Leading drugstore in PH revives professorial chair, establishes research fund in UST

The Mercury Drug Corporation, which is known for its corporate integrity and social commitment, has again expressed its confidence and trust in the University of Santo Tomas through the revival of a distinguished professorial chair and the establishment of a research fund for pharmaceutical studies.

An illustrious alumna of the University, Mercury Drug President Vivian Que Azcona represented the corporation in the signing of the memorandum of agreements, held on Dec. 12 last year at the UST Rector’s Board Room. Representatives of the University were Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, OP, director of the UST Office for Grants, Endowments and Partnerships in Higher Education; and Fr. Manuel Roux, OP, UST Vice Rector for Finance. 

From left Assoc. Prof. Ma. Elena Manansala, Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, OP, Mercury President Vivian Que Azcona, Fr. Manuel Roux, OP, and Assoc. Prof. Aleth Therese Dacanay

 

Assoc. Prof. Ma. Elena Manansala, Faculty of Pharmacy dean, and Assoc. Prof. Aleth Therese Dacanay, faculty secretary, were also witnesses of the turnover of donation.

Named after the founder of Mercury Drug and his wife, the Mariano Que and Estelita de Jesus-Que Professorial Chair in Pharmacy may again be granted biennially to the esteemed professors of the Faculty of Pharmacy. The chair is intended to honor the occupant, who will be chosen by a panel of experts in the field and to be formally designated by the rector of the University.

Since its original foundation in 1984, the professorial chair has aimed for the public presentation and publication of important researches of respected scholars in Pharmacy.

Meanwhile, the Mercury Drug Research Chair will financially support one faculty researcher of the Faculty of Pharmacy every academic year, whose study proposal will have been approved by the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation and the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs.

Signing of two memorandums of agreement

The UST Faculty of Pharmacy, founded in 1871, has the longest academic tradition in pharmaceutical studies in the Philippines. With its international partnerships with various institutions and universities, the Faculty continuously seeks innovation while honing the values of its students.

At present, the University of Santo Tomas produces the most number of passers of the board exams in Pharmacy of the Professional Regulation Commission, with above 250 passers every year. Notably, even with its large number of students taking the board exams every year, UST has always been among the top performing schools in Pharmacy, with topnotchers and not less than 80-per cent passing rate.