When being with someone that has a nagging cough... get yourself to a drugstore for some cough…read moremedicine. When in the Philippines, you learn fast that there are security guards everywhere. Likely for the petty crime that happens. Most guards are friendly people. Some aren't up for small talk. Southstar Drug was no different. That's the easy part. The issue I had with drugstores and pharmacies is the way you get your medicines. You don't necessarily need a prescription but it's the complete opposite of my country of entering, finding what you need, paying for it, and being on your way. Every pharmacy I entered in the Philippines; They have toothpaste, toothbrushes, perfume, small snacks, diapers, and other things like that on the shelves. When it comes to medicine though, you have to go to the counter and tell an employee what's wrong with you and/or what you need. They make recommendations and send you on your way. In this instance, the employee recommended a specific medicine for the cough. We went to 3 other pharmacies and all of them recommended the same medicine. The problem? The medicine didn't work at all(until about 6 days straight of taking it). No chance to buy or find another medicine. You just have to suck it up and take what you're given. The employees were kind here(like everywhere in the Philippines). I didn't need any meds this time but I know how I feel when I get sick. I'm usually dog-awful sick... most usually not wanting to interact with anyone. I took quite a bit of 'needed' meds with me when visiting but the experiences I saw while in the Philippines will definitely make me stock up when doing any kind of international travel in the future.

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.

Nice little corner pharmacy were i needed to go because i had a very bad cold…read more The pharmacist was full of suggestions for decongestant and lozenges for my throat. Also you can buy distilled water and other items you usually find in a pharmacy.

lala ng staff nyo sa qc filinvesst batasan. mas matagal pang makipag kwentuhan sa customer keysa…read moremag service! ang lala 2 lang customer, pero sobrang tagal! better service sana.

I feel so awful when I or someone in my family gets sick. Worst is that we have to take medicines…read morethat are almost always expensive and have to be taken for a week for them to fully take effect on our system. That's why, during checkups, we would always ask the doctor to indicate the generic name of their prescribed medication. It's a good thing that the Generika Drugstore exists to bring low-cost but high quality generic medicines to the public. I like it that they are like sari-sari stores because you can find them everywhere, in that you can find the next branch not too far from the other. The Generika Drugstore has been our go-to pharmacy to treat that persistent and pesky cold. We can buy the set of tablets to complete the required dosage at a fraction of the cost of branded medicines. Though cheap, we have proven that they are effective for we do get well after taking them. I have also read from the Generika website that the drugs that they sell are backed by screening, testing and research made by their own Corporate Pharmacy Department and that those products are registered under BFAD.

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.

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.

The location couldn't be more perfect as it is right across St. Luke's. It's also walking distance…read morefrom a Starbucks. While there are lots of parking spaces surrounding the building, it's often full. The security guards however are very helpful when it comes to helping you park, and if you only mean to pick up a prescription or make a quick stop, they will allow you to put your car on hazards wherever there's space in the parking lot. It's one of the bigger Mercury Drugs, and I appreciate that because they're better stocked than other branches or pharmacies. The pharmacy counter is lengthy, allowing for several cashiers and faster service. I also like the pharmacists because they're pretty helpful, especially when they have the place isn't so packed and they actually have the time to spend on you. They will suggest alternatives for out-of-stock brands and will even tell you which is cheaper. They're open twenty-four hours, which is excellent for emergency late night runs. I purchase most of mine and my grandmother's meds here. It's not the closest Mercury Drug to my house, but it is the most efficient and convenient. Here's one thing most people don't know about the Mercury Drug card though: points expire every six months! So remember to use your points whenever you can. They don't tell you this unless you ask (pretty shady business practice if you ask me, but there it is).

Mercury Drug isn't the Generics Pharmacy, but the fact remains that I have a boatload of respect…read morefor them because they have the most affordable medicines and essential products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, tissue and the like in comparison to other drugstores like Watson's or what have you. I've come here more times than I care to remember for when I've needed to purchase cough medicine, cold medicine, antibiotics, allergy medicine, and more. This is also my go-to place for mouthwash, dental floss, tissue, hand sanitizer, and more. Invest in a suki card in order to earn points and shave a few pesos off of your next purchase.