Mercury Drug at 80: Built to Last
Mercury Drug’ s 80th anniversary celebration this year reflects the values that defined Ms. Vivian’ s leadership – centered on service, gratitude, and commitment to people. More than just a corporate milestone, the occasion serves as a thanksgiving to the loyal customers and communities that have placed their trust in the company through the years.
To mark the anniversary, Mercury Drug launched the Suki Panalo promo, awarding Php1 million each to four lucky customers, along with thousands of prizes, gift certificates, and vehicle giveaways. Yet, in true Mercury Drug fashion, the celebration went beyond marketing.
True to Ms. Vivian’ s vision, the company continued its longstanding commitment to meaningful outreach programs through Mercury Drug Foundation, which she had led since 2000.
This year, Operation Bigay Lunas provides free medical consultations and medicines to 80 underserved communities across the country. The foundation also continues its water access initiative, Operation Pa-Tubig, its Bantay Kalusugan program for early detection and public awareness about non-communicable diseases.
A Pillar of the Retail Industry
Ms. Vivian’ s influence extended beyond Mercury Drug and into the broader retail landscape. In 1996, she began her active involvement with the PRA through the National Retail Conference and Expo( NRCE) Committee, where she contributed her insight and support. By 1999, she was elected to the PRA Board of Directors, a role she held with humility but great impact.
In PRA circles, Ms. Vivian was known for her quiet strength and her belief in collaborative leadership. She championed industry initiatives that uplifted service standards and professional excellence, embodying the same values she nurtured within Mercury Drug. Her presence in the association enriched its board, and her contributions helped shape a stronger, more values-driven retail community.
Service Beyond the Business
Ms. Vivian believed that success carried a responsibility to give back. Under her leadership, Mercury Drug Foundation expanded scholarship programs for financially challenged youth, and granted academic recognition to students excelling in science and mathematics, while Mercury Drug supported the education of employees’ children.
She also supported disaster relief efforts during calamities, including large-scale aid distributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, Mercury Drug became the first pharmacy to open a Resbakuna Center vaccination site in Manila, and later mobilized pharmacists to provide adult immunizations across select branches.
Her philanthropic contributions extended to academic institutions, including a pharmaceutical laboratory donation to UST and the construction of the five-story Dr. Mariano Que College of Pharmacy at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute.
A Legacy that Lives On
Ms. Vivian also served on the boards of respected organizations, including the Philippine Business for Social Progress( PBSP), the Philippine Business for Education, and the Bank of the Philippine Islands – always contributing with quiet diligence and integrity.
Despite a lifetime of achievements, Ms. Vivian remained modest and humble.“ Recognition or publicity is not important,” she once said.“ What matters is that we are able to use our resources to extend a hand wherever we can, in the best and most expeditious way possible.”
She received numerous honors throughout her career, including the 2023 Gawad Lourdes T. Echauz Leadership Award from the Philippine Pharmacists Association, the 2022 Go Negosyo Woman of Legacy Award, and the 2021 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. She was also conferred an honorary doctorate in science by De La Salle in 2020. And yet, she never sought the spotlight. Her work and her heart spoke for themselves.
As Mercury Drug celebrates 80 years of serving Filipinos, it also carries forward the legacy of a woman whose leadership was defined by empathy, vision, and a deep sense of duty. Ms. Vivian Que-Azcona exemplified what it means to lead not just with the mind, but with heart. Her contributions to business, community, and the nation will not only be remembered, but they will also continue to inspire.
In the retail industry and across sectors, her legacy of service lives on.
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