After receiving endorsements and awards, pharmacist and content creator Arshie Larga reflected on why he started creating digital content for Filipinos on social media.
The award-winning TikTok creator on February 13 attended Bactidol Philippines‘ launch of its new cough syrups as its brand ambassador.
The brand has two new cough syrups for different kinds of cough — the Bactidol Itchy Cough Relief, which addresses dry cough with its fast relief formula, and the Bactidol Heavy Phlegm Relief for productive cough with its dual-action phlegm removal ability that helps dissolve and expel phlegm.
Meanwhile, Arshie’s endorsement is also a history in the making since he is the first endorser of the brand who is a pharmacist.
He said that previous endorsers of Bactidol have always been physicians.
The content creator added that he was delighted after learning that the brand wanted to tap him as its ambassador.
“Nakita ko ‘yung tiwala ng brand sa akin at parang nare-recognize na finally ‘yung capabilities naming mga pharmacists to educate people and also, para magbigay ng drug information,” Arshie said in an interview with reporters.
“Kasi ‘yun naman talaga ‘yung essential part ng work namin — not just to dispense medicine but also, to conduct patient counseling, give patient drug information sa mga tao. And also, nagagawa ko din naman ‘yun, not only sa TikTok but also, ‘yung mga campaigns tulad nito,” he added.
Arshie also reflected on why he became social media-famous, sharing that he only wanted to educate people during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the public had limited means to consult healthcare professionals.
Back then, people had to do teleconsultations via video calls, chats or even through text messages. Physically seeing a doctor was challenging due to the threat of the virus, especially when vaccines were not yet developed.
“Ako lang naman, gusto ko lang gumawa ng content, gusto ko lang mag-educate ng mga tao. Kaya nga ako nag-start noong pandemic para lang ma-clarify sa mga tao kung pano inumin ‘yung mga gamot nila,” Arshie said during the event.
“But now, nagkakaroon ng mga ganitong opportunities with brands like Bactidol, kaya nakakatuwa lang na dati — full circle moment ba ‘yung term — na parang pinapangarap ko lang na maka-trabaho sila, binebenta mo lang sa botika ‘yung mga products nila but now, you get to work with them,” he added.
The pharmacist also said he started to create content to dispel the notion that licensed professionals like them are only drug sellers or those who dispense medicines to people.
“Gusto ko pong mabago ‘yung perception ng mga tao sa mga pharmacists na hindi lamang po ‘yung trabaho namin taga-benta ng gamot, parte lamang po ‘yun ng trabaho namin,” he said.
“Pagdating po sa drug information and patient counselling, pwede rin po kaming mag-offer ng ganoong service nang sa gayon po, ‘yung mga customers po namin ay nagu-guide po namin sa tamang pag-inom ng gamot,” Arshie added.
“Maraming salamat sa Bactidol for this opportunity. Nakakatuwa lang po ‘yung mga response na nakuha ko, especially sa mga followers ko po at sa mga taong… na finally po, nagkaroon ng representation kaming mga pharmacists sa ganitong field kaya, I’m very very thankful for this opportunity and I’m happy to be face of Bactidol,” he said.
The pharmacist bagged the TikTok Philippines Creator of the Year Award in 2023.
READ: Arshie Larga recalls TikTok journey after snagging top award: ‘Hindi ako makapaniwala’
He also earned the TikTok Philippines Popular Creator of the Year Award in 2022.
The content creator is known for sharing medical and healthcare information with the public, as well as debunking health myths with his “Let me explain” tagline on his videos.
