THE FINANCIAL capitals hit hardest by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are pulling ahead in the race to vaccinate their residents.
London has outpaced global peers when measured by the percentage of residents inoculated with at least one dose, while Asian hubs like Hong Kong and Tokyo that recorded fewer infections are lagging far behind, according to the latest data available from each city’s government as of March 24.
The UK’s capital had covered roughly 2.9 million people — about 30% of its population — with one dose. That’s compared to 23% of residents who had received their first doses in New York City, 13% in Singapore and 12% in Paris.
London’s higher rate has been fueled in part by a strategy of draining its entire initial vaccine supply on the first round, and waiting for more batches before giving people their second shots.
However, New York City (NYC) topped London in another key metric: It has fully inoculated more people, completing vaccination courses for 11% of its population compared to just 2.3% of London’s residents. The US city began administering Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine earlier this month.
ROAD TO IMMUNITY The vaccine race is of particular importance in competitive global financial centers that rely on the free flow of capital and international talent, and getting a substantial portion of their populations vaccinated is the only way to get back to normal.
While many pandemic hot spots like the US and UK are working to inoculate people as quickly as possible, governments in Asia-Pacific and some parts of Europe are dealing with widespread hesitation after reports of serious side effects and deaths — no more so than in Hong Kong, where only 5.3% of the population have come forward for a shot. The former British colony has also temporarily suspended BioNTech SE’s vaccines after packaging defects were found.
China’s financial center Shanghai, which has largely contained the pandemic, has vaccinated 6.2% of its populations with at least one dose. The lower percentage must take into account Shanghai’s population of more than 24 million, which dwarfs those of London, Paris and New York. China, which has largely contained the virus, has said it aims to inoculate 40% of its population before the end of June.
Tokyo’s tally reflects the fact that Japan hasn’t yet begun widespread vaccinations, even as the city prepares to host the Covid-delayed summer Olympics. Japan is currently limiting vaccines to health-care workers and plans to inoculate the general public, starting with those 65 or older, in mid-April. So far, less than 1% of the country’s population has received a first dose. — Bloomberg
THE rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo later this year could well be the last for top Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and she is determined to make it the best yet for her in the event she qualifies for the quadrennial sporting spectacle.
Currently in Malaysia training, Ms. Diaz, 30, a silver medallist in the Rio Olympics in 2016, shared that she and her team, collectively named “Team HD,” are steadily working to see their goals of qualifying and winning an Olympic gold through.
Tokyo will be the fourth consecutive Olympic Games if ever for the Zamboanga City native.
“Tokyo 2020 plus 1 will be my fourth consecutive Olympics and could well be my last, which is why I really want to do my best for my last Olympics with the help of the people behind me,” said Ms. Diaz in her session at the recent Sport for Women’s Empowerment & Employment Program (S.W.E.E.P.) online conference organized by the Sport Management Council of the Philippines.
Ms. Diaz went on to say that officially she is not yet qualified for the Olympics, but is set to formalize her entry into it by competing at the Asian weightlifting championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in April.
Part of the requirements for Olympic qualification is to play in six international competitions, something she is set to complete.
Ms. Diaz has been in Malaysia for 13 months now and admitted that training is not without its challenges, which is why she is very thankful to be surrounded by like-minded people in Team HD, who have been with her every step of the way as she makes her Olympic push.
“Sports is not all about the wins. You have to put in the hard work and perseverance. You have to be disciplined and consistent. It is not to easy maintain a good standing in the qualifiers. One day, you are up and the next, you are trailing. So you really have to train smart. I’m lucky to be with people I trust and have the same vision as I am in Team HD. They guide me and help me prepare,” Ms. Diaz said.
Adding, “They are also part of the reason why I want to do well in the Olympics.”
Part of her team are strength and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo, nutritionist Jeaneth Aro, sports psychologist Dr. Karen Trinidad, and Chinese weightlifting coach Kaiwen Gao. She, too, is being supported by the MVP Sports Foundation.
“Making it to the Olympics is every athlete’s dream. All those who compete there are high-caliber athletes so you really have to be ready. But I cannot win on my own. I need the people in my team,” she said.
Despite a rough year in 2020 because of the pandemic, Ms. Diaz still shone, fashioning out a three-gold sweep in the women’s 55 kg. division of the Roma Weightlifting World Cup in Italy just before the pandemic. She also copped an online international title in July.
THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) issued separate advisories on the suspension of sports training and activities as stricter restrictions were raised over the National Capital Region and nearby provinces because of the spike in coronavirus cases.
The local sports governing bodies saw fit to issue directives as the government placed the Greater Manila Area under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) beginning Monday, March 29, until April 4 to help stem the coronavirus’ spread.
In the PSC advisory, all national sports associations (NSAs) are directed to temporarily cease both indoor and outdoor training of national athletes in areas under “National Capital Region Plus,” or areas where an ECQ setup is placed.
These areas cover Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
The PSC is urging NSAs to have their athletes do online individual training for now and avoid group activities until allowed back.
It also urged national team members to follow health and safety protocols issued by the health department and Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
One of those affected by the directive was Gilas Pilipinas, which on Monday decided to break its training “bubble” camp at the INSPIRE Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
The national men’s basketball team of cadets and varsity players was in the bubble since mid-March to prepare for upcoming tournaments slated for the middle of this year, namely, the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga, and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.
Gilas in compliance with the directive broke camp and said it would craft the direction it would take moving forward based on further moves of the government.
GAB MEMO Meanwhile, professional sports governing agency GAB’s memo also covers the same time frame as that of the PSC.
It said health-enhancing activities like running, biking and aerobics are currently prohibited, while “professional sports training shall remain limited to solo or individual activities conducted indoors or anywhere within the individual’s private property.”
Professional sports competition and group training in areas under ECQ are not allowed. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
CURRENTLY riding back-to-back losses, Team Lakay veteran and former two-time lightweight world champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang seeks to reverse the skid in his next fight in ONE Championship next month.
Thirty-seven-year-old Folayang (22-10) is to take on Korean-Japanese star fighter Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama in a mixed martial arts battle at “ONE on TNT IV” on April 29 (Manila time) at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The event is the fourth instalment in the “ONE on TNT” event series, which is to be broadcast to American audiences on US prime time via B/R Live and TNT.
Mr. Folayang is coming off losses to Pieter Buist (January 2020) and Antonio Caruso (October) via decisions, derailing his push to climb back in the rankings in the division and possibly position for another go at the title.
Given that, the veteran fighter said he is heading into the Akiyama fight with added determination and wants nothing else but a victory.
“This is a very important battle for me. I didn’t get the results that I wanted in my previous fights, and I wasn’t able to perform the way I wanted. The key to this fight is going to be the preparation. We’re coming up with a solid game plan. He’s (Akiyama) not going to be an easy opponent. But at the same time, I’m confident in my skills. This time, I will aim for a steadfast victory,” said Mr. Folayang in a statement of his upcoming fight.
For further inspiration, Mr. Folayang is turning to the impressive wins of his teammates, namely strawweights Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang and Jenelyn Olsim, recently.
“Our victories in the first half of the year have boosted our morale. I, myself, have been inspired by my team’s victories. With our hard work, and discipline, and by the grace of God, 2021 will be a good year for Team Lakay,” he said.
Waiting for Mr. Folayang is 45-year-old Akiyama (15-7-2), who is an Asian Games gold medalist in judo.
The Team Lakay stalwart said the Korean-Japanese fighter brings a new skills set and challenge to him and that he is doing everything he can in training to cover all the bases.
“It is always an honor to share the Circle with legends. It gives me added motivation. Yoshihiro Akiyama is a legend and a veteran of the cage. His name is known throughout the world. This fight excites me because I know I’m going up against a great fighter. I’m working hard to come into the Circle well-conditioned with my mind and body,” said Mr. Folayang.
ONE on TNT IV is headlined by the light heavyweight world championship battle between champion Aung La N Sang of Myanmar and challenger Vitaly Bigdash of Russia. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
LONDON — Lewis Hamilton fended off young challenger Max Verstappen in one of the toughest battles of his Formula One career in Bahrain on Sunday and said he had loved every minute of it.
Mercedes’ seven-time world champion took the checkered flag in the season opener with less than a second separating him from his Red Bull rival after soaking up intense pressure over the closing laps in a long final stint on hard tires.
Verstappen had reeled in Hamilton steadily to seize the lead with four laps to go after going behind on strategy but in doing so ran wide, outside the track limits, and had to hand back the advantage. There was to be no second chance.
The 23-year-old Dutch had been fastest in pre-season testing, topped all three practice sessions, secured pole position and was the hot race favorite.
“I think ultimately if he hadn’t made the mistake, he probably would have won the race, but that’s what makes and loses you wins,” said Hamilton, who took his career tally to a record-extending 96.
Formula One has for years been waiting for a proper battle between the sport’s most successful driver and the man tipped to be his successor and Sunday delivered round one in a record 23-race season.
“I loved every minute of it. Every minute of the weekend I’ve loved,” said Hamilton.
“These guys (Red Bull) have done a better job so far and so for us to come away with this result, given that we weren’t the fastest this weekend, is a real result.”
Verstappen had led from the start, but Mercedes pitted Hamilton early to try and get a jump on the Red Bull, with the lead switching between the two on differing tyre strategies.
“Stopping early, we knew it was going to be difficult, but we had to cover Max. They’ve had amazing performance all weekend so it was going to take something pretty special,” said the Briton.
“Max was all over me right at the end. The pressure was immense. He’s a fantastic driver and they have the quicker car so to keep him behind, on fresh tires also, was one of the hardest [challenges] that I’ve had for a while.” — Reuters
DENNIS Schröder scored 24 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 96-93 win against the visiting Orlando Magic on Sunday night.
Kyle Kuzma had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Montrezl Harrell finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, and Markieff Morris totaled 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.
LeBron James missed his fifth straight game with a high ankle sprain and the Lakers improved to 2-3 without their leader in scoring (25.4), rebounding (7.9), and assists (7.9).
Dwayne Bacon scored a career-high 26 points, Chuma Okeke scored 14 points, and Mo Bamba had 11 points off the bench for the Magic.
R.J. Hampton, Wendell Carter, Jr. and Otto Porter, Jr. made their team debuts off the bench for the Magic after they were acquired in trades on Thursday.
Meanwhile, JaMychal Green scored a season-high 20 points, Nikola Jokić had 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Atlanta Hawks (126-102) on Sunday night.
Jamal Murray added 17 points, Michael Porter, Jr. had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Will Barton scored 12 for Denver.
Aaron Gordon got the start and finished with 13 points in his Nuggets debut. Gordon was acquired from Orlando on Thursday along with Gary Clark for Gary Harris and Hampton.
Trae Young had 21 points, seven assists and seven turnovers, Danilo Gallinari scored 14 points, John Collins added 11, and Clint Capela finished with 10 for Atlanta, which lost for just the third time in its last 12 games. — Reuters
TORONTO — Honduras punched its ticket to the men’s soccer competition at this year’s Tokyo Games with a 2-1 semifinal victory over the United States at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sunday.
Los Catrachos, who finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics after falling to host Brazil in the semifinals, went ahead on goals by American-born Honduran Juan Carlos Obregon and Luis Palma before the US pulled one back in the 52nd minute.
Honduras, which has qualified for four consecutive Olympics, opened the scoring in the final seconds of first-half stoppage time when Obregon bundled the ball home after Denil Maldonado headed it across the face of the goal.
Disaster struck for the Americans in the 47th minute when goalkeeper David Ochoa got caught in possession and his pass was swiftly blocked by Palma and bounced straight into the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
The United States, which has not qualified for the Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Games, got on the board when Jackson Yueill rifled in a shot from outside the area.
Honduras, which reached the semifinals of the eight-team tournament as the top team in Group B, will next face either Mexico or Canada in Tuesday’s final.
Group A winner Mexico and Canada are playing in Sunday’s second semifinal to determine the other team that represents North and Central America and the Caribbean at the July 23-Aug. 8 Tokyo Olympics.
As both semifinal winners qualify for the Olympics, the final qualification match is essentially an exhibition.
The eight-team tournament was originally scheduled to be held in March 2020, but was postponed because of the coronavirus. — Reuters
WITH the recent spike of coronavirus cases, government has imposed strict quarantine measures that put Philippine sports in the backseat again.
NOT CHESS. The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) has launched several online competitions including the Luzon Leg of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-NCFP selection tournament unfolding today (Tuesday) until Thursday.
The event, bankrolled by NCFP president and senior Deputy Speaker Butch Pichay, will serve as the first of a series of events culminating in the Grand Finals where the top men and women winners will earn spots to the national team where they will receive a monthly stipend.
Registration is free.
“This is an opportunity for a Filipino chess player to become member of the national team,” said tournament director Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales.
After the Luzon leg, the event will proceed to the Visayas staging slated for April 13-15 and the Mindanao edition from April 20-22 with the winners qualifying for the quarterfinals (April 27-29), the semifinals (May 11-13) and the grand finals (July 2-4) where it will be done using a hybrid format of online and face-to-face games.
For inquiries, interested parties may contact Michelle Yaon at 0910-3726152 or Susan Neri at 0933-5505019.
The NCFP has also started the Marinduque Southern Luzon Leg of the National Age Group Championship over the weekend.
Also set this year are the Southeast Asian Games qualifying tournament, World Chess Olympiad selection tournament, National Seniors and National Championships that would be capped by the Battle of Grandmasters late this year.
Despite red tape, Batangas attracts more green energy players
To put an end to the “no man’s land” problem of the Taal Volcano island in Batangas province, a public-private initiative wants to turn the protected landscape into a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)-recognized Global Geopark, said Saturnino G. Belen, chairman of First Asia Venture Capital Inc., a venture capital company, at a recent Liveable Cities LocalLabs event.
“Right now, it’s really just being run by all these government agencies … and nothing has really happened, in terms of any development plan,” said Mr. Belen. “It’s really a formula for disaster.”
He added that they are hiring an accreditor consultant to guide them through the Geopark application process with UNESCO. UNESCO Global Geoparks are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development, yielding geotourism-related local enterprises and job creation.
The Taal Volcano is a protected landscape of over 62,000 hectares, and covers 20% of the province’s total land area. In 2018, the area was placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) by the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018, which transferred the control and management of said areas from local government units to the agency. “You can’t even construct a fence within the 62,000 hectares under that law,” said Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas. “During the 2020 volcanic eruption, we had to ask permission to put up an evacuation center.”
GREEN ENERGY Despite the bureaucracy hampering the development of the Taal area, the province of Batangas continues to attract green energy players as it continues to cement its status as the top source of electric power in the country. It generates 5,300 megawatts (MW) of energy—more than enough to power Metro Manila, which consumes 4,900 MW.
Ayala Corp. intends to bring solar energy to the province, said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, at the same event. “There’s a new concern about the green economy, and it’s increasingly getting tougher to invest in fossil fuels. … In Alaminos, Pangasinan, we put up a solar plant and battery storage. It’s our intention to spill over in Batangas and also bring solar energy to your province.”
The provincial government’s policy is to support private sector players that use green energy. “We gave an 80% real property tax discount to a project because it uses solar,” Mr. Mandanas said. “Out of the 5,300 MW the province generates, we also attract those who use natural gas because it is less harmful to the environment.”
A natural gasification plant is in the process of being set up, he added, as well as a 50 MW wind project in Mabini to be undertaken by Mabini Energy Corporation. Calatagan, moreover, has not reached its full potential yet: it is programmed for 100 MW of solar power but currently only produces 60.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING Meanwhile, Batangas has been developing a government property in Laiya, San Juan, for those volcanic eruption evacuees involved in the tourism industry. “We don’t want to move evacuees just so they have houses,” said Mr. Mandanas. “There has to be a livelihood component as well. Otherwise, it won’t be successful.”
Government property in the western part of the province has also been identified for Pag-IBIG housing, with 1,000 units scheduled to be finished this year.
“The property is very accessible. This is something we should’ve done before but are now moving towards,” said Mr. Mandanas. “We give priority to frontliners.” — Patricia B. Mirasol
Ortigas East evolves to be a self-sustaining estate
Ortigas East, a self-sustaining and resilient estate at the C5 corridor
The once so-called ‘new normal’ is now all around us. As the world continues to be reshaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the more the current situation highlights the need for more resilient communities that are able to weather disruptions of scale.
More than half of the people on Earth live in cities, and by 2050, two-thirds of all humanity — 6.5 billion people — will be urban. This is according to the United Nations and is the primary reason for the organization’s push towards the development of sustainable cities and communities.
It took a crisis like COVID-19 to reveal the weaknesses of modern cities, with how it has devastated global supply chains and has put a stop to urban mobility. Moving forward, there needs to be an emphasis on the development of sustainable, resilient communities, and this cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces.
“Making cities sustainable means creating career and business opportunities, safe and affordable housing, and building resilient societies and economies. It involves investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management in participatory and inclusive ways,” the United Nations said as part of its Sustainable Development Goals.
Striking the perfect balance between life, work, and play
Ortigas Land, one of the pioneers of Philippine real estate, recognizes this need for sustainable, thriving communities. Seeking to seamlessly integrate a balanced lifestyle through accessibility, connectivity, innovation, and environmental sustainability to its valued communities, Ortigas Land unveiled Ortigas East, the firm’s answer to the demands of the ‘new normal’ brought about by the pandemic.
Ortigas East, formerly known as ‘Frontera Verde’, is a 16-hectare development project at the corner of Ortigas Avenue and E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C-5), and Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig City.
As the latest project of Ortigas Land, Ortigas East is designed and built guided by the firm’s more than 90 years of experience creating self-sustaining master-planned communities that adapt to the needs of the modern Filipino. In the COVID-19 world, Ortigas East is being redeveloped to be a self-sustaining and resilient estate where people can bounce back from the challenges of urban living in the ‘new normal’, a place where they can continue to live safe, productive lives even during the pandemic.
By integrating the market’s needs to the way shops, restaurants, groceries, offices, and amenities are designed, the developing space allows a community to be a part of the foundation of a rising city.
Regional Mall at Ortigas East
The prestigious location, walkable open spaces, bike-friendly roads, commute-friendly streets, and green living community lifestyle, all offer the market indispensable functions as they live through their modern urban lifestyles.
The estate includes residential and commercial spaces like Verdant Towers, designed for those who want to live, work, and play with everything they want and need within reach. Verdant Towers is a three-tower residential condo currently in development at Ortigas East, built with modernity, luxury, and safety in mind.
Lobby of Maple at Verdánt Towers
Currently in its preselling stage, Maple at Verdant Towers — the first of Verdant’s three towers — is a 42-storey residential building that will offer 692 residential units spread across 33 floors. Maple offers the upscale amenities that are to be expected of modern Filipino life, including two outdoor pools, fitness facilities, a Residents’ Lounge, and various play areas for children, while still maintaining the feeling of security and safety in the current times. Maple also shares a common podium area with Verdant’s two other towers and will offer retail spaces on the ground floor– perfect for residents of different lifestyles, whether a single professional, a young couple, or a growing family.
Meanwhile, Ortigas East boasts office buildings that are sustainable, efficient, and designed with elegance and sophistication. With its strategic location within a quick car ride from the Ortigas Central Business District, the estate is perfect for large companies and budding start-ups seeking to establish themselves in the Philippine business landscape.
Ortigas East’s towers are built to sustainable standards, with its residential towers compliant to the Philippine Green Building Code. The Glaston Tower, a 34-storey office building within the estate that aims to become Metro Manila’s next prime business address, is also currently pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The entirety of the estate is lighted by sustainable lighting designs, among other sustainable features such as a rainwater recovery system and waste management.
Drop-Off Area of The Glaston Tower
Not to mention that Ortigas East has allotted a significant portion of the whole estate to open spaces, with 40% of the entire area dedicated to parks and roads. Residents are free to enjoy a pedestrian-friendly area environment, with walkways especially designed to allow people to safely walk around and enjoy the greenery, as well as bike-friendly roads.
Ortigas East aims to provide the convenience of an all-in lifestyle, where residential sanctuaries, business spaces, and retail and lifestyle hubs merge for a truly self-sustaining community. As COVID-19 continues to reshape everyone’s lives, the fusion of all essentials and luxuries in one community makes Ortigas East a smart choice.
MANILA – The Philippines’ health ministry on Monday recorded 10,016 new coronavirus infections, the country’s third record daily spike in cases over the past five days.
In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed cases had increased to 731,894, while confirmed deaths reached 13,186, including 16 more casualties on Monday.
Most of the new cases are in the congested capital region, a conglomeration of 16 cities home to at least 13 million people, which returned to stricter restrictions on Monday. Hospitals’ intensive care and isolation bed capacity have reached critical levels, government data showed. — Reuters
Male leaders are shaping their legacy by championing workplace equality and diversity. “A massive global transformation is taking place, presenting opportunities to further advance equality,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president and chief operating officer of Ayala Corp., “The post-pandemic world is an excellent opportunity to institutionalize these changes.”
The corporation has in place a board diversity policy that is intended to improve representation in top leadership positions. Across the Ayala Group, 44% of senior leaders are women.
Mr. Zobel was a participant at a recent webinar on inclusive leadership hosted by Male Champions of Change, a group that engages male leaders for gender equality.
INTENTIONAL ACTIONS Diversity and inclusion are key enablers to retaining the best talent in the world, but there is no simple solution, according to Andrew Richard Penn, chief executive and managing director of Telstra Corporation Limited, an Australian telecommunications company that employs 30,000 individuals across 20 countries.
“We learned that driving equality is a cumulative result of many actions,” he said at the same virtual event. “Change is the result of many intentional actions coupled with the determination to have a better outcome. There are no universal answers to creating equality and diversity.”
Telstra Philippines extends diversity and inclusion initiatives to its employees, such as health coverage for dependents of all types of partnerships, as well as a recruitment process that ensures the equal distribution of men and women.
“We big companies have budgets so we can set an example for the country at large,” said Telstra Philippines country managing director Benjamin P. Romualdez, who added that employee engagement scores in Telstra Philippines increased over the pandemic. “People want to work with us. They are engaged.”
STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY Meanwhile, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson enumerated the benefits that flow from gender equality in the workforce. “Diverse teams manage risk better. Companies with diverse leadership are more innovative, more productive, and ultimately more profitable,” he said at the webinar.
A January 2018 report by McKinsey&Company showed that leading gender-diverse companies were 21% and 27% more likely to outperform their less diverse peers in short-term profitability and long-term value creation, respectively. These outperforming companies were also found to have more women executives in revenue-generating roles. Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index 2020, meanwhile, showed that substantial investments in a talent pipeline and fair opportunities for advancement attracts and retains talent. — Patricia B. Mirasol
