Scholars smile with Generika Drugstore and Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) officials during a virtual meet-and-greet before their semester started in August.

Aspiring pharmacist Micaella Abedejos from Davao City is pursuing her degree for a deeply personal reason: she wants to help her sick grandmother, who is taking several medications.

"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," 20-year-old Micaella shared.

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.

“This 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,” she added.

Micaella’s mother is a housewife, and her father works as an informal electronics repairman. Due to their irregular and limited income, it would have been challenging for them to support her college education, especially with three other siblings also in school.

But with her academic excellence and determination, Micaella was one of the chosen beneficiaries of the Enrollment to Employment Scholarship Program of Generika Drugstore, in partnership with Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI).

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 that we serve,” Abarca said.

Generika Drugstore President and CEO Atty. Yet Abarca highlights the value of pharmacists in providing health care and information, especially in far flung communities in the country.

Inspiring stories from Generika scholars

Three other aspiring pharmacists shared their inspiring stories.

Elizabeth Montano of Bacoor, Cavite is another recipient of Generika and AFI’s scholarship program. Just like Micaella, a personal family experience sparked her passion to become a pharmacist.

She 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-intindi rin po, at sa pakikipag-usap sa mga tao. Kasama po lahat ‘yun. Nag-aaral po ako nang mabuti, para as a future pharmacist, masisiguro po nating safe ang patients natin.”

Pharmacist scholar Elizabeth Montano proudly shows her signed scholarship agreement alongside program officers and HR personnel from Generika Drugstore.

Maureen Concon of Davao City, also comes from a family with limited means. Her father, a former seaman, had to stop working due to illness, leaving her family to rely on a small sari-sari store for income.

Before receiving the scholarship, some relatives supported her college education, but she wanted to find other ways to support herself and unburden her folks.

"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,” Maureen added.

Hannah Menor of General Trias, Cavite was overwhelmed with gratitude when she received the scholarship knowing it would greatly help her family.

“Sobrang natuwa po ako kasi po ginusto ko po talagang maka-help sa family namin regarding sa finances tapos nu’ng binalita ko po sa father ko, naiyak rin po sya. Kaya sobrang thankful lang po talaga ako kay Lord for this opportunity,” Hannah recalled.

Hannah stays motivated by remembering her reasons for pursuing pharmacy and the potential 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 kong na-motivate na pagbutihin ‘yung pag-aaral ko. And nare-remind po ako na ‘wag pong bumitaw sa mga pangarap ko po," she added.

Hannah Menor shares her family struggles and personal triumphs as a student during a conversation with Generika Drugstore.

Employment to entrepreneurship

Antonio Lambino II, President of Ayala Foundation Inc., emphasized the exciting potential for these scholars to grow their careers, noting the possibility of entrepreneurship through Generika Drugstore’s network.

“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,” Lambino said.

“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.

(L-R) AFI Senior Director Joanna Duarte, AFI President Tony Lambino, Generika Drugstore President and CEO Atty. Yet Abarca, and Generika Drugstore Chief Transformation Officer and Strategic Support Services Head Ditas Santamaria hold the memorandum of agreement for the enrollment to employment program signed in April this year.

Generika Drugstore’s 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 Area Operations Manager of Generika Drugstore and a registered pharmacist. Starting her career as a pharmacist over 19 years 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,” Asombrado said.

“It was incredibly fulfilling to hear customers share how Generika has touched their lives,” she added.

Vision of uplifting communities

Gino Guinto, Chief Operations Officer of Generika Drugstore, emphasized that this program is a key component of Generika's broader vision to support and uplift communities through various social initiatives.

“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,” Guinto said.