Jose Y. Campos

Who was the man behind the Philippines’ largest pharmaceutical company? Right here, at this memorial, we remember Jose Y. Campos, the founder of Unilab. Jose Y. Campos, born Yao Cho Liat in China in 1921, wasn’t destined for a career in medicine. He dreamed of attending the prestigious Whampoa Military Academy. Fate, however, had other plans. His father sent him to the Philippines to learn the ropes of business from his already successful older brother. Jose Y. Campos traded buntal hats before World War II and honed his entrepreneurial skills as a buy-and-sell trader during the war. In 1945, Manila was still reeling from the devastation of war. Amidst this backdrop, Jose Y. Campos, partnered with Mariano K. Tan. Together they opened a small drugstore on Sto. Cristo Street in Binondo. This humble drugstore, known as United Drug, held a simple yet powerful mission: to provide quality, affordable medicines to Filipinos. Jose Y. Campos instilled strong values in his burgeoning company, values rooted in Confucian principles: hard work, frugality, discipline, and a deep love for education. United Drug quickly evolved. By 1959, it had transformed into United Laboratories, or Unilab. Unilab became a dominant force in the Philippine pharmaceutical market, even outperforming larger, multinational companies. Jose Y. Campos’s vision extended beyond business. He was an early supporter of Ferdinand Marcos, even becoming a financial advisor and a close confidante. This relationship, however, would later draw scrutiny. Jose Y. Campos was cited by the Presidential Commission on Good Government for his role in managing some of Marcos’s assets. He ultimately cooperated with the government, surrendering significant properties. Despite the controversies, Jose Y. Campos’s legacy is undeniable. He built Unilab into a pharmaceutical empire, a testament to his vision, resilience, and commitment to providing accessible healthcare to Filipinos. His sons followed in his entrepreneurial footsteps, building their own successful businesses. The Campos family became one of the Philippines’ most influential business clans. Jose Y. Campos died in 2006. Today, Unilab, led by his descendants, continues to thrive as a testament to the enduring legacy of its founder.