The Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City was established through Presidential Decree No. 673 issued by president Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1975. Its original name was the Philippine Heart Center for Asia and was changed to its current form in 1975. It was inaugurated on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1975 and graced by renowned cardiovascular experts such as Dr. Christiaan Barnard, Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. Donald Effler, and Dr. Charles Bailey.
The first Director of the PHC was Dr. Avenilo P. Aventura (1974-1986), a cardiovascular surgeon who performed many pioneering operations in the Philippines including the first successful renal transplantation in 1970, the first CABG in 1972, and developed and implanted the first ASEAN bioprosthesis, the PHCA porcine valve. The first patient to be admitted to the PHC was Ms. Imelda Francisco on April 14, 1975.