PROFILE OF AN ACHIEVER
RAY MARCUELO
Influential Pharmacist and Researcher
by Ulysses V. Espartero
"As we look ahead into the next century,
leaders will be those who empower others."
- Bill Gates
Here’s a story of a passionate woman who is best remembered for her “indelible imprint” in the hearts of the people she has touched here and abroad. In her time as a top-level executive, Ray Marcuelo was a formidable person and an influential figure who inspired thousands through her strength, valor and demonstrable commitment for the welfare and interest of her country.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
She first worked at the Microbiological /PyrogenTesting Training, Bureau of Food and Drug, Philippines. From 1965 to 1968, she was Quality Control Microbiological./Chemical Analyst/Inspector of Abbott Laboratories, Inc. Philippines.
From 1969 to 1976, she was named Senior Researcher for the product development of oral liquid, solid dosage forms (plain and coated tablets, capsules, powders for reconstitution), injectables, intravenous infusions, creams and ointments including lozenges. Analytical Methods Development, Formulation and Scale-up, Pilot and Commercial Batches.
In 1976, she moved to Jakarta, Indonesia as Product Development Manager of the PT. Medifarma Laboratories, Inc. On a concurrent capacity, she was responsible for regulatory submissions, documentation , troubleshooting /scale-up /pilot manufacturing. She was promoted to Quality Control Manager in 1986 and served until 1988.
After a successful stint abroad, she went home to the Philippines. From 1980 to 1991, she was a Senior Scientist holding a Director level position, Reformulation/ Development of Cetrin Granules and Enervon HP in coordination with the Food Development Center at Taguig, Rizal. On the same period, she was Research and Development Coordinator, Quality and Productivity Circles.
From 1991 to 1999, she served as Asst. Vice-President of LVP/SVP Philippines, Inc. (now Amherst Parenterals, Inc.)
She dedicated her 32 years with United Laboratories (Unilab) in all pharmaceutical fields of service – Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Research and Development of all dosage forms such as granules, tablets, capsules, ointment and creams, aseptic and terminally sterilized large and small volume parenterals.
From 1999 to 2001, the last position she held from 1999 to 2001 was as Asst. Vice-President for Corporate Quality Assurance. She was on top of the auditing and compliance, validation, training and documentation and quality assurance services.
EDUCATION AND TRAININGS
In 1964, she obtained her degree in Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Honorable Mention, at the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) where she was also presented the University Award for Outstanding Leadership and Gold Medal for Academic Excellence by the PPhA. She was an 8th placer in the 1965 Pharmacy Licensure Examination.
She did also postgraduate courses at the PWU. Trained for a life of service, she underwent specialized trainings on the control and manufacture of Intravenous Drug Products at Fresenius Laboratories Inc., Bad Homburg ,Germany; on the GMP, Plant Hygiene and Sanitation, Sterilization ,Sensory Evaluation at the Food Development Center, Philippines; on the Pyrogen and Microbiological Testing& Assay at the Bureau of Food and Drug, Philippines; and on the Quality Systems ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189 at the Phil. Accreditation Office (PAO).
CONSULTANT
In her retirement years, she has provided consultancy services to the San Miguel Corporation, San Miguel Foods, Inc. , Amherst Laboratories, Inc., Red Ribbon Bakeshop, Inc., Amherts Parenterals, Inc. and UST CEDRES.
For nine years of consultancy in pharmaceutical fields, she was deeply involved in Clinical Studies/BABE, Quality Systems, GMP, GCP, GLP , manufacturing and Quality Control and Assurance.
In May 2008, she served as Consultant on Quality Systems at the UST CEDRES (Center for Drug Research, Evaluation and Studies, Inc.) and successfully worked on the establishment of Integrated Management Systems for ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189 for at UST CeDRES . The Company was granted accreditations on March 2010 both for ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 17025 at University of Santo Tomas site. From January to June, 2011, she served General Manager for Operations. In June 2011, she provided assistance in the review and update of the Integrated Management System of UST CeDRES. Company was granted accreditation for ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189 for the new site at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Philippines .
AWARDS
Her Alma Mater presented her the CAPA (Contributing, Achieving, participating Alumna) Award. The Annac Ti Santiago Association presented her the Community Award for Outstnading Citizen.
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Among her current positions, she sits on the national board of the Philippine Pharmacists Association and the Wesleyan University Scholarship Foundation.
CIVIC AND SPIRITUAL INITIATIVES
Giving back, she founded the Rebollido-Marcuelo Scholarship Fund at the Harris Memorial College in Taytay, Rizal which presently maintains five full scholar grants and several partial scholarship grants. Consumed with a burning desire to serve, she was also instrumental in the donation of an access Road for farmers, Bigbiga, Santiago, Ilocos Sur and Tilapia Seedlings for the Tilapia fishpond, Union Theological Seminary, Dasmarinas, Cavite. Among many civic and spiritual undertakings, she is Chairperson, OUTREACH & STEWARDSHIP MINISTRIES, Central United Methodist Church ,Manila; President, Kabalikat sa Gawain ng Diyos; and Life Member, Philippine Bible Society.
ICON AND PILLAR
Despite her esteemed professional standing in the field of pharmacy, she remains a living embodiment of the core values of hard work, perseverance, simplicity, benevolence and kindness which every Filipino must endeavor to follow and imbibe.
Now a picture of a fulfilled woman, she lives in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
All through the years, she’s true to her objective in life … to be responsible and useful stewardship of time, talents, knowledge and experience to help uplift the pharmacy profession.
