Edrine Lyra Sta. Ana has been a medical technologist, a public relations professional, a lifestyle content creator, and now a business owner, sometimes two or three of those things in the same week.
She started out as a licensed Medical Technologist, working through the COVID-19 pandemic in a government hospital. A typical shift meant receiving and validating specimen results in PPE and multiple layers of gloves, moving quickly without cutting corners, because the results in front of her could change a patient’s life. Like many healthcare frontliners at the time, she was putting her own health and safety on the line just by showing up, day after day, to keep serving through the pandemic.
Some time later, after the worst of the pandemic had passed, Lyra lost her grandmother. The loss made her stop and ask herself a question she’d been avoiding, whether she was living the life she actually wanted or simply continuing because it felt safe.
That question eventually led her somewhere she never planned for. Around eight years ago, she posted a dance cover online. Events and media personality Tim Yap liked it. She didn’t know him personally, but she knew who he was, her grandmother watched his show every night. So she messaged him, telling him she hoped to work with him someday.
“Working with Tim was really where my journey into PR started,” she says. “I was new to the industry, but I realized that some of the qualities needed in PR were already part of me. I’ve always enjoyed meeting people, building relationships, and connecting with different personalities.”
“Success isn’t defined by staying on one path,” she says. “It’s about having the courage to create one that’s uniquely your own.”
That line isn’t a caption. It’s the pattern her whole career follows.
The Newest Chapter of Lyra Sta. Ana
Around three years after making the shift into PR, Lyra was promoted to Senior Public Relations Manager at Skyrocket Studios Global Inc., where she leads strategic communications, media relations, and integrated campaigns for local and international clients.
She works closely and directly across every account, staying hands-on with the day-to-day rather than delegating from a distance, which is part of what earned her the promotion in the first place.
“I entered Public Relations knowing I still had a lot to learn, so I made it a point to keep building my skills, learn from the people around me, and take every opportunity seriously,” she says.
The pace comes with real pressure, media relations, campaign planning, client coordination, and time-sensitive requests, often overlapping. To work more efficiently, she began incorporating AI and automation into repetitive tasks, freeing up more room for strategy and relationship-building.
“For me, AI helps make our processes faster and more efficient,” she says, “but PR will always require human judgment, relationships, creativity, and understanding people.”
Still Creating, Still Showing Up
Outside her PR career, Lyra continues to build her presence as a content creator. Her content spans lifestyle, beauty and skincare, budol and product reviews, food, travel, and events and brand launches. She also works with brands and creates affiliate content through online shopping and social commerce platforms.
Balancing both takes real planning.
“There are seasons when both worlds become incredibly busy,” she says. “I’ve learned to plan ahead, organize my calendar, and become more selective with the collaborations I accept.”
For her, the two roles feed each other rather than compete.
“PR has made me a better storyteller and strategist, while content creation keeps me creative, relatable, and connected to audiences,” she says.
Building Something of Her Own
Lyra Sta. Ana also owns Drip Lab PH, a wellness venture that keeps her connected to her healthcare background in a different way.
“Being a licensed Medical Technologist will always be part of who I am,” she says. “I wanted to build something that connects my healthcare background with my interest in wellness and entrepreneurship.”
For her, it’s proof that changing careers doesn’t mean leaving everything from your previous life behind.
If You’re Thinking About Starting Over
Lyra’s grandmother used to remind her that life is the way you make it, that whatever you plant today eventually comes back to you.
“If you plant hard work, integrity, kindness, and courage, those are the things that will come back to you in time,” she says.
Her advice for anyone considering a career change is simple.
“You don’t have to quit everything overnight,” she says. “You can start learning, building new skills, and taking small steps toward the life you want. Your degree and past experiences are never wasted, they become part of your story and give you a perspective that no one else has.”
Lyra’s path from healthcare to public relations, content creation, and entrepreneurship didn’t happen through one perfect move. She kept building on what she’d already learned, and carried it with her into every chapter after.
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