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Things looking up for local kendo scene

After International Kendo Federation application nod

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE scene for the Japanese martial art of kendo in the country got welcome news recently after the application for membership of the local association in the International Kendo Federation (FIK) was accepted.

In a post on its official Facebook page at the weekend, the United Kendo Federation of the Philippines (UKFP) confirmed the FIK nod and that it was in the process of fulfilling some procedural requirements.

Based in Tokyo, Japan, the FIK (formerly IKF) is a nongovernment international federation of national and regional kendo organizations which aims to promote and popularize Kendo, Iaido, and Jodo.

It also conducts the World Kendo Championships every three years since its foundation in 1970. It currently has over 60 affiliated kendo organizations worldwide.

For the UKFP, to be affiliated with the FIK will go a long way as it opens many opportunities for the local federation in its mission to have more Filipinos appreciate kendo and pick it up as a martial sport.

“One thing about getting FIK affiliation is that it gives us greater access to the infrastructure of the organization. This gives us the ability to invite high-level instructors here to conduct seminars and other activities that can help promote kendo,” said UKFP president and chairperson Kristopher Inting in an online interview with BusinessWorld. 

“We can also now conduct grading locally, reducing the expenses for kendoka based here (whereas before we had to go abroad to take exams). Finally, we can request for equipment donations from the FIK which can make entry-level joining of beginners easier as they won’t need to buy things from the start,” he added.

It, too, also makes the country eligible to join the World Kendo Championships, something Mr. Inting said they at the UKFP are very excited about.

The UKFP official shared that they formally applied for FIK membership in November 2019, but the groundwork for it started in 2013 when the Philippines managed to send a delegation to the ASEAN Kendo Tournament (AKT) held that year.

The return of the country to that tournament and participation in the subsequent AKTs since then, and coupled with the formation of UKFP in 2016, made the case of the Philippines for FIK membership stronger.

An offshoot of kenjutsu — or the term use for the different schools of Japanese swordsmanship, kendo, which translates to “way of the sword,” and makes use of bamboo swords known as shinai  for striking and a protective armor known as bogu — has been gaining ground in the country in the past few years, with the UKFP currently boasting of 170 members nationwide.

Last year, the Philippine national kendo team had a successful outing in the 12th ASEAN Kendo Tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the men’s A team bagging a bronze medal.

Apart from the bronze finish, the Philippine kendo team also won “fighting spirit” awards, given to players who did not place in the Top 4, but still made an impact on the tournament.

Winning the award were Veejay Joson for the Women’s Individual Event, and Robert Carabuena, Jr. for the Men’s Team Event.

Unfortunately, the local kendo scene has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic with kendoka unable to practice their craft as much as they want to.

“Currently, we are not practicing due to the restrictions on sports (especially combat sports) during pandemic conditions. However, we are trying to get our members to maintain a certain level of health and fitness, especially those in the training pool for the national team,” Mr. Inting said.

“The latter is important as we are now eligible to join the next World Kendo Championships in Paris (originally to be held in 2021, but has been indefinitely postponed), and we want potential national team players ready for training once it is safe to do so.”

While limited in what they can do at the moment, Mr. Inting said UKFP is using the time to plan and prepare programs for strengthening the organization as a whole.

They, too, are completing the requirements, including raising the money for membership fee, in time for the FIK’s general assembly next year where the formal acceptance of UKFP as a member will be made.

“I have already received a personal congratulatory message from the FIK official in charge of the process, so we just need to do the final legwork for this to happen,” Mr. Inting said.

Down the line, UKFP is also eyeing recognition from the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission as a federation so that it could further ramp up efforts to develop and promote kendo in the country.

Anthony Edwards favored to go no. 1 despite LaMelo Ball rumors

GEORGIA guard Anthony Edwards remains the heavy betting favorite to go No. 1 overall in next week’s National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft.

Edwards is being offered at -175 by William Hill and -215 by DraftKings. That’s well ahead of LaMelo Ball (+200, +171), despite rumors that NBA scouts weren’t enamored with Edwards’ pro day workout.

According to a report by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Monday, most NBA teams are working under “the assumption” that Ball will either go No. 1 overall to Minnesota or a team the Timberwolves trade the pick to.

The Golden State Warriors hold the No. 2 pick and are expected to select the player available between Edwards and Ball or Memphis center James Wiseman. Wiseman is being offered at +350 by William Hill and +750 by DraftKings, with no other player listed with shorter than +2500 odds at either book.

The Charlotte Hornets currently hold the No. 3 pick, followed by the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.

DraftKings has set the over/under on Anthony Edwards’ draft position at 1.5, with Ball and Wiseman each at 2.5. Dayton’s Obi Toppin’s over/under is set at 4.5.

Among the sportsbook’s other prop bets is who the New York Knicks will select with the eighth pick.

Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton currently leads those odds at +300, followed by France’s Killian Hayes (+350), Auburn’s Isaac Okoro (+550), Florida State’s Devin Vassell (+600), and USC center Onyeka Okongwu (+700).

Other props at DraftKings include over/under 4.5 freshmen being selected in the top 10 and over/under 3.5 international players going within the first 10 picks.

The 2020 NBA Draft will be conducted on Nov. 18 via videoconferencing from ESPN’s facilities in Bristol, Conn. — Reuters

US Masters still a thrill for first-time players

THE rush that comes with a first-time appearance at the Masters remains sweet, despite the COVID-19 pandemic altering just about everything about the major championship this year, players said on Monday.

Amateur Andy Ogletree said he would savor the experience even in the absence of fans from the tournament, which was moved from April to November because of the pandemic and starts on Thursday.

“It’s obviously been a crazy time,” the 22-year-old American told reporters on Monday.

“A lot of people have lost a lot. I know my problems are a lot smaller than a lot of people’s problems.

“I’m not going to take this week for granted.”

To maintain social distancing, the tradition of amateurs like Ogletree staying at the famed Crow’s Nest in Augusta National’s clubhouse has been altered, with the player’s taking turns.

“I am going to stay on Wednesday night after the amateur dinner,” he said.

“I’ll stay up there before the first round, and if it’s open another night, I might try to stay there again.”

Ogletree, who won the 2019 US Amateur Championship, is aiming to become the first amateur to win the tournament.

Hard-hitting American Matthew Wolff said playing at the tournament for the first time was the realization of a lifelong goal.

“It’s more of a dream come true than playing in any other tournament,” the 21-year-old said.

“It’s the one tournament that as a kid, you always know exactly when it is, you watch every single shot that you can, and it’s kind of the Mecca of golf.

“To be here in my first Masters is unbelievable.”

Wolff has shown he can compete on the sport’s biggest stages, coming in second at this year’s US Open and tied for fourth at the PGA Championship to quickly make a name for himself.

He said being at the tournament has already exceeded his high expectations.

“It’s an unbelievable place,” he said.

“You don’t know what it’s like until you’re here. It’s pretty awesome.” — Reuters

Hoping for economic boost, most Japan firms want Tokyo Olympics to go ahead

TOKYO — Most Japanese firms want the Tokyo Olympics to go ahead next summer with restrictions on spectator numbers, saying while any boost to the economy would be limited, it would be better than nothing, a Reuters survey showed.

The results contrast sharply with public opinion polls earlier this year. One poll conducted by broadcaster NHK in July showed two-thirds of Japanese people believed the Games should either be cancelled or postponed further.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who sees tourism as key to reviving the economy, has vowed to do all it takes to ensure the coronavirus pandemic-delayed Olympics Games take place in 2021.

Sources have also told Reuters he has shown more flexibility about having them simplified than his predecessor Shinzo Abe who was wedded to having the event in “full form”.

The survey of large and medium non-financial companies, conducted Oct. 26-Nov. 4, showed 68% believe the Games should go ahead, and if they do go ahead, three quarters thought spectator numbers should be restricted.

“In terms of the Japanese economy, it would be better to proceed than not to proceed,” wrote a manager at a metals firm.

After falling to its deepest postwar slump in April-June, Japan’s economy has seen signs of recovery, although not one strong enough to put it on a pre-pandemic footing in the near-term.

Two-thirds of firms expect a limited economic boost if the Games were held, with many noting the number of foreign visitors would be far fewer than in non-pandemic times. Eleven percent believed the economy would get a big lift.

But close to a third said the Games should be cancelled, noting that in many countries the virus is still raging.

“As a Japanese person, I want the Games to go ahead, but unless the pandemic has subsided within the year, I think there is no alternative but to cancel. There’s no need to invite danger by holding them,” wrote a manager at a transportation firm.

The survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research each month on different topics, canvassed 485 firms, of which some 220 responded. Responses are given on condition of anonymity. — Reuters

Bad days

To argue that the Buccaneers were confident heading into their match against the Saints the other day would be an understatement. Armed with a three-win streak, home field advantage, and a productive runup that had them looking forward to trouncing their division rivals, they figured their third primetime appearance through the season to date was theirs for the taking. Heck, they even had the benefit of seeing wide receivers Chris Godwin (back from injury) and Antonio Brown (as a free-agent pickup) in uniform. And moving forward, they saw victory as the perfect way to jump-start the second half of their 2020 campaign.

Instead, the Buccaneers could not have played any worse. They were off from the get-go. So atrocious they were on offense that they failed to get any first downs in their first four series, and until more than a fifth of the second quarter had already elapsed. Meanwhile, they proved unable to stanch the bleeding on defense, allowing the Saints to score in every response. They wound up being shell-shocked and shellacked 31 to zero by halftime. And though a lot of football still had to be played by then, the outcome was already a foregone conclusion.

Forced to take stock of the massacre in the aftermath, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians had few answers. “It was shocking,” he admitted. “We have to go back in look in the mirror—coaches, players, everybody.” And he’s right. No one in red and pewter did anything close to earning his keep the other day. Not quarterback Tom Brady, who carded three interceptions and had arguably the worst outing of a greatest-of-all-time career. Not offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, who abandoned any semblance of rushing early and needed a 48-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to avoid a shutout for the first time in four years. And not defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who remained flummoxed by precise attacks, particularly on the ground, until the very end.

Bad days are, to be sure, part and parcel of competition in the National Football League. Parenthetically, a loss is a loss, whether by one or by 35. On the other hand, there can be no discounting how the Buccaneers squandered a golden opportunity to stamp their class. They could have emerged from the battlesmoke as the provisional leader in their conference. Now, they’ll be hard-pressed to even finish at the top of their division. Having gotten the better of them twice, the Saints own the tiebreaker. And unless and until they show otherwise, pundits can likewise contend that the Saints own them, period.

The road to the championship is never easy, but the Buccaneers have made it harder on themselves. It’s fair to point out that they have both the tools and the time to get better. How many and how much they need to actually do so, however, remains to be seen.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Pfizer vaccine brings vision of relief even as pandemic rages on

SINCE the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak started, humanity has been playing from behind. Every time it seemed lockdowns and public-health measures were knocking infections down, the pandemic roared back soon after.

Finally, almost a year later, some good news.

One of the COVID-19 vaccines that was accelerated into trials earlier this year seems to work. The experimental shot, developed by American drugmaker Pfizer,  Inc. and German biotechnology firm BioNTech SE, appears more than 90% effective in stopping SARS-CoV-2 infections, the companies said Monday.

If the data hold up, that means that for every 10 cases of COVID-19, nine could be stopped. A virus becomes a pandemic because vulnerable hosts create chains of infection. A vaccine at that level of effectiveness, administered widely, is enough to break those chains. If the good news holds, it’s the beginning of the end.

“It’s a really good day for biomedical research,” Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Monday. “It’s over 90%, which is just extraordinary and it’s going to have a major impact on everything that we do with regard to Covid.”

In coming weeks, more data will emerge. It’s likely not to be as euphorically positive: The vaccine may work better in some groups than in others. There could be safety concerns that limit its use — including rare side effects that take two or three months to emerge. And the shot must be stored at ultra-low temperatures, a logistical challenge that will make distribution harder and slower.

No matter the obstacles, it’s far better to have a vaccine that appears effective than one that isn’t. And believing there is a vaccine coming allows people around the world to envision an end to social-distancing measures and sacrifices. It means not seeing family for one more holiday, not holidays forever more. It means wearing a mask for a few more months, not for a few more years. And it may be an inoculation against the toxic politicization of public-health measures that have saved — and will continue to save — thousands of lives.

Pfizer’s coup is also likely good news for other vaccine makers like Moderna, Inc. that rely on the same mRNA technology, which delivers tailored genetic instructions to prompt the body to produce an immune response. And it shows, in the field, that a vaccine can offer a level of protection against the virus.

Pfizer and BioNTech’s likely next step will be to submit an emergency use authorization application to the US Food and Drug Administration, and continue to gather and provide data on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. Once that happens, the agency will likely take several weeks to review the package. Even after an approval, supplies will be limited and are likely to go first to front-line health-care workers and highly vulnerable people. Across government science agencies, top health officials have cautioned that most Americans won’t get a vaccine until spring at the earliest.

NOT OVER YET
After news of the trials emerged, the S&P 500 climbed toward a record amid trading volume. But a positive press release and a high-flying stock market don’t mean anything’s actually different in this moment. Only a few countries have defeated the virus without a vaccine in hand. Some were small and well-managed enough to fight back, like New Zealand. Others had technical competence, like South Korea. Some were willing to take draconian measures of control, like China.

The rest of the world has had neither the will nor the skill to beat the virus.

In the past week alone, 6,540 people died from COVID-19 in the US, according to the COVID Tracking Project. With case counts rising, that tally will only increase in the weeks ahead. At the current pace, the virus will have killed more than 300,000 Americans by yearend. Until a vaccine is widely available, public-health measures will still be important.

There is more to be learned about the experimental vaccine — Pfizer found out the positive results only Sunday. While it had signed up 44,000 people for the trial, the pandemic’s summer ebb meant that enough infections to make the trial trustworthy were slow to accumulate. With the explosion of the virus in recent weeks, more people in the experiment were exposed and infections in the placebo group started to roll in.

The data-monitoring committee — an independent group — was told of the results Sunday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla found out around 2 p.m., and held an early-evening Zoom call with the board to share the good news, said another person. The company’s communications staff then stayed up through the night, with executives involved in the trial finalizing the press release.

In the meantime, scientists will demand that we see the actual data, and traders will take the markets for a ride as investors start seriously thinking about the pandemic’s end. Some of the only stocks falling Monday morning were companies involved in COVID-19 testing, along with Clorox Co. (bleach and disinfecting wipes), Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (remote conferencing because you can’t go to work), Peloton Interactive, Inc. (fancy at-home workout bikes because you can’t go to the gym), Kroger Co. (because you cook all your own meals now), Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (because you’re tired of cooking) and Netflix, Inc. (because there’s nothing else to do after dinner). 

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine won’t be enough on its own. The companies have a deal with the US to provide 100 million doses, plus as many as 500 million more. That’s likely enough for most of America, but certainly not the world. And the doses will take time to produce. Even if other makers generate their own positive results, the COVID-19 pandemic will last well into 2021 for most people in rich countries, and perhaps far longer for those in poorer ones.

In the US, a tough winter is ahead. On Monday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city is coming “dangerously close” to a second wave of infections, after this spring becoming the worst-place hit on the planet and losing thousands of residents to the virus. Around the rest of the country, cases have been hitting new daily records.

“We are entering the hardest days of the pandemic. The next two months will see a lot of infections and deaths,” Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, said on Twitter. But, Mr. Jha added, “There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Today, that light got a bit brighter.” — Bloomberg

Trump mounts legal assault as Barr OK’s probe on vote irregularities

WASHINGTON/WILMINGTON, Del. — President Donald Trump will push ahead on Tuesday with legal challenges to the results of last week’s election after US Attorney General William Barr told federal prosecutors to look into any “substantial” allegations of voting irregularities.

Mr. Barr’s directive to prosecutors prompted the top lawyer overseeing voter fraud investigations to resign in protest. It came after days of attacks on the integrity of the election by Mr. Trump and Republican allies, who have alleged widespread voter fraud, without providing evidence.

Mr. Trump has not conceded the election to Democrat Joe Biden, who on Saturday secured more than the 270 votes in the Electoral College needed to win the presidency.

The Trump campaign has filed several lawsuits claiming the election results were flawed. Judges have tossed out lawsuits in Michigan and Georgia, and experts say Mr. Trump’s legal efforts have little chance of changing the election result.

Mr. Barr told prosecutors on Monday that “fanciful or far-fetched claims” should not be a basis for investigation and his letter did not indicate the Justice Department had uncovered voting irregularities affecting the outcome of the election.

But he did say he was authorizing prosecutors to “pursue substantial allegations” of irregularities of voting and the counting of ballots.

Richard Pilger, who for years has served as director of the Election Crimes Branch, announced in an internal email he was resigning from his post after he read “the new policy and its ramifications.”

Mr. Biden’s campaign said Mr. Barr was fueling Mr. Trump’s far-fetched allegations of fraud.

“Those are the very kind of claims that the president and his lawyers are making unsuccessfully every day, as their lawsuits are laughed out of one court after another,” said Bob Bauer, a senior adviser to Mr. Biden.

Earlier on Monday, Mr. Trump’s campaign filed a lawsuit to block Pennsylvania officials from certifying Mr. Biden’s victory in the battleground state.

It alleged the state’s mail-in voting system violated the US Constitution by creating “an illegal two-tiered voting system” where voting in person was subject to more oversight than voting by mail.

It was filed against Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and the boards of elections in Democratic-leaning counties that include Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Mr. Boockvar’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

‘REHASH’
Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the latest lawsuit in Pennsylvania was unlikely to succeed and “reads like a rehash of many of the arguments the Trump legal team has made in and outside the courtroom.”

Mr. Trump’s re-election team asked for patience on Monday to pursue allegations of voter fraud. “This election is not over, far from it,” Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, told reporters at a briefing in what she said was her capacity as a Trump campaign adviser.

Mr. Biden, who has begun work on his transition to the White House, will give a speech on Monday defending the Affordable Care Act, the landmark healthcare law popularly known as Obamacare, as the US Supreme Court hears arguments on a lawsuit backed by the Trump administration to invalidate it.

Mr. Trump and Republicans have repeatedly tried to do away with the 2010 law passed under President Barack Obama, with Mr. Biden as his vice president.

The Supreme Court fended off previous challenges in 2012 and 2015. The Court now has a 6-3 conservative majority after Trump’s third appointee, Amy Coney Barrett, was confirmed last month.

As Mr. Biden begins work on his transition, his team is considering legal action over a federal agency’s delay in recognizing his victory over Trump.

The General Services Administration (GSA) normally recognizes a presidential candidate when it becomes clear who has won so a transition of power can begin.

But that has not yet happened and the law does not spell out when the GSA must act. GSA Administrator Emily Murphy, appointed by Trump in 2017, has not yet determined that “a winner is clear,” a spokeswoman said.

A Biden transition official told reporters it was time for the GSA’s administration to grant what is known as an ascertainment recognizing the president-elect, and said the transition team would consider legal action if it was not granted.

“Legal action is certainly a possibility, but there are other options as well that we’re considering,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declining to outline other options. — Reuters

Peru plunged into political upheaval as Congress ousts President Vizcarra

LIMA — Peru’s Congress ousted President Martín Vizcarra on Monday in an impeachment vote over corruption allegations, prompting immediate tensions in the Andean nation.

Mr. Vizcarra said he would accept the Congress vote and would not take any legal action to counter it.

“Today I am leaving the presidential palace. Today I am going home,” Mr. Vizcarra said during a speech late on Monday, surrounded by his cabinet in the courtyard of the presidential residence in downtown Lima.

Head of Congress, Manuel Merino, an agronomist and businessman from the minority Popular Action, is expected to assume the presidency on Tuesday and will remain in office until the end of July 2021, when Vizcarra’s term was due to expire.

Mr. Merino called for calm after the vote and assured Peruvians that the April 11 presidential election would go on as planned.

“It is already called for,” he said about the election in an interview with the local station América Televisión.

In the second effort by lawmakers to remove the centrist Mr. Vizcarra in a matter of months, the opposition-dominated Congress put forward 105 votes to oust him over accusations that as a governor he accepted bribes from companies that won public works contracts.

The 105 votes far exceeded the 87-vote threshold out of 130 needed to remove him from office. There were 19 votes against his ouster and four abstentions.

Mr. Vizcarra has rejected the corruption allegations as “baseless” and “false.” He warned of “unpredictable consequences” earlier on Monday if lawmakers impeached him ahead of the April 11 election, in which he is not eligible to run.

Mr. Vizcarra’s removal from office plunges the world’s No. 2 copper producer into political turmoil as it looks to recover from an economic recession brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Dozens of people gathered at Plaza San Martín in downtown Lima in support of Mr. Vizcarra after the news of his ouster as police officers kept a close eye on the crowd.

Video circulated on social media showing Congressman Ricardo Burga, who voted in favor of the impeachment motion, being punched in the face by a bystander as he spoke to television reporters.

Mr. Vizcarra, 57, lacked a party in the fragmented Congress, and had a tense relationship with lawmakers, with whom he frequently locked horns over his anti-graft agenda. He dissolved Congress last year after a long-running standoff, a move that prompted criticism by right-wing lawmakers.

Mr. Vizcarra survived a first ouster attempt in September in a separate impeachment trial over alleged links to a case of irregular government contracts with a little-known singer. Only 32 in the chamber voted in favor of his ouster in that vote.

In November, however, lawmakers voted to move forward with a new impeachment trial over accusations that Vizcarra accepted bribes from companies that won public works contracts when he was the governor of the southern region of Moquegua. .

Mr. Vizcarra’s removal could usher in a period of political tensions in the months leading up to elections as Peru is already strained by economic instability and the impact of the pandemic, analysts said.

“Political turmoil related to the latest impeachment process and corruption allegations add to deep distrust of the political class ahead of upcoming elections,” international firm Eurasia said in a report earlier on Monday.

‘COUP IN DISGUISE’
Mr. Vizcarra’s government clashed with Merino in recent months over accusations that he tried to invoke the military in his request for Vizcarra’s removal. Merino denied any wrongdoing.

Analysts said Merino could push some populist measures in the months leading up to Peru’s elections.

“ would probably maintain the existing economic policy framework but advance some populist measures as he tries to win public support,” Eurasia said.

Lawmakers sympathetic to Mr. Vizcarra rejected his ouster and warned that the decision would heighten instability in the Andean country.

“This is a coup in disguise. We need calm, but also a lot of citizen surveillance,” George Forsyth, a mayor and one of the early front-runners for the 2021 election, said on Twitter.

Francisco Sagastegui, a lawmaker with the centrist Partido Morado, called the vote an “incorrect decision.”

“We think this is… a decision that adds much more uncertainty, creates problems, and will severely affect our citizens,” Sagastegui said. — Reuters

An exciting take on sustainable urban living

With the need for sustainable living changing the direction of the urban dweller’s lifestyle, hyperconnected, integrated cities are bound to be the future of urban living. Urban developers are being challenged to rethink perspectives and redefine sustainable urban living.

The 15-minute City

The convenience and accessibility to basic needs like food and medicine within a self-sustaining hyperlocal economy has proven to be essential during the current pandemic. In a 260 Lab webinar on Rebuilding Cities, Architect Jet dela Rosa talked about the hyperlocal economy in integrated cities, also called 15-minute cities. “The hyperlocal economy was a growing trend even before the pandemic. Take the example of 15-minute cities, where people are able to do their business within a 15-minute timeframe whether by walking or biking.”

Developed by Professor Carlos Moreno at Paris’ Sorbonne University, the concept of the 15-minute city is based on research on how city dwellers’ use of time could be reorganized to improve both the environment and living conditions. This concept, implemented in Copenhagen, is being tested in cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Paris.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) understands the value of a connected world where mobility, accessibility, and convenience are no longer merely an option but a lifestyle in which one can do things that matter and spend time with those who matter most. By rethinking the future of urban living, SMDC has pioneered integrated cities in the Philippines.

One such city is the SM Southmall Lifestyle Complex in Las Piñas City, adding a feather in its cap through South 2 Residences, another premium residential development following South Residences.

A Connected World

South 2 Residences offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle in which work and leisure, personal and social spaces are seamlessly interwoven in one dynamic complex. Strategically located, South 2 Residences provides a plethora of choices and destinations — schools, hospitals, places of worship, business centers, and a world-class shopping mall – all within walking distance. The world-class SM Southmall and the two-tower, eight-storey SM South Tower Offices are within close proximity, providing convenience and accessibility to the homeowner. Contributing to the dynamic vibe of the neighborhood are SM Southmall’s 6 IMAX theaters, a skating rink, the SM Store, SM Supermarket, SM Appliance Center, Ace Hardware, Watson’s, and Toy Kingdom.

Watch the latest blockbuster movie straight from the office without having to worry about traffic or nighttime safety; everything is just a short walk away. Working or studying from home? The spacious WiFi-equipped lobby, with its natural lighting and ventilation is the perfect spot.

Errands or appointments outside the district? No sweat. With transport hubs located close by, you can easily hop on and off to get to the rest of the Metro or even to go for weekend getaways to Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas.

SMDC ensures that one gets the gift of time to work and play in a luxurious home that is entirely attainable.

An Urban Oasis

Because of the new realities and risks brought about by the pandemic, living in a community like South 2 Residences has become a necessary source of comfort: a place where one can work safely and comfortably, a nook to enjoy an afternoon coffee or tea, pocket gardens for a breath of fresh air in vast, open spaces to practice social distancing, and well-appointed amenities to keep one’s physical and mental health in tip-top shape.

Architect Jet dela Rosa foresees a movement towards sustainable condo living: “There will be a clamor for wellness and healthy design: natural light, air, natural ventilation, and urban gardening.”

This is something SMDC has been offering since Day 1. With SMDC blazing the trail towards sustainable cities, the urban dweller becomes a steward of Earth, supporting a community working together to give the planet the nurturing it deserves.

Luxury Living in the South

South 2 Residences’ three 15-level towers feature 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom unit layouts, with the option for a balcony, to suit the needs of the urban homeowner. It offers a wide range of resort-style amenities, including landscaped swimming pools, children’s play areas, pocket gardens, a gym, hotel-like lobbies, and high-speed elevators.

All of these entities are perfectly integrated into a commercial environment, thus giving residents access to a truly cosmopolitan lifestyle.

One Community, One Planet

With an SMDC property, one can live in a community of Good Guys living a life connected with others. Where everyone is a friend offering a hello, a story, or a meal to brighten one’s day.

At SMDC’s South 2 Residences, opportunities for the creation of strong, lasting relationships, fun and engaging activities are endless. Make plans for that weekend road trip to Laguna or Cavite, which are a short drive away. Participate in a blood donation drive at The Good Guys’ medical mission. Join a yoga class or free that creative spirit by attending an art class.

Architect Andoy Salcedo, Director for Development of 260 Inc., speaks of the social benefits of living in an integrated city. ”Integrated cities (make the community) more cohesive so people start to socialize more. (Because of this), we are learning to look inward.”

With the support of The Good Guys, the urban dweller becomes a catalyst of humanity, protecting and caring for the community’s well-being and enriching the lives of others.

At SMDC’s South 2 Residences, one can live for Mother Earth, for one’s well-being, and for social connection.

 Visit our Showroom at the 2nd Floor, West Wing, SM Southmall, Las Piñas City.

For more information on South2 Residences, visit https://smdc.com/properties/south-2-residences/

Vaccine hesitancy may undermine fight against COVID-19, UK report says

Opinion polls carried out before and during the COVID-19 pandemic across many countries show that confidence in vaccines is volatile, and that political polarization and online misinformation are likely to affect rates of uptake.

LONDON — An 80% uptake of a COVID-19 vaccine may be needed to protect communities from the novel coronavirus, but volatile levels of misinformation and vaccine mistrust could undermine efforts to tackle the pandemic, British scientists said on Tuesday.

A report by scientific institutions the British Academy and the Royal Society found that, in part due to circulating misinformation and behavioral factors, around 36% of people in Britain say they are either uncertain or very unlikely to agree to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

It said an “open dialogue” is critical to building public support for COVID-19 vaccination, and called for a “frank conversation” to manage public expectations that life will not immediately get back to normal when vaccines arrive.

“Vaccines and vaccination are two very different things. To achieve the estimated 80% of uptake of a vaccine required for community protection, we need a serious, well-funded and community-based public engagement strategy,” said Melinda Mills, an Oxford University professor and expert in demographic science who led the report.

Opinion polls carried out before and during the COVID-19 pandemic across many countries show that confidence in vaccines is volatile, and that political polarization and online misinformation are likely to affect rates of uptake.

“We must learn from lessons of history and move away from the one-way provision of information and instead generate an open dialogue that addresses misinformation and does not dismiss people’s real vaccine concerns and hesitancy,” Ms. Mills said.

The report also said governments should plan now for a “phased and ethical” vaccine deployment based on transparent principles that are “sufficiently debated with the public to build understanding.”

It recommended priority groups should include health and care workers and other high-risk occupations such as teachers, bus drivers, and retail workers, as well as vulnerable groups in crowded situations such as the homeless and people in prisons. — Reuters

Brazil suspends Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine trial due to adverse event

SAO PAULO/BEIJING — Brazil’s health regulator has suspended a clinical trial for China’s Sinovac coronavirus vaccine citing a severe adverse event, surprising the trial organizers who countered there had been a death but it was unrelated to the vaccine.

The health regulator, Anvisa, said on Monday the event took place on Oct. 29 but did not specify if the incident took place in Brazil or in another country. It also did not give an indication of how long the suspension of the large late-stage trial might last.

Dimas Covas, the head of Sao Paulo’s medical research institute Butantan which is conducting the trial said the decision was related to a death but added he found the regulator’s announcement strange “because it’s a death unrelated to the vaccine.”

“As there are more than 10,000 volunteers at this moment, deaths can occur… It’s a death that has no relation with the vaccine and as such it is not the moment to interrupt the trials,” Mr. Covas told local broadcaster TV Cultura.

Butantan plans to hold a news conference on Tuesday at 11 a.m. local time (1400 GMT).

Sinovac did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Sinovac vaccine has been criticized by Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has dismissed it as lacking credibility. Mr. Bolsonaro, who regularly expresses anti-Chinese sentiment, has previously said the federal government will not buy the vaccine.

Earlier on Monday he appeared to row back on those comments, saying the government would buy any vaccines that were approved by the Health Ministry and regulator Anvisa.

Bolsonaro’s stance has, however, set a clear political battleline with the Governor of Sao Paulo, Joao Doria, who has said his state will both import and produce the vaccine.

Mr. Doria, who is widely expected to challenge Mr. Bolsonaro at the next presidential election in 2022, said a public inoculation program in Sao Paulo with the Sinovac vaccine would likely be rolled out as early as January.

It is not uncommon for clinical trials to be suspended temporarily after a volunteer takes ill so that trial organizers can check whether it is related to the drug being tested.

Sinovac’s vaccine is among the three experimental COVID-19 vaccines that China has been using to inoculate hundreds of thousands of people under an emergency use program. A Chinese health official said on Oct. 20 that serious side effects have not been observed in clinical trials.

The Brazil trial was the first of Sinovac’s large late-stage trial to get underway. Late-stage trials are also being conducted in Indonesia and Turkey. Indonesia’s state-owned Bio Farma said on Tuesday that its Sinovac vaccine trials were “going smoothly.”

Brazil has seen over 160,000 people die from COVID-19 and had more than 5.6 million confirmed cases. — Eduardo Simões and Roxanne Liu/Reuters

Southeast Asia’s Internet economy on verge of a post-COVID boom

Southeast Asia’s sizzling-hot Internet economy cooled during the pandemic but spending online should bounce back rapidly and triple to more than $300 billion by 2025, research from Google, Temasek Holdings Pte, and Bain & Co. shows.

The value of transactions in four key areas—e-commerce, travel, media, and transport and food—should grow just $5 billion to about $105 billion in 2020, when many consumers turned to mobile shopping for the first time but lockdowns hammered spending on trips.

The region, home to Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Lazada and Tencent Holdings Ltd.–backed Sea Ltd., will see a 63% increase in e-commerce gross merchandise value from 2019 as home-bound consumers picked up groceries and essentials from the likes of Lazada’s RedMart and Sea’s Shopee. Online shopping is now forecast to hit $172 billion by 2025 versus a previous $153 billion estimate, the research showed.

It’s “a clear indication that momentum has not been derailed by the year’s challenging environment,” according to the study, a closely watched annual review that covers six countries and serves as a benchmark for the region’s fast-growing internet industry.

Unsurprisingly, online travel was the worst-hit. The value of business transactions plunged 58% to just $14 billion this year. Still, the industry’s eventual recovery could boost the market to $60 billion by 2025, the study showed. Transport and food delivery—a sector dominated by car-hailing leaders Grab Holdings Inc. and Gojek—also took a hit, dropping 11% to $11 billion in 2020.

Demand for ride-hailing services collapsed globally, prompting the region’s two most valuable startups to cut jobs.

Overall, this year’s “seismic” shifts in consumer behavior have advanced the Internet sector, the report said. Southeast Asia added 40 million new Internet users in 2020, while one in three digital service users came online for the first time due to COVID-19.

E-commerce is driving growth in Indonesia, despite the devastating impact the pandemic has had on its overall economy. Southeast Asia’s largest economy fell into its first recession since the Asian financial crisis more than two decades ago in the third quarter. But Google, Temasek, and Bain expect Indonesia’s digital economy to almost triple to $124 billion by 2025, though down from a previous estimate of $133 billion.

The pandemic has also accelerated adoption of online financial services as more consumers rely on contactless ways to pay and transfer money, shunning cash. Digital lending, however, stood unchanged from last year at $23 billion, reflecting concerns over non-performing loans.

“Untested peer-to-peer lenders targeting riskier payday loans and some smaller traditional lenders will face difficulties in the coming quarters,” the report said.

Tech investment in Southeast Asia has declined since 2018, primarily driven by a slowdown in big-ticket unicorn funding. The region’s tech companies raised $6.3 billion in the first six months of this year, down from $7.7 billion a year earlier. Non-unicorn investments are on the rise, the study showed. — Yoolim Lee/Bloomberg

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