I bet many of us do not know that this is the original Mercury Drug store…read more The biggest pharmacy chain in the country started in this very spot. The reason I know this is my mom and her siblings used to "ration" meaning deliver food orders to the store when they were kids. My maternal grandma used to run a small panciteria along Bambang, walking distance from this store. Mom would recount how the pharmacy used to have a dispensing machine for Magnolia chocolait, and the owners would treat them to an endless supply, as much as they could consume, whenever they delivered food. Every day after school back when I was in elementary, I would walk from school to the panciteria, and would pass by Mercury Drug. At that time, we don't have any relationship with the owners anymore, because they've since become a chain operation. But it's nice to learn about this small bit of history. The neighborhood connections that tell a part of the story of the beginning of Mercury Drug.

There are a number of pharmacies in the Market! Market! area, but I still go to Metro Pharmacy…read morelocated in front of Metro Supermarket at the lower ground floor of the mall. Why? Because there's usually less people and no long queues of customers there. A big area of the pharmacy is allocated for non-prescription health and wellness section which sells vitamin supplements, protein shakes, and other herbal remedies. This is also where you can get over-the-counter medications, personal hygiene products, and even special haircare items. I like the fact that this pharmacy is quite strict with prescription medication. The pharmacists at the enclosed counter ask for prescription, dosage, and other important details to make sure that they dispense the right medication. They also suggest generic alternatives in case you are interested in saving money. Since the pharmacy is under Metro Gaisano, you can also get rewards for your purchases if you have a Metro Rewards card. This pharmacy is open daily during mall hours.

This branch sometimes sells epilators! And if they have it, you buy it (or tell a friend who's been…read morelooking for it for a long time)! I usually come here to buy wax strips because they have different kinds for different purposes. So I come here for wax strips and leave with a million other items that I may or may not really need. See, the store is packed with all sorts of soaps, shampoos, make up, lotions, conditioners and the list goes on. Ah yes, you can also buy medicines here. Going back to the epilators, yes, they sell them. They also have hairdriers, hair straighteners, curlers, toothbrushes that run on batteries and those foot spa machines that make your feet feel so papered and loved. The price of their items? It will fit in your budget. You won't have to rob a bank or go hungry to buy what you want here.

For all my personal care needs, I go to the Watson's branch in Greenbelt 1, Makati. Filled to the…read morebrim with all sorts of shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, lotions, toothpastes and whichever else you might need to help you preen and primp, Watson's is definitely a goldmine for the kikay girl (or even guy) in each one of us. It's also worthy to note that Watson's also carries personal care appliances such as blow-driers, hair-straighteners and curlers to name a few. They've also got on-hand sales associates who can show you the proper ways of using these appliances (plus tips and tricks). Another helpful tip is to take note of discounts or promos that are offered in the store all year round. Aside from the usual personal care needs, Watson's also has an in-house pharmacy, making it the ultimate in one-stop shop wonders.

I ran out of Meclizine for my travel back to the US. I had a long travel day ahead of me with an 11…read morehour layover in Korea, so I needed to get some pills. Luckily this Watsons was only a 2 minute walk from The Belmont Hotel. I headed to the counter and got my pills! This is a good sized Watsons. They have a nice section for personal care and beauty products. It looks fairly new so it was really nice and clean. As in most pharmacies or drugstore in the Philippines, you have to go to the counter and ask for the drugs you need from the clerk, even for OTC meds. They disburse them by the pill, so make sure you tell them how many pills you need.

When I first moved to Manila to study in Benilde, there was only one pharmacy in the entire Vito…read moreCruz-Taft area, which was a surprise since there were three schools here. You would think that these kids would need medicine sooner or later, even if it's just to stop the nosebleeds from all the math we were being forced to endure. Today, there are two generic pharmacies, one Mercury Drug, and a bunch of other tiny medicine peddlers sprouting like mushrooms. But a few years ago, there was only one: United Pharmacy. And it was no spring chicken either. It was already old when I first walked into its doors, and now it looks downright ancient. It used to be like a 7-11 with pharmacists, but now the A/C unit isn't working, the ice cream freezers are empty, and the staff always look sweaty and haggard. But they're an institution, and should be respected as such.

Everyone knows Mercury Drug but everyone should also get to know The Generics Pharmacy as well. My…read moregrand father lives alone. It's his own choice. We do visit him often though. As an old person, he gets sick often and sometimes, not everyone is available at a certain moment of time to rush to the store to buy medicine for him. When this happens, he heads to The Generics Pharmacy to buy his medicine. Branches are everywhere so it's easily accessible to the public and most importantly, my lolo gets to save money. A lot of Filipinos can't really afford off the counter medicine as they can be pretty expensive, especially if you need to take them in a longer period of time. This pharmacy's advocacy is selling quality medicine in affordable prices so that everyone can have a more affordable option. They have even won an award under the Department of Health. So rest assured that The Generics Pharmacy is a trusted pharmaceutical brand.

I used to buy my medicine all at Mercury - the location seems convenient too, as it's just near to…read morewhere I ride a tricycle to get home. But even closer to the tricycle terminal is this generic pharmacy. It's just a small shop, and not particularly noticeable, as the posters and stickers for lotto are right outside, and there's also a lotto booth at the side of the pharmacy's interior - that is what would actually catch your attention, and not the pharmacy. But one day, though, when I was having too many medicine expenses, I tried to look for cheaper options. And finally I paid attention to this small store. I bought some iron tablets and I think they were almost ten tablets, but I got them for just around P20. Cool! When a doctor or someone from the medical field assures me that the generic version of a medicine I need performs the same way as the branded option, I will definitely go here again.

A few steps away from CommCare is Supreme Pharmacy. Convenient, if you ask me. Go to CommCare to…read moreget diagnosed and get a prescription. Then walk a few steps (or ask someone to do if for you 'cause you're sick) to the pharmacy and get your medicines. Surprisingly, they do have an it's-not-that-wide-but-good-enough selection of medicines. They do have pills for the usual headache, fever and other common ailments. There are days when they have my dad's heart medicines, but most days they don't have it. I noticed that they have a lot of products for babies and children.

Every time the doctors tell me or my parents to buy new medicines, they tell us to go to this…read moreMercury Drug. It's big. It's complete. And supposedly their service is fast. Yes, the place is big. It's more than one floor and there's an elevator inside so you don't have to walk up. Yes, it is somewhat complete. You can buy all sorts of food, drinks and snacks in this place. They've got make-up and all sorts of lotions and soaps. Then, there's a pharmacy. Let's just say that on some days their service is fast and on other days it takes some time for them to help you. There are two lines for the senior citizens and PWDs. This is very good. The staff on the floor are really helpful. I think I looked a bit lost earlier while searching for compression stockings, but one of the staff assisted me right away. She also gave me plenty options and didn't just force me to buy the brand she was pushing for. Okay, I'm not sure if they don't allow people to take pictures inside the store. I don't recall seeing any signs telling me not to take pictures. So, I was a bit surprised when the guard came running at me and told me to put my camera (my phone) away. Scary. But, this incident won't stop me from going back to Mercury Drug.

Past Torre Lorenzo I, before reaching the entrance to Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, on the…read moresidewalk beside pedicab line along Pablo Ocampo (Vito Cruz), is a small pharmacy and mini-grocery that I frequent out of habit. I love Mercury Drug, but it tends to get crowded, so for the usual contents of my medicine kit, I head to KChan Pharmacy, and especially when I'm on the go. Before heading to Buendia to take a bus to Laguna or to EDSA to take a van to Cavite, I pop in at KChan to get Bonamine, Mentos, and a bottle of water or juice. There's no line, and there's always an available staff willing to assist. The place is tiny, though, so be prepared to bump into the next customer, whose arrival is heralded by a chime/bell sound (ehem, they keep count of their customer traffic). Snacks for your trip are also available here, like crackers, candies, and drinks.