The Medical City, Allure Philippines champion early cancer detection with DNA testing | The Medical City

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The Medical City, Allure Philippines champion early cancer detection with DNA testing

By The Medical City (TMC), Ortigas | August 29, 2025

The Medical City, Allure Philippines champion early cancer detection with DNA testing

The Medical City and Allure Philippines teams during the Health Check Day event at The Medical City’s Wellness and Aesthetics Institute.

The Medical City (TMC), in partnership with Allure Philippines, spotlighted a breakthrough in proactive healthcare during the Allure Philippines Health Check Day at TMC’s Wellness and Aesthetics Institute (WAI). At the center of the event was SPOT-MAS, a revolutionary DNA-based blood test that allows the early detection of 10 common and aggressive types of cancer.

A New Era in Proactive Healthcare

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the Philippines, and many Filipinos discover the disease only at an advanced stage. By introducing SPOT-MAS, The Medical City champions innovation in early detection, empowering Filipinos to take charge of their health before symptoms even appear.

Unlike traditional approaches, SPOT-MAS uses a simple blood draw to detect cancer-related markers in DNA. The test provides doctors and patients with an early warning system, guiding next steps for further medical evaluation.

“A lot of times, when a physician would take a look at you, they would look at the problem at hand. [But] true wellness is being able to evaluate not just the problem at hand, but everything else [about] that person,” said Dr. Christian Flores, Director of TMC’s Wellness and Aesthetics Institute, noting that this is because patients would often only see a doctor when they feel something is wrong already. 

SPOT-MAS, an advanced DNA test, detects approximately 70% of cancers, including many at early and more treatable stages. By using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Artificial Intelligence technologies, it can scan the circulating tumor DNA of cancer cells before signs and symptoms appear. The test screens for different types of cancer, namely breast, lung, liver, colorectal, stomach, ovary, uterus, esophagus, pancreas, and head & neck cancers. 

“It will guide the person and the [doctor] [on] what would be the next steps. Since it’s a multiple-in-one cancer screening, you’ll be able to focus on things that can pop out of the result,” Flores said.

Influencers Unite for Health

To drive the message of proactive wellness, celebrity advocates and influencers came together at the event, sharing their own experiences and reasons for undergoing the test.

A panel discussion, led by Dr. Flores, was also held, with Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves and Actress Bianca Umali.


Wellness and Aesthetics Institute Director Dr. Christian Flores with actress Bianca Umali, Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves, and Allure Philippines Managing Editor Larissa Joson.


During the event, Umali shared her experience when she lost her mother to breast cancer when she was five years old, emphasizing that she doesn’t want any other young woman to deal with what she had to go through growing up without a parent. She partnered with TMC as early as 2023 for the “Babae sa Babae” campaign.



Bianca Umali at the Health Check Day event of TMC and Allure Philippines.


“It is my dream to become a mother and to have a child. And I want to have a longer life because there are people who rely on me and who provide love to me,” she said. 



Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 and Miss Universe Philippines 2025 first runner-up Winwyn Marquez gets her blood drawn for her SPOT-MAS test at The Medical City’s Wellness and Aesthetics Institute on August 19, 2025.

Winwyn Marquez, Miss Universe Philippines 2025 first runner-up, underwent the SPOT-MAS test after finding a benign lump on her breast recently. 

“There’s a lump [on my breast] and [doctors] told me to get it checked. Luckily, it’s benign….It’s a priority for me to put myself first, and this SPOT-MAS [test], is gonna give me peace of mind that I can be with my daughter, I can move around, I’m risk-free. And if there is something spotted, I know there are measures that could help me as well,” Winwyn shared.



Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves gets her SPOT-MAS test, a DNA blood draw test to detect early signs of cancer, at The Medical City’s Wellness and Aesthetics Institute on August 19, 2025.


Nicole Cordoves, Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up, shares the importance of early detection as a way to achieve longevity and “carve out that life that you want to live.” She adds that getting detailed information is a way for people to listen to their bodies and their capabilities. 

Beatrice Luigi Gomez, Miss Universe Philippines 2021, highlighted her regular women’s health checkups at TMC. 

“I always come here [at TMC] for a women’s health checkup. SPOT-MAS is very important because of early detection for cancer and I already have existing masses in my breast. That’s why I come here to update every six months. So I think this test would be very helpful.” 

Paolo Abrera, television host, emphasized the importance of normalizing health checks: “I think regardless of whether or not you have a history in the family, catching these things early is the only way that you’re only going to be able to take charge of your health.”

Actor and host Richard Juan, as well as beauty queens Hannah Arnold and Katrina Llegado, also graced the event. 


Beauty queens Hannah Arnold, Winwyn Marquez, Beatrice Luigi Gomez, Katrina Llegado, and Nicole Cordoves with Allure Philippines Editor-in-Chief Rissa Mananquil Trillo.


Making Advanced Testing Accessible to Filipinos

For many years, advanced DNA cancer screening was only available overseas, making it costly and inaccessible for most Filipinos. With The Medical City bringing SPOT-MAS to the Philippines, patients now have access to world-class innovation without leaving the country.

This initiative is part of TMC’s broader commitment to transform healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive, preventive wellness. By combining medical expertise, advanced technology, and the voices of advocates, TMC is making early detection more visible, approachable, and attainable.

To receive more information on SPOT-MAS and services offered at the Wellness and Aesthetics Institute, fill out the form below or contact 8988-1000 local 6576/6579/6386.




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