What does it really take to build something of your own?

In Shift #009 of Shelf Life: The Long Shift... na may kasamang CHIKA, I sit down with Irisht Kishan, also known as Little Miss Pharmacist, for a candid conversation about independent pharmacy, entrepreneurship, motherhood, content creation, and the realities behind running a business.

We go beyond the idea of simply owning a pharmacy and talk about what happens after the doors actually open—the risks, difficult decisions, financial realities, competition, and the responsibility that comes with knowing that other people depend on something you built.

We also talk about the changing landscape of community pharmacy in the Philippines, including PhilHealth YAKAP/GAMOT, and what those changes can look like from the perspective of an independent pharmacy owner operating outside the program.

But business is only one part of Irisht’s story.

We talk about motherhood and how becoming a mom changed the way she thinks about ambition, risk, success, and what she is ultimately working toward. And, of course, we talk about the story behind Little Miss Pharmacist and what it means to create a public voice for the profession while juggling everything happening away from the camera.

It’s a conversation about building a pharmacy—but also about building a family, a platform, a career, and a life, all at the same time.

🎙️ Shelf Life: The Long Shift... na may kasamang CHIKA

Every shift has a story.

Before the license, before the title, and before the success story, there is often a part of the journey that happens quietly.

In this Shift, I sit down with Franchesca Grepo, also known online as TheIlustrado, for a conversation about the realities of pursuing the U.S. pharmacist path as a Filipino pharmacist.

We talk about preparing for major exams overseas, working minimum-wage jobs outside the profession you trained for, starting over in a new country, and carrying the uncertainty of whether all the sacrifice will eventually be worth it.

We also talk about the side of Franchesca many Filipino pharmacists already know well: her presence in FPGEE support communities, where she shares guides, practical steps, and advice to help make the process a little less confusing for those coming after her.

This conversation is about more than licensure. It’s about humility, persistence, community, starting over, and the unseen work behind becoming who you hoped to become.

🎙️ Shelf Life: The Long Shift... na may kasamang CHIKA
Every shift has a story.

Who we were doesn't have to determine who we become.

In Shift #007 of Shelf Life: The Long Shift... na may kasamang CHIKA, I sit down with Micko De Guzman for a conversation about something every professional—and every person—eventually encounters: growth.

We often celebrate the polished parts of someone's journey—the accomplishments, positions, milestones, and successes. But becoming better is rarely a straight line.

In this Shift, Micko reflects on how his experiences have shaped the pharmacist, leader, and person he is today. We talk about learning from difficult moments, accepting that we won't always get everything right, navigating expectations, and having the courage to keep moving forward.

We also explore what experience teaches us that pharmacy school cannot, how our definition of a "good pharmacist" changes as we mature, and why personal growth can be just as important as professional development.

Because becoming better doesn't mean erasing who you used to be.

It means learning, reflecting, accepting, and choosing what you do next.

And perhaps the most important lesson is that none of us ever truly arrive.

We're all still becoming.

🎙️ Featuring: Micko De Guzman
🎧 Hosted by: Mikey Mendoza

Every shift has a story.

What does it really mean to build a life thousands of miles away from home?

In Shift #006 of Shelf Life: The Long Shift... na may kasamang CHIKA, I sit down with someone particularly close to my heart—my college best friend, Joshua Mae Barlolong, a Filipino pharmacist now practicing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

This conversation is more personal than most.

Josh and I have known each other since our pharmacy school days. We've watched each other grow from students trying to figure out our futures into pharmacists whose careers eventually took us to completely different parts of the world.

In this Shift, we talk about the side of working abroad that doesn't always make it onto social media: living alone, being away from family and friends, learning independence, dealing with loneliness, and creating a sense of home somewhere unfamiliar.

We also look back at where it all started—our friendship, the dreams we had when we were younger, how much life has changed since then, and the strange experience of watching someone you've known for years become an entirely different version of themselves.

Because moving abroad isn't simply about changing where you work.

Sometimes, distance forces you to meet a version of yourself you never would have discovered if you had stayed comfortable.

And sometimes, growing up means realizing that home isn't necessarily one place anymore.

🎙️ Featuring: Joshua Mae Barlolong
🎧 Hosted by: Mikey Mendoza

Every shift has a story.

What happens when leadership finds you before you feel ready for it?

In Shift #005 of Shelf Life: The Long Shift... na may kasamang CHIKA, I sit down with She Obispo, former National President of the Young Pharmacists Group Philippines and now a corporate pharmacist based in Malaysia.

She didn't necessarily set out to become President. Instead, she found herself suddenly stepping into a role that came with expectations, responsibilities, and the challenge of continuing the work of those who came before her.

In this conversation, we talk about what it was like to help restart and rebuild an organization, the pressure of living up to her predecessors, finding her own way of leading, and ultimately figuring out how she and her team could make their own mark.

But our conversation goes beyond YPG.

She reflects on the experiences that shaped her, the people who influenced her, lessons learned along the way, her transition to working in Malaysia, and what she believes the next generation of Filipino pharmacists needs from the profession today.

This isn't a conversation about having all the answers or becoming the "perfect" leader.

It's about showing up when you're needed, growing into responsibilities you never expected to carry, and discovering what you're capable of along the way.

🎙️ Featuring: She Obispo
🎧 Hosted by: Mikey Mendoza

Every shift has a story.

Sometimes, the path we choose isn't the one we end up following—and that's okay. Growth isn't always about changing direction; sometimes, it's about discovering where you can make the greatest impact.

In this episode of Shelf Life: The Long Shift na may kasamang CHIKA, I sit down with Gab Ocampo Paragas for an honest conversation about leadership, public health, and purpose. We revisit his time with the Young Pharmacists Group (YPG), discuss why he believes pharmacy is fundamentally a public health profession, and explore how those experiences eventually led him to pursue medicine.

This isn't a conversation about leaving pharmacy. It's about carrying the values of our profession wherever life takes us. Gab shares the lessons he learned through leadership, service, and finding the courage to follow a calling that continued to evolve over time.

Whether you're a pharmacy student, a practicing pharmacist, or someone simply trying to figure out what's next, I hope this episode reminds you that your journey doesn't have to look like everyone else's. Sometimes, purpose is found in the unexpected.

Leadership isn't always about holding a title. Sometimes, it begins with showing up for your family, carrying responsibilities that few people see, and continuing to move forward even when you're still figuring things out yourself.

In this episode of Shelf Life: The Long Shift na may kasamang Chika, I sit down with Dominic Moreno, current President of the Young Pharmacists Group of Quezon City, for a heartfelt conversation about leadership, being a breadwinner, balancing personal dreams with family responsibilities, and the lessons that continue to shape him both as a pharmacist and as a person.

This isn't a conversation about having all the answers. It's about embracing growth, staying grounded, and leading with purpose through every season of life.

Whether you're a pharmacy student, a young professional, or someone carrying responsibilities for the people you love, I hope you'll find a part of yourself in this conversation.

Because every shift has a story.

What does it take to build a meaningful career in pharmacy?

In this episode of Shelf Life, I sit down with Dr. Stephen Rae Fontanilla to talk about the journey behind his career, his passion for antimicrobial stewardship, and what it means to be recognized as a FAPA-CP Fellow. More than the achievements, this conversation is about mentorship, service, leadership, and staying true to your purpose. If you're a pharmacy student, a young pharmacist, or anyone navigating their own career journey, I hope you'll find inspiration in Doc Stephen's story.

Welcome to the very first episode of Shelf Life: The Long Shift na may kasamang Chika.

Naisip ko na bago tayo makinig sa kwento ng iba't ibang healthcare professionals, siguro fair lang na ipakilala ko muna kung sino ang host ninyo.

Sa episode na ito, ikukuwento ko ang naging journey ko sa pharmacy. Paano ako napunta sa profession na ito, ang mga trabaho at opportunities na dumaan sa buhay ko, at kung paano ako napadpad dito sa Texas bilang isang pharmacist.

Hindi naging diretso ang lahat. Maraming exams, failures, waiting, at moments na napapatanong ka kung tama pa ba ang direksyon na tinatahak mo. Pero looking back, doon ko rin narealize na minsan, hindi mo talaga makikita agad kung bakit nangyayari ang isang bagay hanggang sa marating mo na yung next chapter.

Hindi ito episode para sabihin na ito ang tamang path o para i-compare ang journey ko sa iba. Iba-iba naman tayo ng timing at opportunities. Gusto ko lang ikwento kung paano ko naranasan ang profession na mahal natin.

Sana habang nakikinig kayo, may mapulot kayong lesson, inspiration, o kahit simpleng realization na hindi kayo nag-iisa sa mga pinagdadaanan ninyo sa career.

Maraming salamat sa pakikinig, at welcome sa Shelf Life: The Long Shift na may kasamang Chika.

☕ Every shift has a story.