Micaella Abedejos from Davao City is pursuing her degree as a pharmacist. It was for a personal reason that she too up pharmacy- she wants to help her sick grandmother.
"Whenever I come home from school, my grandmother would ask me about her medications, and being able to explain it to her made me happy," said Micaella.
Her knowledge from pharmacy school empowered her to explain to her grandmother the purpose of each medication, helping her manage her health and avoid potential errors. To Micaella, this is the important role pharmacists play in the community- to educate and empower the vulnerable sectors of our society.
"They inspired me to share my knowledge about her medications because I didn't want her taking them without knowing what they were for. I felt motivated to help and make a difference."
Micaella's parents doesn't have a regular income and it was a challenge for her and her siblings to continue going to school. But thru her perseverance and good grades, she was chosen as one of the beneficiaries of Enrollment to Employment Scholarship Program of Generika Drugstore, in partnership with Ayala Foundation Inc.
This initiative responds to the demand for pharmacists, especially in rural areas, by making it possible for students to pursue their studies.
Atty. Yet Abarca, the President and CEO of Generika Drugstore, emphasized that the scholarship program is in fulfillment of its promise to provide ginhawa, by giving Filipino communities access to quality affordable generic medicines. She noted that pharmacists often serve as the primary point of contact for healthcare, especially in underserved areas where drugstores outnumber clinics and hospitals.
"This is really a milestone for us as we embark on this program with Ayala Foundation. Central to our promise of ginhawa is the pharmacist. We take pride in our network of friendly and knowledgeable pharmacists who are at the core of delivering our ginhawa promise to the communities we serve," said Abarca.
Other stories of aspiring pharmacists shared their inspiring journeys- they are Elizabeth Montano, Maureen Concon, and Hannah Menor.
Elizabeth recalls buying the medications of her father when he suffered a stroke and being intrigued by the complex names of the drugs. "Sabi ko, 'Ang hahaba naman ng mga pangalan.' Natutuwa po ako kasi natatandaan ko yung mga gamot." Her curiosity led her to pursue pharmacy, a field she acknowledges is both challenging and rewarding. "Ang dami pong kailangan na skills. Hindi lang po sa memorization, sa pag-iintindi rin po at sa pakikipag-usap sa mga tao. Kasama po lahat yun. Nag-arral po ako ng mabuti, para as a future pharmacist, masisiguro po nating safe ang patients natin."
For Maureen, her family suddenly found themselves relying on a small sari-sari store when her father, a former seaman, had to stop working due to an illness. Some relatives supported her studies but she doesn't want to burden other people. Luckily, she got accepted to the scholarship program. "Parang nabawasan yung worries ko financially kasi I no longer have to ask my parents for an allowance. It also lessens the worries of my parents. Parang 'Yes! May magsu-support sa pag-aaral ko. Wala na silang aalalahanin pa."
It was a different case for Hannah, as she really want to pursue pharmacy because she wanted to help many people in the future. "I'm very thankful for this scholarship opportunity. It's a big help para po sa family namin. And ako personally, as a pharmacy student, mas lalo po akong na-motivate na pagbutihin yung pag-aaral ko. And nare-remind po ako na wag pong bumitaw sa mga pangarap ko."
Antonio Lambino II, President to Ayala Foundation Inc., emphasized the exciting potential for these scholars to grow their careers, noting the possibility of entrepreneurship through Generika Drugstore's net work. "Opening up slots for pharmacy scholars in key Generika Drugstore business locations makes a lot of sense, not just as a business solution but also as support for local community value," said Lambino. "The scholarship to employment track gives Generika Drugstore access to some of the brightest pharmacy students in the country while also contributing to the growth of human capital in the community surrounding these investments."
The pharmacy students awarded with the scholarship have a wide range of promising career paths that they could venture on. Aside from traditional roles in community pharmacies, they can explore opportunities in hospital settings, pharmaceutical research, regulatory affairs, and even entrepreneurship through drugstore ownership.
Generika Drugstores' Enrollment to Employment Program ensures that scholars not only have the support to complete their studies but also access to meaningful careers within the Generika network, where they can directly help communities by providing affordable, quality healthcare.
A perfect example of this is Riza Asombrado, NCR Operations Manager of Generika Drugstore and a registered pharmacists. Starting her career as a pharmacists over 19 yrs ago, she steadily rose through the ranks. But more than the job title, it's the ability to give back to the community that fueled her passion. "I thought my role as a pharmacist was limited to reading prescriptions, dispensing medicines and managing inventory. However, joining Generika made me realize the broader impact that I could have in this profession. It was incredibly fulfilling to hear customers share how Generika has touched their lives."
"Over the next two years, we'll be embarking on this exciting journey together. We at Generika Drugstore are truly excited about this program- this is the very first scholarship initiative we've launched, and it's something close to our hearts," said Gino Guinto, COO at Generika Drugstore.
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