Even in what you call, the worst of times, Filipinos remain heroes outside and inside their homes.  While the World Health Organization (WHO) addressed and recommended the practice of Physical Distancing as a way to prevent the spreading of the virus, Filipinos still found ways to help each other.

Series of private sectors, organizations, and even individuals provided ‘online’ donation drives, thru digital platforms. The curated programs are for people who are mostly affected in this pandemic. The groups were able to raise funds for the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), other medical needs for frontliners and other essential needs for affected families and workers. 

Asia 21 Young Leaders also played a huge role in helping their fellow countrymen during this health crisis, as these outstanding individuals curated projects to serve and assist the Philippines and its people.

Asia 21 Fellow and a known infectious disease specialist, Dr. Bryan Lim, is now a frontliner in Cebu. As he helps in conquering the virus, he also developed a Manual of Operations for all COVID-19 centers, together with his partners, DOH Region 7, the UP Medical Alumni Cebu, and the Bayanihan Cebu. And as of the moment, he is working with architects in order to construct COVID-19 and Isolation centers. 

Asia 21 Young Leader, Anna Meloto-Wilk

Asia 21 Young Leader and Human Nature’s Co-founder Anna Meloto-Wilk, used her platform to have an online fundraising which lets every purchase support  and feed hungry communities.

Asia 21 Young Leaders, Darwin Mariano (CEO of Ticket2Me) and Harvey Keh (Lead Convenor of Kaya Natin), were able to collaborate by using the platform of Ticket2Me and The Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership and in coordination with the Office of the Vice President, to raise funds in order to purchase PPEs, other medical supplies, and care/food packs needed by our health workers and frontliners. And as of April 30, 2020, the donation drive for frontliners and Filipino families were able to raise P60,876,896.37.

Cherrie Atilano, Asia 21 Young Leader and CEO of Agrea, also launched the Move Food Initiative which helps Filipino farmers in being more accessible to the market since the enhanced community quarantine and Agrea did this by shipping the produce directly to people’s tables. With this, Cherrie and her team were able able to successfully help more than 3,000 farmers in Luzon and Mindanao.

“We believe in the effectiveness of data,” 

“And we are humbled to be working with the public, civic and private sector in the months ahead to ensure access to timely and comprehensive analytical insights.” 

– Stephanie Sy, Thinking Machines

Last April 13, Department of Health (DOH) launches the new COVID-19 Tracker and the DOH DataCollect App. Asia 21 Young Leaders newest member, Stephanie Sy, who is also the CEO of Thinking Machines, participated in providing service during the quarantine by setting up the data analytics for DOH with the help of epidemiologist Mr. Nel Jason Haw. The tracker guides the public in viewing data on cases, health system capacity, as well as the testing capacity of DOH.  

Our Asia 21 Young Leader, Anya Lim took part in helping out Filipinos during the pandemic thru her company, ANTHILL Fabric Gallery, wherein she and her team are now providing handwoven and commercial zero waste reusable masks for kids and adults. During the launch of the masks, they were able to donate 100 reusable masks to Cebu Crisis Assistance Team. “[the masks] which will go to their frontliners – the barangay healthworkers who are conducting community surveillance at the grassroots to support the management of hospital capacity.”

– ANTHILL Fabric Gallery

However, it was not only just ANTHILL Fabric Gallery who provided masks, Asia 21 Young Leader and Founder of Rags2Riches, Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, was also able to do eco-friendly facemasks and washable PPE Suits. Rags2Riches’ COVID-19 Response, did not only help advocates and non-medical frontliners, but also helped the livelihood of her artisans, as they are the ones sewing the products one by one from their homes.

“With a podcast, the engagement is much more personal. It’s a warmer medium. It sets us apart from the trolling culture, it insulates us from the paranoia, the anger and the overall culture of fake news” – Roby Alampay 

Asia 21 Young Leader and CEO and Host of PumaPodcast, Roby Alampay, has also been active in doing COVID-19 Response content with COVID Diaries, which are podcasts that capture experiences on COVID-19 of Filipinos all over the world.

Xyza Cruz Bacani, Asia 21 Young Leader Batch 2018

Award-winning photographer and journalist and Asia 21 Young Leader batch 2018, Xyza Cruz Bacani, has been featured on CNN and The Nation, with her articles on Filipino frontliners during the COVID-19. The photo-journalist showed the world how the Philippines is dealing with the pandemic through stories and photos of frontliners.

“While the future remains unknown, by working together to support and empower the education ecosystems in our communities, we can help establish the structures that our students will need to receive the quality education they deserve, and bring stability in a time of uncertainty.” –Natalie Jorge

Natalie Jorge, Executive Director of Bato Balani Foundation and a fellow Asia 21 Young Leader, also made way to help Filipino medical frontliners by visiting rural health units and hospitals to deliver PPEs and medical supplies from the Office of the Vice President. She also contributed to Inquirer on what is the New Normal for Philippine Education.

Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, Business Reporter and Asia 21 Young Leader, has been active in making headlines on COVID-19. She featured Jaime Enrique Gonzales, Asia Society Philippines’ Board Member and CEO of IP Ventures, Inc., on Inquirer, highlighting Enrique’s IP Biotech group launching a treatment for COVID-19 by the third quarter of the year.

“We have focused on an anti-body treatment due to the shorter timeline for development, and the high degree of safety and predictability during trials. We are merely taking nature’s (human immune system) answer to COVID and distilling it into a vial form which can be administered safely and conveniently,” – Enrique Gonzalez

These leaders are leaders who shape a brighter future for the next generation and the Asia-Pacific region.  

Get to know more about Asia 21 

“For nearly 15 years, we’ve been cultivating a network of diverse change-makers, united by a shared commitment to leadership with impact. As the network continues to mature and the original members move into positions of greater influence, Asia 21’s long-term dividend will become increasingly apparent: a more connected, better integrated Asia-Pacific region with leaders capable of drawing on vital connections to move the region forward, for the betterment of all.”

– Josette Sheeran, President & CEO, The Asia Society