As the only Philippine Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (PACOP) member school in Nueva Ecija, Wesleyan University-Philippines (WUP) joined the ConnectED: Real Connections, Real Experiences event held on October 6, 2025, at the Unilab Bayanihan Center in Mandaluyong City.The event marked a ‘landmark’ collaboration among Unilab Education, Unilab Pharma Academy, and PACOP, which celebrated the first batch of pharmacy interns under the initiative. The program aimed to bridge education and industry by providing pharmacy students with opportunities to gain real-world experience and professional development within the pharmaceutical sector.
One of the highlights of the event was the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing, which formalized the partnership among Unilab Education, Unilab Pharma Academy, and PACOP. This underscored their shared goal of strengthening connections between academic institutions and industry stakeholders to develop competent, future-ready pharmacists.
In his address, Atty. Jose Maria A. Ochave, President of Unilab Education, Inc., emphasized the ‘critical and evolving’ role of pharmacists—not only as medicine experts but also as innovators, researchers, and leaders who played a vital role in advancing healthcare.
Meanwhile, Kay Ann J. Tongol, Dean of the WUP College of Allied Medical Sciences (CAMS), highlighted the program’s importance in shaping competent and well-rounded pharmacy professionals who could thrive in diverse healthcare settings.“The program reflects Unilab’s commitment to developing future-ready pharmacists who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values to excel in diverse areas of healthcare and pharmaceutical practice,” she noted.
The event was also graced by several speakers, including Mr. Michael G. Villegas, Division Vice President of Unilab Manufacturing; Ms. Perlita M. Crucis, RPh, MSPh, President of PACOP; Ms. Rita Sescar, Chief Education Program Specialist from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); and Mr. Wrianeile V. Abuel, RPh, Dean and Head of Unilab Pharma Academy, who presented the Manufacturing Network and Blueprints of “𝘎𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴.”
Representing WUP were two faculty members from CAMS, Prof. Kimberly Anne Agnes and Prof. Arenz Maryan Ambatali, who joined the discussions and engagement activities.
Following the program, seven WUP pharmacy interns were formally deployed to two Unilab manufacturing plants, marking the beginning of their experiential training under the Connected initiative.
This collaboration aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supported SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by fostering the development of pharmacists who ensured access to safe, effective, and quality medicines, and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening experiential learning through academic-industry collaboration.
The initiative also advanced SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by preparing students for diverse career pathways in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through initiatives like the “𝘎𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴” framework that promoted innovation in manufacturing and education. Finally, it exemplified SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by demonstrating effective collaboration among academic, industrial, and professional organizations to advance shared objectives in health, education, and workforce development.
by Ayumi San Cai Valerio
Photo Courtesy of WUP-CAMS
Information provided by Kay Ann J. Tongol
