This branch lives up to their tagline Gising 24 Oras. While most of their branches are open just…read moreuntil 10PM, this branch is open 24 hours. This branch is easy to find being located at the corner of Libertad Street and EDSA. It's the size of a small grocery store and yes they have grocery items for sale like food items. They have basic home items like soaps, dishwashing liquids and air fresheners. They even have frozen food items like ice creams, hotdogs and bacon. They also have an ATM machine inside this branch. This is a big plus for me. During these times when criminal activity is rampant, I want to be able to make withdrawals in a secure place like this. The pharmacy assistants are well-trained. They can provide you with alternatives if the meds your doctor recommended to you is too expensive. I also like that they insist on looking at the prescription if the medicine you are trying to buy is prescription only. Some may see this as a turn off but it's just part of their job and also for the safety of customers.

I was sickly as a kid, which meant frequent trips to the hospital and drugstore. Mercury Drug was…read morethat drugstore and has been our go-to drugstore ever since. Living in Mandaluyong for decades my mom would frequent this Mercury Drug branch since not only was it readily accessible being located just in Edsa, it was also open 24 hours. I remember making trips here even during the wee hours to get a few medicines. The staff is accommodating and attentive even at 1 in the morning. They have the widest selections of medicines that some other drugstores don't carry. I also love that they have a mini supermarket inside if ever something crossed my mind than just getting medicines. This branch has ample parking space too and is just 5 minutes away from Victor Potenciano Hospital if ever the medicines is not enough to alleviate the pain. So if you need a drugstore during an emergency in the wee hours, this branch has got you covered.

Past Torre Lorenzo I, before reaching the entrance to Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, on the…read moresidewalk beside pedicab line along Pablo Ocampo (Vito Cruz), is a small pharmacy and mini-grocery that I frequent out of habit. I love Mercury Drug, but it tends to get crowded, so for the usual contents of my medicine kit, I head to KChan Pharmacy, and especially when I'm on the go. Before heading to Buendia to take a bus to Laguna or to EDSA to take a van to Cavite, I pop in at KChan to get Bonamine, Mentos, and a bottle of water or juice. There's no line, and there's always an available staff willing to assist. The place is tiny, though, so be prepared to bump into the next customer, whose arrival is heralded by a chime/bell sound (ehem, they keep count of their customer traffic). Snacks for your trip are also available here, like crackers, candies, and drinks.

When I first moved to Manila to study in Benilde, there was only one pharmacy in the entire Vito…read moreCruz-Taft area, which was a surprise since there were three schools here. You would think that these kids would need medicine sooner or later, even if it's just to stop the nosebleeds from all the math we were being forced to endure. Today, there are two generic pharmacies, one Mercury Drug, and a bunch of other tiny medicine peddlers sprouting like mushrooms. But a few years ago, there was only one: United Pharmacy. And it was no spring chicken either. It was already old when I first walked into its doors, and now it looks downright ancient. It used to be like a 7-11 with pharmacists, but now the A/C unit isn't working, the ice cream freezers are empty, and the staff always look sweaty and haggard. But they're an institution, and should be respected as such.

There are literally hundreds of branches of Mercury Drug all over the country. Only a few operate…read more24/7. They come in all sizes, from the very small to nearly supermarket size. The latter is what we have at the corner of Russia and Dona Soledad Avenue in Paranaque City. I've found that not all Mercury Drug branches are run the same way. I like this branch not only because it comes in handy during the odd hours when there's a sudden need for medicine, or even "essential" food items like potato chips and ice cream. The better to watch videos with, There have been several occasions when we had to run to Mercury when there was an urgent need to buy diapers or paracetamol for the kids. During regular hours, the place can get pretty crowded so its best to schedule any purchases during the odd hours. Parking is no problem though. Besides the front and side, there is also a full parking lot right beside the branch. It's free of course because this is Paranaque, not Makati. For sheer convenience alone, I give this branch of Mercury Drug five stars.

I only buy medicine from here. I own a Mercury Drug Suki card and so far, it's been giving me…read morepretty good rewards. I've made Mercury Drug rich over the years and I do wish I own a branch. They just make so much money, more than any business out there. I often say that you can tell if a city is "prosperous" or "emerging" if it has the following: a Jollibee branch, a BPI bank and a Mercury Drug. Yes, ladies and gentlemen these are the signs of progress and everywhere you go in this city you are bound to find any of these. I like this branch in particular because the lines are never ever horrendous. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I haven't spent more than 15 minutes buying any of my OTC needs when I'm in here. The staff in this branch are fast and efficient and they've made the whole process of spending thousands of pesos for medicine somewhat bearable.

This is such a great idea that I have to wonder why it isn't the standard. Drive through drug…read morestore. I repeat, DRIVE THROUGH DRUG STORE. No longer do I have to get dressed just to buy some ponstan; I can now get some diatabs while still in a bathrobe. It makes sense, after all. People who have to buy medicine know exactly what they want and how many they want, so there's no point in browsing. Forcing customers to park causes congestion and discourages potential customers when the lot is full. The drive through offers so much more convenience and likely drives up sales. I don't think I'll ever visit another drug store from now on, because this branch is just perfect. Next thing you know, we'll be able to send selfies with our prescriptions and have our pills delivered directly to our homes. Laziness wins again.

Mercury Drug Store along Ortigas Avenue is absolutely the best drug store in town. Not only is it…read morecomplete, with some food items and house items available, but it is also clean, well-lit and organized. I have been to many Mercury Drug Stores around the country and nothing compares to this branch. To top it all off, they have a DRIVE THROUGH window that makes everything even better. It's so convenient for those who can't find parking or for those who know what they want and just don't want to get out of their cars. This is definitely my favorite pharmacy in the Metro!

Whenever I need any sort of prescription medicine or any kind of medicine at all, I make a beeline…read morefor Mercury Drug. This drugstore has been around for years and is the leading drugstore in the country. Their particular branch in the newly renovated Park Square 2 area is gigantic! Aside from the prescription and over the counter medicines, they've also got the usual drugstore staples like shampoo, lotions, beauty products and the like. My only complaint about the store is their very poor queuing system in the prescription medicines area. (Which actually happens in every Mercury Drug Store!) There really isn't any proper line and it seems like it's every man for himself. It's always a source of inconvenience and stress for me, and I'm sure for everyone else in line too. Aside from that, the store is not bad.

Every time the doctors tell me or my parents to buy new medicines, they tell us to go to this…read moreMercury Drug. It's big. It's complete. And supposedly their service is fast. Yes, the place is big. It's more than one floor and there's an elevator inside so you don't have to walk up. Yes, it is somewhat complete. You can buy all sorts of food, drinks and snacks in this place. They've got make-up and all sorts of lotions and soaps. Then, there's a pharmacy. Let's just say that on some days their service is fast and on other days it takes some time for them to help you. There are two lines for the senior citizens and PWDs. This is very good. The staff on the floor are really helpful. I think I looked a bit lost earlier while searching for compression stockings, but one of the staff assisted me right away. She also gave me plenty options and didn't just force me to buy the brand she was pushing for. Okay, I'm not sure if they don't allow people to take pictures inside the store. I don't recall seeing any signs telling me not to take pictures. So, I was a bit surprised when the guard came running at me and told me to put my camera (my phone) away. Scary. But, this incident won't stop me from going back to Mercury Drug.

I used to live in Libertad in Pasay City, near the LRT Station and the public market, and I loved…read moreit. For old time's sake I still buy my groceries at Puregold and eat at McDonald's there from time to time. Contrary to public perception, it's actually a relatively safe place. In fact, I feel safer walking around there even at night, than here in the Taft-Vito Cruz area where I live now. Libertad never sleeps. And for an insomniac like me, that was a great blessing. I used to have a friend who lived nearby, and at past midnight, we would meet and walk around Libertad and eat and hangout at Jollibee, McDonald's, or 7-11, all of which were open 24 hours. One more place that was open was Mercury Drug. I used to enjoy buying groceries and medicines late at night in that branch. They had everything from food (snacks, drinks, bread, noodles, canned goods, etc.) all kinds of toiletries, detergent and cleaning supplies, and of course, health and medical supplies. Their prices were cheaper than 7-11, too! It's great that Mercury Drug has evolved from being just a drugstore to being also a grocery. This strategy has probably helped keep them afloat amid the proliferation these days of so many smaller pharmacies, especially those that sell generics. Not all Mercury Drug branches are open 24 hours, though. This one thankfully is.