CSAP Faculty

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Ethel Andrea C. Ladignon is an Assistant Professor at the UP College of Pharmacy, where she has been a dedicated faculty member since 2010. She earned both her BS in Pharmacy (Class of 2009) and her Master’s Degree in Pharmacy (Industrial Pharmacy) from the same college.

Her research primarily focuses on standardization of medicinal plants and herbal product development. Committed to institutional service, she is an active member of the College Committee on Research and the Performance Management Team.

Ethel regularly provides extension services related to preformulation and formulation studies to mentor high school and undergraduate students, and she serves one of the facilitators for the Philippine Science High School System Science Immersion Program.

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Dr. Arjay Edlex Mendoza is a highly accomplished and board-certified clinical pharmacist with advanced training in critical care and pharmacotherapy. As a US Army veteran, he combines military leadership experience with over a decade of service in diverse healthcare settings, including the VA San Diego Healthcare System, UC San Diego Health, and several academic institutions in both the U.S. and the Philippines. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Colorado, a Master’s in Health Sciences (with concentration in Public Health), and a BS in Pharmacy from the University of the Philippines Manila, where he ranked in the top 3 of his graduating class. His clinical expertise includes critical care, emergency medicine, infectious diseases, and HIV management. Dr. Mendoza is also an active educator, researcher, and speaker, having taught in multiple academic settings, presented at national forums, and published extensively on diabetes and HIV care. In addition to holding dual pharmacist licenses (California, USA and Philippines) and multiple board certifications (BCPS, BCCCP, AAHIVP), he has been recognized with numerous honors, including Outstanding PharmD Student and Outstanding PGY-2 Pharmacy Resident during his training. Passionate about patient care, teaching, and service, Dr. Mendoza is a dynamic leader committed to advancing pharmacy practice and clinical excellence in the academe and healthcare systems.

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Ms. Maria Patricia S. Ugalde is an Instructor I at the Department of Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of the Philippines Manila. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Pharmacy from the same institution in 2022 and passed the Pharmacist Licensure Examination in 2023. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Social and Administrative Pharmacy at the University of the Philippines Manila.

Her academic and professional interests include clinical pharmacy, evidence-based medicine, pharmacy practice, pharmacokinetics, pharmacoepidemiology, integrative medicine, and public health pharmacy. She currently handles a wide range of courses in the pharmacy curriculum, including Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Evidence-Based Medicine and Drug Information, Integrative Medicine, Pharmacy Operations, Pharmaceutical Dispensing, Pharmacy in Public Health, and experiential pharmacy education in institutional, community, and industrial settings.

Ms. Ugalde has contributed to research in pharmaceutical and clinical sciences, including her publication on the benefits and risks of liposomal-based doxorubicin versus conventional doxorubicin for metastatic breast cancer published in the Journal of Asian Association of Schools of Pharmacy in 2023. She is also actively engaged in professional development and pharmacy education initiatives, serving as a speaker and facilitator in programs focused on clinical pharmacy practice, patient safety, therapeutic optimization, and wellness promotion.

Beyond teaching and research, Ms. Ugalde holds several leadership roles within the College of Pharmacy, including Chair of the Committee on Student Affairs and Wellness and Chair of the Committee on Student Activities and Welfare. She is likewise active in professional organizations and has participated in local and international conferences, including the 30th Congress of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA 2024) in Seoul, South Korea, and the 12th Asian Association Schools of Pharmacy Conference in Japan.

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James Louie D. Tronco is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy. He obtained his undergraduate Pharmacy degree from the UP College of Pharmacy in 2016 and his medical degree from the UP College of Medicine in 2022. He is now a student in the Master of Public Health program of the UP College of Public Health.

He handles courses in clinical pharmacy, including clinical assessment, patient counseling, and pharmacotherapy. His research interests span health systems research, clinical pharmacy, and pharmacy education, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to improving healthcare practice and delivery.

Beyond teaching and research, he is also engaged in extension and public service initiatives. He provides technical expertise through lectures and training activities and serves as part of a technical advisory group under the Department of Health.

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Dr. Raymond Fernando B. Yu is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and a licensed chemist. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry degree from University of the Philippines Manila College of Arts and Sciences. He obtained his Master of Science in Chemistry (minor in
Biochemistry) from University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), where he investigated the various bioactivities of limonoids isolated from the seeds of Philippine citrus fruits. He took his PhD (Chemical Sciences) at the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Sciences at University of Tasmania (ACROSS-UTas), where he worked under Assoc. Prof. Joselito P. Quirino on the development of soft materials as stationary pseudophases for open-tubular separations. After receiving his PhD from UTas, he resumed work with the department, where he is currently teaching courses in pharmaceutical organic chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and research methods. He is also currently the college graduate program coordinator.

Prior to joining academia, he worked as a research assistant for various research groups on natural products from indigenous plants and on the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells. Upon joining the department after his graduation from UPLB, he joined the research team of Discovery and Development of Health Products under the project Formulation of Standardized Herbal Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibiting Extracts for Pre-clinical and Clinical Development. His current research interests included determination of SSFFCs in various matrices, determination of biomarkers for crude drugs for use in quality assurance, and risk assessment of laboratory courses.

He is a member of the Philippine Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and American Chemical Society. He is also an associate member of the National Research Council of the Philippines Division X (Chemical Sciences).

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Mr. Adrian Chester P. Uy, RPh, CHT is an Instructor IV in the Department of Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy at the University of the Philippines Manila College of Pharmacy. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Pharmacy from the University of the Philippines Manila and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Social and Administrative Pharmacy at the same institution. His teaching areas include clinical pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmaceutical care, pharmacy operations, health ethics and leadership, and experiential pharmacy practice. His interests include clinical pharmacy, antimicrobial stewardship, rational use of medicines, medication safety, pharmacy education, and social and administrative pharmacy. He has served as a speaker in various professional development and pharmacy education programs on topics related to antimicrobial stewardship, clinical pharmacokinetics, medication adherence, and vaccination.

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Joanna V. Toralba is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Pharmacy, where she served as Department Chair for a decade. She holds a BS in Pharmacy and an MS in Pharmacy (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) from the same institution and is currently completing her PhD in Health Sciences (Analytical Toxicology) at UP Manila. Her advanced technical profile is supported by specialized training in Mass Spectrometry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) – Clinical Toxicology and Environmental Biomonitoring Laboratory.

A prolific researcher and innovator, Prof. Toralba is one of the Principal Investigators of the UP Drugs of Abuse Research Laboratory (DARL). Her leadership in securing grants from CHED-PCARI and DOST-PCHRD has been pivotal in advancing the institution’s analytical capabilities. Her research in pharmaceutical formulation and analytical method development—specifically utilizing LC-QTOF/MS (Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry) and LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry)—has resulted in conference presentations, two patents, six utility models, and several publications.

Beyond the laboratory, Prof. Toralba translates complex science into public service. She is a key consultant of government agencies, various health institutions, and professional organizations, specifically on substances of abuse testing. Her ongoing work with the Dangerous Drugs Board provides critical data on national substance use patterns to inform public health programs. Her commitment to pedagogical excellence is evidenced by her mentorship of 22 graduate and undergraduate groups and her receipt of the 2018 UP Manila Gawad Chancellor for Outstanding Teacher and the 2021 UP College of Pharmacy Alumni Association Distinguished Alumna in Academe award.

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Instructor Anthony C. Tocayon is a graduate of the BS Pharmaceutical Sciences program and a licensed pharmacist under the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He is currently pursuing his MS Pharmaceutical Sciences degree at the UP College of Pharmacy. His teaching experience includes courses in Pharmaceutical Calculations, Inorganic Chemistry, and Pharmaceutical Analysis. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he currently serves as the Alumni Relations Officer of the College.

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Erica Nicole J. Tayko, RPh earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of the Philippines Manila College of Pharmacy in 2019 and passed the Philippine Pharmacist Licensure Examination in June 2021.

Early in her career, she gained diverse experience across multiple areas of pharmacy practice. She worked in research as a University Research Associate under the UPCP Drug-Herb Interaction Program and as a cold-chain pharmacist for a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial. She also practiced in a clinical setting as a staff pharmacist in a private tertiary hospital in Manila.

She currently serves as a faculty member at her alma mater, the UP College of Pharmacy, where she handles courses including Pharmaceutical Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital Pharmacy, Pharmacy Dispensing and Operations, Patient Medication Counseling, Evidence-Based Medicine, and Pharmacology. At present, she is pursuing a Master of Science in Social and Administrative Pharmacy (MSSAP). Her research interests focus on telepharmacy, particularly in policy analysis and the behavioral aspects of telepharmacy users.

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Asst. Prof. Jarvin Enosh T. Tan is a graduate of BS Pharmacy at the University of the Philippines Manila, MA Clinical Psychology at the University of Santo Tomas, PgCert Psychiatric Therapeutics at Aston University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Pharmacy at the University of Malta an associate member of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy (in collaboration with the University of Illinois – Chicago). He is the first pharmacist in the world to receive the Foundation Certificate from the College of Mental Health Pharmacy, and the first pharmacist in the Philippines to be credentialed as a Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, an autonomous division under the American Pharmacists Association. His master’s thesis was a pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and side effects of self-help cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia to aid in promoting access to evidence-based interventions for mental health conditions in the Philippines, and his presentation of this work won Best Oral Presentation at the 30th Congress of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations in Seoul, Korea.

He is a licensed pharmacist in the Philippines, with extensive clinical experience focused on medication therapy management for young people with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and attention-deficit hyperactivity syndrome. His experience also extends to policy work, having lobbied for the passage of the landmark Philippine Mental Health Act, worked as a part-time technical consultant for the World Health Organization Office of the Representative in Papua New Guinea, served as a technical writer for the Philippine National Formulary’s central nervous system drug monographs and the national guidelines on suicide prevention for those working in news and creative media, and provided expertise in shaping national policies and guidelines on psychiatric medications. He is frequently tapped by both national and international organizations as a resource person on topics concerning the rational use of psychiatric medicines. He has been trained in teaching pedagogy, suicide first aid, and psychopharmacology. He serves as a Board Member of the Youth for Mental Health Coalition, Inc. and is an associate member of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at the UP College of Pharmacy. One of his main roles in the College is serving as course coordinator for Clin Pharm 185: Pharmacotherapy of Neurological and Psychological Disorders, one of the only mandatory courses on neuropsychiatric therapeutics for undergraduate BS Pharmacy students in the Philippines, leading the College in becoming one of the only schools of pharmacy in the Philippines that is fully compliant with Republic Act 11036 or the Mental Health Act. Furthermore, his research in this area was the first to discover a knowledge gap among some Filipino pharmacists in managing psychiatric medications. With his proficiency in psychopharmacology education, he was awarded with the 1st Runner Up for the Dean’s Award for Most Outstanding Teacher (Junior Category, Pharmacy).

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Ms. Veronica D. Solis has seven years of experience in hospital pharmacy practice. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Manila College of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy, where she previously served as a Teaching Associate for two years. She earned both her BS in Pharmacy and Master of Science in Pharmacy (Hospital Pharmacy track)
degrees from UP Manila.

Prior to entering the academe, she worked at Manila Doctors Hospital as a staff pharmacist and later as Pharmacy Training Officer, where she led training programs for pharmacists and pharmacy support staff and developed internship programs for undergraduate and graduate pharmacy students.

Her academic and professional work focuses on hospital pharmacy practice, experiential pharmacy education, and patient safety. She has begun presenting her research in academic conferences and is an active resource speaker in Continuing Professional Development programs, delivering lectures on sterile compounding, clinical nutrition, and pharmacy preceptorship.

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Edwin C. Ruamero, Jr. is a graduate of BS Industrial Pharmacy with a master’s degree in Public Health, both degrees earned from the University of the Philippines, Manila. He started his career in research as a Research Associate at the National Institutes of Health- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2009. In 2011, he joined the clinical research industry as a Clinical Trials Assistant and later progressed to a Clinical Research Associate role, handling phases 2 to 4 clinical trials across various therapeutic areas. In 2015, he decided to pursue a full-time teaching career at the University of the Philippines-Manila, College of Pharmacy, where he taught various Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry subjects. He is a member and panel secretary of the UP Manila Research Ethics Board (UPMREB). He is also the Assistant. Director (externals) of the UP-National Institutes of Health- National Clinical Trials and Translation Center. At present, he is in the final phase of his PhD in Clinical Research from the University of Central Nicaragua and Texila American University.

Career highlights/achievements:

Pioneer immunizing pharmacist (and assessor) in the country.
Developed the course, Clinical Research, under the MS Pharmaceutical Sciences program of the UP College of Pharmacy
Lead the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the National Institutes of Health National Clinical Trials and Translation Center
Lead projects funded by WHO (Drug Utilization Review Training for Pharmacists, 2015), PITAHC (Drug Herb Interaction, 2018), DOST-PCHRD (Sub-project 2: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 2020), Department of Health Multifaceted Projects (Continuation of Kiti Kiti X Independent Evaluation Trials [Field Trials]; Procurement of Consulting Services for the Capacity Building On Research Methods and Clinical Trial Management, 2024).

Awards received: Gawad Dekano for Outstanding Faculty in Extension Services (2019); OneUP Professorial Grant (2022) for Outstanding Faculty in Teaching and Public Service (2019, 2022); Prof. Delfin D. & Marcela B. Samson Professorial Chair Award (2018); Gawad Lila UP Manila Gender Steering Committee, Center for Gender and Women Studies (2017).

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Dr. Yolanda R. Robles is Professor 12 of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Pharmacy. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of the Philippines and her Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy from the University of Tasmania, Australia. During her 37-year academic career at the UP College of Pharmacy, she rose through the ranks from Instructor I to Professor 12 and served as Dean for two terms from 2001 to 2007.

Dr. Robles has held numerous leadership positions in pharmacy education and professional organizations. She currently serves as President of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations and previously served as President of the Asian Association of Schools of Pharmacy and the Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy. She is also a Past President of the Philippine Pharmacists Association and served as Chair of the CHED Technical Committee for Pharmacy Education and later as a member of the CHED Technical Panel for Pharmacy Education.

Her scholarly and professional contributions span pharmacy education, pharmacy practice, and health policy. She has provided technical expertise to various national committees on medicines, antimicrobial stewardship, mental health pharmacotherapy, patient safety, and pharmacy workforce development. Her contributions to the profession have been recognized through numerous national and international honors, including the FAPA-Ishidate Award in Pharmacy Education, Fellowships from FAPA and the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Philippine Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the Philippine Pharmacists Association, and the UP Alumni Association Distinguished Alumna Award in Public Health Promotion.

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Ron Martin S. Robles is a Registered Pharmacist and academic professional currently serving as an Instructor under the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, graduating Cum Laude from UP Manila, and is currently pursuing his Master of Science in the same field at the institution.

Alongside his teaching responsibilities, Ron actively contributes to institutional development as a member of the IT and Documentation Committee, the Office for International and Local Linkages, and the Kumita Committee. His professional background is founded on comprehensive experience across the pharmaceutical sector, having completed internships in clinical research, hospital pharmacy, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs with notable institutions such as the UP-Philippine General Hospital, and locally and internationally recognized clinical research organizations.

His research interests include public health and health informatics, highlighted by his work in developing a social media listening system to detect information voids surrounding COVID-19 vaccination within the Filipino online space

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Mr. Patrick Junard S. Regidor is a registered pharmacist and instructor at the Department of Industrial Pharmacy of the University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy. He obtained his degree in BS Industrial Pharmacy (magna cum laude) from the same institution in 2019. He also took graduate courses for his MS in Chemistry at the De La Salle University. He has been serving as a faculty of the College for six years and has taught courses on pharmaceutical formulations, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and biopharmaceutics. His research interests concentrate mainly on the field of pharmaceutics and development of pharmaceutical products.

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Dr Imelda Peña is a licensed pharmacist with the following qualifications all obtained from the University of the Philippines (UP): Bachelor of Science in Industrial Pharmacy, Master of Science (Industrial Pharmacy) and Doctor of Public Health (major in Epidemiology).

She is currently a Professor with 34 years of experience in the academe, including 6 years as the Former Dean of the College of Pharmacy, University of the Philippines Manila and 4.5 years as Former Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences or IPS, National Institutes of Health (NIH), UP Manila, where she is also an Affiliate Research Faculty. Further, she extends technical consultancy services to the government, as (1) Member of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) – Technical Panel for Pharmacy Education and as (2) former Member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on the certification program for immunizing pharmacists, for the Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy, under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). She was a Former Member of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), Subcommittee on Drugs, under DOH and DOST. She has been a pioneer advocate on immunization, having served as trainer, coach and assessor of the Immunizing Pharmacist Certification Program (IPCP). She currently serves as the Adviser of the Philippine Society for Pharmacist Vaccinators (PSPV), a PRC-designated Competency Development Group for the Certification Program for Immunizing Pharmacists (CPIP).

Her research areas of interest for the past 10 years include, regulatory science, biowaiver monographs, pharmacy-based immunization, health policy analysis, antimicrobial stewardship, biologics / biosimilars, drug utilization reviews and other industry-collaborative researches, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product development.

In recognition of her relentless dedication and commitment to the pharmacy profession, and as a testament of her outstanding career, she received a number of distinguished awards from her University and various associations, the most notable of which, was the prestigious national award, the “Outstanding Professional of the Year Award in the field of Pharmacy,” given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in July 2022.

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Mr. Vince Lambert H. Padilla is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the UP College of Pharmacy. He is a graduate of MS in Chemistry from De La Salle University. He is currently pursuing PhD in Chemistry from the same university and is completing part of his dissertation at University of Osaka. Asst. Prof. Padilla is developing his specialty in synthetic organic chemistry and computer-aided drug design. He actively provides extension service to students from high school and other higher educational institutions. He also made significant contributions to the College. He is the key person in equipping the College with the Hyflex setup during the pandemic, developed the College’s online pre-enrollment system, and created the UP CP Research Database.

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Dr. Joanna J. Orejola is an Associate Professor and Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department UP College of Pharmacy. She has been teaching at the College for more than 20 years. She taught Biochemistry, Organic Medicinal Chemistry, Natural Products Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Courses. She is the College Research Committee Chairman and a core member of the Office of Research Integrity (ORI). She graduated with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences major in Natural Products Chemistry (Nagasaki University), MS Biochemistry (UP College of Medicine), BS Pharmacy (UP College of Pharmacy), and a Licensed Pharmacist. She is a seasoned panel reviewer of protocol proposals applications for grants, scientific papers presented in conferences, and submitted for publication. Her current researches involve isolation, purification, and spectroscopic/metric-based structure elucidation, cell-based and enzyme based biological assay of natural secondary metabolites, chemical profiling and standardization of herbal medicine/materials. She actively provides extension service to students from high school and other higher education institutes with the hope to fulfill her lifelong goal: to guide young and aspiring researchers to do good science.

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Judilynn L. Niedo-Solidum is a licensed Pharmacist with over three decades of academic excellence. She holds a BS in Pharmacy(UP Pharmacy), an MS in Pharmacology (UP Medicine), and a PhD in Environmental Science (UP Los Baños SESAM). Within the University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy, she has served as Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Graduate School Coordinator, further contributing as Director of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino for the entire UP Manila campus. She is currently pursuing a second PhD in Gerontology and Long-Term Care at Taipei Medical University.

Internationally, she is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Pharmacy Education (FIP, The Hague), former Global Lead of the FIP Workforce Development Hub, and an Advisory Committee Member for Pharmacy Technicians and Support Workforce. Nationally, she has served the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (HALAL) the Fairness Opinion Board Pharmaceutical of DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute and is a Technical Expert for the NIH Scientific Review Council (UP Manila), advancing food safety, pharmaceutical standards, and research evaluation

She co-invented a patented antibiofilm composition from Dillenia philippinensis (Katmon). Her leadership includes directing national projects like the 7th Edition Philippine National Drug Formulary review and the Dengue ReMoVe Project, Eco-socioeconomic arm (DOST-NRCP). Her current work on enhancing Filipino geriatric care systems, interweaves with her other interests in pharmacy, drug discovery, and environmental science.

Her honors include the Ulirang Guro Award (New York), the DOST-NRCP Achievement Award, the Jollibee Family Values Award, and being named a “Face” of the Philippine Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Inc. A Distinguished Alumna for Research of UP Pharmacy, she has received multiple Professorial Chair and International Publication Awards. Her career is further backed by prestigious scholarships from Taipei Medical University, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the DOST-Engineering and Science Education Program.

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Ms. Frances Lois U. Ngo works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy, UP College of Pharmacy with 6 years of teaching experience. She is an active member of the UP Manila Research Ethics Board. She is currently taking her PhD in Health Sciences (by Research) in the UP College of Medicine focusing in pharmaceutical systems strengthening. Her subject matter expertise are in health systems, medication safety, interprofessional collaboration, and public health pharmacy. Her research experience ranges from health financing, health economics, social and administrative pharmacy, pharmacy education, and interprofessional education. She provides support on health financing strategies and health impact assessment for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Department of Health.

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Levi Letlet H. Larcia II, RPh, MS, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of the Philippines Manila. She earned her BS Pharmacy, MS Biochemistry, and Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry from UP Manila and placed 7th in the Pharmacist Licensure Examination in 2000.

Dr. Larcia has more than two decades of teaching experience in pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, pharmacognosy, and natural products research. Her research interests focus on probiotics, lactic acid bacteria, antimicrobial compounds, natural products, molecular biology, and pharmaceutical biotechnology. She has published studies in international journals and presented research in local and international scientific conferences, including the Asian Conference on Lactic Acid Bacteria.

She currently leads and collaborates in various DOST-PCHRD funded research projects related to probiotic and nutraceutical development. Dr. Larcia is also a co-inventor of several utility models and patents involving herbal pharmaceutical formulations. She is also the chairperson of the Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring Committee of the College of Pharmacy. In recognition of her contributions to teaching and research, she received the Gawad Dekano Award for Most Outstanding Junior Faculty in Teaching in 2025 from the UP College of Pharmacy.

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Mr. Cecilio Angelo M. Hipolito is an Instructor II at the Department of Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy, University of the Philippines Manila College of Pharmacy. He earned his BS in Pharmacy from the same institution in 2021 and successfully passed the Pharmacist Licensure Examination in 2022. His academic and professional work centers on clinical pharmacy, pharmacy practice, and health promotion, with a focus on pharmacy operations, experiential pharmacy education, and clinical nutrition.

He serves as course coordinator and faculty for various academic programs, handling institutional and community experiential pharmacy education, pharmacy operations, dispensing and incompatibilities, clinical nutrition, and pharmacy wellness and health promotion. His pedagogical approach is deeply informed by his background in hospital pharmacy practice, particularly in the areas of medication review, medication reconciliation, patient safety, and the optimization of medication therapy.

Mr. Hipolito is actively involved in pharmacy education and professional development, frequently contributing as a resource speaker and facilitator for programs concerning clinical pharmacy and health promotion. He currently serves as the Chairperson of the College’s Health Promotion Committee and acts as the faculty adviser to the UP Sports Alliance of Pharmacy Students (UP SAPS). He has also participated in significant national and international professional engagements, including the 12th Asian Association of Schools of Pharmacy Conference 2025 and the 30th Congress of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations.

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Dr. Margarita “Meg” M. Gutierrez is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines Manila – College of Pharmacy, where she serves as Chair of the Department of Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy. She holds a BS in Industrial Pharmacy and a Master of Health Professions Education from UP Manila, and a PhD in Social and Administrative Pharmacy from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Professions Education at UP Manila.

Dr. Gutierrez is a former president of the Philippines Young Pharmacists Group and a Founder Fellow of the Philippine chapter of the FAPA College of Pharmacy. Her work has garnered national and international recognition, including the FIP Ton Hoek Scholarship for Young leaders (2019), FAPA Outstanding Young Pharmacist (2024), and PPhA Most Outstanding Pharmacist in the Academe (2024).

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Mr. Clinton B. Gomez is a tenured Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Manila – College of Pharmacy. He serves as the Chair of the Department of Industrial Pharmacy. He is a graduate of BS Industrial Pharmacy at the University of the Philippines Manila and MS Biomedicinal Chemistry at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. His research interest is in pharmaceutics specifically in the development and optimization of pharmaceutical dosage forms and drug delivery systems through the use of bionanomaterials. Asst. Prof. Gomez is an active member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Philippines Affiliate

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Dr. Mac Ardy J. Gloria is an Associate Professor and Dean of the UP College of Pharmacy. He serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Drugs of the Health Technology Assessment Council under the Department of Science and Technology. He recently completed a research fellowship at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Center for Integrative and Development Studies – Data Science for Public Policy Program. He earned his PhD in Health Technology Assessment from Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand, a Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology (Clinical Epidemiology) from the UP College of Medicine, a Master of Public Health from the UP College of Public Health, and a BS in Industrial Pharmacy from the UP College of Pharmacy. His research and extension work span pharmacy practice and health technology assessment. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and presented his work in numerous national and international conferences, contributing to the advancement of his field.

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Mr. Dwight Denzel M. Dollano is an Instructor at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of the Philippines Manila College of Pharmacy. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of the Philippines Manila in January 2025 and successfully passed the Pharmacist Licensure Examination in April of the same year. He is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the same institution.

As an educator, Mr. Dollano handles a wide range of courses in pharmaceutical chemistry, analytical chemistry, integrated pharmaceutical sciences, laboratory instruction, and internship programs. His research interests focus on natural products, particularly in the areas of computer-aided drug discovery, product formulation, and method development.

Beyond his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Dollano serves in leadership roles related to gender and development. He is the Chair of the College Gender Committee and serves as the Gender Focal Person for the University’s Gender Committee. He is also a member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE).

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Ms. Czarina Dominique Delos Santos is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Industrial Pharmacy, UP College of Pharmacy. She earned her BS Industrial Pharmacy degree from the University of the Philippines Manila and her Master of Engineering degree from Kyushu University in Japan under the Mobukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship. She is also a licensed pharmacist and placed 8th in the January 2014 Pharmacist Licensure Examination. Her research interests focus on pharmaceutical and cosmetic product development. She also currently serves as the Quality Management System (QMS) Focal Person of the College.

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Mr. Cyro Angelo C. Defensor, RPh, is an Instructor at the University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy. He teaches courses in social and administrative pharmacy, and pharmacy practice such as Medication Safety and Dispensing.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from University of the Philippines – Manila. His interests includes Clinical Pharmacy and Health Technology Assessment

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Jean Flor Camu Casauay is a graduate of BS Pharmacy and Master of Science in Pharmacy from University of the Philippines Manila College of Pharmacy. A certified immunizing pharmacist with over 15 years of experience in academia, quality assurance, and pharmaceutical industry compliance. She began her teaching career in 2008 at the UP College of Pharmacy, where she handled courses such as Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacotherapeutics, and Pharmacology.

Her professional experience in quality assurance started in the pharmaceutical industry as a GMP Compliance Auditor, which later expanded into academic quality management, accreditation, and institutional quality systems. Since 2015, she has held various administrative positions at UP Manila, including Department Chair, College Secretary, and currently serves as University Registrar.

She also served as the QA Focal Person and Chairman of the QA Committee of the UP College of Pharmacy, where she spearheaded accreditation application initiatives and contributed significantly to strengthening institutional quality assurance mechanisms. She was likewise part of the core group that led the institutional ISO certification efforts of University of the Philippines Manila. At present, she also serves as an external QA reviewer within the University of the Philippines System.

Ms. Casauay is both a PAASCU and PACUCOA Accreditor, and has undergone international training on ASEAN University Network (AUN-QA). Her research interests include academic quality assurance, outcomes-based education, institutional accreditation, quality management systems, and pharmaceutical industry Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance. She has produced researches on herbal manufacturing, drug formulation, and counterfeit medicines. In addition to her academic and quality assurance engagements, she currently serves as a Board Director of International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Philippine Affiliate and Vice President of Cosmetics, Health, and Wellness Pharmacists Association, Inc. (COSHWELL)

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Francis Capule is a doctoral graduate in clinical pharmacy from Mahidol University in Thailand (2018) and a graduate of MS Pharmacology (2013) and BS Pharmacy (2004) from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila. He obtained formal trainings in clinical pharmacy at St. Luke’s Medical Center and Taipei Veterans General Hospital, good pharmacy practice at Taipei Medical University, and medical innovation at Kyushu University.

After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree, Dr. Capule worked as a Neurocritical Care Unit and Acute Stroke Unit Clinical Pharmacist and Assistant Department Manager at St. Luke’s Medical Center. He is currently a Professor 3 and the Former Dean at the UP College of Pharmacy (UPCP). He is the program lead of the UPCP Clinical Pharmacy Skills Enhancement Program. He is one of the program proponents of the UPCP Telepharmacy Service.

His professional experience spanning 21 years in the clinical, academic and administrative settings enabled him to pursue his research interests, which has been disseminated in both local and international conferences and peer-reviewed journals. He was able to deliver over 50 plenary, parallel and poster presentations and publish 27 scientific articles in refereed local and international journals. He is a book author of the first Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) Textbook of Internal Medicine which has been honored with the 2024 Outstanding Book and/or Monograph Award by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). He has mentored students of pharmacy and medicine in the Philippines and abroad for their research

He has been recognized for his outstanding performance by receiving three Gawad Dekana Awards for Outstanding Teacher, the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) – United Laboratories (Unilab) The Outstanding Pharmacist (TOP) in Education/Academe and the 11th Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA) Distinction Award in Academe/Research and Development. His consistent pursuit of excellence in scientific research is evidenced by the research grants and awards that he has received, including an award for outstanding research on herbal medicine by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) and Gruppo Medica Incorporated, the University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy Alumni Association, Inc. (UPCPAAI) Distinguished Alumni in Research, the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) – Unilab The Outstanding Pharmacist (TOP) in Research, and the Gawad Dekano Award for Most Outstanding Teacher in Research. He has also received the Outstanding Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) Alumni Award from the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA) Foundation and the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi Award (Professional Category) from the Provincial Government of Bulacan.

Through the years, Dr. Capule has been involved in providing technical assistance to various local and international organizations. He has served as a member of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Advisory Pool of Experts. He brought to the Philippines the first ever Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) program implemented through the grant awarded by the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Association (FAPA) foundation in 2014. He is the project lead of the GPP collaboration project for systems improvement in Philippine General Hospital pharmacy services. In 2015, he joined a project commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) to examine the effects of the typhoon Haiyan on the medicine management system and developed a training module on pharmaceutical supply chain management for government hospitals for the Department of Health.

Bionote:

Dr. Bryan Paul I. Bulatao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Pharmacy at the UP Manila College of Pharmacy. He is an Affiliate Research Faculty and the Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila. He earned his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, and holds both an MS in Pharmacy (Industrial Pharmacy) and a BS in Industrial Pharmacy from the UP Manila College of Pharmacy. Dr. Bulatao’s work centers on Quality-by-Design–driven pharmaceutical product development, where he applies design of experiments to optimize drug delivery systems and ensure their reproducibility from the research stage to potential scale-up. His current research works span the development of microparticles, nanoparticles, buccoadhesive films, and transdermal systems. In addition to his publications, he is credited with patents and utility models. Dr. Bulatao is a regular member of the National Research Council of the Philippines (Division IV – Pharmaceutical Sciences).

Bionote

Paolo Robert P. Bueno, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Manila, specializing in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Natural Products Chemistry. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry (cum laude) from the University of Santo Tomas and completed a straight M.Sc.-Ph.D. in Biochemistry at UP Manila, which included collaborative research at Chang Jung Christian University in Taiwan. Dr. Bueno was recognized with the 2025 “Gawad Dekano” Awards for Most Outstanding Senior Faculty in both Teaching and Extension Service. He has been a recipient of the 34th Dr. Alfredo C. Santos Memorial Lecture Award (2024), given to a young scientist in the field of natural products chemistry. Together with his collaborators, his innovative researches have earned prominent national and international accolades, including the FAOBMB Best Poster Award (2025), and a DOST Silver Innovation Award alongside top honors from Ajinomoto Philippines and Tech Planter Asia for the sustainable project “GreenPump.” He also ranked Top 5 in the National Chemical Technician Licensure Examination.

Beyond instruction and research, Dr. Bueno maintains an active portfolio in institutional and national leadership. Within the College, he serves as the Chair of both the Technical Advisory and Extension Program Committee and the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Committee, while additionally representing the College of Pharmacy as the university-wide focal person for the Office for Research Integrity and the Publication Assistance Committee. On a national scale, he demonstrates sustained leadership as an elected Board Member and Officer of the Philippine Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB). He is also an Associate Member of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Chemical Sciences Division, and maintains active memberships in the Natural Products Society of the Philippines, the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines, and the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas, Inc.

Bionote:

Ms. Jocelyn Bautista-Palacpac is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the College of Pharmacy, University of the Philippines Manila and the Assistant Director of the Institute of Herbal Medicine – National Institutes of Health. Previously, she was the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, the College Secretary, and the Chair of the Department of Industrial Pharmacy at the University of the Philippines Manila.

She is the Project Leader of the Formulation Group of the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants and is very much involved in several projects on herbal medicine. She has received numerous awards such as the Outstanding Faculty for Research, Distinguished Alumni in Research, and Gruppo Medica Award for Outstanding Research in Herbal Medicine, among others.

She is the author/co-author of publications mainly on medicinal plants such as including the Guidebook on the Proper Use of Medicinal Plants. She chaired the Technical Working Group for the Philippine Herbal Pharmacopeia and was also a member of the Technical Working Group for the Philippine Pharmacopeia 1. She holds several patents and utility models for herbal medicine. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Philippine Affiliate and is the Faculty Advisor of the University of the Philippines Student Chapter of the ISPE.

Prof. Palacpac obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Pharmacy from the University of the Philippines Manila. She also finished a Diploma Course on Research and Development of Products to Meet Public Health Needs from Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan as well as completed the Training on Medicinal Plants: Beyond Monograph to Herbal Product for the ASEAN Economic Community, Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.

Bionote:

Dr. Charles Mandy G. Ayran is a graduate of BS Industrial Pharmacy at the University of the Philippines Manila, and Doctorate in Pharmacy at the University of Malta, in collaboration with the University of Illinois – Chicago. He received his International Comprehensive Medication Management certificate from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. His doctoral dissertation focused on the optimization of the chronic disease medicine entitlement within the National Health Service of Malta to streamline timely access to medicine approvals.

He is a licensed pharmacist in the Philippines, and previously in Malta in Europe, with work experience and training in teaching pedagogy, community and clinical pharmacy, and pharmacovigilance and patient safety in the drug supply chain. He is currently an Associate Professor and the College Secretary of the UP College of Pharmacy, serving as lead in the curricular development of the Master and PhD in Clinical Pharmacy academic programs. Further, he is also an Affiliate Faculty of the UP College of Medicine Program for Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety (PHQPS), and an accreditor at Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). With his various leadership and academic involvements, he was awarded with Patrocinio Valenzuela Leadership Award 2015, UP Pharmaceutical Association Achievement Award 2015, Dean’s Award for Most Outstanding Teacher in 2016, 2023, and 2024, and Face of the Philippine Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (PACOP) in Teaching in 2025.

Bionote:

Mr. Mathew P. Albania is an Instructor at the Department of Clinical, Social, and Administrative Pharmacy, UP College of Pharmacy. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from the University of the Philippines Manila in 2025.

He is an advocate of patient medication counseling and was a member of the UPCP patient counseling team from 2023 to 2024. He also served as a coach for the National Patient Counseling Event 2026. As a young professional in the field, his interests focus on clinical pharmacy and health data science.

Maria Patricia S. Ugalde, RPh

Erica Nicole J. Tayko, RPh

Jarvin Enosh T. Tan, RPh, MA, BCPP

Frances Lois U. Ngo, RPh, MHSS

Charles Mandy G. Ayran, RPh, Pharm.D. (Melit.)

Mac Ardy J. Gloria, RPh, MPH, PhD, GDip Clin Epid

Jean Flor C. Casauay, RPh, MS

Francis R. Capule, RPh, MS, PhD

Imelda G. Peña, RPh, MS, DrPH

Yolanda R. Robles, RPh, MPharm, PhD

Shiela May J. Nacabu-an, RPh, MHPEd