COVID-19 TREATMENTS - SOME GOOD NEWS YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF..

A professor of Pharmacy at  the University of Toronto sent this clearly worded COVID-19 update to his family.

 

For this pandemic there’s a greater chance of survival for those getting infected 6 months later....say,  September 2020 versus 6 months earlier, say February 2020. The reason for this is that doctors and scientists know more about Covid-19 now than 6 months ago and hence are able to treat patients better. I will list 5 important things that we know now that we didn’t know in February 2020 for your understanding.

 

1.  COVID-19 was initially thought to cause deaths due to pneumonia - a lung infection and so Ventilators were thought to be the best way to treat sick patients who couldn’t breathe Now we are realizing that the virus causes blood clots in the blood vessels of the lungs and other parts of the body and this causes the reduced oxygenation. Now we know that just providing oxygen by ventilators will not help but we have to prevent and dissolve the micro clots in the lungs. This is why we are using drugs like Aspirin and Heparin (blood thinners that prevents clotting) as protocol in treatment regimens starting in June 2020.

 

2.  Previously patients used to drop dead on the road or even before reaching a hospital due to reduced oxygen in their blood - OXYGEN SATURATION. This was because of HAPPY HYPOXIA where, even though the oxygen saturation was gradually reducing, the COVID-19 patients did not have symptoms until it became critically less, like sometimes even 70%. Normally we become breathless if oxygen saturation reduces below 90%. This breathlessness is not triggered in COVID-19 patients and so we were getting the sick patients very late to the hospitals in February 2020. Now since knowing about happy hypoxia we are monitoring oxygen saturation of all COVID-19 patients with a simple home use pulse oximeter and getting them to hospital if their oxygen saturation drops to 93% or less. This gives more time for doctors to correct the oxygen deficiency in the blood and a better survival chance since June 2020.

 

3.  We did not have drugs to fight COVID-19 in February 2020.  We were only treating the complications caused by it.. hypoxia. Hence most patients became severely infected. Now we have 2 important medicines FAVIPIRAVIR & REMDESIVIR. These are ANTIVIRALS that can kill the corona virus. By using these two medicines we can prevent patients from becoming severely infected and therefore cure them BEFORE THEY GO TO HYPOXIA. This knowledge we had in JUNE 2020... not in February 2020.

 4.  Many COVID-19 patients die not just because of the virus but also due to the patient’s own immune system responding in an exaggerated manner called CYTOKINE STORM. This stormy, strong immune response not only kills the virus but also kills the patients. In February 2020 we didn’t know how to prevent it from happening. Now in September 2020, we know that easily available medicines called STEROIDS, that doctors around the world have been using for almost 80 years, can be used to prevent the cytokine storm in some patients.

5.  Now we also know that people with hypoxia became better just by making them lie down on their belly - known as prone position. Apart from this, a few months ago Israeli scientists discovered that a chemical known as Alpha Defensin produced by the patients' White blood cells can cause the micro clots in blood vessels of the lungs and this could possibly be prevented by a drug called Colchicine used over many decades in the treatment of Gout.

So now we know for sure that patients have a better chance at surviving the COVID-19 infection in September 2020 than in February 2020.

 

Going forward there’s nothing to panic about COVID-19 if we remember that a person who gets infected later has a better chance at survival than one who got infected early.

Let’s continue to follow precautions, wear masks, practice social distancing, and wash your hands frequently.

 

Please distribute this message, as we all need some positive news.

"Thoughts create actions.  Actions create habits.  Habits create character.  And character creates your destiny."

SYKES asserts BPO leadership with 3rd Asia Leaders Awards!

Award-winning call center SYKES was once again recognized as the BPO Company of the Year by the Asia Leaders Awards. The company was awarded for its exemplary commitment to driving and improving the local business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, while still going above and beyond expectations with its pandemic response.

“Winning the award for three straight years is a testament to SYKES’ passion, commitment to excellence, and solid teamwork to serve our clients, customers, employees, and community. 

Although 2020 has not been an easy year for everyone, we have not lost sight of our purpose. We endeavored to beat the odds and continue to operate our business thriving under the new normal. We appreciate that international business awards such as Asia Leaders Awards recognized our hard work in staying true to our mission of helping and serving people one caring interaction at a time,” said Shane Baetz, Vice President Regional Support Services, APAC operations.

Recognizing global excellence among its awardees, the Asia Leaders Awards annually acknowledges industry leaders who are making significant changes not only in their respective fields, but also promoting the Philippines as a premier business hub in Asia and beyond. Its awards committee is made up of esteemed organizations and accomplished individuals from different industries.

The BPO Company of the Year award is given to the organization that best demonstrates outstanding BPO management, work culture and environment, and consistent pursuit of excellence and value. SYKES continues to be an industry frontrunner in this regard, having showcased all these qualities and achievements, on top of delivering solutions amid the challenges of the pandemic.

With limited time and resources, the company was able to adjust its business model and quickly adopted an effective work-from-home setup, which has enabled 75-100% of its entire workforce to work remotely. In doing so, it deployed thousands of PC sets, complete with accessories and office chairs, and provided WiFi allowance to those who are amenable to the setup. 

Meanwhile, for those who still reported on-site, SYKES offered free temporary accommodations with shuttle services and food provisions. It has also increased sanitary and physical distancing measures within the office premises and provided all employees with a care package consisting of a face mask, face shield, and alcohol or hand sanitizer. 

Displaying resilience, courage, and an indomitable spirit, SYKES has ensured uninterrupted business operations throughout the entire year and was even able to expand its workforce, employing thousands of displaced Filipino workers. Its business continuity plan was carried out successfully because of the teamwork, agility, and laser-like focus of leaders and team members alike.

SYKES also bagged the prestigious award due to its high-performance workplace that fosters employee engagement and continuous improvement through staff motivation, training, and coaching and development. A significant component of its employee-engagement effort is its SYKES Choices (for Manila sites) and Involve (for Cebu sites) programs. Comprised of 20 interest clubs, the programs hold several activities wherein SYKESers can showcase their talents and hobbies while having fun and developing bonds with coworkers. In the time of the pandemic, these clubs served as an avenue for the employees to pursue their passions and achieve work-life balance.

Furthermore, the BPO industry pioneer’s long-established skill development programs such as the SYKES ALPHA (Accelerated Leadership Program for High Achievers) and the Career Selfie help SYKESers unlock their full potential and empower them towards career growth. This year, despite having to work separately, SYKES was able to achieve great success and maintain activities under these programs to ensure that employees still gain professional progress.

With its excellence in the face of disruption, SYKES was also recognized by various award-giving bodies across different categories in the past year. It won two trophies from the Stevie Awards, namely a Silver Stevie for the Most Innovative Work-From-Home Plan and a Bronze Stevie for the Most Innovative Workplace Redesign. SYKES was also hailed as the Top Employer of the Year by the Asia CEO Awards.

2020 truly was a year unlike any other, but the BPO company is proud to have risen above every challenge while nurturing the development of its people, clients, and community.

“SYKES is very grateful for the different industry recognitions that we have received. We carry them with pride and gratitude together with our close to 18,000-strong employees in the country. As we grow our family here in the Philippines, we believe that these recognitions speak for the culture of our organization where each member is given an incredible opportunity to work, learn, and grow,” said Baetz.

Multi-awarded by local and international business awards every year, SYKES has established its position as a frontrunner of the BPO industry. It has earned its reputation by ensuring that its people are always prioritized to meet the needs and expectations of its clients.

More information about SYKES and how to join its growing workforce is available at sykes.com/philippines and its official Facebook page at fb.com/SYKES&PHofficial. 

Work, learn, and grow at SYKES!

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYWeek 42 Report (as of January 15, 2021)

The DOST interventions to address the COVID-19 pandemic, help rebuild the economy, and respond to pressing concerns through science, technology and innovations have been highlighted by a number of accomplishments, such as the following: 

KALUSUGAN:

1. DOST Regional Offices prepare for deployment of RxBox units for telemetry monitoring

With a total of 368 devices delivered to regions NCR, VII, IV-A, III, XI, VIII, and UP-PGH, the DOST Regional Offices are now preparing for pre-deployment activities such as coordinating agreements with beneficiaries and logistical preparations in preparation to the deployment and training. In addition, out of the 244 units newly inspected, 120 units have passed based on the results of the inspection findings submitted to DOST-CALABARZON, UP, and Ionics. 

DOST-CALABARZON presented the accomplishments and status of the RxBox during the 109th PCHRD Governing Council meeting on projects in relation to the COVID-19 response held last January 7, 2021. A Zoom meeting with UP, DOST Regional Offices, and Ionics was conducted last January 11 to discuss clarifications on the endorsed Clinical Acceptance Test (CAT) procedures. 

2. Updates on WHO Solidarity Trials on Vaccines

The Philippine team is currently recruiting the additional manpower needed, preparing the sites, and coordinating with relevant government agencies and LGUs, pending release of final detailed SOPs and protocol from WHO.  The DOST has also submitted a request to the DBM and Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. for additional funding in response to the request of WHO for the Philippines to expand the trial in the essence of the study objectives to conduct a rapid, community-based enrollment in hotspot areas. This would cover the additional personnel and operational expenses for the project. 

KABUHAYAN

3. DOST-CAR provides assistance to four MSMEs thru SETUP

The DOST-CAR thru its PSTC-Benguet signed a Memorandum of Agreement with three manufacturing firms from the City of Baguio, namely MAKK Builders, GQB Apparels, and Chokkos Bakeshop for the implementation of the approved Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) interventions. The MOA signing was conducted on January 8, 2021 at the PSTC-Benguet, Gov. Pack Road, Baguio City. 

The three (3) projects will be funded under the CY 2021 SETUP Fund with a total funding requirement of PhP 3,197,446.25. Likewise, the projects aim to enhance the production efficiency of the MSMEs through the provision of equipment and other applicable technical assistance such as trainings, packaging and labeling and laboratory analyses. 

Meanwhile, the delivery of One-unit Double Head Seamless machine to Kimro’s Iron Works, a SETUP beneficiary in CY 2020 was finally completed on January 8, 2020 after the delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm is involved in the production and installation of uPVC windows, doors and other building components made of uPVC.

4. DOST-X provides S&T livelihood, health and nutrition assistance to Indigenous Peoples (IP) Community in Cauyunan, Opol, Misamis Oriental

The lives of the IPs in the depressed barangay of Cauyunan, Opol, Misamis Oriental are expected to be transformed through the S&T interventions provided by the DOST-X through its Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program. On 7 January 2021, the said IP community, through its local government unit, received S&T assistance amounting to Php550,000.00 as support for the development of a sericulture farm and the establishment of a banana food processing facility in the area. The banana processing facility and the sericulture project are aimed at eradicating hunger and poverty in the community. The banana processing facility is a support to the existing 100 hectares of banana plantation managed by the Cauyunan Farmers Association (CFA). These livelihood projects are a collaborative effort of the LGU Opol, the CFA, and the DOST-PTRI.

In addition, a financial assistance amounting to Php595,006.00 for health and nutrition interventions was also provided to the IPs in Cauyunan. Said amount will be used in procuring enhanced nutribuns, iron-fortified rice, and iodized salt for the residents. 

5. How Compliance Testing Put Lechon on the Table for Members of a Homegrown Micro Enterprise

In late September of 2020, an enterprise in traditional weaving and bamboo craft from Cavite, Likhang Maragondon (LM), decided to participate in the supply needs for PPEs, in particular, for community face masks using handwoven fabrics. To ensure that their masks will adhere to the guidelines for cloth face masks for community use as recommended by the WHO, and the DOH-PHST, DOST-PTRI, LM submitted its products to the test with DOST– PTRI for water-repellency, water absorbency, fiber composition, and air permeability. The fabric type, mask shape, and the number of layers were similarly evaluated, and in consultation with the PTRI’s Technical Services Division, their locally-made handwoven masks were found to successfully conform to the requirements. 

The face mask, branded as Habing Maragondon, consists of multi-layers of fabrics with the outermost layer making use of the cloth handloom-woven by the weavers of Maragondon.

KAAYUSAN

6. DOST-CALABARZON developed Contactless Attendance System (CAS) 

The inhouse-manufactured device is intended to automate the sampling of personnel temperature and allow the answering of the health screening questionnaire without touching any computer peripheral or input devices. It is meant to integrate with the existing Human Resource Management System (DOST-CALABARZON HRMIS) and Health Screening Information Systems (HSIS). CAS was developed using an Arduino microcontroller to interface with sensors and serve as user input or interface and a computer to serve as the host that interacts with the information systems.

7. Twelve new communities join “Gulayan sa Pamayanan contra COVID-19” project bringing the total to 19 project sites as of end of December 2020

Twelve (12) communities joined  the Gulayan sa Pamayanan project bringing the total number to 19 communities with 350 families  benefiting from the project as of end of December 2020. It has also engaged 132 community garden workers/volunteers.  Implemented by DOST-NCR since June 2020, the DOST-PCAARRD project aims to provide S&T-based livelihood and increase vegetable availability in Metropolitan areas to alleviate community situation during COVID-19 pandemic. 

8. BanaTech mobile app determines harvest date of Lakatan and Saba bananas, gives timely advice on cultural management practices

Crop yield forecasting is of considerable significance to global food supply. To improve national food security, policymakers rely on specific forecasts to take timely import and export decisions.  Another important feature of knowing the crop yield is the timely information for optimal management practices. In response to this, a new mobile app has been developed by the UPLB SARAi team to help banana farmers plan their harvest.  Aside from calculating the harvest date, the new app also features advices for timely cultural management practices.

The primary objective of the application is to determine the total number of days to harvest from a selected bunch development phase. In this app, stages of bunch development are presented through pictures of selected and monitored sample plants during SARAI phenological studies on Lakatan and Cardaba/Saba.  The SARAi team is currently developing an added feature which is the harvestable bunch yield of Lakatan. This will be released through the Google Playstore for field testing to banana growers to enhance its reliability.

9. Three licensing agreements signed under PCAARRD-Supported Agri-based TBIs, 2021 plans bared

In 2020, PCAARRD and its partner-agencies have strengthened its efforts in technology commercialization, food security, and agricultural livelihood in the midst of the pandemic. Under the DOST-PCAARRD Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) Program, three (3) licensing agreements were signed and issued with Fairness Opinion Report in 2020 for the transfer and commercialization of different PCAARRD-funded technologies. The Isabela State University (ISU) signed two licensing agreements with DV Boer Farm to commercialize Chevon Valley and SemEx. Chevon Valley is a line of native dishes applied with the university’s goat processing, product storage and stability, and canning technologies. SemEx is an artificial insemination technology used to prolong the life span of buck’s sperm cells for animal breeding. 

Furthermore, the Capiz State University (CapSU) signed a licensing agreement with BDOZ Veterinary Products Trading to commercialize Ethnobotanical Dewormer, a formulation of ipil-ipil and betel nuts to treat internal parasitism in native chicken and other poultry species. The Chevon Valley, SemEx, and Botanical Dewormer are products of PCAARRD-funded R&D projects. Likewise, PCAARRD, through its ATBIs in ISU and CapSU, supports the start-up-incubatee DV Boer Farm and spinoff-incubatee BDOZ Veterinary Products Trading.

PCAARRD will continue its contribution to the innovation ecosystem and the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector. From hosting 91 incubatees in 2019 to 154 incubatees in 2020, PCAARRD is expected to support more agri-based startups/spinoffs and level up its ATBI operations for the recovery of the country from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

KINABUKASAN

10. Updates on Advanced Satellite for the Philippines (ASP) project

As part of DOST’s priority agenda under the emerging technologies sector of providing space technology applications to public services, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) announces the start of building next-generation satellite under the Advanced Satellite for the Philippines (ASP) project of the STAMINA4Space Program. The ASP project funded by DOST and  implemented by the University of the Philippines and the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute in coordination with PhilSA is partnering with Surrey Space Technology Ltd (SSTL) for the design and manufacture of a multispectral satellite capable of imaging an approximate area of 100,000 km2 of the country daily. SSTL is a leader in developing commercial-grade earth observation satellites as well as delivering a Know-How Transfer and Training (KHTT) program that can aid in our capacity building efforts. 

On December 14, 2020, the Phase 1 of the activity commenced with the remote delivery of the Satellite System Design course by the University of Surrey attended by a pool of 30 Filipino Engineers. Another set of courses and lectures on systems engineering will be delivered by the SSTL this January to further equip engineers with theoretical knowledge needed to build our next satellite. Thirteen out of the 30 engineers will then be deployed to SSTL in the UK for full immersion on the design and manufacture of our next satellite. 

11. DOST supports scholars on Space Technology 

Since September 2020, eight (8) DOST-SEI scholars have started their program at the National Graduate School of Engineering (NGSE) of UP Diliman and has started reviews of the BIRDS-4 CubeSat that will be used as the reference for the next generation of Maya satellites, Maya-5 and Maya-6.

The scholars Gio Asher Tagabi, Joseph Jonathan Co, Ronald Collamar, Chandler Timm Doloriel, Genesis Remocaldo, Anna Ruth Alvarez, Angela Clarisse Chua, and Khazmir Camille Valerie Macaraeg were introduced to the public in an online event on November 6, 2020.

For the second batch, 11 applicants out of the 50 applications received made it to the shortlist and were recommended to pursue their applications to the NGSE.

The scholarship program is under the Space Technology and Applications Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) Project which aims to develop a pool of space technology researchers and scientists. 

12. PhilSA has new Deputy Director General

The Philippine Space Agency (PhiLSA) welcomes the appointment of Dr. Gay Jane Perez as Deputy Director General.

Dr. Perez brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the PhilSA through her work in building and leading various national space science & technology and applications programs and international scientific collaboration activities. She is the Program Leader of the DOST-funded STAMINA4Space Program.

Dr Perez is an Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Meteorology and Scientist II, University of the Philippines Diliman and an awardee of The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) and the ASEAN-US Prize for Women. She was a  Postdoctoral Fellow of the NASA Goddard Spae Flight Center.

Leveraging on APIs to make real-world impact

Open banking, which uses application programming interface or APIs for shared data, has democratized the delivery of financial services in recent years. With this, traditional financial institutions are faced with the challenge brought about by many fintechs which rapidly reshape the industry. 

“At the end of the day, finance is about people and enabling people. It is not people living for finance.” This is from Dr. David Hardoon, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Senior Advisor for Data and Artificial Intelligence, on how the Bank welcomed the rapid development of open banking. 

Dr. Hardoon shared the Bank’s digital transformation approach when it comes to application programming interface or APIs and open banking in the Planet of the APIs discussion at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2020. 

“Rather than treating it as a threat, we have to do two fundamental things. One, is to accept that this is going to be a reality... and the approach that we’re doing is to focus on the end goal which is financial inclusion, especially in the Philippines. It’s about making a difference and how to get to the 60-65% of the population which is not banked or underserved,” added Dr. Hardoon. 

He also shared that UnionBank is focusing on how to leverage on data, the APIs and the evolving ecosystem. True to this mission, UnionBank was the first local bank to expose its APIs externally in 2016 during its first ‘Hackathon.’ The Bank’s developer portal now contains UnionBank’s set of APIs available for developers especially fintechs who want to create new technology to extend financial services to the public. 

Because of this early adoption, UnionBank was able to use its innovations even during the pandemic. One of which is to help the government disburse social amelioration funds which provided financial support to those who were in need during the start of the pandemic. This was made possible by the Bank’s i2i network which connected rural banks and enabled distribution of the funds. 

“This is about how we fundamentally leverage all these technology and capabilities. But at the end of the day, putting it together, not as not a theoretical concept or proof of concept that never leaves the lab, but an actuality. Putting aside our competitive nature in order to result in an impact and making a difference,” shared by Dr. Hardoon. 

Visit here: https://www.facebook.com/theunionbankerph.

DOSE OF HOPE’ Deal Signed 17 MILLION Doses Of AztraZeneca VACCINE

Following the success of the first “A Dose of Hope” project which secured 2.6 million doses of vaccine to the country, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, Country President of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. Lotis Ramin, Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, and Ambassador Daniel Pruce of the British Embassy, headed the signing of the second wave that consolidated a total of 17 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the country. Around 300 private sector donors and the 39 LGUs that procured the AstraZeneca vaccine also joined the monumental signing.

SECURED DOSES OF HOPE. 17 million doses of vaccines were secured for the country through the 'A Dose of Hope' initiative – from donations of the private sector to the National Government and LGU procurement.

IN PHOTO: Ambassador Daniel Pruce of the British Embassy, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, and Country President of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. Lotis Ramin.

“I like to thank first Secretary Charlie Galvez. Without your support, this tripartite agreement would have not been possible. Also, I like to thank the CEO of AstraZeneca, Lotis Ramin. Without your doses, we will not be here today to sign the agreement. We admire your company and your patriotism. These vaccines are really the way forward in helping our Filipino save lives and livelihood. Ambassador Pruce for all your efforts in forging this partnership and helping the negotiations move forward. And the private sector, our donors. The first batch was about 35 of the conglomerates who supported the program, and in the second batch, around 300 companies supported the program. And of course, our LGUs, who are now part of the Dose of Hope, 39 of them,” Concepcion forwarded.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel, national recovery is within sight. As we bounce back and heal as one, I commend the business community and the LGUs for your ramping of support for our nation’s fight against COVID-19…You have my full support. Together, we can ensure a safe, sure, and secure roll-out of our National Immunization Program. Today, let us reaffirm our vow to ourselves and renew our guarantee to the people…A tripartite agreement is a true showcase of unity of purpose and principled partnership benefiting our public – this is Bayanihan at work,” President Duterte expressed.

This initiative is not only ‘A Dose of Hope’, but ‘A Pound of Inspiration’ that will help us realize our collective goal of inoculating 50-70 million Filipinos this year. We acknowledge the crucial role of our LGUs and the private sector has played in our National Immunization Program. With your continued support, we will be able to identify, validate, and respond to the needs of our priority beneficiaries…This tripartite agreement is a symbol of the Duterte’s Administration’s resolve, that no one will be left behind,” Secretary Galvez stated.

“AstraZeneca is proud to support the Philippine government’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy and recovery program. We are inspired by the multi-sectoral initiatives to secure close to 17 million doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca as we work together in reaching millions of Filipinos. Guided by AstraZeneca’s no profit and equitable distribution model, we will continue to engage with government and multilateral organizations to ensure broad and equitable access to the vaccine at no profit for the duration of the pandemic,” Ramin forwarded.

“I am absolutely delighted that AstraZeneca, in partnership with so many local government units and members of the private sector, and with the support of the Government of the Philippines, will be able to supply a significant amount of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine later this year. The British government supported the research at the University of Oxford which led to this vaccine – and we are proud that our scientific community was able to deliver this important contribution to the global effort to fight the coronavirus,” Ambassador Pruce expressed.

Napakahalaga po ng papel ng bakuna para po sa ating recovery mula sa kasalukuyang pandemya, ito po ang magiging susi upang makabalik ang pamumuhay natin sa normal. Kaya naman napakalaking bagay ng ceremonial signing na nagaganap ngayong araw dahil opisyal na po nitong uumpisahan ang ating pagbangon mula sa COVID-19,” Senator Go advocated.

With the Local Chief Executives from participating LGUs gracing the program, these efforts of procuring the vaccines provided hope for their constituents. Some of the mayors that joined this initiative include Mayor Sara Duterte, Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Mayor Joy Belmonte, Mayor Francis Zamora, Mayor Toby Tiangco, Mayor April Aguilar-Nery, Mayor Abby Binay, Mayor Carmelita Abalos, Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Mayor Oscar Malapitan, Mayor Isko Moreno, Mayor Vico Sotto, and Tracing Czar Mayor Benjie Magalong, among others.

“Thank you to the President and to Secretary Galvez for allowing the LGUs to be part of this tripartite agreement and forge one of the best private-partnerships that I’ve seen achieve a common goal – bringing the vaccine to the Philippines, especially at times like this. Moving forward, we hope that AstraZeneca will continue to support us as we know the demand for vaccines, especially coming from LGUs and the private sector, is quite immense. The Philippines definitely will not be left behind in this fight,” Concepcion on his message of thanks and hope.

Today’s signing secured around 15 million doses of vaccines – almost 3 million doses of donations from the private sector and around 12 million doses procured by the LGUs. All in all, including the first wave of donations, ‘A Dose of Hope’ have consolidated a total of 17 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the country.

The session was moderated by Josephine Romero, Go Negosyo Senior Adviser and A Dose of Hope Program Lead.

Microsoft Philippines Recognized Among HR Asia’s ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2020’

Microsoft Philippines was recently named one of the ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2020’ by HR Asia. The organization was recognized for its performance in workplace excellence, human capital development, and outstanding employee engagement. 

"This award means everything to us as an organization both globally, and here in the Philippines. We exist to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more—a mission that only comes to life through our people," said Jan Philippe Tanchi, Human Resources Director of Microsoft Philippines. “We’re proud to receive this great distinction and are committed to continue providing our people with an inclusive workplace and community that lives up to our values, and empowers them to be their best, most authentic selves every day.” 

HR Asia is one of the most recognizable and authoritative HR publications in the world. Their ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia’ awards is the largest program of its kind in Asia and is held annually across 11 markets throughout the region, including Cambodia, China, Hong-Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

This year, the awarding ceremonies were conducted virtually for the first time on December 31, 2020 due to the pandemic. The event highlighted the extraordinary efforts of organizations that exemplified dedication to their employees, especially in what has been a year of uncertainty and unprecedented challenges. 

"We must never forget the sacrifices by our own employees to keep the economy going. Since 2013 we have recognized companies that placed their employees front and center in everything they do. This year is no different. The recipients of this year's awards have shown not only are you the best companies to work for in Asia but more importantly, you are able to show empathy and care for your employees during the darkest moments of fear and uncertainty," said Datuk William Ng, Group Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Business Media International, the publisher of HR Asia. 

The awards were judged by the affirmative answers of employees based on HR Asia's proprietary Total Engagement Assessment Model (TEAM), which surveys 1.5 million employees across Asia. TEAM uses a 5-point scoring scale from employee feedback based on the three areas of employee engagement: 

Collective Organization for Real Engagement (CORE) – culture and ethics, leadership and organization, and active initiative 

Self: Heart, Mind and Soul – emotional engagement (heart), intention & motivation (mind), and behavior & advocacy (soul) 

Group: Think, Feel and Do – collective consciousness (think), workplace sentiment (mind), and team dynamics (do) 

Microsoft Philippines quickly shifted to a remote workforce in light of COVID-19, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its employees early on. Throughout the pandemic, employees and their families were given free access to health & wellness resources to care for their mental well-being. In addition, they’ve continuously introduced engagement and enrichment programs and initiatives to maintain employee morale. 

Microsoft was recognized alongside 20 other companies in the Philippines. 

HYUN BIN PHILIPPINE FAN CLUB SENDS GIFTS TO SON YE JIN - The reel to real couple of CLOY

The Hyun Bin Philippine Fan Club (HBPFC) is all out to wish the real life girlfriend of their Idol. Son Ye Jin who played Seri, the love interest of Capt. Ri turned 39 (40 as her Korean Age) last Jan 11, 2021.

For a solid Hyun Bin fan, early 2021 announcement of dating confirmation of the couple was a blowout.  To show support to their idol, the HBPHFC has organized a rush project for this special Birthday occasion.  It did not turn out to be anything less at all.  In just days, they managed to send the couple elegant orchid flowerpot arrangement, customized Birthday Cake & a bottle of wine respectively to MS Team Entertainment (Son Ye Jin’s agency) and to VAST Entertainment (Hyun Bin’s agency). All the great effort paid off when the actress herself

(IG: yejinhand), Son Ye Jin gave a “heart” reaction to the Instagram post about the cake that has a dedication of “To Hyun Bin’s Great Love, Happy Birthday Queen Son Ye Jin”  By the Hyun Bin Philippine Fan Club.

A lot of BinJin fans (referred as supporters of the couple) noticed Yejin’s “heart” reaction and started to post their comments, took screen shots of it and even posted on Twitter.  The HBPFC has gained a lot of praises from other Fan Clubs and Fan Pages around the world, appreciating the gesture of support to Son Ye Jin and her relationship with their Oppa Idol.

“I felt the pressure to make the day as special as possible, despite the short time to prepare, since many fans are very giddy about the dating confirmation, wondering how Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin probably will celebrate this birthday occasion. We arranged a Virtual Birthday Fan meet and there was a good number of audience.  To add highlight, I got a Fengshui Celebrity Consultant, Ms. Rhys Suiza Schmidt to read Son Ye Jin’s 2021 Geomancy Forecast.”- Shared by Fan Club Director Cherry Genato, owner of the Events Agency Manila Preneur Corp.

Around 3 Months ago, the HBPFC sent a birthday present to Hyun Bin a proudly Filipino made customized hand painted Capt. Ri inspired shoes by Multi awarded Shoe Artist Designer Clint Catalan.  Jan 11, 2021 the female version – “Seri’s Choice” inspired shoes also landed in South Korea was the Special gift of the HBPFC for her Birthday.

The HBPFC continuous to grow its community strengthening its Fan Club plans for 2021, now that the RiRi Couple is REAL. Everyone is even more excited.

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef291PNwl8s