Mark Brillo Kalaw Torregoza
Co-owner
MD Solutions Inc.
AT 27, Mark Brillo Kalaw Torregoza is doing more than just designing buildings; he is shaping systems of care. As the co-owner of MD Solutions Inc., the young architect has quietly carved a niche in one of the most complex sectors of health care infrastructure: the dialysis center.
What began as an unexpected project has evolved into a full-service enterprise offering design, construction, compliance and operational management. But behind the technical precision lies a deeply personal story that informs every line he draws.
“I always say, you don’t need a lot of money to start,” Torregoza told The Manila Times. “What you need are the right skills, determination and the confidence to believe in yourself.”
Torregoza’s path to architecture was anything but conventional. Growing up in Oriental Mindoro, he envisioned a life at sea, following the footsteps of his father, a marine engineer.
“That was really the only thing I knew,” he recalled. Encouraged by his sister, he instead enrolled at the Divine Word College of Calapan. What started as a reluctant choice soon became a passion. “I wasn’t even the best at drawing. What mattered more was understanding, learning and improving.”
He graduated in 2020, facing the dual pressures of the K–12 transition and a global pandemic. His early career was defined by struggle. With few resources, he relied on tools left behind by his father and the trust of his first clients — a dental clinic that waited for him to secure his license before breaking ground.
Built on resilience
Behind these professional milestones was a series of profound personal losses. His father went missing at sea, and his mother eventually required dialysis treatments that placed immense emotional and financial strain on the family.
“There was a time when dialysis cost around P3,000 per session, three times a week,” he said. “It was very difficult for us.”
The loss of his mother shortly before his graduation and the passing of his mentor left a lasting mark. “I used to feel like every achievement came with a loss,” Torregoza admitted. “Over time, I found meaning in those experiences. In every rejection, there is redirection.”
The inception of MD Solutions was sparked by a single project in San Pedro, Laguna. While supervising construction for a dialysis center, Torregoza discovered the plans failed to meet Department of Health standards.
“I had to revise the plans multiple times to comply,” he explained. This experience revealed a widespread issue: many centers were not optimally designed for patient care or regulatory compliance. As his work gained traction on social media, referrals from doctors began to pour in.
Today, MD Solutions offers a turnkey package. Unlike general health care facilities, dialysis centers require strict technical adherence and efficient layouts.
Designing for mom
Personal experience remains Torregoza’s North Star. Site visits to active centers can still be emotionally taxing, reminding him of his mother’s time in the chair. Rather than distancing himself, he channels that memory into his blueprints.
“When I design, I always ask myself: ‘Would this be comfortable for my mother?’” Torregoza said.
This perspective leads to thoughtful details that go beyond code — accessible pathways, strategically placed charging outlets for long hours of treatment and seating arrangements designed for maximum comfort.
While MD Solutions has expanded into supply chain and joint ventures, Torregoza remains grounded. His ultimate goal is to bring this expertise back to his hometown in Mindoro.
“This was never part of my original plan, but sometimes, the path you didn’t choose becomes the one that defines you,” he said. “Do everything with love, and you will be rewarded with peace in your heart.”
For Torregoza, the strongest foundations are not made of concrete and steel, but of empathy and lived experience.
Not all clients are doctors or familiar with how dialysis centers operate, so we help bridge that gap by providing management support.”
What is your biggest fear?
Not being able to provide the best for my family.
What really makes you angry?
Partiality.
What motivates you to work hard?
My family — especially my wife and my son.
What makes you laugh the most?
My 1-year-old boy.
What would you do if you won the lotto?
I would build a dialysis center, and the profits would go to charity — an investment for the community.
If you could share a meal with any individual, living or dead, who would they be?
My father.
What was the last book you read?
“Master Your Emotions.”
Which celebrity would you like to meet for coffee?
Anne Curtis.
What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
Walking through open doors — taking opportunities even when uncertain.
What is one thing you will never do again?
Tolerating people who treat me badly.