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Investor regard for workforce still high despite PISA survey

FOREIGN business chambers said they remain confident about attracting investment to the Philippines despite its poor performance in a global education survey.

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) ranking of 79 countries had the Philippines with the lowest mean score in reading comprehension and the second-lowest in science and math.

“I still believe strongly in the talent pool in the Philippines,” British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) Executive Director Chris Nelson said in a phone interview Thursday.

He said British investors are attracted to the Philippines’ English-language fluency and ability to learn.

“Filipino workers are adept — they are taking training from companies that come in. Even if there is a gap, that can be adjusted. The workforce is still an attraction to British investors and companies.”

Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines (JFC) Senior Adviser John Forbes said in a mobile phone message that the survey should not have an adverse effect on foreign investment in the Philippines.

“The economies with higher test scores in the survey are more developed and spend more on education. In fact, the Philippines spend less per student than all 78 other economies in the survey,” he said.

“By spending more on education to improve the quality of teaching, the score of Filipino 9th graders in this test in the future should improve.”

Mr. Nelson of BCCP sees the low educational ranking as an opportunity for the Philippines and the United Kingdom to pursue educational partnerships, suggesting that the UK should bring in satellite schools.

“There’s a tremendous amount of interest in the Philippines from educational institutions from the UK — universities who would like to see more Filipino students or to have local partnerships up and offering the program here.”

British investors in the Philippines, he said, are typically in the retail and construction industries. He said that the construction industry will always need project management and construction management skills.

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), according to its president Nabil Francis, said in a mobile message that it recognizes human capital as one of the country’s most important assets.

“In an increasingly competitive global environment, the need for equipping the future talent with the adequate and necessary skills sought after by industries becomes even more crucial,” he said.

“The results of the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment examination serves as a wake up call for stakeholders to join hands and further improve the skills and capabilities of the country’s younger demographic.” — Jenina P. Ibañez

Gov’t targets speedy project negotiations despite more PPPs in flagship list

THE government hopes to wrap up project negotiations in good time even when more contracts are offered up as public-private partnerships (PPPs), while also hoping to minimize the contingent liabilities paid by the state, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said.

Speaking in a recent forum at Guangzhou, China, Mr. Dominguez said that PPP-funded infrastructure projects “must be delivered quickly and we cannot take too much time negotiating with the private sector on this.”

Mr. Dominguez also said his department will pay close attention to contingent liabilities in PPP contracts, which was not given due attention by past governments.

“We have taken a very serious position that we will limit severely the contingent liabilities on the government, and really the taxpayers, with regard to PPP projects,” he said.

Last month, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said that the government will be more stringent in issuing state guarantees, subsidies and material adverse government action (MAGA) in the PPP projects.

Mr. Dominguez also said that the project mode should be renamed Public Private-Partnership for the People (PPPP) to highlight the need for public works that are not be disadvantageous to the government and the public.

He said it used to take around 33 months on average for a PPP proposal to start project implementation, noting that “one project with competing private sector proponents took 60 months.”

Midway through the administration’s term, the government decided to review and update its list of infrastructure flagship program, which now contains 100 projects from the previous 75. It ruled out those deemed not feasible while including projects that are expected to be high-impact.

The list now also included 29 projects with PPP as a financing mode, up from nine previously.

The flagship-project list is estimated to cost P4.2 trillion. Some 22 projects worth P167.95 billion will be funded by the national budget; 49 others costing P2.31 trillion will be funded through foreign-aid loans; and 29 PPP projects will cost around P1.77 trillion. — Beatrice M. Laforga

DBM confident budget validity extension bill won’t be vetoed

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it supports the proposal to extend the availability of the 2019 budget to December 2020 and believes the bill stretching out the validity of the funds complies with a presidential order, reducing the chances of a veto.

“The Secretary supports it,” Budget Undersecretary Laura B. Pascua said in an interview at the DBM Thursday.

Last week, the Palace Spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said President Rodrigo R. Duterte could veto legislation supporting an extension, should the bill run counter to the provisions of Executive Order (EO)No. 91.

The EO, issued on Sept. 9, reiterated the government’s policy that puts in place a cash-based budgeting system, which limits to one year the delivery of goods and services contracted and appropriated for.

Ms. Pascua said that while House Bill No. 5437, which has been adopted by the Senate, extends the 2019 budget availability to Dec. 31, 2020, it is compliant with EO 91.

The bill was passed in light of the late enactment of the 2019 national budget, which was only signed by Mr. Duterte on April 15. The budget was reduced to P3.662 trillion, after Mr. Duterte vetoed some P95.3 billion worth of appropriations which he deemed unconstitutional.

Disbursement of public funds in 2019 was also frozen by the 45-day election ban due to the May 13 midterm polls.

“Basically, EO 91 already permits the implementation of the infrastructure up to December (2020),” Ms. Pascua said.

Section 5 of the EO provides that appropriations for infrastructure capital outlays may be obligated until Dec. 31, 2019, while construction, inspection and payment has a Dec. 31 2020 deadline.

Based on the DBM’s assessment, Ms. Pascua said government agencies are performing well in terms of catching up with their spending. “They’re trying to do their best to meet (the) program for the year; we think konti na lang ang maiiwan (very little will be left)” for actual 2020 spending, she said.

The 18th Congress is currently deliberating the P4.1-trillion spending plan for 2020 at bicameral conference committee level, and target its transmittal to the Office of the President ahead of the Dec. 21 adjournment. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Rich-poor income gap narrows in 2018

THE INCOME GAP between the richest and poorest Filipino families narrowed in 2018 but remained substantial even amid significant increases in family income and savings, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

PSA also said the proportion of Filipinos whose incomes fell below the poverty threshold in 2015 was larger than initially estimated.

Results of the latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) released yesterday put the Filipino family’s average income and spending in 2018 at around P313,348 and P238,641 a year, respectively.

These totals translate to average annual family savings of P74,707 in 2018.

FIES is conducted every three years, the results of which provide information on levels of living, income disparities, and spending patterns.

Adjusted for 2012 price levels, the average 2018 annual family income was P267,134, compared to P250,491 for 2015. Family expenditure, meanwhile, adjusts to P203,445 in 2018 and P201,693 in 2015.

In an e-mail, UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said the data reflect “continuing economic growth and average family income.”

“Simply put, the higher and more consistent economic growth is, the higher the incomes the economic players become,” he added.

ING Bank NV Manila Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said: “The Philippines has enjoyed an impressive growth run in those particular years with low inflation and accommodative monetary policy working together with robust government spending. This has resulted in higher incomes even after adjusting for inflation highlighting the growth of the economy,” he said in an e-mail.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaged 6.5% from 2015 to 2018, according to PSA data. Meanwhile, GDP per capita grew 4.7% on average in those four years.

FIES data showed the average annual family income ranging from P113,453 for the lowest 10% income group (first decile) to P867,461 for the highest 10% income group (tenth decile).

The income gap between the richest and poorest decile groups was 7.6 times in 2018. Those in the top 10% were earning 7.6 times more than those in the poorest 10% that year.

In 2015, the results were P86,195 for the lowest income group and P788,211 for the highest — 9.1 times higher.

The Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, gives a ratio of 0.4267 for 2018, slightly lower than 2015’s 0.4438. Gini scores range from zero to one, with zero indicating total income equality and one indicating total income inequality.

“The lower Gini coefficient indicates that the strides of the economy have accrued to Filipinos in other income brackets as well,” ING Bank’s Mr. Mapa said.

“We hope to continue seeing strong growth in the Philippines but more importantly, we hope to see the fruits of our recent growth spurt enjoyed by as many as possible. The road to sustainable growth is always paved with inclusivity,” he added.

Security Bank Corp. Chief Economist Robert Dan J. Roces concurred: “The slight decline of the Gini coefficient… is suggesting falling income inequality and a narrowing of opportunity gaps and should be welcome news. However, there is still a very long way to go,” he told BusinessWorld in an e-mail.

UnionBank’s Mr. Asuncion noted that the narrowed income gap “should be looked into further if indeed that more and more people are enjoying the benefits of higher economic growth.”

“The quality of economic growth should further be investigated if economic growth has indeed made the lives of Filipinos better in 2018 compared to 2015,” he said.

Meanwhile Filipinos living under the poverty threshold in 2015 were more numerous than initially estimated, the PSA noted in a separate report.

Poverty incidence — or the proportion of Filipinos whose incomes fell below the minimum required to meet basic food and non-food requirements — was revised to 23.3% in 2015. This was higher than the 21.6% previously reported on Oct. 27, 2016. The new percentage is equivalent to 23.5 million individuals living under the poverty threshold compared to 21.9 million in the earlier report. — Mark T. Amoguis, Marissa Mae M. Ramos

Cycling, skateboarding add to PHL gold haul on Day 5

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

CYCLING, skateboarding, judo and fencing added gold to the total medal haul of the Philippines in the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Day Five of competition on Thursday.

Cyclist Jermyn Prado delivered the first gold for the day for the host after she ruled the women’s individual time trial event in Tagaytay.

Ms. Prado, a native of Quezon Province, completed the 23.1-kilometer course in 44 minutes, 44.742 seconds.

Finishing second and getting silver was Yiwei Luo of Singapore (44:48:518) and getting bronze was Phetdarin Somrat of Thailand (44:58:152).

“I gave my all. It was too hard, but our sacrifices paid off. I’m happy,” said Ms. Prado after her win.

The gold from Ms. Prado was the third for the country’s cycling team after those from John Derrick Farr and Lea Belgira from the men’s and women’s downhill events on Monday.

Skateboarding had a golden double with Daniel Ledermann and Margielyn Didal winning the men’s and women’s game of SKATE competitions.

Ms. Didal, an Asian Games gold medallist, bested compatriot Christiana Nicole Means in the finals.

In judo, Kiyomi Watanabe and Shugen Pablo Nakano bagged gold in the women’s -63 kg event and men’s -66 kg, respectively.

Fencing also produced gold as Jylyn Nicanor won the women’s individual sabre while Mark Streigl struck gold in men’s 74-kg combat sambo.

Silver medals for the Philippines, meanwhile, came from shooting care of Ditto Nestor Dinopol (benchrest air rifle heavy varmint) and modern pentathlon from Samuel German.

Duathlon, for its part, churned out a bronze in mixed relay so did judokas Nakano Keisi and Khrizzie Pabulayan.

BREAKTHROUGH FOR SWIMMING
Meanwhile in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, Filipino-American swimmer James Deiparine put an end to the decade-old gold-medal drought of the country after topping the men’s 100-meter breaststroke on Wednesday.

Mr. Deiparine clocked 1:01.46 to frustrate Vietnamese Thanh Bao Pham of Vietnam, who took the silver in 1:01.92. Malaysia’s Lionel Khoo Chien won the bronze in 1:01.98. Mr. Deiparine’s time is a new Philippine and Southeast Asian Games record.

His gold medal was the first for the Philippines since 2009 when Miguel Molina, Ryan Arabejo and Daniel Coakley bagged golds for the country in the Games held in Laos.

“This win means so much to me and for my whole family who came here to watch me, and also the crowd they gave me energy to finish,” said Mr. Deiparine after his win.

“I just won the 50-m breaststroke but my goal is to get as many golds as I can for the Philippines,” he added.

In boxing, four Philippine boxing team members advanced to the semifinals after they scored smashing victories on Wednesday at the PICC Forum in Pasay City.

Former world champion Josie Gabuco, Aira Villegas, Irish Magno, and Carlo Paalam won their respective quarterfinal matches at the start of the boxing competitions in the biennial meet.

Mr. Paalam and Misses Villegas and Magno won their bouts via shutouts, with only the 32-year-old Gabuco, winner of a gold medal in the 2012 AIBA World Championship, receiving stiff resistance from Thai opponent Raksat Chuthamat in the women’s light-flyweight division.

Ms. Gabuco pulled off a 4-1 victory over Ms. Chuthamat, a former bronze medal winner in the world championship.

In esports, the Philippines’ Team Sibol got off to a rousing start Thursday in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports category at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Composed of homegrown professional gamers, Team Sibol blanked Laos in two games and forced a draw with Indonesia to earn three points in the inaugural staging of esports in the biennial event.

The nationals needed less than 10 minutes to get the job done against the hapless Laotians, who had no response to the aggression attack of the Filipinos.

Gilas goes for win number two in SEAG

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

HAD a scintillating start to its 30th Southeast Asian Games campaign on Wednesday, the Philippine men’s national basketball team goes for a second straight win when it takes on Vietnam in a Group A match today.

Set for 8:15 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, the Tim Cone-coached and all-Philippine Basketball Association squad looks to build on its 52-point shellacking of Singapore last time around and further fortify its push in this year’s edition of the biennial regional sporting meet.

Stanley Pringle of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings got it going for the nationals early in their game versus the Singaporeans, who just saw things get worse for them as the contest moved along as Gilas was just thorough in its attack.

The Philippines held a 30-13 advantage after the first quarter and was never really threatened the rest of the way on its way to booking win number one.

Troy Rosario of the TNT KaTropa led the way for Gilas with 15 points to go along with eight boards while Mr. Pringle and Alaska Aces’ Vic Manuel had 14 points apiece.

Matthew Wright of the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters had 13, with San Miguel Beermen’s five-time league most valuable player June Mar Fajardo finishing with 12 points and six rebounds.

National team-debuting Chris Ross, also of the Beermen, did not score a point but had 10 assists in the win.

Despite the victory, Mr. Cone said they could still play better and hopes to do so in today’s match versus Vietnam.

“It’s fun coaching a powerhouse team but I think we still did not play our best basketball tonight,” Mr. Cone shared to members of media after their debut win.

“We still have to make adjustments both on offense and defense and get comfortable playing with one another,” he added.

Out to bring down the Philippine team today is Vietnam, which was a 132-52 winner over Myanmar also on Wednesday.

In the SEA Games, the Philippines has had a stranglehold on the basketball event, having won gold in 17 of the 19 times the sport has been featured in the Games.

Philippine Under-22 football team sees positives despite early SEA Games exit

ITS CAMPAIGN in the 30th Southeast Asian Games might have ended abruptly but the Philippine men’s Under-22 team sees a lot of positives from its bid which it hopes to carry on and take cue from moving forward.

Fell short in their push to move to the championship rounds of the football competition in the biennial regional sporting meet after being edged out for the last semifinal spot in Group A, the Philippine team admits that it was tough but nonetheless views it as something that would only help the national squad in the long run.

The Young Azkals exploded for a 6-1 victory over Timor Leste in their final game in group play at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna on Wednesday but it was not enough to push them through.

The win went for naught as Cambodia defeated Malaysia, 3-1, in the other Group A match, sending the former to the next round.

The Young Azkals were hoping to beat Timor Leste and for the Cambodia-Malaysia game to end in a draw to advance to the semifinals.

At the end of group play, Cambodia and the Philippines finished with identical records of 2-1-1 and seven points each. But the Cambodians had a better goal difference of plus-6 to the Azkals plus-5, earning for them the spot in the next round.

“It was tough for us to fall out after winning 6-1. The boys were down and it’s difficult for us to understand it right now. But that’s football and we just have to reassess and come back,” said Stephan Schrock, one of the overage players of the team along with Amani Aguinaldo, after their SEA Games campaign ended.

But the men’s seniors team stalwart said the team has nothing to be ashamed of with the spirited showing it had in the competition just as he expressed his belief of a brighter future for the national team.

“You can be proud of the boys. Throughout the tournament they improved a lot. What they had in the tank they gave it all. I’m happy for the future of the Azkals because we have players here who are ready to die on the field for the country apart from having the skills. I think with our showing we changed the mindset of many people” added Mr. Schrock, who scored one of the six goals against Timor Leste.

The other goals were from Mr. Aguinaldo (hat trick), Mar Diano and Dylan de Bruycker.

For team manager Dan Palami, the U-22’s campaign was still a success despite the team not advancing to the semifinals.

“Congratulations go to the boys for a good tournament. We did not go through because of game difference. But I think the people saw this was a different team and the future is good. It is just the start of a continuous process,” said Mr. Palami.

Playing in the SEA Games football semifinals on Dec. 7 are Myanmar against Indonesia and Vietnam versus Cambodia. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

PBA rookie draft on Sunday at Robinson’s Manila

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE ANNUAL Philippine Basketball Association rookie draft happens this weekend with 71 aspirants looking to make the leap to the pro ranks.

Happening on Sunday, Dec. 8, at Robinson’s Place Manila, the 12 PBA teams will select among the top amateur and semi-professional players who have made themselves available in the rookie pool.

Among the candidates for the draft are University Athletic Association of the Philippines champions Isaac Go, Matt and Mark Nieto, Adrian Wong, Vince Tolentino and Aaron Black of the Ateneo Blue Eagles; Val Chauca and Sean Manganti (Adamson), Wendel Comboy, Arvin Tolentino and Barkley Ebona (Far Eastern University), Renzo Subido (University of Santo Tomas) and Rey Suerte (University of the East).

Those coming from the National Collegiate Athletic Association include Jerrick Balanza and Bonbon Batiller of Season 95 champions Letran Knights, AC Soberano and Clint Doliguez (San Beda), Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino (Lyceum), Allyn Bulanadi and Alvin Capobres (San Sebastian), Kent Salado (Arellano), Yankee Haruna (College of Saint Benilde) and Edgar Charcos (Perpetual Help).

From the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, meanwhile, are Mike Ayonayon (San Juan), Chris Bitoon and Aris Dionisio (Manila).

Filipino-foreigners also vying for PBA roster sports are Roosevelt Adams, Jason Riley and Daryl Singontiko.

These players and the rest of the aspirants are parading their wares for team representatives to see in the ongoing draft combine that started yesterday and to end today at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City.

For the first time in three years, the draft will feature a special selection for the Gilas Pilipinas program.

Messrs. Go, Bulanadi and Suerte, and Matt and Mike Nieto, will be the five players involved in the special draft where they will be part of the preparations of Gilas for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Selecting in the special Gilas draft are Columbian Dyip, Blackwater Elite, NLEX Road Warriors, Alaska Aces and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

These teams can draft said players but the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas can pull them out anytime when needed.

After the special draft, the regular drafting begins with Columbian picking first. The Dyip were also the first to pick last year and used it to get CJ Perez.

Blackwater select second followed by the NLEX, Alaska and Rain or Shine (from the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters) for the first five picks.

Rain or Shine once again picks sixth (from the Meralco Bolts) and seventh, followed at eighth by Northport Batang Pier, Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (ninth), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (10th), TNT KaTropa (11th) and San Miguel Beermen (12th).

Jerwin ‘Pretty Boy’ Ancajas rolls to Mexico to defend IBF crown

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation world super flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas pushes through with a previously shelved title defense fight this weekend in Mexico but against a different opponent.

Set to fight on Nov. 3 (Manila time) in Carson, California, Mr. Ancajas saw himself sans an opponent after supposed challenger Jonathan Rodriguez of Mexico failed to make it as he was unable to get a visa.

Mr. Ancajas (31-1-2, 21 KO) admitted that initially he felt disappointed over the last-minute cancellation of what was supposed to be his eighth defense of the title he won back in 2016.

But eventually he accepted it, believing “there is still something bigger planned for me.”

On Sunday in Puebla, Mexico, Mr. Ancajas gets to complete an unfinished business of defending his 115-pound belt anew, but this time taking on Chilean challenger Miguel Gonzalez (31-2, 8 KO).

It will be part of the fight card that will also have World Boxing Organization junior featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete taking on challenger Francisco Horta.

In the lead-up to the Gonzalez fight, Davao native Ancajas said he would stay ready and not stop training in the United States after his fight was cancelled.

“At first I was really disappointed [of the cancellation]. But I just thought that maybe God has bigger plans for me. So I’ll just continue training here in the United States, focus on what I need to do, step up training some more,” said Mr. Ancajas in an earlier online interview.

This week he rolled into Mexico and shared that he is excited to face Mr. Gonzalez and that he is expecting a tough fight from the challenger.

Mr. Ancajas won the IBF world super flyweight title in September 2016, defeating McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico by unanimous decision here in Manila.

He has successfully defended his title seven times previously, the last time against Japanese Ryuichi Funai in May this year by knockout in California.

Mr. Gonzalez, for his part, is riding back-to-back victories.

Reed, Woodland share lead in Bahamas; Woods stumbles late

BAHAMAS — Patrick Reed and Gary Woodland set the first-round pace at the windswept Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Wednesday while tournament host Tiger Woods was four shots back after faltering over the final two holes.

Former Masters champion Reed and this year’s US Open winner Woodland fired six-under-par 66s at the Albany Golf Club on the island of New Providence to sit two shots clear of Chez Reavie in the 18-man exhibition event.

Englishman Justin Rose, Swede Henrik Stenson and Americans Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler were a further shot back.

The tournament began a day earlier than usual to accommodate golfers travelling to next week’s Presidents Cup in Australia and the field included all but one member of the 12-player US team that will compete at Royal Melbourne.

Woods, a playing captain at the Presidents Cup, reached the turn at two over par but made three birdies and an eagle over a four-hole stretch starting at the 11th to claw back up the leaderboard.

Woods endured a brutal finish, however, when he made bogey at the par-three 17th after he found the front bunker and closed with a three-putt double-bogey from about 12 feet for an even-par 72 that left him in a share of 11th place.

Woodland mixed eight birdies with two bogeys to grab the early clubhouse lead but Reed, playing two groups behind, offset his only bogey with four consecutive birdies from the 13th to join his American compatriot atop the leaderboard. — Reuters

Davis, James carry LA Lakers past Utah Jazz, 121-96

LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis scored 26 points, and LeBron James added 20 points as the visiting Los Angeles Lakers got off to a fast start and held off the Utah Jazz 121-96 on Wednesday.

The Lakers won a game for the second consecutive night, a back-to-back feat made even more impressive by the fact that they played at altitude in Denver on Tuesday and did it again at Salt Lake City.

The Lakers improved to 10-0 away from Staples Center.

James, who leads the NBA in assists, added 12 more to his season total. He played 29 minutes while Davis played 26 after they each saw 37 minutes of action at Denver.

Rajon Rondo contributed 14 points and 12 assists for Los Angeles.

Donovan Mitchell had 29 points, and Rudy Gobert added 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Jazz lost at home for just the second time in 10 games. Bojan Bogdanovic had 23 points for Utah.

The Lakers trailed by eight points early in the first quarter, but they refused to let the hole get any deeper. They turned the game around quickly to lead by as many as 10 in the opening quarter before pushing their margin to 65-47 at halftime.

Instead of retreating in the second half, the Lakers led by as many as 25 midway through the fourth quarter before coach Frank Vogel started to unload his bench with 4:44 remaining.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 14 for the Lakers, while Kyle Kuzma scored 13 in his return to Utah, where he played in college. The Lakers had a 46-40 rebounding advantage one night after setting a season high with 56 boards against the Nuggets. — Reuters

Overworked Tiger

Tiger Woods had an up-and-down round yesterday, but he looked none the worse for wear as he met members of the media in the aftermath. Considering all his responsibilities apart from participating at the Hero World Challenge, perhaps he understood that an even-par 72 wasn’t bad at all. It certainly could have been better; he carded a bogey and a double bogey in his last two holes after nicely getting back on track following a poor front nine. But it could have also been worse, what with his mind occupied by other off-course pursuits.

Granted, Woods is Woods, and his intrinsically competitive nature compels him to try to show his best every time he tees off. It’s why he managed to string together a sterling birdie-par-birdie-birdie-eagle stretch from the 11th that would have put him firmly in contention had he just coasted to the finish. It included a sterling drive on the par-five 12th in which his ball went a full 20 yards past much-younger playing partner Justin Thomas; after seeing the distance, he couldn’t help but good-naturedly needle his friend’s effort.

Then again, Woods already has countless miles on his odometer. He’s an old 43, and with hosting duties overlapping concerns as playing captain of the Team USA for the Presidents Cup, he finds his relatively brittle body and taxed mind under the wringer. The other day, he even had to be part of the Hero Shot, an event at nearby Baha Mar resort complex that also tested the short game of five other players. He wound up beating them all in effective measures of accuracy off an elevated platform through palm trees, over a reflecting pool, and to a makeshift green 130 yards away.

Given the proximity and importance of the Presidents Cup, Woods found himself answering more queries about it than on the state of his game yesterday. Not that he minded. At the same time, it’s fair to argue that he will be more prepped inside the ropes. It doesn’t matter that his is an unofficial event in the Bahamas. Forget that he’s swamped with work. When the ball is in front of him and he’s ready to swing, he’ll strive to carve his shot according to his intention. To him, winning may not be everything. When he’s primed to play, however, winning does wind up being the only thing.

 

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.

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