Brave Ahead: Bimby Aquino Takes Charge of Family Care as iCare HMO Brand Ambassador

Filipinos have watched Bimby Aquino grow up in the public eye. Now stepping into adulthood at 19, he is making a major milestone: choosing his first official brand endorsement as an adult - partnering with iCare, an HMO with one of the country’s widest healthcare provider networks.

For Bimby, choosing healthcare for his entry into adulthood is deeply personal. Raised in a household that navigated his mother Kris Aquino’s ongoing battle with autoimmune illnesses, he developed an early understanding of health protection and medical accessibility. 

“But health should not be a privilege, nor should it be a struggle. It should be a given,” he says. “I’m partnering with iCare because every family deserves the care we fought so hard for.”

Having experienced firsthand what access to healthcare can mean for a family, Bimby believes it should not be limited to those who can easily afford it.

Bawal ang Tiis-Sakit: Wais Mom Melai Cantiveros-Francisco Joins iCare to Make Healthcare Accessible for Every Filipino Family

Partnering with iCare Prepaid Cards starting at just ₱100, the ultimate "Wais Mom" challenges the culture of delaying medical care because of budget concerns.

In almost every Filipino household, moms are the ultimate caregivers. They wake up early to prepare meals, manage tight budgets, and make sure everyone is ready for school or work. Yet when it comes to their own health, many moms do something heartbreakingly common—they brush off pain and delay doctor visits to save money.

This pervasive tiis-sakit mentality often leaves families vulnerable, as minor symptoms can escalate into serious medical emergencies that lead to unexpected expenses.

To help break this cycle, iCare has partnered with host, actress, and ultimate Wais Mom, 

Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, as the new face of its iCare Prepaid Cards. Together, they are changing the way Filipinos think about healthcare—not as an expensive luxury, but as an affordable and essential part of everyday family life.

Fast online approval for laboratory requests from MediCard

For some, part of having an HMO is securing a letter of approval (LOA) for laboratory tests requested by doctors to help them diagnose health problems accurately. These tests include blood tests, urinalysis, chest x-ray, among others.

A letter of approval basically confirms that such tests are indeed part of a member’s HMO coverage and authorizes the diagnostic clinic to proceed with the requested tests. However, securing an LOA may mean going through a process that can be slow and inconvenient sometimes: A medical attendant gets your card, then calls the HMO provider to advise them of the laboratory test that needs to be done. Afterwhich, the patient waits for the approval.