Pinky Pe Tobiano: Painting the world Pink
She’s the Filipino chemist whose homegrown testing lab Qualibet was sought by multinational Bureau Veritas of France. Pinky Pe Tobiano has realized her dream of being a Filipino who leaves “not just a signature, but an autograph” as Qualibet, now known as Qualibet Bureau Veritas AsureQuality (BVAQ), has become part of French multinational Bureau Veritas — a company renowned for its testing, inspection and certification services – after a landmark deal she inked with them earlier this year.
The company now owns 51 percent of Qualibet, but Pinky remains a member of the new board.
In its latest issue, PeopleAsia trains the spotlight on Pinky, who has brought recognition not only to herself but also to her homeland.
Pinky built Qualibet Testing Services Corp. from the ground up into one of the most reputable testing companies, not just in the Philippines, but the world over.
Taking a break from her duties in the laboratory, the hardworking Pinky posed for the cover of PeopleAsia’s latest issue, which was shot entirely in Singapore, home of Bureau Veritas’ regional headquarters.
“Now we can do auditing and be part of an international compliance team. On a personal level, it enables me, a Filipino chemist, to be part of a world that I only used to dream of,” Pinky told PeopleAsia, adding that this opportunity also gives her team of scientists access to the latest technological innovations and testing equipment.
Prior to her cover shoot for PeopleAsia, Pinky, along with three other scientists and support staff, had just completed a 35-day clinical trial on the efficacy of a vaccine that could put an end to African Swine Fever.
Pinky actually started her journey early in their family-owned business, where she helped sell medicines for veterinary purposes. She vowed to herself that someday, she would be selling medicines that she herself formulated. She made good on that vow.
Pinky is also set to debut on the world stage to give a talk, which Bureau Veritas is organizing. For her, this is another dream come true.
One of her strongest motivations is to give recognition to Filipino chemists and scientists. She believes “Filipinos are great scientists. Given the right equipment, tools and opportunities — we can be the best in the world.”
Behind her inspiring success, Pinky never forgets to be grateful for everything that she has, especially the gift of life, after battling and vanquishing thyroid cancer over two decades ago, two months after her own mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She and her mother soldiered on and in time, both of them prevailed.
“A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles,” Pinky says.
She gives back, too. Her initiative called “Grateful Tuesdays,” which started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, gives out food and provides aid to the homeless, as well as abandoned grandmothers and grandfathers. On Tuesdays, of course.
There really is no easy way to succeed, but Pinky proves that with perseverance, a clear vision and a grateful heart, there truly is a formula for success in the laboratory of life.
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Joining Pinky on the pages of PeopleAsia’s April-May issue are other world-class personalities.
Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss is on a quest to further strengthen ties between the Philippines and Israel, which have remained steady and reliable partners in terms of business, tourism and military alliances, to name a few, for several decades now.
A world-class Filipino is Jaime Ponce de Leon, founder of León Gallery who has helped put Philippine art on the world map. León Gallery, which was established in 2010, is home to masterpieces of revered Filipino artists. It has also earned recognition for museum-quality and historically-significant pieces. Asked how he’s able to keep things going, Jaime, who continues to believe that “art is the soul of any setting,” shared that it is by keeping himself grounded.
Also in this issue is Chris Lee Yu, executive marketing director of Volvo Philippines, the official distributor of the world-famous Swedish car brand. Chris makes sure that safety is the brand’s top attribute. Volvo’s core values, after all, are “safe, sustainable and very personal,” said Chris.
He adds that cars are primarily meant to bring people safely from one place to another.
Alou Koa, the woman who brought luxury fashion brands Escada, Max Mara and Van Laack to the Philippines, values her customers’ unique shopping experience. She also credits her success to the support that her parents gave her when she was just starting out her luxury fashion business in the early ‘90s, after she opened her first Escada store in the country. Alou told PeopleAsia that it was “empowering” to have had her parents’ support.
Hosting is more than just another gig to Issa Litton, one of the country’s seasoned events hosts. Issa disclosed to PeopleAsia that to be an effective host, your efforts should always be rooted in the 5Cs — competence, clarity, connection, carriage and consistency.
Freddie Tinga, former mayor and congressman of Taguig City, dreams of a brighter, cleaner and more efficient future for the country through mass transport. As founder and president of Global Electric Transport or GET, he is behind the rollout of a game-changing fleet of electric vehicles dubbed COMET (Community Optimized Managed Electric Transport), the answer, he insists, to a safe, fast and smog-free tomorrow for Filipino commuters.
Adding world-class glam to the issue are fashion designers Albert Andrada and Puey Quinones, two of the most recognized names in local fashion. They continue to hoist the Philippine flag on the international stage with their inimitable creations, both here and abroad.
(You may e-mail me at [email protected]. Follow me on Instagram @joanneraeramirez.)
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