MANILA, Philippines – Vivian Que-Azcona, president of Mercury Drug Corporation—the Philippines’ leading drugstore chain—passed away on April 5, 2025. She was 69.
The company confirmed her passing in a social media post on Thursday evening.
“With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved President. We kindly ask for your prayers for the eternal repose of her soul,” Mercury Drug said in the statement.
No further details were disclosed regarding the cause of her death.
Que-Azcona was the daughter of Mercury Drug founder Mariano Que, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 96. She took the helm of the company in 1998 and was instrumental in expanding its operations to over 1,200 branches nationwide.
Tributes poured in following the announcement of her passing. The Unilab Group, a pharmaceutical conglomerate whose products are sold in Mercury Drug stores, honored Que-Azcona as a “visionary leader and dedicated partner.”
“Ms. Que-Azcona lived with purpose and passion, ensuring only the best healthcare is accessible to Filipinos,” Unilab said.
“We are grateful for the longstanding partnership with the Mercury Group of Companies for 80 years, and for the privilege of having worked alongside Ms. Que-Azcona, whose integrity and care for Filipinos have inspired those around her,” the company added.
Mercury Drug traces its roots back to 1945, in post-liberation Manila. Its founder, Mariano Que, began by purchasing a small supply of sulfathiazole tablets with his last ₱100. Recognizing the medicine’s demand, he sold them tingi-tingi (by the piece) to keep them affordable. From a modest pushcart operation, he eventually opened the first Mercury Drug store on March 1, 1945, along Bambang Street in Manila.
Under Que-Azcona’s leadership, that humble beginning grew into a national institution synonymous with accessible and reliable healthcare for generations of Filipinos.
— The Summit Express
