:
* Negros Occidental Learning, Information and Technology Center (NOLITC)
For infrastructure:
* Negros First Cyber Center
* Negros First Food Terminal
‘POLITICAL SIGNATURE’
Now, with Thirdy and Bebo at the helm of the 2nd District and Sagay City, respectively, the next generation appears intent on expanding that legacy.
Thirdy, son of “02,” and Bebo, his first cousin, are not merely inheriting a political name—they are shaping it.
Providing Sagay with its own hemodialysis center is not just a project. It is a statement—a political signature of bringing essential services closer to the people.
‘PACKAGE OF HOPE’
In the end, real care begins with compassion. Compassion breeds kindness. And kindness gives rise to hope.
That hope is what the Marañons are offering—a tangible, life-saving package for their constituents.
The HMOM Hemodialysis and Diagnostic Center stands as a “package of hope” for every Sagaynon and Negrense battling kidney disease. Bringing such a facility closer to the people is more than governance—it is a commitment to humane, responsive leadership.
Call it what it is: hope-driven leadership./PN
