June 9, 2026 Leadership Rooted in Faith and Service: Meet Br. Joaquin Severino S. Martinez, FSC, Independent Director of iCare
Strong governance requires more than experience. It calls for independent judgment, moral courage, and leaders who remain steadfast in placing people at the center of every decision. At iCare, Br. Joaquin Severino S. Martinez, FSC, more widely known as Bro. Kenneth, brings to the iCare Board of Directors a lifetime devoted to faith, education, servant leadership, and ethical stewardship.
As an Independent Director, Bro. Kenneth provides an objective and values-based perspective that strengthens the Board’s oversight of corporate governance, accountability, and long-term sustainability. His decades of leadership within the Lasallian educational community reinforce iCare’s belief that sustainable organizations are built not only on sound business decisions but also on integrity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to serving others.
Today, iCare ranks among the Philippines’ top three Health Maintenance Organizations in terms of membership fee revenue, reflecting the confidence that employers, organizations, and individual members continue to place in the Company. Bro. Kenneth’s independent voice on the Board helps ensure that this continued growth remains anchored in ethical leadership, responsible governance, and the Company’s enduring purpose of improving lives through accessible healthcare.
A De La Salle Brother for more than four decades, Bro. Kenneth has dedicated his vocation to forming leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion. He currently serves as President of the University of St. La Salle and President of St. Joseph High School La Salle in Bacolod City, where he has championed academic excellence, faith formation, institutional development, research, international collaboration, and meaningful engagement with communities. Under his leadership, the University has continued to strengthen its reputation as one of the Philippines’ leading Catholic and Lasallian institutions of higher learning.
His leadership journey has included serving as President and Chancellor of De La Salle Lipa, President of De La Salle Canlubang, Vice President for Academics and Formation, Director of Campus Ministry, theology professor, and spiritual mentor. Across every institution he has served, Bro. Kenneth has consistently promoted a culture where excellence is inseparable from faith, service, and respect for the dignity of every person.
Beyond his institutional responsibilities, Bro. Kenneth continues to contribute to the advancement of Catholic and Lasallian education through leadership roles in the International Association of La Salle Universities, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), and the Private Education Retirement Annuity Association. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to strengthening educational institutions while fostering collaboration, ethical leadership, and service to society.
A licensed pharmacist by profession, Bro. Kenneth earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of the Philippines, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Ateneo de Manila University, and a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He has also completed executive leadership programs at Harvard University, The Wharton School, the Asian Institute of Management, and other internationally respected institutions, reflecting his lifelong commitment to continuous learning and responsible leadership.
His lifelong dedication to education, faith, and nation-building has earned him numerous distinctions, including the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Service Award from the University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy, recognizing his outstanding contributions to education, leadership, and public service.
As an Independent Director of iCare, Bro. Kenneth brings more than governance experience. He brings a perspective shaped by faith, humility, and service, reminding the Board that behind every policy, every strategic decision, and every healthcare benefit is a person, a family, and a community. His independent counsel helps strengthen iCare’s commitment to ethical governance, accountability, and compassionate leadership as the Company continues enabling more Filipinos to say yes to better health.
