The Visionaries: Alan and Amabel’s Journey to Healthcare Success

Twenty-five years ago, Filipino immigrants Alan and Amabel De Leon stood before each other and promised a lifetime of love—in sickness and in health. What their vows did not explicitly say, but what life would soon reveal, was a commitment to grow together through risk and reward, through uncertainty and abundance, and through a shared vision that would carry them far beyond survival and into entrepreneurial success.

Filipino American couple Alan De Leon and Amabel Nugpo-De Leon celebrate this year their 25th year of success in both home health business and marriage

In many ways, theirs is a story of partnership taken to its fullest expression—marriage as both a sacred bond and a strategic alliance, nurtured with faith, patience, and an unshakable sense of purpose.

Building the Dream Together

Early on, the road was anything but smooth. Amabel left the stability of years spent working in nursing facilities to step into entrepreneurship, choosing to build a business alongside her husband. Alan, in turn, relinquished his position as Director of Rehabilitation at a clinic to help establish a home health agency in California. Together, they took a leap of faith toward what could be described as a leveled-up version of the American Dream.

A happy, loving union blessed with three good-natured sons. 

That leap resulted in Vanura Homehealth Services, founded in California’s Inland Empire—where they also raised their growing family. Through prayer, perseverance, and unwavering teamwork, Alan and Amabel were blessed with three sons—Alec, Aaron, and Andre—and a business that not only endured but flourished.

Team Vanura Homehealth Services Arizona during its 2025 Christmas party gathering

Rooted in deep spirituality and a shared passion for healthcare excellence, Vanura’s growth became inevitable. What began as a single agency expanded into multiple companies that today employ hundreds of professionals and serve countless patients across communities in the United States.

Vanura earned a reputation for professionalism, consistency, and quality care—so much so that people began referring to it as one of the top home health agencies in its region. The De Leons, once newcomers navigating risk, had become seasoned leaders at the helm of a thriving enterprise.

Same Direction, Same Journey

Last December, I had the privilege of witnessing their partnership up close during a particularly meaningful work week. Alan and Amabel invited me to join them on a road trip from Southern California to Sterling Grove in Surprise, Arizona, a meticulously designed model home they acquired due to its proximity to Vanura AZ, their expanding operation near Phoenix.

International Filipino singing sensation and 1991 Voice of Asia winner Maribeth Pascua, whose rendition of Denpasar Moon made her a  star in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, was a special guest at the Vanura AZ party held at the clubhouse of Sterling Grove, in Surprise, Arizona, USA. 

The purpose of the trip was both professional and personal: Vanura AZ’s Christmas party—a moment to celebrate a growing workforce whose presence and progress mattered deeply to them.

We stayed in a gated community complete with a clubhouse and golf carts for residents. A few colleagues from DeNu Consulting, where both Alan and Amabel maintain separate offices, joined us. Their workspace arrangement reflects their dynamic perfectly—distinct roles, separate responsibilities, yet close enough to consult each other without barriers. Together in vision, just steps apart in execution.

Alan and Amabel De Leon regularly give awards to deserving employees. 

“Being on the road together makes us go through the business and our personal lives as one,” Amabel shared with a smile during a brief snack stop. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t see each other often.”

During the long drive across sweeping desert landscapes, I noticed something striking. While both are articulate speakers and commanding leaders in professional settings, they spoke little during the journey. Instead, music filled the car—classic hits blended with contemporary tunes—creating a calm, reflective atmosphere.

Alan drove steadily. Amabel sat quietly beside him. No need for constant conversation. Their connection spoke for itself.

Time, Chosen Together

Alan and Amabel met as strangers after both relocating to the U.S. in the 1990s. By 2001, they were married—and in that same year, they launched Vanura.

“From the very beginning, we planned to be together,” Amabel reflected. “It didn’t matter where or how, as long as we were together. If something pulled us apart, it wasn’t worth it. I never aimed for material things.”

That philosophy remains visible in how they move—together at business functions, family trips, staff gatherings, and everyday moments. Their closeness fuels clarity in decision-making and anchors the leadership of their growing enterprises.

For the De Leons, togetherness is not a luxury—it is a necessity. Their success in healthcare and marriage stems from being truly intact: united in mind, body, and spirit. Marriage, for them, is not merely a vow or a legal agreement—it is a lived commitment.

With the power couple, along with select personnel from their “firehouse” team of leaders.”

A House Filled With Gratitude

The Arizona Christmas party at Sterling Grove Clubhouse was a testament to that commitment. Against the cool desert night, Vanura AZ staff and guests gathered for an evening of celebration, games, performances, and recognition. Awards were handed to outstanding team members who helped steer the now five-year-old company forward.

Employees showcased singing and dancing talents, while internationally renowned vocalist Maribeth Pascua, a family friend also known as the Voice of Asia, delivered a stirring Christmas performance.

In her speech, Amabel reminded everyone of faith and teamwork:
“We serve one patient at a time. We’ll figure it out. David only needed one stone. When you have a team rooting for you, you can do anything.”

Alan spoke briefly but meaningfully.
“The five-hour drive from California gave us time to reflect on these 25 years,” he said. “It all comes down to gratitude.”

Back at their home, shared meals, laughter, and quiet moments revealed another side of the power couple—Alan grilling steaks, Amabel managing the household with effortless grace. Clinician and nurse by training, their roots remain visible in how they live: grounded, capable, attentive to detail.

Holding Hands Through It All

On the drive back to California, music once again filled the car. When Christian Bautista’s “The Way You Look at Me” played, something beautiful unfolded.

Without a word, Alan and Amabel reached for each other and held hands—staying that way until the song ended.

It was a simple gesture, yet deeply profound. A quiet affirmation of a marriage built on intention, faith, and shared purpose. A reminder that from love comes family, from partnership comes enterprise, and from unity comes the power to serve communities with compassion and hope.

In every sense, the De Leon story is proof that when two people move through life together—truly together—success follows naturally.