Asia fast-tracks AstraZeneca rollouts

March 22, 2021 | 6:30 pm

VIALS with Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine labels are seen in this illustration picture taken Mar. 19. — REUTERS

TAIPEI/CANBERRA — Many Asian countries are accelerating the rollout of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after confidence in its safety was hit, following reports that the shot was linked to rare blood clots in Europe earlier this month.

After briefly halting its use, many European countries have resumed using the shot in their inoculation programmes after a regional regulator said it was safe, while several country leaders are also taking the vaccine to boost confidence.

The AstraZeneca shot was among the first and cheapest of the COVID-19 vaccines to be developed and launched at volume and is set to be the mainstay of vaccination programmes in much of the developing world.

But its brief suspension raised concerns that a slowdown in vaccination rollouts could hurt the global fight against the pandemic, as coronavirus cases surge in some countries, overwhelming healthcare systems and hurting economies.

“I have just finished getting the (AstraZeneca) injection, there is no pain at the injection site, and there is no soreness of the body,” Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters as the island launched its inoculation campaign on Monday.

Thailand’s prime minister also became the first person in the country to be inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine after its rollout was temporarily put on hold over safety concerns, while Indonesia began using it on Monday after suspending it last week. But Indonesia’s Food and Drug agency has warned against its use on people with blood clotting disorders.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, 68, plans to get the shot on Tuesday after the government said it could be used on older people.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson received his first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, saying he “did not feel a thing.”

HEADWINDS
The European Medicines Agency regulator said on Thursday the vaccine is effective and not linked with a rise in the overall risk of blood clots.

Yet a survey released on Monday showed that people in seven European countries were more likely to see the vaccine as unsafe than as safe.

Many Asian countries heavily rely on the AstraZeneca vaccine to end the pandemic, as the shot is being used in inoculation programmes in Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

Some countries could face supply issues.

India, which has the highest coronavirus caseload after the United States and Brazil, is delaying supplies of the vaccine to several countries, as it faces a second surge in cases, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

The Serum Institute of India (SII), which produces the AstraZeneca vaccine, has told Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco that further supplies will be delayed due to surging demand at home, the person said.

Australia, which has inoculated just 1% of its population so far, is also accelerating vaccination after the country’s pharmaceutical regulator approved on Sunday the local manufacturing of the AstraZeneca vaccine by CSL.

Within 12 weeks, CSL is expected to produce 1 million doses of the vaccine each week. — Reuters

India reports worst daily rise in COVID-19 in months

March 22, 2021 | 6:29 pm

People are seen at a crowded market amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease in Mumbai, India, Mar. 19, 2021. — REUTERS/FRANCIS MASCARENHAS

NEW DELHI — India reported its most COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases and deaths in months on Monday, on the first anniversary of the start of a chaotic nationwide lockdown that left many people jobless and shrank the economy.

Authorities reintroduced some curbs to slow the spread of the virus, especially in the western state of Maharashtra, which accounted for nearly two-thirds of the 46,951 new infections and the majority of the 212 deaths. Some hospitals in the country’s worst-affected state have begun to run short of beds.

With the biggest rise in cases since early November, India’s total has surpassed 11.65 million, the highest in the world after the United States and Brazil. The increase in deaths was the largest since early January, and took the total to 159,967.

In some parts of India, most people still go out without masks and flout advice on social distancing, including politicians campaigning in four states where elections will begin later this month.

The health ministry has also warned that a huge gathering of devotees for a Hindu festival could lead to a spike in cases as people from all over the country flock to the banks of the Ganges river in the holy northern town of Haridwar.

Local authorities have said they expect 150 million visitors at the weeks-long Mahakumbh that began this month and peaks in April. The festival is held only once every 12 years, and many Hindus believe bathing in the river during this period absolves people of sins.

The surge in cases has also brought into focus India’s low rate of immunization relative to population, despite being the world’s biggest maker of vaccines.

VACCINE EXPORTS
India has administered more than 44 million doses since starting its vaccination campaign in mid-January, but wants to cover 300 million — a fifth of its 1.35 billion population — by August.

India has donated or sold more than 60 million vaccine doses to 76 countries, saying some shipments are necessary to meet contractual obligations.

As vaccine demand rises at home, top vaccine manufacturer the Serum Institute of India (SII) has delayed further shipments of the AstraZeneca shot to the United Kingdom, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

Gripped by a second wave of infections, some states are seeking to accelerate the vaccination drive to include younger people.

Maharashtra, India’s richest state, has offered to make doses itself to ease the supply pressure on SII and vaccine developer Bharat Biotech, whose COVAXIN shot is also being used in the country’s inoculation programme.

The state reported 30,535 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, forcing local authorities to reopen some quarantine centers. The centers had been closed after the national daily caseload began to decline after peaking at nearly 100,000 cases a day in September.

Maharashtra, home to India’s financial capital Mumbai, has been accounting for more than half of the country’s total cases after the full reopening of its economy unleashed a second wave of infections late last month.

Nearly a dozen other states, including Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, home to the tech hub of Bengaluru, have also seen a spike in cases in the past few weeks. — Reuters

National athletes’ Tokyo Summer Olympic preparation continues

March 22, 2021 | 6:29 pm

PSC COMMISSIONER RAMON FERNANDEZ shared that Team Philippines’ preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games continues despite the cloud of uncertainty over its staging later this year. — PSC FACEBOOK PAGE

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

A CLOUD of uncertainty still hovers on the staging of the Olympic Games in Tokyo this year, but Team Philippines’ preparation for the sporting spectacle continues.

To date, six Filipino athletes have booked spots in the Olympics with a number more still trying to qualify.

Those who have qualified are pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Caloy Yulo and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, and Carlo Paalam.

Athletes still vying to make it to the Games include those from weightlifting, golf, karate, skateboarding, fencing, and 3×3 basketball.

Speaking on The Chasedown program last Saturday, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ramon Fernandez shared that while the ongoing pandemic has made the national athletes’ preparation all the more challenging, the grind continues for them with the end view of having a competitive showing come the Games.

“For the Olympics, all of our athletes, both those who have qualified and those still trying to qualify, their training is ongoing. They have their own bubble not only here, but in different parts of the world,” said Mr. Fernandez.

He made mention of the national karate team which is currently in Turkey training, which could extend all the way to the middle of this year before the Olympics in July to August.

National boxers are in Thailand while the fencing team is in Ormoc, Leyte.

Hidilyn Diaz, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist, is gearing up to formalize her entry in weightlifting for this year’s Games and is training in Malaysia. The same goes for skateboarder Margielyn Didal, who is just a competition away from formalizing her qualification.

Mr. Fernandez said that PSC has the athletes’ back in their Olympic push in tandem with their respective mother sports associations, trying their best to furnish what they need as far as their training goes notwithstanding the limitations presented by the trying times.

He went to say though that the situation with the coronavirus pandemic and how it would affect the rescheduled Olympic Games is a concern they are keenly keeping an eye on.

“Frankly, the Tokyo Olympics is still not 100 percent [sure to push through]. But we’ll cross the bridge when we get there. We’re playing it by the ear,” said Mr. Fernandez, who is also the chief of mission of Team Philippines for the 31^st Southeast Asia Games in Vietnam later this year.

In the last Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio, Brazil, the Philippines was represented by 13 athletes in eight sports. Ms. Diaz was the lone athlete to win a medal.

IBF super flyweight champ Jerwin Ancajas raring to get it going in ring return

March 22, 2021 | 6:29 pm

IBF WORLD SUPER FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION JERWIN ANCAJAS of the Philippines is set to defend his title against Mexican Jonathan Javier Rodriguez in April. — *ALVIN S. GO*

INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) world super flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas has not fought in more than a year, which is why in his ring return next month he is all in and ready.

Mr. Ancajas (31-1-2), who is currently training in the United States, is set to defend his world title against Jonathan Javier Rodriguez of Mexico on April 10 (April 11 Manila time) at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The fight was twice-postponed previously, the last time in April last year, a victim of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m excited and happy for this opportunity to be back in the ring after some time. Waiting is nothing new to me. I have experienced this in the past,” said Mr. Ancajas in Filipino in a virtual press conference on Monday.

The Davao del Norte native last fought in December 2019 in Mexico, where he successfully defended his title against Chilean challenger Miguel Gonzalez by technical knockout in the sixth round.

“As a fighter, I always keep myself ready; whoever I’m up against and wherever it may be,” he said of the mind-set he has.

MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, whose group handles the professional career of Mr. Ancajas, said they are viewing the Filipino’s upcoming fight with much significance.

“This has been a long time coming. For various reasons, it did not push through in the past. But we are excited to finally get this going. This is an important fight for Jerwin. He needs to get past this to go for the other top fighters,” said Mr. Gibbons, who joined Mr. Ancajas and coach Joven Jimenez in the press conference.

Mr. Gibbons said they are not looking past Mr. Rodriguez just yet, but possible opponents for Mr. Ancajas after include Thai Srisakit Sor Rungvisai, American Joshua Franco (regular WBA champions), and Japanese Kazuto Ioka (WBO champion).

In Mr. Rodriguez (22-1), Mr. Ancajas is up against a boxer who is on a roll, winning his last six fights and determined to seize the title from the reigning champion.

The 25-year-old fighter last saw action in December against compatriot Julian Yedras, where he won by knockout.

Mr. Ancajas, however, reiterated that he is ready to fight and defend his title for the ninth time.

“Since I came over here last year (in the United States), we have been training steadily. For this fight, I’m already 95 percent ready,” he said.

The Ancajas-Rodriguez fight is part of a triple-header with the main event featuring American Jaron Ennis and Russian Sergey Lipinets.

Also part of the event is the clash between undefeated fighter Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (21-0) of the Philippines against Pablo Cruz (21-3) of the United States.

The Rodriguez fight is the first for Mr. Ancajas under Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions group after being released from his contract by Top Rank Promotions of Bob Arum.

The fight will be broadcast in the country over One Sports and One Sports+. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

International spectators to be barred from Olympics

March 22, 2021 | 6:27 pm

TOKYO — International spectators will not be allowed to enter Japan for this summer’s Olympic Games amid public concerns over coronavirus, organizers said on Saturday, crushing many fans’ hopes and setting the stage for a drastically scaled-back event.

Some 600,000 Olympic tickets purchased by overseas residents will be refunded, as will another 30,000 Paralympic tickets, Toshiro Muto, the chief executive of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, told a news conference.

He declined to say how much the refunds would cost.

The Olympic Games were postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the outbreak has chilled public opinion toward the event, both organizers and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga have vowed to press ahead with the Games, now scheduled to take place on July 23-Aug. 8, with the Paralympics on Aug. 24-Sept. 5.

The decision on international spectators will “ensure safe and secure Games for all participants and the Japanese public,” Tokyo 2020 organizers said in a statement following five-way talks that included the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, and the Tokyo governor.

“People who are involved in the Olympics in some way may be allowed to enter the country, whereas regular visitors will not be able to,” Tokyo 2020’s Muto said.

He said costs for hotel cancelations would not be covered. Organizers may also consider cutting the number of staff members who will participate in the Games.

Mr. Bach said he shared the disappointment of Olympic fans as well as the families and friends of athletes who had planned to travel to Tokyo.

“For this, I’m truly sorry. We know that this is a great sacrifice for everybody. We have said from the very beginning of this pandemic that it will require sacrifices,” Mr. Bach said in a statement.

But he said safety had to come first, adding, “I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly”.

“Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is and remains to organize safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone,” Mr. Bach said.

Media polls have shown that a majority of the Japanese public are wary about letting in international spectators to watch the Games as the country grapples with the tailend of a third wave of the pandemic.

STRIPPED-DOWN GAMES
A stripped-down Games means the government will not get the tourism boom it had long counted on. Japan has grown increasingly reliant on foreign tourists, particularly from Asia, to bolster its weak domestic economy.

Like other countries, it has seen tourism unravel with the pandemic and its hotels and restaurants have been hit hard.

Saturday’s decision did not cover local spectators. Mr. Muto said organizers will decide next month on caps for spectators in venues.

“It’s very unfortunate,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said of the decision on international spectators, speaking to reporters after the meeting.

But she added that the conclusion was “unavoidable” given that the main priority for holding a successful Games would be the health of the athletes and the Japanese public.

Kyodo news service earlier reported that organizers were leaning towards barring overseas volunteers from helping at the Games.

Sources told Reuters earlier this month that the Japanese government had concluded it would not be able to allow spectators from abroad. — Reuters

Matt Jones ends ‘tough’ 7-year drought with Honda triumph

March 22, 2021 | 6:26 pm

AUSTRALIAN Matt Jones won the Honda Classic on Sunday to end a seven-year drought on the PGA Tour and turn the page on what he said was at times a challenging stretch in his career.

The Sydney-born golfer’s last tour victory came at the 2014 Houston Open, when he edged Matt Kuchar in the first hole of a playoff with a 42-yard chip in for birdie.

He did not allow it to be as close at PGA National in Florida on Sunday, firing a final round two-under-par 68 to win by five strokes.

“I’ve had some tough times between then and now,” he said while fighting back tears.

“Sorry, pretty emotional. Seven years. I just worked hard. I worked hard with my coach back in Australia Gary and it has finally paid off.”

Sunday’s win guarantees Jones entry into next month’s Masters, the first major of the year.

He should arrive in Augusta brimming with confidence after the superb ball-striking display he put on over the last four days.

“To be honest, I struck it amazing,” he said. “I was pretty confident going into the week, which is not normal for me. — Reuters

Dončić’s 3-pointer barrage leads Mavs past Blazers

March 22, 2021 | 6:24 pm

LUKA Dončić matched his career best of eight 3-pointers and scored 37 points in just three quarters as the Dallas Mavericks steamrolled the host Portland Trail Blazers (132-92) on Sunday night.

Dončić missed just once from long range and collected seven rebounds as the Mavericks led by as many as 45 points while winning for the 13^th time in the past 18 games. The winning margin was the club’s second-largest of the season behind a 124-73 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 27.

Josh Richardson scored 21 points and Dorian-Finney Smith added 13 for Dallas, which made 19 of 37 from 3-point range and shot 55.8 percent overall. Kristaps Porziņģis had 12 points, while Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Dwight Powell tallied 11 apiece.

Damian Lillard scored 19 points and Gary Trent, Jr. added 16 for Portland, which had a three-game winning streak halted. Nassir Little scored 14 points and CJ McCollum added 13 for the Trail Blazers.

Lillard (seven attempts) and McCollum (five) missed all 12 of their 3-point attempts. Portland was just 9 of 41 from behind the arc while shooting 38.2 percent overall.

The one-sided triumph marked Dallas’ lone win in the season’s three meetings with Portland. The Trail Blazers beat the Mavericks (125-119) on Friday despite Dončić’s 38 points.

The other time Dončić made eight 3-pointers also came versus the Trail Blazers. He was 8-of-12 in a 120-112 win on Jan. 17, 2020. Dončić drained three 3-pointers during a 19-0 run to start the second half. — Reuters

Pro hoops commissioner is PSA’s executive of the year awardee

March 22, 2021 | 6:24 pm

PBA COMMISSIONER WILLIE MARCIAL is this year’s recipient of the PSA Executive of the Year award. — PBA IMAGES

LOCAL professional basketball league commissioner Willie Marcial is the recipient of this year’s Executive of the Year award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA).

Mr. Marcial, the 10^th commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), is being honored by the PSA by successfully steering the league in staging a tournament “bubble” last year amid the pandemic.

The award is one of 32 awards to be handed out in the virtual PSA Awards Night happening on March 27.

Forced to recalibrate their season last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Marcial led the league’s push to save its Season 45 by holding a tournament bubble in Clark City in Angeles, Pampanga.

From October to December, the PBA wove its way through the many challenges of holding its first-ever bubble tournament en route to completing the delayed Philippine Cup, with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings crowned as champions.

The successful PBA bubble proved to be a viable “blueprint” for other leagues to follow in holding their own confined tournaments.

Mr. Marcial is the second PBA commissioner to be named Executive of the Year by the PSA after Chito Salud in 2012.

Past winners of the award are William Ramirez, Ramon S. Ang, Manny V. Pangilinan, Wilfred Uytengsu, Hans Sy, Ricky Vargas, Dan Palami, Jude Echauz, and Philip Ella Juico.

The PSA Awards Night will be held virtually at the TV5 Media Center. It will be aired on March 28 over One Sports+ from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Record-breaking Messi scores twice as Barcelona hammer Real Sociedad, 6-1

March 22, 2021 | 6:22 pm

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain — Lionel Messi celebrated becoming Barcelona’s highest appearance maker of all time by scoring twice as his rampant side crushed Real Sociedad (6-1) away in La Liga on Sunday with a stunning team display.

Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring by netting against his old club in the 36^th minute and right back Sergino Dest stretched Barça’s lead shortly before half time after latching on to a sweeping pass from Messi.

Dest struck again early in the second half before Messi controlled a sumptuous pass from Sergio Busquets and scored to mark a night on, which he overtook Xavi Hernandez as Barça’s record appearance maker, with 768 games for the club.

Ousmane Dembélé struck his side’s fifth goal of the night in the 71^st minute after a brilliant solo run while Sociedad’s Ander Barrenetxea hit arguably the best goal of the game to give his side a rare moment of joy.

Messi, however, had the final say, finishing off a flowing team move in the 89^th minute to score his 23^rd league goal of the season, increasing his lead at the top of the scoring charts.

The victory took Barça above Real Madrid into second place in the standings on 62 points, four behind leaders Atletico Madrid with 10 games left to play.

“This is a difficult place to come. Barça always used to struggle here, but we came flying out of the blocks,” said Griezmann.

“We worked very hard, we won the ball lots of times deep in their half and reacted well every time we lost it. It was a great Barcelona performance.”

Barça used to dread facing Sociedad away from home, failing to beat them in San Sebastian for more than a decade, and even though they ended up hammering the Basques they did not get off to the best start.

Sociedad forward Alexander Isak should have given the hosts an early lead from close range but could only shoot straight at keeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who denied the Swede again moments before Dest doubled Barça’s lead.

“This wasn’t our best game and they were clearly better than us and overwhelmed us,” said Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal.

“They were more ruthless than us; we went into halftime feeling bad as they scored all their chances while we couldn’t convert ours and the second half was very different as a result. But no one likes to lose like that.” — Reuters

AstraZeneca vaccine 79% effective in US, shows no safety issues

March 22, 2021 | 6:16 pm

AstraZeneca Plc’s coronavirus vaccine fared better than expected in a U.S. clinical trial, providing reassurance about its safety and efficacy.

The shot developed with the University of Oxford was 79% effective in preventing COVID-19, and an independent monitoring board found no safety concerns, the company said Monday. The shot also protected all those immunized from severe disease and death in a study of more than 30,000 volunteers.

The findings should bolster confidence in the product after confusion over its true efficacy and the best dosing regimen impacted take-up. The vaccine has faced numerous setbacks, most recently over supply issues and possible side effects. Even after the European Medicines Agency declared it safe last Thursday, not all European Union countries have resumed vaccination on concern about reports of blood clots.

“Efficacy is better than we had expected,” Peter Welford, an analyst at Jefferies, wrote in a note to clients. “Importantly, after recent largely unfounded safety concerns in Europe, the study confirms the safety profile.”

Astra shares rose as much as 1.2% in London trading.

A shortfall in deliveries to the EU has put Astra at odds with the bloc and led officials to oppose exports of the shot from the region as they seek to hold the company to account.

Clinical trials in the U.K. and Brazil last year produced a range of readings due to different dosing amounts and regimens used, and at least 10 EU countries only approved the shot for under-65s initially.

Many have since reversed that decision after more data from real world use showed the vaccine was effective for everyone. Older adults made up about a fifth of the U.S. test, which showed efficacy of 80% in that age group. Trials last year failed to provide conclusive data due to a lack of participants over the age of 65.

A number of cases involving serious blood clots found in individuals following their inoculation has also damaged the vaccine’s image. More than a dozen countries suspended use of the shot last week on the reports. The European Medicines Agency and U.K.’s regulator said Thursday that no definitive link could be established between the clots and the vaccine, and the benefits of its use continued to outweigh the risks. The U.S. trial review that found no safety concerns looked specifically at blood clots.

Skepticism over the vaccine started last year. When Astra and Oxford first reported initial data from clinical trials conducted in the U.K. and Brazil last November, they produced two very different efficacy readings of 62% and 90%. Because of a manufacturing error, one group of participants had received a lower first dose, which produced the higher reading, compared with those getting two standard doses. Further analysis suggested it was the dosing gap rather than the amount that had created the difference.

More than 70 countries globally have approved the Astra-Oxford shot for use and the partners plan to produce up to three billion doses of the vaccine this year.

The vaccine is particularly important to the global effort to end the pandemic because it’s easy to store and transport and the company is providing it at no profit during the crisis. Unlike vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and partner BioNTech SE, and Moderna Inc., which have to be kept frozen, the Astra shot can be held at fridge temperature. — Bloomberg

IdeaSpace, QBO seek to diversify startup scene

March 22, 2021 | 5:49 pm

Female-founded or female-led startups will be the target of the combined efforts of IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation Hub, local startup accelerators that realigned earlier this month under the guidance of Katrina R. Chan, who was appointed executive director of both organizations.

“We are committed to working on improving diversity and inclusion within the startup community and will ramp up our programs to support women entrepreneurs,” she said in an e-mail interview with BusinessWorld

More than 160 programs benefitting all startups—not just female-led ones—have been conducted by the unified team since the lockdown started, reaching more than 36,000 participants online. “Our goal is to be a one-stop shop for startups,” said Ms. Chan. “We will keep up these efforts to provide continual support for our tech startup community amidst this crisis.”

The new internal structure includes a Community and Ecosystem team for outreach and stakeholder engagement; a Startup Development team for startups across different stages; and a Strategy, Investments, and Partnerships team for startup investments, growth, and sustainability. Service teams in marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, and administration are shared by both brands.

“The realignment will unify IdeaSpace and QBO to carry out the work of our two strong brands,” said Ms. Chan. “We have always shared the same mission, which is to elevate the Philippine startup system.”

Programs under IdeaSpace and QBO will continue to be operated under the respective brands, but will be conceptualized by an integrated team. The vision is to enable founders to seek the combined organization’s support at any point in the startup journey—from conceptualization to incubation to acceleration.

Ongoing programs include IdeaSpace’s flagship acceleration program, which has been running since 2012, as well as its programs in partnership with Google for Startups, UNICEF (the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), ING (the ING, or Internationale Nederlanden Groep, Group), the US Embassy, and Youth Business International. — P. B. Mirasol

Women entrepreneurs find opportunities on YouTube

March 22, 2021 | 4:59 pm

“Ma-digiskarteng” Pinays (digitally savvy Filipinas) are using YouTube to bounce back from the pandemic. A recent Google Philippines event highlighted four female YouTube content creators who have created livelihood opportunities through the video-sharing platform.

Judy Ann S. Agoncillo, an actress with more than 1.5 million subscribers, started her channel as an outlet to share what she enjoys doing. Judy Ann’s Kitchen has now also paved a way for women to learn new skills that create entrepreneurial opportunities.

“With the situation now, what else do you have to lose?,” said Ms. Agoncillo. “You want to evolve and do something and, of course, you also want to earn. You can do this for free. The only limit is your imagination.” She added that the pandemic is a good time to take a risk. “Life’s too short to box yourself. What’s important is you’re able to do something for yourself.”

Tinmay A. Arcenas, for her part, pivoted from maarte (artsy) to madiskarte (resourceful) content when she realized that a lot of people lost their jobs over the pandemic. The lifestyle-turned-business vlogger, who has 40,000 subscribers, shares scenes from her family’s poultry farm business, together with tips on how to be more productive.

Also featured at the same event were Dielian E. Certeza and Juliette B. Piquero, who both turned to YouTube to start their own businesses when the pandemic struck.

Ms. Certeza had to look for alternative sources of income last year when she lost her part-time job. “I was scared that I’d stop schooling, scared that I’d be a burden,” she told the audience. Having no prior background in culinary arts, she began to develop her concept for a food business by mining the information found on such channels as The Sauce and Gravy Channel, Gneth’s Life, Kuya Fern’s Cooking, Lian Lim, Friend-Cheap Menu, Fixitsamo, Epoy’s Kitchen, Panlasang Pinoy, and Ninong Ry.

Hot Chicks, the restaurant born from all these efforts, is now able to meet all her family’s needs. “I am proud that I am able to help others though my business,” Ms. Certeza said. “Trust the process, calm your mind and heart, find what you are passionate about, and trust the Lord.”

Ms. Piquero also began conceptualizing her idea of an online business after picking up tips from local channels like Madiskarteng Nanay, Chef RV Manabat, and Lutong Tinapay, the result of which became Nenita’s CAKES and Pastries.

“I ventured into other businesses first, such as succulents, but that didn’t pick up,” she said. “It was my fondness for cooking that led me to baking cakes as a hobby, and which eventually turned into a business,” she said, adding that she uses YouTube as a reference for recipes and baking trends. “[My sales] definitely helps me and my family during these challenging times,” she added.

Aspiring content creators were advised to start small as well as be authentic and willing to learn.

“I don’t advise you to give advice on something you haven’t done yet,” Ms. Agoncillo told the audience. “It’s okay to be honest and say, ‘Let me try it first, then I’ll share my experience with you,’ so you build that relationship [with your subscribers].” — Patricia B. Mirasol