Introduction: Over the past decade, there has been robust transformation in healthcare delivery systems worldwide driven by the need to prioritize person-centeredness and achieve safer, higher quality care. Despite this trend, emerging economies like the Philippines have fallen behind due to a fragmented system, under-resourced infrastructure, lag in digitalization, policy gap and culture. We present a framework for leveraging High Reliability Organization (HRO) and Person Centered Care (PCC) principles as a foundational lever for healthcare transformation (HCT) for an emerging tertiary healthcare institution. Methods: A multi-disciplinary leadership team was chartered to form the Institute for Advancing Care Transformation (i-ACT) in Manila, Philippines . Literature, expert guidance and conceptual framework for PCC, HRO and Governance were reviewed. Key pillars of Clinical Effectiveness, Quality and Patient Safety, PCC, Innovation/Digitalization, Service/Advocacy and Principled Governance were established. An inter-disciplinary team for each pillar defined the Structure, Process and Outcome to guide operational readiness. Results: Key interventions to date included: Development of a culturally adaptive patient experience survey tool and obtaining baseline data to inform process design from the ground up.  Establishment of Patient and Family Advisory Council to co-design processes, services and patient facing tools with patients and families. Partnering with physician leaders to define digitalization roadmap. Enabling transformational leadership through active learning workshops and seminars focused on HRO, PCC and governance, and collaborating with experts to leverage lessons learned from global transformation. Conclusion: i-ACT is the first institute in the Philippines dedicated to advancing HCT.  This presents a model for redesigning HC systems from inception to build a culture that will support a safer, higher quality, truly person-centered healthcare for all. The organization will embed PCC and HRO principles to “hire-for-culture” fit as the next step, co-create the culture we desire with patients and providers and blend local innovation with international expertise.