“What do you want to be when you grow up?” We were all asked this question when we were children, and for most of us, the answer is far different from the career paths we choose as adults. But this was not the case for Pinky Tobiano, chemist and businesswoman. At the age of five, in a moment of private ambition, she already daydreamed about making a breakthrough in modern medicine to help the people around her. It wasn’t a faraway dream, though. Early in life, she already knew she could achieve her goals through discipline—something she learned from growing up around her family’s business.
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“I follow the SMART principle,” she shares. “When I was starting in the industry, my goals were always specific, measurable, attainable, and realistic, and you always must be time-bound. Even at this age, goal-setting for me is very important.” Today, Tobiano has created a remarkable visual narrative about herself on her own terms. She established two companies called Progressive Laboratories in 1995, which has created the best medicines for the agriculture industry, and KPP Powers Commodities Inc., a Philippine-based company that specializes in the importation and distribution of feed additives and supplements for the livestock and poultry industries. Not only that, but her other company, Qualibet Testing Services Corporation, has recently entered the international scene through an acquisition by Bureau Veritas Assurance Quality (BVAQ), a French-owned company and a major player in the global testing and certification industry. This means that Qualibet-BVAQ is a global leader in quality testing, with Tobiano being one of the board members.
When it comes to day-to-day work, explaining to a layperson what a chemist does can be challenging. Case in point: just a few weeks before the photoshoot, Tobiano underwent a 30-day locked-in clinical trial for the vaccine against African swine fever (ASF) that has caused the shortage of pork and price increase in the Philippine market. “I was locked in with several scientists to try the efficacy and safety of the vaccine inside a farm,” Tobiano says. “We were in a critical setup with pigs and not once were we allowed to go outside. We were sharing one communal toilet and I didn’t get to see my family.” She credits the supportive community she had and the fact that she would be able to aid Filipino farmers motivated her to push through.
Proudly, she reveals, “We ended up successful. The vaccine is 100% effective, and we are the first country outside Vietnam who will soon be using it. And by God’s grace, in a few months, it will be available for use to a lot of Filipino farmers.”
Much has been written about the 52-year old chemist’s impressive résumé, but meeting her in real life is a different story. She exudes femininity and poise, and barely any strictness one would expect from a woman of her stature. Fondly, she says that when she enters the laboratory, she is exactly that—strict and logical—but once she steps outside, Tobiano genuinely enjoys sharing her work.
“I believe that one doesn’t learn unless they share,” she says. “When I talk about science, you can see the light in my eyes. I like sharing about chemistry in a different light. Chemistry can be enjoyable. Despite the common stigma that chemistry is a difficult subject, I rather find it enjoyable.” Tobiano’s empathy is also as strong as her knowledge of facts and numbers. Every time she achieves a goal, she pays it forward tenfold. Her philanthropic work includes the Pinky Cares Foundation—which is celebrating 35 years of helping the elderly—and her show Grateful Tuesdays. “I grew up with my grandmother, and she was one of the most charitable people I’ve seen. When she passed away, I took it upon myself to help the elderly,” she explains the inspiration behind her charitable work.
“A grateful heart is a magnet of miracles, and when you give, you heal, you love, you grow.”
Pinky Tobiano
All these traits are also reflected in her personal style. Tobiano favors soft lines over hard edges. Classic colors like black, white, and red—her lucky color—make her style be in service to her substance. They don’t overshadow her accomplishments or distract her from them. Instead, she uses her clothes to stand out, to make people pay attention to what she does. “Dressing up allows me to visualize what I want,” she explains. “I also like dressing up beautifully because the people I talk to, whether it’s my clients or my business partners, I make them feel special by dressing up for them.”
The chemist also dabbles in the art of entertaining through tablespaces. Her passion project, Table Love by Pinky, has allowed her to relax and enjoy while still doing what she loves most: making people happy. “When I do things I like, I don’t consider it work. Personally, I love being surrounded by loved ones and meeting new people,” she says. And by popular demand, Tobiano has
also launched her own YouTube channel. Through the new platform, she hopes to develop a deeper connection with her audience, whether it’s through vlogs about Fashion Week or a day in her life as a leader.
When we ask Tobiano what is next for her, she stays true to her principle and answers with a specific goal: “I’m working towards securing food sustainability in the Philippines—one of which is through the ASF vaccine. This will be helping a lot of Filipino farmers have a better life.”
Having possessed both an analytical and creative mind, alongside a passion to serve others, there is no doubt that Pinky Tobiano is on her way to making another breakthrough.
Read more about how Pinky Tobiano is helping secure the food security of the Philippines in MEGA’s June 2023 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photography SEVEN BARRETTO of STUDIO 7 MNL
Creative Direction NICOLE ALMERO
Fashion and Beauty Direction KAT CRUZ-VILLANUEVA
Makeup MARY ANN PARBA
Hair SHARMAINE MANALO
Styling JOHN KARUNUNGAN of STYLEDIT GROUP, assisted by GABBY
GAMBOA
Photography Assistant GILLIAN CLAUDE VILLAHERMOSA and DARIEL MIRAFLOR
Shoot Coordination TONI MENDOZA, ERIKA QUERUBIN and NYKHOLE CRUZ
Shot on location PALACIO DE MEMORIA
