Rinaly Calising, also known as Rina to her friends and colleagues, is a 27-year-old visual inspector from Amherst Parenterals Inc. (AmPI), a subsidiary of Unilab, Inc. (Unilab), the leading pharmaceutical and health care company in the Philippines. 

Rina grew up in Bislig, a small town in Surigao del Sur, with six siblings. Her parents tended to a small farm, and they lived a simple life. Unfortunately, in 2012, her mother passed away, and her family was forced to reposition their plans. With no money to fund her college education, Rina was struggling to continue her studies. However, her luck changed when she was granted a scholarship at De La Salle John Bosco College through the help of Association of Bislig Methods Analysts (ABMA).

“Yun talaga ang gusto ko kasi maganda talaga na may pinag-aralan ka tsaka po kasi nung gumraduate po ako, ako yung unang graduate sa pamilya namin kaya parang pinursue ko kahit two years (course) yung offer na scholarship tapos inisip ko na mag-iipon na lang ako para mag-aral ulit ako,” Rina said. (It’s still an edge to finish with a degree. I was the first in our family to receive a college education. I pursued a two-year course through the scholarship I received and thought of continuing for a four-year course after I had saved enough).

Finishing college and leaving home

Rina was able to finish a two-year course in Computer Technology at De La Salle John Bosco College. She joined Amherst Nutraceuticals Inc., another  subsidiary of Unilab Inc., which  manufactures nutritional and functional foods, as well as in the repackaging of pharmaceutical products.  Later on she became part of Amherst Parenterals Inc. (AmPI) where she was given a larger role – from packing to manual visual inspection of ampoules to ensure product quality.

The next chapter

Willingness is part of Rina’s growth in the industry. Nothing came easy, but eventually, she was able to adjust with the support of her colleagues and mentors in AmPI, even breaking down the notion that manufacturing is a man’s world as she is one of the two women employees in their department. 

“Kaya naman pong gawin ng mga babae yung ginagawa ng mga lalaki na operator basta pag-aralan lang po at willing ka sa ginagawa mo kasi ang ginagawa po natin ay ginagamit ng kapwa natin lalo na in case of emergency, gamot po talaga ang pangunahing  ginagamit. Nakakapag-save tayo ng life ng kapwa na nangangailangan.  Quality po ang unang sinesecure namin-maglabas ng quality products po para walang mapahamak na mga consumers,” she expressed.  (Women can also do what male operators can if they are willing to learn. What we produce [in the lab] is being used, especially in cases of emergency, where medicines are a primary need. We are saving someone else's life with these. We have to ensure that we are producing quality drugs without compromising our consumers' safety.)

Now with a stable income and seven years of experience in manufacturing, work has become even more challenging and the assignment is critical: ensure that no foreign matter enters the medical ampoules she handles. 

For a task with no room for error, training to upskill and reskill is a requirement. And Rina appreciates that she receives that kind of support with the help of the Unilab Pharma Academy. Rina can attest that they are given regular training to qualify and develop competencies for their role. 

This initiative furthers with the implementation of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Alliance (AMDev), a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Unilab Foundation-led project. Rina is one of the 11,000 existing and incoming workforce who will benefit and be trained on new trends emerging in the manufacturing sector given the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). 

AmPI where Rina works, in partnership with Amherst Laboratories Inc. (Amherst), is one of AMDev’s Alliance Partners. Inside its massive facility in Laguna stands one of the two Advanced Manufacturing Institutes (AMIs) in the country inaugurated in 2023 with the second being in Pampanga, another industrial powerhouse north of Luzon.

When Amherst partnered with the Unilab Foundation for the AMDev program, the company endeavored to produce the best operators, technicians, and engineers to develop quality medicines and live by the Unilab promise of trusted quality healthcare.

Going home and giving back 

After long years of being apart, she finally went back home last year to see her father and siblings. Going back to Surigao was a full-circle moment for Rina, especially with all she has gone through. Up to now, Rina is still in awe of where she is and what she has achieved. 

Rina, with all the skillset she has gained, leaving the country for greener pastures is not an option. She wants to settle down in Bislig with her family, possibly start a small business to employ and help as many people in their area reach for their dreams.

As of now, Rina enjoys the daily grind and keeps on learning from all her experiences. Until the next chapter, she pledges to set a good example and turn the pages of her life's next best story.