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.

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 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.

The location couldn't be more perfect as it is right across St. Luke's. It's also walking distance…read morefrom a Starbucks. While there are lots of parking spaces surrounding the building, it's often full. The security guards however are very helpful when it comes to helping you park, and if you only mean to pick up a prescription or make a quick stop, they will allow you to put your car on hazards wherever there's space in the parking lot. It's one of the bigger Mercury Drugs, and I appreciate that because they're better stocked than other branches or pharmacies. The pharmacy counter is lengthy, allowing for several cashiers and faster service. I also like the pharmacists because they're pretty helpful, especially when they have the place isn't so packed and they actually have the time to spend on you. They will suggest alternatives for out-of-stock brands and will even tell you which is cheaper. They're open twenty-four hours, which is excellent for emergency late night runs. I purchase most of mine and my grandmother's meds here. It's not the closest Mercury Drug to my house, but it is the most efficient and convenient. Here's one thing most people don't know about the Mercury Drug card though: points expire every six months! So remember to use your points whenever you can. They don't tell you this unless you ask (pretty shady business practice if you ask me, but there it is).

Mercury Drug isn't the Generics Pharmacy, but the fact remains that I have a boatload of respect…read morefor them because they have the most affordable medicines and essential products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, tissue and the like in comparison to other drugstores like Watson's or what have you. I've come here more times than I care to remember for when I've needed to purchase cough medicine, cold medicine, antibiotics, allergy medicine, and more. This is also my go-to place for mouthwash, dental floss, tissue, hand sanitizer, and more. Invest in a suki card in order to earn points and shave a few pesos off of your next purchase.

A lot of the time, I find Mercury Drug to be full of people waiting to get their medicine in a LONG…read moreline. Before, I had to sit through this and wait for over 30 minutes just to get a few pills. Thankfully, whenever this happens there's always South Star Drug to turn to. The brand might not be as established as Watsons or Mercury Drug, but it's a more than alright alternative. Like Mercury Drug, they don't raise the prices of their goods to insanely high prices like in other convenience stores, so it's a good place to find a quick late night snack. Their drugstore section is notably smaller than other drugstores, but you're sure to find a lot of over the counter prescription drugs here. I even once bought a replacement hose for my sister's nebulizer here, when Mercury Drug was way too full. There doesn't seem to be a system for when a lot of customers are in line and waiting to get their medicine, but the situation doesn't happen too often.

I remember when Med Express first opened on Ortigas Ave. They were the first pharmacy to have a…read moredrive-through available and I thought that was sick... but there was one problem: their prices were markedly higher than Mercury Drug's or even Watson's. This was huge to me considering that Watson's in itself isn't cheap. So I stopped patronizing it despite the super cool drive-thru. Fast forward to a few years later, Med Express had set up shop in The Medical City where I often find myself and surprise surprise, their prices are now at par with Mercury Drug's! Ha. Glad they wizened up. The staff here always has smiles on their faces too, so plus points. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE: They deliver!!!

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.

The all-around drugstore in the Katipunan area, across from Miriam College. It is in the same…read morebuilding as Gino's Brick Oven Pizza, and next to several banks, so this is a good pitstop for errands. They've adopted a new call-out numbering system, but I'm not sure how well it works, since people still lean onto the counter the old way. I'd love to see them, space permitting, to adopt the system in the US which gives customers more privacy when placing their orders. Otherwise, the staff are very friendly and helpful, though you must be proactive about asking for the generic/less expensive version of a drug you're seeking, or they might give you a premium refill. It is as good a stop for snacks and pre-travel items like major brand convenience stores, and then some. You get off-the-shelf drugs, cosmetics and toiletries, and a very good selection of cold drinks. They take forever to write out official receipts, but they are helpful with senior citizen drug orders, which they take by phone, and you can pick up later in the day. Anyone, by the way, can take advantage of the pre-order system.