Mercury Drug
Encyclopedia
Mercury Drug is the leading chain of drugstore
s in the Philippines
.
, the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology
and whose staff, the caduceus
, is sometimes used as a symbol of medicine
.
In 1945, Mercury Drug cut packaged bulk items into individual pieces. It was called "tingi-tingi" or the selling-by-piece-retail method.
In 1963, upon the invitation of Ayala Corporation
, Mercury Drug opened its second branch in May 1963 at a developing commercial center in Makati (now known as the Ayala Center
).
In 1965, Mercury Drug established its landmark branch in Quiapo, Manila
.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
s in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
History
The company began in 1945 with a single store owned by Mariano Que. He named it after MercuryMercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
, the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
and whose staff, the caduceus
Caduceus
The caduceus is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology. The same staff was also borne by heralds in general, for example by Iris, the messenger of Hera. It is a short staff entwined by two serpents, sometimes surmounted by wings...
, is sometimes used as a symbol of medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
.
In 1945, Mercury Drug cut packaged bulk items into individual pieces. It was called "tingi-tingi" or the selling-by-piece-retail method.
In 1963, upon the invitation of Ayala Corporation
Ayala Corporation
Ayala Corporation is a holding company for the diversified interests of the Ayala Group. Founded in the Philippines by the Spanish and German Ayala, Roxas, and Zobel families during colonial rule, it is the country's oldest and largest conglomerate...
, Mercury Drug opened its second branch in May 1963 at a developing commercial center in Makati (now known as the Ayala Center
Ayala Center
The Ayala Center is a commercial complex operated by Ayala Land Incorporated located in the central business district of Makati in Metro Manila, Philippines.-About the Center:...
).
In 1965, Mercury Drug established its landmark branch in Quiapo, Manila
Quiapo, Manila
Quiapo is a district and city square of Manila. Referred as the "Old Downtown", Quiapo in known for where cheap buys or goods are being sold at rock-bottom prices and was the home of the Quiapo Church, where the feast for the Black Nazarene is held, with over millions of people attending...
.
Innovations
It introduced many "firsts" in the Philippine drugstore industry:- 1948: Motorized customer delivery service
- 1952: 17-hour, 7 days a week drugstore service
- 1963: Self-serviceSelf-serviceSelf service is the practice of serving oneself, usually when purchasing items. Common examples include many gas stations, where the customer pumps their own gas rather than have an attendant do it...
drugstore - 1965: 24-hours, 7 days24/724/7 is an abbreviation which stands for "24 hours a day, 7 days a week", usually referring to a business or service available at all times without interruption...
a week service - 1967: Computerized temperature-controlled central warehouse
- 1969: Biological refrigerators to preserve life-saving medicines
- 1976: Expansion throughout LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, VisayasVisayasThe Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
and MindanaoMindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. - 2011: University of Luzon (una sa lahat)