60 YEARS OF WELLNESS AND SERVICE

International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI), the country’s leading manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical and consumer products is celebrating its diamond anniversary today. For six decades and counting, IPI has been a trusted brand when it comes to high-quality yet affordable wellness products. Before it became a household name, its humble beginnings can be traced back to a time when wellness was not yet a priority among Cebuanos. Founded by Wong brothers George, David Sr., Sergio, Pio Sr. and Sixto, IPI first came out with its bestselling Efficascent Oil in 1959. The brothers then went on to open Botica Asia in the downtown area.

Through hands-on door-to-door marketing and persistence, its portfolio of products grew over the years just as the company did. “Innovation and creativity started to kick in,” IPI chief operating officer Dennis Wong pointed out. They set up a small manufacturing plant and developed their own formulas to create new products. “It was when the second generation -- my cousins and I -- took over that there were more improvements made. Banking on our fathers’ success, we invested in training our people, improving our systems and launching innovations which gave birth to more variants,” he added. The company’s research and development team continually seeks to diversify its product lines with the help of modern technology and an in-depth study to be at par with global standards. IPI’s manufacturing capacity more than doubled, as did its network of branches all over the country. An efficient and extensive distribution system was in place to ensure availability of its products nationwide. Today, it maintains a fleet of over 100 delivery vans to support its 16 depots and warehouses in strategic locations across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Apart from having established a strong presence in the domestic market, IPI also forged international partnerships and affiliations, thereby expanding globally. It currently has distributors in the UK and the US, and exports to several countries in Asia, Europe and Oceania. True to its vision of being the leader in the markets is serves, IPI has truly come a long way. From ointments and rubbing alcohol to medicated skin care and household items such as laundry detergent, its products have become an everyday staple among Filipinos across all age groups. “We’re not going to stop. We’re going beyond serving the community. We’re moving into the ethical market very soon, meaning we will go into generics,” said Wong, baring the company’s plans for the future. With a new 22-hectare plant in Mandaue City and three warehouses in the pipeline, IPI is showing no signs of slowing down.