THE GROUP of businessman Roberto V. Ongpin has invested at least P350 million in a wellness center with world-class diagnostic facilities and medical team in each of its two leisure clubs—The City Club in Makati and island-resort Balesin Island Club.
Alphaland Corp., which developed both upscale clubs, inaugurated “Aegle Wellness Center” on the 6th floor of The City Club in Makati last week. Another “Aegle” facility in Balesin is now under construction and is targeted to serve members and their guests by January, Alphaland president Mario Oreta said in a text message.
The branding is inspired by Aegle, the goddess of radiant good health in Greek mythology. Ongpin said: “it seemed appropriate that since the facility we are building in Balesin is adjacent to the Mykonos Beach Villas, Aegle was a fitting name for the unique wellness center that we envisioned.”
Ongpin was inspired by the booming spa/wellness center industry worldwide, which is now estimated to be a $2 trillion business globally and still growing at a very rapid space. He said he did extensive research on the industry before investing in such facilities.
“I decided that a wellness center did not make sense unless we had complete, world-class diagnostic facilities from day one. I was convinced that only through complete diagnosis of each patient’s vital functions could a facility accurately call itself a wellness center,” Ongpin said in a letter to club members announcing the new amenity.
“The second element that I insisted on was that each facility be staffed with the best medical doctors, nutritionists and physical therapists that would (make the facility) at par with the world’s leading wellness centers,” he said.
To create the medical center, Alphaland has teamed up with Claude Chauchard, one of the world’s leading authorities on wellness and anti-ageing, and Ben Valdecañas, who was named Aegle medical director.
Chauchard is the founder and chair of La Clinique de Paris International, a well-established weight loss and longevity clinic with branches in Paris, Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea, Middle East and USA. Has developed a unique approach to total ageing management which goes beyond cosmetics but is rooted in a medically based systematic regimen that builds and regenerates from the inside.
Valdecañas is a specialist in regenerative medicine research for both hospital-based programs and clinical applications. He uses the latest that molecular biology in optimizing health and human performance through customized micro-nutrient supplementation, personalized exercise programs and careful attention to diet and nutrition.