Our dedicated team at Akari provides compassionate, personalized care to guide you on your path to recovery and wellness.
The visionary founder of AKARI Wellness and Treatment Hub, bringing her passion for holistic healing and wellness into the forefront of addiction recovery. With a deep commitment to helping individuals overcome personal struggles, she has built a center that provides comprehensive, compassionate care. Her approach emphasizes not only treating the addiction but also nurturing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.
With over three decades of continuous sobriety and service, Jerry Leonor stands as one of the most respected and time-honored figures in the Philippine recovery community. A pillar of the 12-Step Program and a mentor to countless individuals on their path to sobriety, Jerry brings both a deep understanding of structured recovery and a profound commitment to the inner journey of healing.
Jerry’s experience spans some of the most reputable treatment centers in the country. He spent 8 years with New Beginnings in Manila, followed by 9 years with New Day Recovery Center in Davao, where he played a key role in guiding clients through early and sustained recovery. He was instrumental in the founding and growth of Pathway to Recovery, shaping it into a supportive space for those seeking a second chance at life.
In 2024, Jerry expanded his approach to include Refuge Recovery, offering free community sessions for newcomers seeking a non-theistic, mindfulness-based path. By 2025, he also began integrating teachings from A Course of Miracles, helping individuals develop a deeper, more personal spiritual foundation—especially those seeking recovery beyond traditional frameworks.
Jerry’s approach is both compassionate and incisive. He brings a rich, lived understanding of various recovery paths, a deep spiritual insight, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of connection, presence, and personal responsibility.
At the core of his work is a simple truth: he has walked the path himself. And today, he continues to guide others with humility, wisdom, and a deep reverence for the process of healing.
With over 20 years of experience, Benjie Cabinian is a seasoned Consultant and Family Therapist, offering guidance and support to families affected by addiction and other challenges.
With over 8 years of sobriety and more than 7 years of experience in addiction treatment, Jouel “Joe” Brown brings both professional expertise and lived experience to his work. Trained in the Universal Treatment Curriculum by the Colombo Plan and mentored by internationally recognized addiction experts, Joe leads with a compassionate, client-driven approach.
Combining 12-Step education, CBT, and group and individual counseling, Joe helps clients rediscover a new way of life—one built on sobriety, resilience, and hope. As a member of ISSUP, he remains at the forefront of global best practices, delivering programs grounded in respect, empowerment, and lasting recovery.
20+ years of experience as a social work practitioner and educator
Trained in:
Trauma Informed Care
Community Resiliency Model
Motivational Interviewing
Bereavement Counseling
Case Management
Volunteer Management
Others
A former model and actor during the 1980s, Lito Gruet transitioned into the rehabilitation field, where he served as a Rehab Director for 11 years. Over the past 24 years, he has devoted his life to combating addiction, focusing on saving children through drug awareness symposiums held in various schools and universities. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director of the Battle Against Ignorance Foundation, where he leads efforts to rescue street dwellers, providing them with the opportunity for a second chance at life.
International Certified Addiction Recovery Specialist (ICARS)
International Certified Recovery Coach (ICRC)
10+ years of experience in addiction treatment and recovery support
Expertise in case management, recovery coaching, sober companionship, and program facilitation (local & international)
Facilitator of Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Programs
Member of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals & Philippine Mental Health Association
Volunteer at Asian Recovery Network
In long-term recovery (11 years), offering both expertise and personal understanding
Special focus on women & LGBTQIA+ clients
I am Dr. Allyn Ralph B. Hiyas, a physician whose journey in medicine has been shaped by a blend of public service, clinical practice, teaching, and research. I first served as the Medical Officer of MCSAPO from 2023 to 2024, an experience that strengthened my dedication to community-oriented healthcare. Since 2023, I have continued to practice as a DOH fully accredited physician, steadily expanding my roles across various institutions.
In 2024, I began serving as a General Physician in the Pediatric Department of Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital, a role I held until 2025. This opportunity deepened my exposure to pediatric care and further enriched my clinical foundation. By 2025, I also joined Barili District Hospital, and shortly after, I began working with Akari, broadening my professional horizons even more.
My passion for teaching led me to become a part-time faculty member at Cebu Doctors’ University in 2025, where I now help shape the next generation of healthcare professionals. Beyond the bedside and classroom, I also engage in meaningful research. I co-authored the study “Enrollment of Females in Randomized Trials for Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists: A Systematic Review,” collaborating with a multidisciplinary healthcare team to advocate for better representation in clinical trials.
Outside of medicine, I am a devoted cat lover, raising eight cats together with my girlfriend, our little furry family that brings warmth and joy into our everyday life.
B.S. Nursing, Cebu Doctors’ University, 2000
M.A. Nursing, Cebu Doctors’ University, 2005
Major in Family Health Nursing, including: Psychiatric Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Maternal and Child Nursing, Community Health Nursing
Ph.D. in Organization Development, Cebu Doctors’ University, 2008
Staff Nurse, Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu City (2000–2003)
Faculty, Cebu Doctors’ University – College of Nursing (2000–2013)
Subjects Taught: Psychiatric Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Communicable Disease Nursing, Nursing Research
Hospital Affiliations: VSMMC Psychiatric Ward, Banaglaum Homes (Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Center), Cebu Doctors’ Hospital, North General Hospital, Mactan Doctors’ Hospital
Faculty, Cebu Doctors’ University – Graduate School (2010–2013)
Surveillance Nurse, Emergency Operation Center, Mandaue City Health Office (December 2020)
Company Hotel Nurse, bai Hotel Cebu, Mandaue City (2021)
Dialysis Nurse, Medipro Dialysis Center, Mandaue City (2024)
Compassionate and kind-hearted nurse
Overseas Filipino Worker – Hong Kong, Household Services Worker (HSW), 2015–2016
Overseas Filipino Worker – Kuwait, Royal Family Cook, 2012–2013
Housekeeping & Beautification
Cooking
Thankful to her mother, Eriberta, for the cooking skills she has learned
Loving mother of 3 children; enjoys cooking Arabic food
“Time is gold. Learn how to value resources since they can’t be recovered once they’re gone.”
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