When people think of nurses, they often picture men and women in scrubs, standing beside patients, giving medicine, or offering comfort during recovery. For many, nursing is a profession tied to the hospital bedside. But for Marcos “Macky” Bordeos, a 49-year-old Filipino nurse from Bacoor, Cavite, the story is much bigger. His career has taken him from the Philippines to the Middle East, and then to Canada, where he is now not only a practicing nurse but also the Founder, Board Chair, and CEO of McCare Global Group of Companies, a healthcare staffing and recruiting agency that supports nurses and healthcare workers worldwide.
Macky’s journey shows us that nursing is more than a career. It is called a mission, and it can even serve as a pathway to leadership. His story proves that Filipino nurses can thrive anywhere in the world, whether at the bedside of patients or in the boardroom.
Early Life and First Inspiration
Growing up in Bacoor, Cavite, Macky was like many other Filipino children: curious, playful, and deeply influenced by his family. His mother, Mercedes, often told him that nursing was a promising career because it opened doors to work abroad. His eldest sister, Marcela, worked as a nurse in Saudi Arabia and was able to support their family financially. Macky admired her strength and the way nursing allowed her to provide for others.
One childhood memory still makes him smile. He once asked his mom if becoming a nurse abroad could change his dark complexion, as he had noticed that his sister’s skin looked lighter when she returned from overseas. His mom answered “yes,” and in his young mind, that became an early motivation to pursue a career in nursing. Looking back, Macky laughs at the innocence of the thought, but he recognizes that it was also the spark that planted the idea of becoming a nurse.
When he entered university at De La Salle Health and Medical Institute, Macky’s perspective changed. Nursing was not just about going abroad, it was about hard work, compassion, and the responsibility of caring for people in their most vulnerable moments. He discovered that nursing required much more than skill; it demanded resilience, empathy, and a heart ready to serve. This realization transformed nursing from a practical choice into a true calling.
The Professional Journey
Macky has now been in the nursing profession for more than 21 years, including three years as an educator. His career began in the Philippines, where he worked at Perpetual Help Hospital in Las Piñas, De Ocampo Memorial Hospital, and his alma mater, the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute. Seeking broader opportunities, Macky moved to Qatar, where he joined Hamad Medical Corporation, one of the leading healthcare institutions in the Middle East. This experience challenged him to adjust to a new environment with different cultures and healthcare systems. It wasn’t always easy, but he proved his competence and grew stronger in his role.
Later, Macky migrated to Canada, where he began his career at Lakeshore General Hospital in a rural community before transferring to larger institutions, such as Seven Oaks General Hospital and the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He also gained valuable experience as a travel nurse, working across hospitals in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. This constant movement taught him adaptability, strengthened his skills, and provided him with a broader view of healthcare across various settings. Today, Macky has gone beyond bedside care. As the Founder, Board Chair, and CEO of McCare Global Group of Companies, he manages operations not only in Canada but also in the United States, the Philippines, and Australia. His company has deployed and supported hundreds of healthcare workers, making a real difference in global health systems.
A Pivotal Lesson from Family
One of the most defining moments in Macky’s life came when his mother became critically ill and needed hospitalization. For the first time, Macky experienced the healthcare system not as a nurse but as a family member. He saw what it was like to wait, worry, and hope for the best while depending on others to care for someone he loved. This perspective changed him. He realized that nursing care should never stop at the patient-it must also include the family. Families need compassion, clear communication, and emotional support as much as patients require medical treatment. From that point on, Macky made it a priority to practice holistic nursing care that touches the body, mind, and spirit, and extends to loved ones as well. This experience continues to influence his work as both a practicing nurse and a leader. It reminds him that healthcare is not just a system, but a human connection built on empathy and trust.
From Critical Care to Entrepreneurship
Macky specialized in Critical Care, working in emergency rooms and intensive care units (ER/ICU). These environments are known for their intensity, requiring quick thinking, precise skills, and courage. Every decision could mean the difference between life and death. For Macky, this work was challenging but rewarding. Each patient’s recovery felt like a shared victory, not just for the nurse but also for the family waiting outside. However, Macky’s career path did not end with clinical practice. Over time, he realized that many healthcare businesses were being run by people without nursing backgrounds. While some were successful, many lacked fairness, transparency, and proper advocacy for nurses. He saw issues such as unfair pay and limited support for healthcare workers. This inspired Macky to step into nursing entrepreneurship, building healthcare businesses led by someone who understood the realities of nursing. He believed that if non-nurses could succeed in this space, then he, as a nurse, could bring more compassion, fairness, and authenticity. Through McCare, he created a model that ensures fair treatment and genuine support for nurses, allowing them to focus on what matters most caring for patients.
Challenges of a Filipino Nurse Abroad
Like many Filipino nurses working overseas, Macky faced challenges. One of the biggest was proving himself in environments where people sometimes underestimated the skills of Filipino nurses. He often had to work twice as hard to gain trust and respect.
Adapting to new systems, cultures, and practices was also not easy. At times, he experienced subtle discrimination and bias, being judged not for his skills but for his nationality. Instead of letting these moments discourage him, Macky used them as motivation. He leaned on Filipino values of humility, resilience, and malasakit (genuine concern for others) to rise above negativity.
He also endured personal sacrifices, including years of being away from family, missing milestones and celebrations, and dealing with loneliness in a foreign country. But these struggles made him stronger. Eventually, he was able to bring his siblings, nephews, and niece to Canada, and being reunited with his family made all the sacrifices worthwhile.
Motivation and Core Values
What keeps Macky motivated is his deep sense of purpose. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many healthcare workers faced fear and exhaustion, Macky found strength in his values of compassion, empathy, and fairness. He saw how Filipino nurses worldwide stood resilient, and this inspired him to keep creating opportunities for them through his company.
His guiding values are clear: empathy, compassion, fairness, and humility. He believes in listening, learning, and adapting, while fostering collaboration and integrity. For Macky, those who care for others also deserve to be cared for.
Being Filipino has also shaped his identity. He carries with him the spirit of malasakit, along with resilience and adaptability. These traits have allowed him not only to thrive in diverse healthcare systems but also to lead and advocate for others. He believes these cultural strengths give Filipino nurses an edge in the global stage, making them valuable members of any healthcare team.
Building an Impact and Legacy
Macky’s contributions to nursing go beyond his personal achievements. One of his proudest initiatives is his scholarship program for internationally educated nurses in Canada, helping them overcome challenges in gaining credentials. He also supports nursing students in the Philippines by providing financial assistance to cover their daily needs while studying.
Through his upskilling programs, he has helped aged care nurses move into acute care and trained acute care nurses to transition into ER roles. These initiatives not only advance nurses’ careers but also address shortages in rural and remote hospitals, keeping them from closing.
Macky has also opened Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE), with plans to expand further. What makes these facilities unique is that nurses and care aides are not just employees but co-owners and shareholders. This model empowers healthcare workers while ensuring compassionate care for the elderly.
His work has garnered recognition in online magazines, garnered interviews, and won awards. But for Macky, it is not about fame. His goal is to be a blessing to others and to uplift the image of Filipino nurses globally.
Mentorship and Advice to Future Nurses
Macky has mentored countless Filipino nurses, guiding them in both clinical practice and entrepreneurship. He believes that leadership is not just taught, it is caught through example. By working alongside him, young nurses learn his standards, values, and passion for excellence.
His advice to aspiring Filipino nurses is clear: Nursing is not just a career—it is a calling. While many pursue nursing for financial stability, he warns that money alone will not sustain you in such a demanding profession. True fulfillment comes from genuine care, compassion, and commitment to excellence. Recognition, he says, will follow naturally when your heart is in the right place.
“Don’t aspire simply for recognition. Focus on compassion, excellence, and genuine care. Nursing is more than a job-it is a mission. When you give your best with heart and dedication, opportunities will open for you anywhere in the world.”
Life of Purpose
From a young boy in Cavite with a simple dream, to a nurse in busy hospitals across the world, to a CEO of a global healthcare company, Macky Bordeos’ story is a true inspiration. His journey shows the power of resilience, the strength of Filipino values, and the possibilities that open when one combines skill with compassion.
For aspiring nurses, Macky’s life is a reminder that success is not measured only by titles or awards but by the lives touched along the way. His legacy extends not only to the businesses he built but also to the opportunities he created for other nurses, the patients he cared for, and the families he supported.
At its core, his story teaches us this: nursing is not only about saving lives-it is about uplifting humanity.
