21 PEOPLE WHO SHAPED 2021
Despite the challenging year that has been 2021, when variants like Delta caused the worst surge in COVID-19 cases, when there’s record-high unemployment, and when the world’s longest lockdown in the world continued, there are still Filipinos who have made a positive impact in the world.
Meet the 21 Filipinos who shaped 2021 through their inspiring tales, laudable efforts, passion projects, and unique triumphs.
1 Hydilin DIAZ
As a weightlifter, Diaz is the first Filipino—and Filipina—to win the elusive gold medal for the Philippines at this year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Her win ended a 97-year Olympic gold medal drought. En route to her victory, the Zamboanga City native set an Olympic record in the women's 55-kilogram category and lifted a combined weight of 224 kilograms.
The victory is also the latest in her arduous but decorated weightlifting career that includes an Olympic silver medal win at the 2016 Rio Olympics, multiple World Championship wins, a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games, and another top-of-the-podium finish during the Philippine-hosted Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
The 30-year-old Diaz has so far dismissed talks of retirement after 17 years in the sport, but regardless if she guns for another Olympic appearance in Paris or not, her Olympic gold win has already cemented her place in Philippine history.
2 Leni ROBREDO
Like true leaders do, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has provided support when and where needed.
The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) COVID-19 pandemic response, despite budget limitations, was free of any charge. That included online medical consultations, care kits for COVID-19 patients, and swab tests.
Healthcare workers and other frontliners were given PPEs, temporary shelters and dorm rooms, rides to and from hospitals, and food packs. Even locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) were provided with free rides back to their home provinces and ready-to-eat meals.
For students and teachers alike, the OVP worked to make distance learning better. A training program was set up to assist teachers in conducting online classes, while a donation drive allowed Robredo to provide gadgets that are used but in good condition for the online classes of students.
Robredo’s office also partnered up with Metro Manila LGUs
