Companies have a different perception of what an ideal Medical Representative should be like. It usually follows the general culture the founders established with the company or a set of parameters Human Resources come up throughout the years. Then there's the individual preferences of hiring managers when they are looking for talents.

The parameters vary from company to company. There are those who prefer fresh graduates, regardless of their college degree. Other companies prefer those with previous work experience so that there would be lesser time and effort for training, and to generate sales immediately. Either way, applicants needed to prove themselves and convince hiring managers that they are capable to deliver what is expected from a Professional Medical Representative.

People often thought that only applicants with a medical degree, such as nursing, medical technology, or physical therapy, are preferred for the job. But in reality, even those with non-related degrees can apply. Companies are looking for talents in other areas of expertise, as well as long as you satisfy some basic technical and personality requirements. To make the long story short, if you are trainable and if you have excellent communication and relationship skills, then you can become a Medical a Representative.

Companies look for specific competencies, which individulas gained from other jobs or from school activities. Generally, Employers prefer those that are graduates of a four or five-year course, preferably in Business, Marketing, Management, Communications, or Allied Medical course, with at least one year experience or exposure to sales. But fresh graduates are very much welcome to apply, specially if applicants possess above average communication skills, which are crucial in selling and presentation. Since the business environment had become increasingly paper-less, employers prefer applicants who are proficient with computers and tablets, as well as various business software such as Microsoft Office applications. Applicants should be resourceful, creative, and require minimal supervision.

You should have at least the basic pre-employment documents at hand, such as photocopies of your school's transcript of records, training certificates, Police and NBI Clearances, and City Health permits. Some companies require you to submit these documents in advance for verification, but others opt to require this from you if you are selected and before you sign the employment contract. They may also require additional requirements for you to accomplish, such as medical examinations, to ascertain if you are healthy enough to perform extended fieldwork.

There are various web-based job depositories where companies advertise their job openings. In these websites, you can upload your resume and apply. Applicants can search for job openings to hundreds of companies. You can even customize your search parameters in order to receive relevant job openings in the field of your choice. Popular job websites like Jobstreet is very helpful. Linked In is another avenue for you to look for Medical Representative jobs. You can also directly go to the company's website, or social media pages and look for job openings.

Head Hunters may be able to contact you directly without even applying for any position. This is done through job-matching. By uploading your resume to the web-based job directories, you are automatically included in the database. Employers actively look for applicants with experiences and competencies needed for their opening.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, newspapers are a widely used medium for companies to advertise job openings. Since not all applicants have 24/7 access to web-based job directories, broadsheets are the next best thing. Manila Bulletin is one of the best broadsheets that provide numerous job advertisements, including pharmaceutical sales.

But here is a tip to get information if there's an opening in your preferred territory. befriend Medical Representatives in the area, and get the necessary information, and possibly a referral. Because usually, the Medical Representative and the District Managers earn some sort of incentives, if they refer a successfully hired applicant. So, use your excellent communication and relationship skills with them first, before anything else.

If you like this post, give this a thumbs up and share this with your friends. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the notification bell. You can also comment down below if you have some questions or clarifications. I'll see you in the next post of this series.

Pharmaceutical selling is not for everybody. It’s not only about your educational background or your previous job experience that will determine how successful you will be in this field. And if you become a Medical Representative, through your skills or luck, the learning doesn't end.

Let's say you just graduated from college, and you think you have the knowledge and people skills required to be hired as a Medical Representative. Or, you hated your current job and wanted to shift to a career in pharmaceuticals sales, then I can help you prepare.

I will give you an overview of the pharmaceutical industry, and the job of a Medical Representative. This guide is designed for people who want to be given a glimpse of how the industry works, and how to be able to successfully get a job in pharmaceutical sales.

But first, what is a Medical Representative?

Medical Representatives are persons employed by pharmaceutical companies to persuade doctors to prescribe their drugs to their patients. Medreps promote their products by relaying the drug's features and benefits to physicians. They also share the results of their product's clinical studies and how they can cure diseases with minimal side effects. Medreps usually arrange product presentation or scientific discussion to a physician, or a group of physicians.

So how does one become a Medical Representative?

Well, there's a short answer and a long answer. The short one is to try your luck and apply. If you're not impatient then that's good. I will discuss in a series of videos, from knowing the basic qualification companies are looking for in an employee to understanding the industry, to understanding your own competencies and how can you improve. I will also help you write your Résumé, and get you prepared for the interview.

Then let say, you got hired, so, whats next? We will discuss the day to day job of a Medical Representative, and how companies evaluate job performance. Down the road, we will talk about possibilities for career advancements for a Medical Representative.

If that sounds good, why not like and share this post? You can also watch the video of the series below. 

Subscribe to the YouTube channel and hit that notification bell. You can also comment down below if you have some questions or clarifications. I'll make sure to tackle it in the next post.

Blackpink is currently one of the biggest and most popular K-Pop group on the planet. If BTS is the most popular all-male group, Blackpink is the biggest all-girl group. Together with BTS, they made headlines today for being the only acts from Asia to be awarded at the 2020 MTV Music Video Awards. BTS got 4 awards, while Blackpink won the Song of the Summer award for How You Like That.

Song of Summer is a category based on fan votes on MTV’s Instagram Story. It is the first recognition Blackpink got from MTV Video Music Awards.

Blackpink is the highest-charting all-girl K-pop act on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 33 with their 2020 singles "How You Like That" and "Sour Candy". They also peaked at number 24 with Kill this Love at the Billboard top 200.

Blackpink was formed by YG Entertainment, consisting of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. They debuted in 2016 with the single album Square One, which features "Whistle" and "Boombayah", their first number-one hits.

The group has broken several online records and the music videos for "Kill This Love" (2019) and "How You Like That" each set a record for the most-viewed music video within the first 24 hours of release. How You Like That even got five Guinness World Records. 

They are currently the most-followed girl group on Spotify with 20 million monthly listeners, and the most-subscribed music group, female act, and Asian act on YouTube, with 46 million subscribers. And individually, they are also the most followed Korean entertainment artists on the photo blogging app, Instagram.

Blackpink began forming when YG Entertainment held numerous auditions in South Korea and other countries, to create a new girl group as a follow-up for their successful first girl group 2NE1 in 2009.

Preparations for Blackpink's debut began as early as 2011 when YG Entertainment confirmed that the new girl group includes four members instead of the original plan of having nine members.

With the recent win at the MTV Video Music Awards, there's no stopping Blackpink. They have just captured the biggest entertainment market in the world. And their brand is widely known across Asia, Europe North and South America. 

Scientists recently invented microscopic robots with four legs that move when stimulated by a laser. This could be injected into the body through hypodermic needles, and can have a lot of use in the field of medicine.

One of the main challenges in the development of these microrobots has been combining control circuitry and moving parts.

The microrobots are said to be less than 0.1 millimetre wide, just as thick as a human hair, and have four moving legs that are controlled by circuitry, and powered by the attached solar cells.

By shooting laser light into these solar cells, the legs were able to move, causing the robot to walk. According to Marc Miskin of the University of Pennsylvania, the key innovation of the research was that the actuators on its legs could be controlled using silicon electronics.

A while ago, researchers in Korea have developed a swimming microrobot that delivers stemcells to the cartilage. These microrobots act as delivery modules and are guided by magnetic field.

But the researchers of the four-legged microrobots acknowledged that their creations are slower, and not easy to control, than other microrobots that swim.

But these robots are prototypes that shows the possibility of integrating electronics with actuators to move around. The next step is to build sophisticated circuitry, and possibly create a much smarter microrobot that actually moves by its own legs.

The researchers envisions biomedical uses for the robots such as repairing materials at the microscale. But the possibilities are endless.

These microrobots can survive highly acidic environments and temperatures of more than 200 degrees Kelvin. They said the new study provides a clear vision for solving the challenge of creating a tiny robot that can be programmable, and autonomous.

As the Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted the educational system in the Philippines, and the government declared that there would be no face-to-face classes for this year, teachers have to start finding solutions to reach their students, hand out assignments, manage their classroom, communicate with students, and so on.

For face-to-face interaction, there's Zoom, or Skype. But what about lessons, and class management? Luckily, there's a free application from Google, called Google Classroom.

Google Classroom helps both  teachers and students to communicate, and can be used to organize and manage assignments, for collaboration between students and between teachers, and for distance learning.

Here's what teachers can do with Google classroom:

1) Teacher's can add announcements and lesson materials.

2) Add and schedule assignments.

3) Grade submitted assignments.

4) Manage students and their progression.

Setting up Google Classroom is very easy.

1) Teachers can sign-up and log-in using your Google account and add students one-by-one.

2) Teachers can create their first class

by clicking "plus" button in the right upper corner. 

3) Once Teachers have created their class, they can invite students. Teacher's can also let students go to classroom.google.com and click "join class".

Now your online class is ready! There also several applications that you can integrate with Google Classroom to make online learning fun and convenient. For face to face interaction, your class can use Google Meet, a video conferencing too. You can also take quizzes or watch educational videos with appropriate applications. The possibilities are endless!

So, let's make most out of home schooling until the Covid-19 vaccine is discovered and the pandemic blows over. Soon, you'll be able to go back to classes like you used to and you'll appreciate how learning is more fun with social interaction.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made the lives of students in the Philippines, miserable. The government has banned face-to-face learning until a vaccine for the virus is found.

So, the Department of Education has come up with a plan to start the school year without face-to-face learning. For schools and universities, online learning via a teleconferencing app is the way to go. And Zoom is the recommended app to use in order for teachers and students to interact with each other, at the comfort of their own home.

​​​​Zoom is a video-conferencing application that allows people to have face to face meetings with many people online. By using your computer, or your mobile phone, you'll be able to connect to your teachers and your classmates, and attend classes.

So, how do you join Zoom If you are using a mobile device? Search for Zoom in the Apple App Store if you are using an iPhone, or Google Play Store, if you are using an Android phone. Install and download the Zoom App. 

If you are using a computer, you can access Zoom using a browser. You can also download the Zoom program and install it to your computer.

If you have your meeting ID and password given by the meeting host, click 'Join Meeting'. 

Allow Zoom to access your phone's camera and audio. Then click 'Join with Video'. If you are shy or taking a class in your pajamas, click 'Join without Video'. You can customize your profile to show your best photo.

Here's a tip so that you wouldn't be late for your Zoom class. Click the Zoom meeting link minutes before your class schedule. Follow the instructions to join computer audio and mute your microphone. Only Unmute when you are required to talk. Most of the time, your instructor should be recording the session so you and your classmates can watch it later.

This year may be a challenging time for both students and teachers. But learning must continue, and people are discovering new tools to interact and to share every day.

We have a product available containing a combination of VITAMIN C and ZINC that is proven to be more effective than Vitamin C alone in raising our body's natural defenses and help boost our immune function. The anti-oxidant effect of VITAMIN C plus the immune-boosting properties of ZINC is an ideal health supplement, especially during our country's health crisis.

If interested, please visit Westfield Pharma/GoldLife distribution hub here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4AEFSwEooE5MB9KMA

Dont forget to mention that you were referred by The Filipino Medrep page to get a special re-seller rate, or call 0289306976.

This is Lexi Mendiola. Social Media personality and model, who is known for posting a variety of commercial modeling work and creating original content for different companies.

She catapulted to social media fame when she posted a photo of herself in one-piece swimsuit without photoshop editing, showing her stretch marks and all, a feature of her body which she felt more insecure.

But netizens were inspired by Lexi's positive post and filled her with encouraging comments. She was even featured in Yahoo! Beauty, People, and other online magazines.

In an interview, she said, "It was at that moment when I caught myself throwing out maybe one of my best photos, only because of lines on my skin. I was about to throw it away, but then I saw the bigger picture (literally!) and realized how crazy it is to let stretch marks dictate what I do, or post, or rethink what I ‘need’ to wear. It was ridiculous, and I just didn’t want to allow something that made me feel embarrassed tell me what to do!”

2020 will surely be a banner year for Lexi Mendiola. As a marketing graduate from De Lasalle University, she sure knows how to market her brand. She's active in most social media platforms, specifically Instagram and YouTube. And her followers are growing each day.

Do you love drawing and coloring? Have you dreamed of becoming a Manga or Webtoon artist? You can buy cheap tools in Shopee or Lazada and start flexing those fingers.

Today, we are going to review one of the cheapest brands of writing tablets out there. the Veikk A640. I got mine for 1,200 pesos plus shipping from Shopee.

Veikk is one of many Chinese brands that makes tablets so there is little information available in the internet. Veikk has a line of products which includes S640 and A30 graphics tablets, and a VK1560 pen display.

The S640 is small compared to those used by professionals. At 6 by 4 inches, this is an ideal size for beginners or hobbyists like me.

The included items in the box besides the tablet are replacement nibs, nib remover, the pen, and pen holder.

The pen is very lightweight yet sturdy. There are two side buttons that you can configure on your computer. All you need is to install the driver, which you can download online.

Unfortunately, No driver disc is included. Installation is pretty straightforward.

I'm using free software called Medibang. It is used generally for making Manga and webcomic. All the tools that you will need for creating your first Manga or Web Comic are all there.

This tablet is highly recommended for beginners and hobbyists. It's cheap, easy to set up, and you can use it right away.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on August 20,2019, ordered the closure of several Chinese-owned establishments in Binondo, selling beauty and health products with a label that claimed that it was from Manila, a Province of China, yet was actually manufactured in Mainland China.

This was due to a lot of complaints recieved by the Manila City Bureau of Permits and Licensing Office regarding that particular labeling. The businesses that sells these products were traced in Sto. Cristo in Binondo, known as Manila’s Chinatown.

Upon closed inspection, aside from the claim that it is from "Manila, province of China", the products were  lacking crucial product registrations. The confiscated products will be sent to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration for further analysis and verification.

This is not the first time that our city or our country was tagged as  “a province of China.” Netizens have discovered a geotag in several social media posts. Also, during the time Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte softens his stance on China, tarpaulins were found hanging on several overpasses in Manila bearing the prints “Welcome to the Philippines, Province of China”.

Is this some sort of a "psy-war" or "testing" public sentiments toward Beijing? The Philippine still have a territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea, even after we won the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016.

Or it is done by Chinese businessmen and their Filipino partners to profit from the Philippine government's more friendly relationship towards Beijing. 

In my opinion, More and more Mainland Chinese businessmen become embolden with the friendly state of relation between the two countries yet they see the Philippines and its citizens as inferior.  But what do you think? Share your thoughts at the comment section below.

Resigned anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith has named Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque as the "godfather" of the alleged mafia in PhilHealth.

According to Keiths allegation, Duque has direct influence and oversight being the chairman the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism. He also claimed that that it was also Duque who approved all the appointments of "almost all of the members of the mafia."

On August 4, the former anti-fraud officer of the PhilHealth, Thorrsson Montes Keith, told senators that executives of the embattled agency may have pocketed around P15 billion through fraudulent schemes., which was denied by the officers, including the embattled Duque.

Duque is also in the middle of criticism because of the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Latest data from the Health Department showed that COVID-19 infections in the Philippines have spiked to nearly 170,000, the highest  in the Southeast Asia region.

The daily record high infections and continuous spike, as well as the protests from healthcare professionals prompted the President Duterte to impose a stricter quarantine policy for two weeks.

But who really is Francisco Duque?

Duque was born on February 13, 1957. He is a Filipino physician, and government official serving as Secretary of Health since 2017 in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte, a position he had previously held from 2005 to 2010 under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. 

In June 2001, President Arroyo appointed Duque as President & CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. As President of PhilHealth, he initiated PhilHealth's Plan 500 which fast tracked the enrollment of 500,000 urban poor beneficiaries into the National Health Insurance Plan in one year. It ballooned 8 million beneficiaries by the end of his term and it has become one of President Arroyo's most hyped achievements.

His connections to the so called "Philhealth Mafia" and the healthcare situation in the country has increased the calls for his resignation, not just from ordinary citizens, but also from healthcare professionals, Congressmen and Senators as well. 

Amid mounting backlash, Duque said he takes “full responsibility” for his actions and decisions with regards to the country's COVID-19 response, but he denied having any involvement in the Philhealth 15 billion pesos scam.

The year 2020 was supposed to be a year of optimism for the Philippine pharmaceutical industry. Planning managers from Multinational and local companies painted a bright future for the industry and every strategy was laid down to the sales force during their respective national business conferences. Then Covid-19 happened.

As we continue to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, we also must deal with other diseases that cannot be ignored, like diabetes and heart disease. And doctors still feel the need to stay informed by pharma companies, when it comes to their choice of treatment.

During the lockdown, pharmaceutical companies are those among the few essential industries that are allowed to operate. Sure, deliveries of medical products were not hampered by the pandemic, and sales operations were done by phone and electronic means. But what about promotions?

With the majority of the personnel in sales and face to face interaction were limited, how did pharma companies reached the eyes and ears of their intended customers?

Here are some official and unofficial activities Medreps did during lockdown:

Text Messages - Sure it seems rude and unprofessional, but it is also the cheapest means to get your message across. Whatever way you look at it, and even in the guise of a friendly message, promoting via text message, or even reminding them about your products, only reserve to those who developed a real friendship with their clients.

Phone Calls - The same with text messages, but at least, phone calls are way better than promoting your products via text messages. Yet, the same with text messages, phone calls are reserved for people with established friendships. 

Video Conferencing - Product managers from MNC loved these. It uses technology to promote your brands in the guise of a CME (continuing medical education). Of course, food is delivered to the doctor's house or office, and professional fees are paid to the top specialist speaker.

Food deliveries - Medreps had been doing food deliveries like, since forever. But now, they get the services of a food delivery service provider. Even though there are no brand stickers on the food packaging, there will always be a "THANK YOU TO FRONTLINERS" caption then the company logo.

Servicing - This is reserved for those few brave and bold Medreps. Yung mga walang takot sa Covid-19.

Groceries - Because doctors had no time getting groceries on their own, especially if they are on duty, and some Medreps are willing to go the extra mile. But Medreps don't need to do this on their own, there are a lot of delivery services out there that do this for you. 

Pharmacy Visits - What can you do if you can't visit the doctors? Pharmacy visits had become crucial during the lockdown because it allows you to determine how doctors prescribe. It also ensures that stocks are ordered and replenished. 

These are just a few of the things Medrep did and are still doing. Did you do anything special to communicate your brands? How different will be our industry many months from now? What changes do you think will affect our industry? What permanent shifts will we see in the future?