Alarming shortage of pharmacists

 

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:36 AM March 19, 2025

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) formed to support the government’s economic programs recently sounded the alarm over the shortage of registered pharmacists across the country, just another symptom of the sorry state of the country’s public health-care system.

The situation is dire indeed.

PSAC data showed that the Philippines needs some 57,500 pharmacists but there are only 30,000 as of the latest count, thus the gap of 27,500. And with the country producing just around 4,000 board certified pharmacists every year, and assuming that the demand will stay at current levels, it will take seven years to fill that gap, the advisory council said.

More realistically, it will take even more time than that considering that not all licensed pharmacists actually get to practice their profession, with a number going into the private sector, academe, or fields other than the pharmaceutical sector.

Republic Act No. 5921 or the pharmacy law mandates at least one pharmacist per shift per drugstore or pharmacy, a particularly daunting challenge in the Philippines. Not only are there not enough pharmacists to go around, they are also unevenly spread.

Not surprisingly, the majority of pharmacists end up in the urban centers or in larger hospitals and drugstores, forcing patients in the rural, remote areas of the country to travel far and wide just to get life-saving medicines.

Ideally, there should be one pharmacist per 2,000 people based on the standard of the World Health Organization.

But in the Philippines, the ratio is a paltry 0.57 per 2,000 people, about the same level as in Indonesia and Vietnam, but lagging behind Thailand where the ratio is 0.8 per 2,000, according to PSAC data.

Given that it will take years before the supply can catch up with the demand for pharmacists, the PSAC health cluster led by AC Health chief executive officer Paolo Borromeo proposed that licensed pharmacists be allowed to oversee multiple pharmacies remotely.

This will hasten the expansion of community pharmacies, particularly in underserved regions, thus immediately improving access to essential medicines.

Another suggestion from PSAC was to make the most of telepharmacy services and enhance the role of pharmacy assistants to bring public services closer to those who need them most.

“We are working toward a more equitable and sustainable health-care system,” said Borromeo during the group’s meeting last March 6.

This was not the first time that the worrying lack of pharmacists had been raised.

Back in 2014, the Drugstores Association of the Philippines already warned about the implication of the waning number of students taking up pharmacy, which they said would then pose a significant threat to the future of the country’s pharmaceutical industry.

Among the reasons behind the low number is the lack of appreciation for their role, thus not enough Filipinos are encouraged to enter the field.

“Most often, people would view pharmacists as just salespersons, but they don’t realize that we are health-care professionals behind that counter,” said Ma. Gilda Saljay, then president of the Philippine Pharmacists Association.

The Department of Health also said in 2021 that the Philippines was facing a shortage of 14,000 pharmacists, on top of the shortages in other health-care professionals, from doctors and nurses and even radiologists.

Sen. Pia Cayetano echoed this finding in 2023, when she noted that : “Everything that makes a health system sustainable, we have a shortage (of).”

Clearly, there is no lack of knowledge of how serious the problem with the shortage of medical professionals is, but what is missing is the commitment to go beyond just wringing hands and take decisive action to solve the problem.The Marcos administration can take up the suggestion of PSAC to take the “regulatory sandbox” approach and consider loosening the current requirement so that pharmacists can oversee several pharmacies and drugstores at the same time to multiply their impact.

While that is being considered, the government can think more long term by, for example, providing financial assistance to those who are keen on entering the health-care field but do not have the financial resources to do so. Another way is to introduce a stepladder approach so that those who are already working in the field such as pharmacy assistants can get credits to work their way into becoming registered pharmacists.

Finally, greater appreciation for health-care professionals must be demonstrated by giving them the commensurate salaries and benefits they deserve, including those who risked their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and who are still waiting for their long-delayed allowances.

A German Expat in the Philippines (XVII): Off to the New World

 

Jisoo kicks off ‘Lights, Love, Action!’ Asia fan tour in Manila: ‘Mahal ko kayo’

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Mar 18, 2025 10:12 AM

  

---

K-pop star Jisoo, a member of girl group BLACKPINK, kicked off her solo Asia fan tour in Manila. 

The singer and actress, who is currently starring in Prime Video’s zombie series “Newtopia,” held her “Lights, Love, Action!” fan meeting in Manila on March 14 at the Araneta Coliseum. 

The fun-filled night saw Jisoo performing before Filipino fans, decorating a gift, playing games, and going to the audience area.  

Manila was the first stop in her “Lights, Love, Action!” Asia fan tour. For the whole March, she will be in Bangkok, Tokyo, Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong and Hanoi. 

K-pop star and actress Jisoo at her fan meeting in Manila on March 14 (Photos provided by Collective Touring Philippines)

K-pop star and actress Jisoo at her fan meeting in Manila on March 14 (Instagram)

Before the Asia fan tour, Jisoo released his first solo mini-album “Amortage” on Feb. 14, a fusion of the words “amor” (love) and "montage."   

“Amortage” sold 523,971 copies by the end of March, based on Hanteo Chart data. 

In Manila, Jisoo started the fan meeting by performing “Earthquake,” the main track from “Amortage”  followed by “Your Love,” “Tears,” “Hugs & Kisses,” “Flower” and “All Eyes on Me.” 

“Long time no see,” Jisoo greeted the crowd. “At first I was very nervous but as I came up the stage and I saw all my Blinks, it felt like a really good sign and I really gained strength. 

Jisoo came back to the Philippines after two years since BLACKPINK’s “Born Pink” world tour held in the country in March 2023. 

“Even though it's been a long time since I've been here, they hung up banners like this outside and welcomed me so warmly and cheered me on so I really gained strength. It was good from the very beginning,” she said. 

Outside the Araneta Coliseum, banners featuring Jisoo were put up in different areas. 

When asked which is the most meaningful song for her, Jisoo chose “Your Love,” saying, “The lyrics of this is actually my message to Blinks so every time I see this, I feel like I show all my love.”

On Korean food that she would like to recommend to her Filipino fans, she said, “I really like Korean pancakes like  ‘pajeon’ or ‘kimchijeon.’” 

Jisoo also picked the words "tough," "cool" and "cute" to describe her personality. 

If she could relive one moment in her career, Jisoo said, “The memories of performing are really precious to me so I think this moment of our first fan concert today will be memorable for a long time.”

In one segment, Jisoo decorated an album that was given to a lucky fan and signed it with “mahal kita (I love you).” She also gave away a Polaroid photo with the words “mahal kita.” 

In another segment, Jisoo learned Filipino phrases including “mahal ko kayo” (I love you), “masaya ba kayo? (Are you happy?) and “charot” (a Fiipino slang which means “just kidding”). 

Jisoo also played charades with fans acting the keywords, including “The Matrix,” “Aladdin,” “Harry Potter,” pencil, computer, bag, clock, cell phone, sticker, glasses, tie, calendar, soccer, doctor and singer. 

During her performance of “All Eyes on Me,” Jisoo roamed around the audience area to be close to her fans. 

As she wrapped up her fan meeting, Jisoo said she is happy to spend time with fans. 

K-pop star and actress Jisoo in Manila on March 14 (Instagram)

K-pop star and actress Jisoo's photo outside the Araneta Coliseum on March 14 (Jonathan Hicap)

“This is my first time doing my first solo tour fan meet. I was actually very much looking forward to it but also worried. But right now even having this time, I guess, it was so much fun that the time just flew and spending time with my Blinks, I really want to just tell you how much happier I am,” said Jisoo. 

She added, “And also, of course, I really want to extend my gratitude to everyone, all the staff who have really worked hard to make this performance, to make this happen.”

In an Instagram post, Jisoo wrote, “Thank you for be part of my very first solo fan meeting! Happy to started with big cheers of BLINK Manila. So grateful you made me lovely AMORTAGE. Can‘t wait to see you again! MAHAL KO KAYO, XOXO.”

Jisoo’s “Lights, Love, Action!” Asia fan tour was produced by Paradise E&A, Monday Morning Creative Lab, Askara Nation, and Collective Touring Philippines.

Palawan to host international choir fest

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Mar 18, 2025 11:09 AM

  

---

AT A GLANCE

• The summit is divided into four components, namely, 1) Festival Exhibition, 2) National and 3) International Competitions, and 4) International Choral Conference.

---

 

The largest gathering of choirs will happen right here in the Philippines.

All roads lead to the Palawan International Choral Summit, which will be held from Aug. 13 to 16, 2025, in various venues in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The summit is divided into four components, namely, 1) Festival Exhibition, 2) National and 3) International Competitions, and 4) International Choral Conference.

The Festival Exhibition is a general event that will feature non-competing local and international choirs to perform and immerse themselves in the local unique and diverse cultures of Palawan, while the national Competition is a search for the best choirs to be participated in by choral groups from different regions in the Philippines. This is the best venue where local choirs can bring and represent their respective regional cultures through their music. This is also to render their knowledge and proficiency in choral singing. The first 20 participants who have settled their registration fees are provided free accommodations.

Meanwhile, the International Competition will give them a chance to foreign choirs to showcase their talents and experience as well as the warm hospitality of the Palawenos and to see their pride scenic spots for themselves. This is the best avenue for local choirs to acquire additional knowledge from international choral groups and vice versa. This is also the best opportunity to forge friendships among themselves.

Other components of the fest include the International Choral Conference, which will take choral knowledge to the next level by offering cutting-edge discussions, masterclasses, fiesta booths, festival kits, souvenir programs, and special tours of the islands.

Categories will be divided among the festival exhibition and national and international contests that will showcase the competition properly with its competition performance, repertoire, etc. The Jury will set the criteria, assess, deliberate, and proclaim the winners through scorecards.

Meanwhile, Philippine choirs can participate internationally in two ways: 1) if registered directly in the global competition. Just like the other international participating choirs, they will experience the best amenities that the festival organizers can provide 2) if they register for the national finals and obtain a grade of 85 percent or above in any given category. This automatically entitles them to participate internationally without paying additional registration and individual package fees prescribed to international participants. Nevertheless, local choirs can join both competitions at discounted costs.

Another featured event is the opening ceremony, which will take place on Aug. 14, 2025. A unique program featuring folkloric and traditional music and dances that showcase Palawan's culture will be performed.

Those interested in participating in the national competition and festival can log on to www.nafci.com. For the international choir festival, log on to www.ppicf.com. Registrations are now open. Before you submit research papers to join the international choral conference, please wait for more announcements. If you have any questions, please log on to www.nafci.com or email at filipinochoirs@gmail.com. 

A German Expat in the Philippinen (XVI): Terrible Homesickness

 

Phivolcs to unveil Central Digos Fault atlas to mitigate earthquake risks in Davao Region

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

Mar 16, 2025 11:13 AM 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) will launch the Central Digos Fault Atlas on Monday, March 17 to provide detailed maps of the fault and identify areas at risk of group rupture to aid in earthquake preparedness and disaster risk reduction.

The atlas offers high-resolution maps of the Central Digos Fault (CDF) in Digos City, Davao del Sur, which highlights vulnerable infrastructure, including commercial, residential, and industrial areas.

“The release of this atlas will empower communities, particularly the local government units, residents, and stakeholders of Digos City, to prepare for earthquake hazards. The Central Digos Fault Atlas will serve as a guide for science-based land use planning, zoning ordinance formulation, and disaster risk reduction,” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said.

Mapped as part of Phivolcs’ Sigma Project, the CDF spans 18 kilometers through several barangays, including Goma, Dulangan, and Ruparan.

The fault, identified in 2019, has the potential to generate a magnitude 6.6 earthquake, which could cause destructive ground shaking (Intensity VIII on the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale) in Digos City and surrounding areas.

The Sigma Project, a Department of Science and Technology Grants-in-Aid initiative under the Accelerated Earthquake Multihazards Mapping and Risk Assessment Program (ACER), aims to identify the location and subsurface features of active faults, assess potential earthquake magnitudes and recurrence intervals, and produce active fault maps and databases to support earthquake hazard mitigation efforts for various stakeholders, including the scientific community, engineers, urban planners, and government units.

When is a film festival successful?

BY PHILIP CU UNJIENG

Mar 16, 2025 09:58 AM 

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPEVINE

Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto – these are considered the big four film festivals; and what’s important to note, is that the awarding, gala nights, and celebrity sightings are just the public face of these festivals. What truly drives these festivals are the deals, the negotiations, the distribution and/or co-producing agreements, that are threshed out in private meeting rooms, and at behind the scenes tableaus. These are the real lifeblood of any decent festival that’s out to make its mark, because the festival should be the medium to conduct and achieve business goals. If not, what are the metrics for deciding whether a film festival was worth mounting, or can be called an unqualified success?

I’ll be honest, these thoughts ran through my mind as I saw the social media feeds of the many who attended the recent Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles last week. It preyed on my mind because the photos were all glam and happy faces, and uniformly, they were shots of the Filipinos who had travelled to join our First Lady, and the “usual suspects” of Filipino-Americans and Canadians who call Hollywood home – from Tia Carrere (a blast from the past), to Apl.de.ap, Manny Jacinto, and JoKoy. It was “dinner hosted at the residence of…,” Gala dinner at the Beverly Hilton, and “the premiere screening of…” – in short, the shiny tinsel and glittery sequins that accompany these festivals. 

MIFF BIG WINNER Song of the Fireflies, and I’m praying it has secured a global distribution deal, or is in the process of doing so.

And so, I was looking for the “meat and potatoes” photos that would point to how gears and wheels were grinding and turning, to address the business side of festivals. Photos of the bigwigs of the major Hollywood studios, executives of the new players like streaming giants Netflix, Disney, Apple, HBO Max, and Amazon, heads of the dominant talent agencies, of movie brokers who could forge distribution deals for our Filipino films. To prove to me that connecting with trade was happening. 

Sure, one would have to caption each of these photos to identify these “players,” but at least I’d know that the effort was successfully made to bring these Hollywood movers to our Filipino celebration – the second year this particular festival is happening in Los Angeles. For me, it would be proof that we weren’t just turning the weekend into a giant Filipino party – which I know we would be great at mounting, but misses the point. 

Who did I see on the MIFF social media posts that wasn’t Filipino (or Fil-Am), and could be relevant for these business metrics I’m harping on about? There’s David Shim, a Korean movie producer, who lists Oscar-winner Parasite among his credits. He spoke about current projects that he’s involved in here in Manila; and has been throwing his support to our First Lady Liza A. Marcos and our local film industry, since April of last year. So the current MIFF was not our introduction to David, and he’s not a new contact.  

THE POSTER for the MIFF Gala Night. Wondering how many seats/tickets were purchased. 

Author Kevin Kwan of Crazy Rich Asians was in several of the feeds, and it’s nice to see he was around, showing his love for things Philippine. But does he qualify as “trade”? I don’t think so.

The Philippines as a film location site, signed co-productions, international distribution deals for our films, or global representation for some of our creative talents – in my estimation, these would be the low-hanging fruit that a legitimate and successful Festival should generate. Am I asking for too much? I really don’t think so, as we constantly turn green with envy watching what happens elsewhere and nearby, and then sour-graping. 

Who is watching The White Lotus Season 3, as filmed in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui; and isn’t internally wishing it was shot at Boracay, Coron, or Siargao? Thailand already leads ASEAN countries in foreign visitors, so you can imagine how this will only further boost their Tourism figures over the next two to three years, minimum. 

And we’ll say our beaches are nicer, our people friendlier, plus we speak English – and I keep saying that last argument of speaking English should be thrown out the window forever. For several decades now, it’s something we keep bringing up when it’s obviously not the deciding factor for direct foreign investment, or for decisions like where to shoot The White Lotus. 

Please don’t call me a party-pooper or killjoy for today’s column. I know money is being spent to make this festival happen, and I do want it to work – but I also want it to work along specific business parameters and goals; and not just making it a weekend of Hollywood happiness for the Filipino community of Los Angeles, and a La La Land adventure for those who flew in from Manila. Those should be the bonus values for mounting the festival. 

Just saying… as it would be such a waste of time and effort to have our First Lady supporting this initiative, and not producing substantive results. Let me know “good” things were happening in LA, and I’ll be the first among those shouting it from the proverbial “top”!

Celebrate Women's Month with Summer Komikon 2025!

Mark your calendars and join us for a day full of comics, creativity, and celebration at Summer Komikon 2025! 🎉

BY MB LIFESTYLE

Mar 14, 2025 08:34 PM 

 

The highly-anticipated Summer Komikon 2025 is set to take place on March 15, 2025, at the Bayanihan Center, Unilab Compound, Pasig City, from 10 AM to 8 PM. This year's event promises to be an exciting celebration of comics, creativity, and community.

 

In honor of Women's Month, Summer Komikon 2025 will feature special guests who are independent female comics creators. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and greet Chocnut-San (I Ship Everyone Except for Me?!), Mitzi Bajet (The Nowhere Tree, Karnaval), Hans Dimapilis (Baby Butterfly, On Being Quiet), and Steph Bravo (FullHouse).

 

An informative talk on the Do’s and Don’ts of Portfolio Submissions will be held from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in Conference Room F. The Next Comic Art Crew will share their expertise, including insights from experienced international homegrown artists Harvey Tolibao (Marvel, DC, IDW, DarkHorse, Valiant, Zenescope) and Roi Mercado (G.I. Joe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game - The Alliance), with Jiggy Cruz (Next Comic Art). Limited seats are available for this exclusive session.

 

Visitors can also discover hidden gems and support local artists as they showcase their work and latest releases. Renowned artists Jonathan Lau, Jomar Bulda, Jerico Marte, and Don Tantiado will be available at the KomiksKalye for live sketching and signing sessions, offering a unique opportunity for fans to have their comics signed and sketches drawn.

 

Interactive activities will abound, including exciting contests, game demos, and art jams, ensuring a fun-filled day for attendees of all ages.

Tickets for Summer Komikon 2025 are available at the venue on arrival. A 1-Day Ticket is priced at ₱150 and includes a P100 Comic Odyssey voucher that can be used to purchase selected items from the Comic Odyssey table. Special rates of ₱100 are available for Senior High Students, Senior Citizens, PWDs with valid IDs, and Komikon Shirt Wearers. Additionally, children below ticket table height will enjoy free entry.

 

The event is proudly sponsored by Comic Odyssey, National Book Store, The MANILA BULLETIN, Quantum Amusement Corporation, Famous Amos Philippines, Kwentoon, Kartuns at Komiks Cafe, Coffee and Comics, JAM 88.3, and student organization UP GRAIL - Graphic Arts in Literature.

For more details, please visit Summer Komikon 2025 on Facebook or email inquiry@komikon.org.

Nikki Glaser to return as host of Golden Globes in 2026

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mar 14, 2025 12:33 PM 

Nikki Glaser (AP) 

NEW YORK (AP) — After a well-reviewed emcee debut, the Golden Globes are bringing back comedian Nikki Glaser to host the 2026 ceremony.

Dick Clark Productions, the producer of the award show, announced Thursday that Glaser will return for the 83rd Globes next January. Glaser, the first woman to host the show solo, successfully shepherded a ceremony she called “Ozempic’s biggest night.”

“Hosting the Golden Globes this year was without a doubt the most fun I have ever had in my career,” said Glaser in a statement. “I can’t wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team from ‘The White Lotus’ who will finally recognize my talent and cast me in Season Four as a Scandinavian Pilates instructor with a shadowy past.” 

The Globes, in which the top awards went to the films “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez” and the TV series “Shōgun” and “Hacks,” drew 9.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen, a 2% dip from the year prior. Like this year’s broadcast, next year’s Globes will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

“Nikki Glaser brought a refreshing spark and fearless wit to the Golden Globes stage this year,” said Globes President Helen Hoehne. “Her sharp humor, and bold presence set the tone for an unforgettable night, making the ceremony feel vibrant and most of all fun.” 

A German expat in the Philippines (XIV): Many unbelievable surprises but also a sad one