When Filipinos travel to Japan; beyond the tourist attractions, they’ll come back and rave about certain aspects of everyday life in that first world nation. One will be how clean and hygienic the public toilets are, then you’ll hear comments about the high quality of food one can get at their ubiquitous convenience stores, and following close behind, are how the Japanese pharmacies and drugstores are such potent statements of lifestyle and wellness. These are three things that Filipinos will then dream were available in our country, or we’ll wish could be replicated here.

Well, it’s good to announce that AC Health has heard this collective sigh of longing. At One Ayala’s Level 4, the new St. Joseph Drug is now “Powered by Sugi” — Sugi Holdings being one of the most popular of Japanese brands, well-known for their pharmacies and wellness network. Japanese-inspired, this One Ayala branch is their flagship store, and Ayala Malls is so proud to be part of this partnership — one that hopes to set a new standard for the local pharmacy experience, and making us more at par with what is being offered globally.

I happen to live right across One Ayala, and I’ll confess to being one of those with Japan-envy; so a visit to the new St. Joseph Drug retail experience was high on my list. AC Health Pharma Ventures (APV) President and CEO Yet Abarca had this to say, “Through St. Joseph Drug Powered by Sugi (SJS), we wanted to create a destination that feels approachable, modern, and rooted in wellness — while still delivering the accessibility and reliability people expect from a pharmacy.”

For St. Joseph Drug Chairperson and CEO Dorothy Cruz, this new chapter allows the popular Northern and Central Luzon brand to evolve it’s legacy, by specifically creating this more elevated and engaging customer experience. “For almost 70 years, St. Joseph Drug has been committed to serving communities with trusted care and accessible healthcare products. We are excited to welcome customers into a store that reflects both our commitment to care, and our passion for wellness innovation.”

As mentioned above, Sugi is firmly established in Japan, with an equity whose cornerstones include preventive health, customer-centered retail experience, and their curated wellness solutions. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto is the Director and CEO of S. Trading, Sugi Holdings’ overseas trading company, and commented, “Japanese wellness culture is centered around everyday habits, preventive care, and making wellness part of everyday living. Through St. Joseph Drug Powered by Sugi, we hope to share products, ideas, and experiences that inspire healthier lifestyles, while also creating a unique retail destination for Filipino consumers.”

My visit to SJS was a happy one. AC Health, St. Joseph, and Sugi have blended the best of two worlds in the one concept. A good section of the pharmacy is much like any modern drugstore we can find here in the Philippines today. And that’s good as it will act as a buffer, a comfort zone for those who will enter the new and improved SJS. They won’t be disoriented or intimidated by the array of Japanese products. So that’s the familiar “one world.”

Then there are shelves and counters where the carefully curated Japanese SKU’s are on display. There are wellness products, skincare and beauty items, snacks, chocolates, beverages, household essentials, and other health favorites of regular Japanese consumers. This is the mission vision of the collaboration, to reimagine how local pharmacies can support healthier lifestyles by making wellness more accessible, affordable, and a simple consumer choice when at the drugstore. I noted how the staff present on the day I dropped by had been trained to really point out, and explain the benefits of these Japanese wellness and health products. Here is “world number two”; and I liked how they were integrating the two to create an overall effect of being friendly and helpful.

There are testers galore for several of the products. Filipinos are by nature creatures of habit, and we have the concept of “hiyang” — that something is tested, compatible, and proven, so why change? But let’s also recognize how stringent Japan would be on the quality and purities of the products that would be allowed to enter their retail landscape. And they would be extra strict on Environment and Safety standards. So there were several products that I purchased to try out — a Rice Made Mild Cleansing Oil, a Perilla Skin Lotion, a Barley Body Milk Lotion, and the Chia Seed Jelly. If you like Face Masks, they have several brands to choose from.

From the AC Health perspective, SJS can be seen as part of their broader commitment to make preventive wellness and customer-centric retail, important elements of their evolving and improving brand Bible. Me, I’m just happy that it’s right across the street. Was already suggesting they bring in Yuzu drinks, as those are my favorites.