Mariano Que

Mariano Que (14 August 1921 – 14 April 2017) was a Chinese Filipino businessman and the founder of the pharmacy chain Mercury Drug.

Background

Born in 1921,[2] Que worked as an employee at Farmacia Central, a major pharmacy owned by Jose Tee Han Kee along Calle Rosario (now Quintin Paredes Street) in Manila, prior to the onset of World War II.[3] He was orphaned during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.[4]

After the war ended in 1945, Que bought ₱100 1945 worth of Sulfathiazole pills. He sold these drugs in single doses and, using his savings, bought an assortment of medicine which he peddled through a pushcart.[5][6] He founded Mercury Drug in Bambang on March 1, 1945.[4] Mercury Drug and opened its second store in 1963.[4] In 1972, Mercury acquired the Tropical Hut fast-food and supermarket chain.[7][8]

Mercury expanded outside Metro Manila with the acquisition of Medical Center Drug Corporation, a medical supplies and equipment manufacturer, in 1976.[4]

Que's daughter, Vivian Azcona, took over Mercury and became company president following Que's retirement.[5]

Death

Que died on April 14, 2017, at age 95.[9]

Personal life

Que was married to Estelita de Jesus and had 8 children.[5]