Insider Spotlight
Why it matters
Sleep apnea affects millions of Filipinos, including an estimated five in 50 children. Yet symptoms such as snoring, mouth breathing, low energy, or even unusual hyperactivity are often dismissed as ordinary behavior.
Because early signs are easy to overlook, many cases slip by undiagnosed, delaying care that could dramatically improve a child’s development and daily functioning.
Parents' search for answers
For couple Jacky Ang and Perkin Chai, the journey began with small red flags. Their children slept with their mouths open, appearing simply tired at first. It wasn’t until a medical consult and diagnostic tests that they confronted the unfamiliar realities of pediatric sleep apnea.
Hospital-based sleep studies, they learned, often involve strict schedules and overnight stays in unfamiliar environments that can overwhelm children. Experiencing it firsthand opened their eyes to the emotional and logistical toll it places on families.
Wanting to fully understand their children’s condition, they dug deeper into sleep apnea research and available testing options.
“We wanted to know what we could do to give our kids the best chance for better sleep,” Ang shared.
That search eventually became the foundation for Hele.
A clinic built from a family’s need
Hele positions itself as a sleep clinic offering world-class diagnostics with comfort at the center of its design philosophy.
“We wanted to build a clinic where patients and their families can feel safe, relaxed, and cared for, in a more private, stress-free space even while undergoing a test,” she said.
The clinic operates through private rooms at Makati Diamond Hotel, giving families a hotel-level environment with added security, flexible scheduling, and space for caregivers — all included in the basic testing package.
Patients can check in like regular guests, move freely before the test, and settle comfortably without the sterile pressure of a hospital setting.
Tests are conducted by sleep-trained technicians, and results are interpreted by a partner sleep doctor, ensuring medical accuracy while maintaining the environment’s calming feel.
The bigger picture
Pediatric sleep apnea’s subtle signs mean many families may not realize they’re dealing with a serious condition.
“We felt that if this was a surprise to us, how many more people are in the same boat? It made us realize na posibleng maraming unaware sa realities and threats of sleep apnea, especially to kids,” said Chai.
For the couple, Hele is the place they wished existed when they were navigating the uncertainties of their own children’s diagnosis. It’s designed to make sleep testing clearer, smoother, and less intimidating — delivering hospital-grade care in a space that feels reassuring.
Families who notice snoring, nighttime awakenings, or chronic mouth breathing are encouraged to consult a doctor and explore sleep testing options. — Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
