Milestones in the health and wellness industry are often measured through expansions, product launches, or bigger market shares. For Unilab, turning 80 celebrates “Husay, Malasakit at Bayanihan,” values that have shaped its growth from a small Binondo drugstore in 1945 to becoming the country’s largest pharmaceutical company.
Founded as United Drug Co. Inc., Unilab built its success on medicines and on what it calls alaga (care), the Filipino sense of genuine care. This year, the celebration centered on enduring partnerships that make health care more accessible, with Robinsons Retail Group through Southstar Drug and Rose Pharmacy taking the spotlight.
The launch of Alagang Unilab Para sa Lahat at Robinsons Galleria on Sept. 24 showcased a wide range of initiatives under four campaign pillars. These included the Smart Meds Program with Maxicare, which provides members with exclusive offers and seamless access to medicines at any Southstar Drug or Rose Pharmacy, ensuring Filipinos can stay on track with their treatment and live healthier lives. There were also online exclusives aimed at strengthening the digital presence of both chains through thematic deals and promos.
Excitement was added through the Alagang Para sa Lahat Raffle Promo, running from October 1 to December 31, 2025. Southstar Drug shoppers will see 80 winners each taking home P8,000, with one grand winner walking away with P1,000,000.
Rose Pharmacy customers will have their share of prizes as well, with 80 winners receiving P8,000 each and another 80 winners getting P2,000 worth of assorted Unilab products. The campaign’s fourth pillar focused on advocacies and CSR partnerships, further reinforcing Unilab’s long-standing commitment to community health and meaningful collaborations.
Unilab president and CEO Backy Baquiran told guests, “This is the spirit we celebrate today with our partners, Southstar Drug and Rose Pharmacy. They have gone beyond business. They have created opportunities for persons with disabilities, supported cancer warriors, and stood with us in making healthcare more accessible, more meaningful, and more equal. So today, we are not just launching a program. We are reaffirming a practice.”
“Together, we will bring genuine care to every Filipino. And so, I call on everyone here: let us carry this mission forward. Let us be relentless in making Alagang Walang Hanggan reach farther, touch deeper, and save more lives. Because when we bring care without boundaries, we do more than heal—we give hope,” he carried on.
The launch also featured Alagang Unilab Para sa Lahat Health and Wellness Day at Robinsons Galleria Ortigas, where mallgoers joined activities at booths offering wellness services, health-related programs, and specially priced products. A symbolic donation to the Philippine Business Disability Network, supported by Southstar Drug, added a meaningful touch, highlighting the shared advocacy for inclusivity and opportunities for differently abled Filipinos.
The series of celebrations will continue in Cebu on Oct. 25, when Rose Pharmacy leads Alagang Para sa Lahat Health and Wellness Day at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
Similar to the Manila event, participants can look forward to health services, community activities, and affordable Unilab products—bringing the company’s brand of alaga closer to Cebuanos.
Through its 80th year, Unilab is framing success through the lives it touches and the communities it serves. From accessible medicines and health programs to partnerships that uplift, the company’s brand of alaga continues to define its mission.
Eighty years on, Unilab’s promise of “Husay, Malasakit at Bayanihan” remains the same: genuine care carried forward by partners, felt in every Filipino household, and shared across generations.
