The Adventist Medical Center – Bacolod (BAMC) marked its 55th founding anniversary with the blessing and inauguration of the Simplicio A. Palanca Medical Arts Building Wednesday morning, December 8.
The P70 million building was donated by businessman Simplicio “Sammy” Palanca, founder and chairman of the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (BREDCO), who passed away at the age of 98 on July 10, and his family.
The building houses a convenience store in the basement, outpatient department pharmacy and laboratory on the ground floor, 56 doctors’ clinics on the second to fifth floors, and physical therapy and rehabilitation department on the sixth floor.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who delivered a congratulatory message, said “Atty. Palanca was larger than life. He had that vision to turn Bacolod into what it is today”, citing among others his creation of the city’s reclamation area.
Palanca also went the extra mile by donating the P70 million building that is a huge contribution in the service of the community, Leonardia said, adding that he hopes it will further accelerate the growth of BAMC.
He also lauded BAMC for its contribution to the health needs of the city, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Hector G. Gayares Jr., chief executive officer of the Sheer Memorial Adventist Hospital in Nepal and former BAMC chief, thanked the Palanca family for the building, which he said is a wonderful blessing to the hospital.
He also thanked Palanca’s nephew John Alonte, BREDCO president, for making the project possible and businessman Willy Au for facilitating it.
The building stands as a testament of God’s graciousness and blessing, Gayares said.
Rufo Gasapo, BAMC president, also thanked the Palanca family for the magnanimous gift. “May this edifice be forever used only for God’s glory as we continue to share the healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Rolando Corona Jr., Palanca’s grand nephew, said his granduncle as a visionary businessman and philanthropist always envisioned to give back to the community something that would be a great blessing to the people involved in health care, which would last beyond his lifetime.
He noted that his granduncle spent the last years of his life at BAMC.*