CHARLIE BICOLANO PHARMACIST: Sharing the gift of health, one patient at a time

Sharing the gift of health, one patient at a time

- By KATHERINE L. MAGSANOC

Inspired by the kindness of well-loved Tik Tok pharmacist Arshie Larga, a Bicolano pharmacist named Charlie Jr. Bandiola has begun offering his own gift of service to the online community.

A registered pharmacist, Charlie works in his family's community pharmacy in Sorsogon, owned by his parents. By day, he is the sole pharmacist, manager, stockman, and cleaner.

In between serving patients, he is also a part-time content creator, filming short videos about the proper use of medicines and the realities of pharmacy work.

"For the longest time, I was just a viewer of Sir Arshie's content," he shares. "Ang ganda-ganda ng ginagawa niya para sa mga tao, and I told myself, 'Someday, when I become a pharmacist, I want to do the same good for others."

Their stories mirror each other in many ways: both grew up in families that owned pharmacies, both work at the counter of their parents' botika, and both saw early on how difficult it is for many Filipinos to access healthcare.

The only difference, Charlie says with a laugh, is that unlike Arshie's travel vlogs, "lagi akong nasa botika."

Through heartfelt videos and quiet acts of generosity, Charlie has shown that the gift of health is something anyone can share - whether in front of a camera or behind the pharmacy counter.

MORE THAN "TAGA-ABOT NG GAMOT"

Charlie's content is simple but deeply human. Viewers see him explaining prescriptions patiently, answering questions without judgment, and offering reassurance to people who feel overwhelmed by medication costs or confusion.

As he reminds his viewers, being a pharmacist is not about merely "handing out" medicines. It is about counseling patients: explaining how to take their medicines correctly, what not to combine, and why following the right dosage matters.