Leah Salterio

Chemist-TV host Pinky Tobiano leads in honoring agri luminaries

January 21, 2025 Leah C. Salterio 138 views
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Honorees of AVAQAL’s “Haligi ng Agri-Siyensya” award with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, keynote speaker and guest of honor (center) and AVAQAL president Pinky Tobiano (extreme right)
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Dr. Rommel Sulabo, professor-researcher of UP Los Baños (second from right), with AVAQAL vice president Herbert Mendoza (left), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and AVAQAL president Pinky Tobiano (right)
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Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, keynote speaker and guest of honor.
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Rosendo So, chairman of Sinag (second from right) with AVAQAL vice president Herbert Menzoza (left), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and AVAQAL president Pinky Tobiano (right)
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Award for Dante Palabrica received by Guadalupe Palabrica Tongco (second from right). Others in photo are AVAQAL vice president Herbert Mendoza (left), Senator Sherwin Gatchaliam (center) and AVAQAL president Pinky Tobiano (right).

MAKING her mark in the male-dominated industry of agriculture is certainly a daunting task for chemist-TV host Pinky Tobiano, president and chief executive officer of Progressive Laboratories.

“I really have to make it work,” admits Pinky. “I need to make a woman an advantage. It’s really a tough time. When I started, I didn’t have much money. I had to drive a truck. I couldn’t even open the aircon to save on gas.”

Pinky launched her first company, Progressive Laboratories three decades ago after graduating from college. “It’s my main business,” she says of her company. “It’s a toll manufacturing for veterinary medicine. We make medicines for multi-national brands for animals, basically for agriculture, like chickens, pigs and game fowls.

“Ever since I was five, I was helping out in my parents’ poultry supply. So, after school, I had to take care of the store. I was selling medicines for chickens and pigs. I said, ‘One day, I am going to make my own medicines.’ I think that inspired me. It’s also because of my background. I grew up in animal medicine.”

It helped tremendously that Pinky has been used to working ever since she was young. “I worked with my parents then started my own business with their help after I graduated from college. I didn’t move from one company to another.”

Pinky was also never sidetracked from wanting to become a chemist, a dream of hers from the time she was a young girl of five.

“I took up the course at the University of Sto. Tomas, attended Harvard Business School in 2000, finishing in 2003,” she shared.

The eldest of four children of Julio and Teresita Tobiano, Pinky regards her mom as her enduring role model. She describes her as the “epitome of a good leader, a good mother who taught me the value of hard work.”

The COVID-19 pandemic may have spelled disaster to so many businesses, but Pinky found opportunity, instead. She and her team managed to develop a breakthrough product that proved beneficial during the health crisis.

“One of the advantages of being a chemist is that you always know how to find solutions,” she said. “We were able to formulate a disinfectant that addressed COVID-19. We were able to release a liquid disinfectant, Viralcyde Max, a liquid disinfectant for all surfaces.”

Charting the post pandemic growth of Progressive Laboratories, Pinky is well aware of the challenges and opportunities her company now faces as it goes to its future plans.

“As head of the company, I have to be resilient,” she maintains. “I have to instill a mindset for gratitude. When we were young, wi-fi wasn’t part of our lives. We were happy simply playing or doing household chores.

“Today, when wi-fi isn’t available, the children easily get mad. It’s as if somebody died when they don’t get access to wi-fi. We have to be very grateful for being live itself is already a gift, a miracle.

“I guess that’s one of the things we have to focus on now, to have that feeling of gratitude and bayanihan (community) spirit. There were really a lot who were affected by the pandemic. I was glad that those who could afford to help extended a helping hand.”

Pinky walks her talk with her online show, “Grateful Tuesdays,” which sees her going out the streets and reaching out to jeepneys and tricycle drivers.

“I believe somebody has to make a difference,” she says. “Private citizens should be able to stand up and help out. We have to be in alliance with the government in helping our fellow Filipinos.”

She even hosted her weekly show on The Filipino Channel (TFC), “Table Love by Pinky,” that allowed her to reach to a broader market.

As a survivor of thyroid cancer, Pinky has been working closely with Graces for the Elders (formerly Golden Acres Home for the Aged) for more than three decades now. Through her non-stock, non-profit foundation, Pinky Cares, she chose the institution as the beneficiary to support.

Pinky has been married to CPA Juancho Robles for 14 years now. She has two daughters from her first marriage – 29-year-old Pianne Sinfuego, who is now assisting her in the company Progressive Laboratories and married to Ryan Lavares; and 24-year-old Karrel.

Hard work is everything for Pinky. “In my life, nothing came on a silver platter,” she insists. “Everything that I have, I worked so hard for. People tell me, ‘Don’t you ever get tired?’ I don’t get tired as long as I know my employees can eat three times a day. That gives me enough drive.

What is important is that you have Christ in the center of your operation. You have to involve Him in all your major decisions. He will guide you to do the right things such as choosing the right people or removing the bad people out of your life, especially if they cannot help you.”

Pinky, who is the president of the Association of Veterinary and Agri-Quality Assurance Laboratories of the Philippines, Inc. (AVAQAL), recently led the festive thanksgiving party and honored agriculture luminaries with the Haligi ng Agri-Siyensya Awards.

The event, held at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City, brought together industry leaders, government officials and distinguished professionals to celebrate excellence and innovation in agriculture and science.

Pinky emphasized AVAQAL’s commitment to elevating quality assurance standards in the agricultural sector.

Keynote speaker was Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who commended AVAQAL for its unwavering dedication and support to advancing the country’s agricultural landscape.

The well-attended gathering not only highlighted AVAQAL’s accomplishments, but also reaffirmed its position as a beacon of excellence in the agricultural sector.

Through the leadership of its president Pinky Tobiano, together with her passion, dedication and commitment to the back end support for Philippine agriculture, AVAQAL has now transformed from a simple organization to a world-class organization.

The Haligi ng Agri-Siyensya Awards segment honored six outstanding individuals whose exemplary leadership and contributions have significantly impacted their fields.

Among the awardees were Dr. Edna Zenaida Villacorte, visionary founder of AVAQAL; Dr. Zamuel Zacate, Director General of the Food and Drug Administration; lawyer Senando Santiago, acting General Manager of Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA);

Dr. Dante Palabrica – Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary (the award was accepted by Guadalupe Palabrica Tongco); Dr. Rommel Sulabo – professor researcher from UPLB (University of the Philippines Los Baños); and Rosendo So – chairman of Sinag.

The efforts of the honored leaders have elevated regulatory, quality, food security and sustainability practices within their respective sectors.

AVAQAL’s thanksgiving party and Haligi ng Agri-Siyensya Awards underscored the organization’s pivotal role in driving innovation, leadership and collaboration in agriculture and science.

It was a day of gratitude, inspiration and celebration, a testament to AVAQAL’s mission to build a brighter future for the industry.

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