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Speaker bats for creation of anti-rice cartel task force

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THE GOVERNMENT needs to create a task force to police rice trading, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said on Sunday, citing persistently high prices of the staple.

In a statement, Mr. Romualdez said his proposed task force should be composed of the Agriculture, Justice, and Trade and Industry departments, as well as the bureaus of Internal Revenue and Customs, and the National Bureau of Investigation.

The task force should be given the power to conduct rice inventory checks and inspect for regulatory compliance. It should also be allowed to “immediately padlock” rice businesses found with violations, he added.

“The Filipino people are paying unnecessarily high prices for rice, which should now be at P35 to P40 per kilo due to oversupply and tariff reductions,” he said. “This blatant manipulation is unacceptable.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. issued in June Executive Order No. 62, which reduced rice import tariffs to 15% from 35% to help contain inflation.

The House is conducting an inquiry into a suspected a rice cartel, which is thought to be keeping prices artificially high despite reduced import tariffs.

The retail price of rice remains high despite an “abundant” supply of the grain, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo said in the same statement. “It is clear that there is collusion between importers and traders.”

In November, the Philippine Statistics Authority  said the average price of regular-milled rice was P49.24 per kilo, with well-milled rice selling for P54.64. Special rice averaged P63.

Mr. Romualdez also directed the House quinta committee, which is conducting a joint inquiry into the alleged existence of a rice cartel, to speed up the drafting of amendments to the 2016 Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.

“This is not just an economic issue — it’s a matter of food security and national stability,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Pasig River ferry study seen completed by Q1

A boat is seen on Pasig River, July 31, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Public-Private Partnership (PPP) expects to complete the feasibility study for the P20-billion Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) Ferry System Project by the first quarter.

“MAPALLA’s study is ongoing and due for completion by the first quarter of 2025,” PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Jeffrey I. Manalo told reporters on the sidelines of a briefing last week.

The Transportation department is working with the PPP Center to conduct the feasibility study, which will estimate ridership, number of ferry stations and final project cost.

Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John R. Batan has said that the project is expected to cost between P15 billion and P20 billion.

The Department of Transportation said it is also considering using an all-electric ferry fleet for the project.

MAPALLA is being positioned as a high-capacity, high-frequency and low-carbon ferry system.

The PPP Center said the project as envisioned will involve private-sector construction and development of the infrastructure and facilities, including landings and passenger terminals.

The first phase of the project will serve the Pasig and Marikina rivers while the second phase is a possible extension of ferry services into Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Clark Int’l Airport Corp. exceeds 2024 revenue goal

THE Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) said that it had exceeded its full-year revenue target by the end of the third quarter.

“For revenue, our target was achieved as of the end of the (third quarter), at 109%,” CIAC said in a statement.

It added that 2024 target revenue increased was 24% higher than the previous year’s. CIAC did not provide detailed numbers.

The airport operator had set a revenue target of P750 million for 2024. CIAC said that revenue growth would likely be driven by its plans to attract more locators within its aviation complex.

In 2023, the government-owned and -controlled corporation booked a 3% increase in revenue amounting to P680 million.

“It is because of the continuous efforts of the new business venture unit in attracting more locators,” CIAC President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph P. Alcazar told reporters last week.”

Mr. Alcazar added that potential locators are still inquiring about operating in CIAC operated properties.

In the year to date, CIAC has 48 locators, with plans to draw in 16 more this year and another five next year.

“It is a mix between small and big locators. There’s manufacturing and there are small ones like bagel production and Korean products,” he said.

“There are also those focused on aviation,” he added.

CIAC has seven flagship projects in the pipeline including the $152-million National Food Hub, the $376-million Clark Entertainment and Events Center, the $31-million Urban Renewal and Heritage Conservation Program, and the $21-million CRK Direct Access Link. — Adrian H. Halili

Calamity fund releases hit P22.48 billion at end of Nov.

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DISASTER-FUND releases totaled P22.48 billion at the end of November to support infrastructure repair and relief operations, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

In a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) status update, the DBM said P12.09 billion was disbursed to the Department of Public Works and Highways, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) received P8.14 billion.

The DBM added that P875 million was released to the DSWD to replenish its Quick Response Fund (QRF) in November, a stand-by fund to ensure quick action during calamities.

The Department of National Defense also received P150 million to top up the Office of Civil Defense’s QRF in November.

Remaining unreleased was P256.74 million out of this year’s P22.74-billion NDRRMF budget. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

IBM sees low-key adoption of AI in PHL

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THE IBM Philippines, Inc. said on Thursday that many companies in the Philippines are quietly adopting  and investing in artificial intelligence (AI).

“They are very quiet adopters. What I mean is not necessarily all of them are coming out with it because they are careful, they have not measured the impacts,” Aileen Judan-Jiao, country general manager and technology leader at IBM Philippines, said at a briefing.

“They are making sure that they have really tested it before they say they are using AI,” she added.

According to a recent Ecosystm report sponsored by IBM, the initial excitement and enthusiasm in AI adoption this year has given way to companies focusing on creating “tangible value through robust infrastructure, efficient operations, and skilled talent.”

According to the study, 23% of AI investments by businesses in the Philippines next year will focus on customer experience, 18% on back-office business process automation, and 17% on employee experience and productivity.

“I’m quite optimistic because the businesses are beginning to really see where they can play, the possibilities for their own companies, but they have to try it for themselves, they are trying it already,” she told BusinessWorld in an interview.

In the Asia-Pacific, the report found that companies are going beyond experimentation and focusing more on raising return on investment (RoI) and developing long-term AI strategies.

The report found that nearly 60% of organizations anticipate raising their investment in AI within two to five years. Meanwhile, only 11% expect returns within the next two years.

It added that 36% of companies in the region are targeting innovations in services, products, and business models, 21% are seeking increased revenue, 11% are hoping for cost savings, 7% are targeting increased employee productivity, and 3% are pursuing improved customer experience.

The report found that the Philippines still experiences challenges with AI, with 43% reporting limited use cases, 40% difficulty in integration and scaling, and 37% lacking an AI strategy.

“The opportunities are almost limitless, but it requires us to rethink our strategies,” Ms. Judan-Jiao said. — Almira Louise S. Martinez

Shopper spending trends this season

IN BRIEF:

• According to EY research, 69% of global consumers will participate in this year’s value hunt, with one-third indicating they will spend more than last year.

• Smart, savvy, and shrewd consumers are willing to switch between channels for what they want, intensifying shopping channel fragmentation.

Despite low consumer confidence, shoppers eagerly anticipate this year’s holiday sales. According to the EY Future Consumer Index, which surveys 13,000 respondents, 69% of global consumers intend to participate in this year’s value hunt. The data also reveal subtle yet significant shifts in consumer shopping plans, expectations, and values — trends that are expected to influence consumer behavior well beyond the holiday sales.

Shoppers are considered “smart” for utilizing a full range of channels and technologies to obtain what they want; “savvy” for their ability to evaluate marketing and promotional offers; and “shrewd” for being more discerning about what value means to them.

ANTICIPATING DEALS AND STRETCHING BUDGETS
The value hunt began earlier this year, with companies initiating seasonal sales in September or October partly in response to the US Thanksgiving holiday falling at the end of November, shortening the traditional five-week spending period by a week. Despite this, 52% of global consumers will delay spending for the holidays, anticipating better deals. Most global consumers plan to only purchase products on sale this year, with 67% actively tracking market offers — rising to 73% among consumers with children.

In the Philippines, two online shopping platforms have seen year-on-year growth surges, with customers anticipating monthly deals such as 11.11 and 12.12 sales. One shopping platform saw a nine-fold increase in customer engagement throughout its 11.11 sale as customers earned discounts by participating in daily check-ins and challenges. One food and beverage corporation observed strong consumer Christmas spending based on the sales of their gift packages, pointing to an increase in sales from the previous year.

Shoppers are also more deliberate about when and how they spend, often due to cost concerns. Nearly half will be using loans, credit cards, and buy-now-pay-later solutions to defer shopping costs. However, not all consumers are borrowing; about half report having saved for the festive season. Regardless of the source of their funds, more consumers are determined to spend wisely this year, preferring to purchase items with lasting value and invest more in technology.

For many consumers, festive shopping behavior is not driven by bargain hunting, with 48% of global consumers stating they will purchase the ideal gift regardless of whether it is on sale. Additionally, 64% of consumers often question the real value of promotions they encounter in festive sales, while 58% believe that their preferred items will not be on sale anyway.

To optimize value, consumer products companies and retailers should concentrate on digital promotions and messaging. They should continuously refine digital promotions to match the consumer quest for value, and create distinctive sales promotions to quickly broaden audience reach and enhance perceived value. In addition, ensure that messaging remains current, integrated, and easily accessible throughout the holidays.

BALANCE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMERCE
A physical store remains the primary shopping destination for 68% of consumers, but they are willing to switch between channels for what they want, intensifying ongoing fragmentation of shopping channels. The value of physical stores extends beyond the holiday atmosphere they provide, with many consumers preferring to physically experience a product before purchasing.

Nevertheless, platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are set to become significant sales channels this season, particularly among Chinese consumers. In China, 50% of consumers plan to purchase through social media, compared to 24% in the US and 17% globally. According to a TikTok-commissioned study conducted by research company Kantar Profiles, which looked into shopping behaviors in Southeast Asia during the festive season, 81% of Philippine TikTok users rely on TikTok to find new brands and products for the holidays while 77% of users use the platform for their Christmas shopping. Notably, 84% of Philippine TikTok users participated in its mega sales events last year, and they are 2.3 times more likely to increase spending in 2024.

Global consumers will increasingly adopt social sales channels as new capabilities enable brands to replicate the in-store experience. Leading brands are already using livestreams to create competitor-free spaces where consumers can ask about a product in real-time and click to purchase.

While the range of channels might seem overwhelming, data indicate that consumers are adept at selecting the right one for their needs. Consumers are now prioritizing price over product, a shift from the norm as the value from promotions becomes a key differentiator in deciding where to shop. Although this approach works for shoppers, it exacerbates the ongoing challenge of channel fragmentation.

To navigate the increasingly complex brand experience, companies must adopt a holistic approach to actively analyze, prioritize, and support the channels delivering the most value. Experiment with shoppable social content to accelerate the purchase journey and take advantage of impulse buying, then incorporate these insights into planning for next year.

GEN Z AND SUSTAINABLE CHOICES
Younger consumers are expected to be the most active shoppers this festive season. Gen Z, in particular, plans to increase spending across nearly every category, including clothing, technology, and experiences. These consumers can be particularly demanding, as they are impatient, seek convenience, and value sustainability, indicating trends that more consumers will likely adopt in the coming years.

Gen Z is prioritizing organic or sustainably sourced products, actively seeking brands that align with their values. A third plan to purchase second-hand goods as gifts, either to stretch their budgets or invest in higher-quality items they couldn’t afford if new.

The rise of second-hand shopping and gifting could significantly impact categories such as fashion, while popular resale platforms offer Gen Z opportunities to find unique, affordable, and environmentally friendly gifts. Some brands already capitalize on this trend by establishing or investing in resale platforms for their own goods. These platforms boost sales while helping brands, especially luxury ones, maintain a high-quality experience and limit counterfeit sales.

As digital natives, younger consumers prefer using online channels with access to peer reviews and influencer content about potential purchases. Seeing someone relatable unboxing and using items eliminates the need to see them instore.

Companies can focus on meeting Gen Z’s expectations for convenience, as they value having more control over deliveries and are likely to choose faster options, free shipping, and flexible delivery windows. For instance, 40% of Gen Z consumers value same-day delivery, compared to just 25% of Baby Boomers.

While these expectations are challenging to meet profitably, data show that 47% of younger consumers are willing to buy extra items to qualify for free shipping, compared to 35% of consumers over the age of 60. Companies that optimize their delivery logistics to meet this demand can drive additional purchases and increase their margins simultaneously.

Moreover, themes of self-care and self-reward resonate more deeply with younger consumers. Gen Zers are more interested in beauty and personal care products than clothing, possibly because they are more discerning towards what needs to be new and what can be bought used.

To connect with them during the holiday season, rethink product mixes and business models to incorporate preloved items, private labels, and emerging brands aligned with Gen Z values. Companies can create cost and distribution strategies that address their desire for control and convenience, and collaborate with influencers to enhance brand transparency and showcase value.

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR SHIFTS BEYOND THE HOLIDAYS
Despite global economic uncertainty, most consumers are enthusiastic about this year’s festive sales while also becoming more strategic, concentrating on value, utilizing various shopping channels, and being selective with promotions.

These trends signify a consumer behavior shift that will persist beyond the holidays. As consumers become more discerning, tech-savvy, and intentional towards deals, retail and consumer product companies must note how this influences their future strategies.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña is a business consulting partner and the consumer products and retail sector leader of SGV & Co.

NU defeats UST 78-73 to reclaim UAAP title

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY LADY BULLDOGS — UAAP

IT did not take long for National University (NU) to reclaim its lost glory in the UAAP basketball queendom.

The Lady Bulldogs ascended back to their rightful throne that they surrendered after seven straight seasons of reign by quickly unseating the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses, 78-73, in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball finals yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It wasn’t an unblemished march like the school had at the pinnacle of its dynasty with a lone scar in Game 2, 78-68, after a 15-0 slate until the finals but NU still fulfilled the bigger goal and a dream title after only a year of futility.

NU’s empire at one point featured 108 straight victories for nine years and now, it hoisted its eighth title in nine seasons to re-establish its stronghold as the country’s best women’s team.

Rookie Cielo Pagdulagan stood the tallest in NU’s sweet redemption, hauling a near double-double of 21 points and nine rebounds on top of three assists and three steals in only 26 minutes of play to clinch the Finals Most Valuable Player plum.

Graduating ace Camille Clarin added 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, including three big free throws in the waning seconds to preserve the Lady Bulldogs’ five-point lead heading home.

Angel Surada chipped in the same output, Karl Ann Pingol contributed 10 points and nine rebounds as Aris Dimaunahan captured his second UAAP title since taking over from dynasty architect Pat Aquino, who steered NU to six straight crowns.

“I’m very satisfied with how we conducted our year. These players were on it since Day one of our training camp. Today is the fruit of our labor the entire year,” said coach Aris Dimaunahan, who dedicated the championship to his late first-born child back in 1998 on its death anniversary.

“We kept our steps very cautiously. Our focus day-to-day was to get better and better. We had our 1st loss of the season in Game 2. This is for the NU community. And today was that day.”

The Lady Bulldogs, who capped an overall 15-1 slate this year, absorbed a backbreaking 71-69 defeat off a Nikki Villasin game-winner for Santo Tomas last year to lose the throne in the thrilling Game 3.

It’s same scenario but a different result for NU this time around, bouncing back from a tough Game 2 loss for its first and only defeat this season.

That single scratch only made the Lady Bulldogs a fiercer creature when it mattered most, taking command of the winner-take-all duel in second half to lead by as many as 15 points.

NU was still in cruise control at 72-57 with six minutes to go after Ms. Clarin’s jumper before needing to hold fort amidst a fiery comeback attempt by the Tigresses, who moved to within 70-75 off a trey by Tacky Tacatac to cap a 13-2 uprising.

Ms. Clarin then brought the Lady Bulldogs home with a steal on the other end to ice the game at 77-70 as Ms. Sierba’s trey in the last 13.5 seconds hardly mattered.

Ms. Clarin split her next freebies for the final tally, signaling NU’s title celebration once again like it did for almost a decade.

Rookie Karylle Sierba, who fired 18 points in Game 2 to deny NU a perfect campaign, had 20 points, Ms. Tacatac scored 14, Brigette Santos and Angelika Soriano added eight while Mythical Team member Kent Pastrana settled for only seven points for the Tigresses. — John Bryan Ulanday

The Scores:

NU 78 – Pagdulagan 21, Clarin 14, Surada 14, Pingol 10, Cayabyab 5, Fabruada 4, Konateh 4, Betanio 3, Canuto 3, Villanueva 0, Bartolo 0.

UST 73 – Sierba 20, Tacatac 14, Santos 8, Soriano 8, Pastrana 7, Maglupay 7, Bron 5, Danganan 4, Serrano 0, Ambos 0.

Quarterscores: 17-17, 38-38, 65-50, 78-73.

Abris leads National Juniors chessfest after fifth round

CEDRIC KAHLEL ABRIS (left) gained the upper hand after pulling the rug from under Phil Martin Casiguran in the fifth round of the Philippine National Juniors Chess Championships.

CEDRIC KAHLEL ABRIS gained the upper hand after pulling the rug from under Phil Martin Casiguran in the fifth round of the Philippine National Juniors Chess Championships at the Philippine Chess Academy for Excellence over the weekend.

Thanks to the win, the 17-year-old De La Salle-Greenhills 12th grader bumped Mr. Casiguran, the fourth-round solo leader, from the pedestal while assuming the post himself with 4.5 points.

Mr. Casiguran dropped to No. 2 along with fellow four-pointers FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo and Mar Aviel Carredo in this eight-round meet bankrolled by the NCFP and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Mr. Abris, a former ASEAN rapid gold winner who recently copped four golds in last month’s Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, is on course of claiming the title for Under-20 players, the top purse worth P20,000 and the spot to next year’s World Juniors in Petrovac, Montenegro.

In the juniors’ girls’ class, Lexie Grace Hernandez bested Karol Jozef de Guia to catch up on the latter at the helm with four points each.

In hot pursuit of the co-leaders were a four-player group of 3.5-pointers composed of reigning national women’s champion and Olympiad veteran Ruelle Canino, Kayla Lorraine Aurelio, Jersey Marticio and Daren dela Cruz. — Joey Villar

Bucks beat Hawks, advance to NBA Cup final match

LAS VEGAS — Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Cup final with a 110-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Damian Lillard added 25 points for the Bucks, making 8 of 21 attempts from the field and 5 of his 14 attempts from three. Trae Young led the Hawks with 35 points and 10 assists on 9-of-18 shooting. Young fell three rebounds short of a triple-double with seven, all of which came in the first half.

Milwaukee will face either the Oklahoma Thunder or Houston Rockets in Tuesday’s title game.

The Bucks outscored the Hawks 28-19 in a highly defensive fourth quarter to secure their trip to the final after losing an eight-point lead in the third. Antetokounmpo scored 10 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to push the Bucks over the hump.

Young scored 14 points in the third quarter, helping the Hawks erase Milwaukee’s lead. Onyeka Okongwu buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 78 and the Hawks regained an 80-78 lead on a Jalen Johnson dunk with 32.6 seconds remaining in the quarter. However, Johnson was awarded a technical foul for his response to the basket and Lillard went to the line for a free throw that trimmed Atlanta’s lead to 80-79. Johnson, who was fouled, then made his free throw.

Lillard promptly put the Bucks back ahead 82-81 on their next possession, draining a 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining in the third. Johnson made up for his transgression and put the Hawks ahead 83-82 with a tip-in in the quarter’s closing seconds.

The Hawks led 28-26 after the first quarter, but Milwaukee outscored them by eight points in the second quarter to take a 55-49 lead to halftime. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 14 points in the first half, shooting 5-of-8 from the field while scoring seven points in each of the first two quarters. Young led the Hawks with 12 points in the first half and was already nearing a triple-double at halftime with seven rebounds and seven assists.

Milwaukee shot 39-of-86 (45.3%) from the field for the game, making 14 of its 45 attempts from 3-point range. They outscored the Hawks 22-15 in fast-break points and had a 47-44 outrebounding edge. Atlanta shot 42.7, making 10-of-24 attempts from beyond the arc. — Reuters

After losing in NBA Cup Western final 4, Mavs, Warriors square off

TWO teams disappointed to be in San Francisco rather than Las Vegas this weekend go head-to-head Sunday night when the Dallas Mavericks visit the Golden State Warriors.

The Mavericks and Warriors, both of whom advanced to the West final four of the NBA Cup out of the same group, suffered first-round defeats in the single-elimination portion of the event. Dallas fell to the West’s top seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-104, on the road on Tuesday, then Golden State was eliminated at Houston, 91-90, on Wednesday.

The Cup format called for the two Western losers to square off in a contest added onto the regular-season schedule, giving each an 82nd game to match the other teams in the league.

The result was a rematch of the Cup opener, which grabbed the national spotlight not because of the tournament but rather because it was Klay Thompson’s return to San Francisco after having left for Dallas in a sign-and-trade in the offseason.

Thompson successfully turned back the clock on his big night, thrilling his old fans with 22 points in his homecoming, a game the Warriors won 120-117. — Reuters

Ten-man Liverpool salvages draw; Arsenal held scoreless at home

PREMIER LEAGUE leader Liverpool salvaged a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham despite trailing twice and having Andy Robertson sent off after 17 minutes on Saturday as chasing Arsenal were left to rue being held to 0-0 stalemate at home to Everton.

On what turned out to be a good day for second-placed Chelsea, who face Brentford on Sunday, Liverpool would have been far happier with their draw than title rivals Arsenal.

Diogo Jota scored an 86th minute equalizer at Anfield as Arne Slot’s side avoided a second league defeat of the season.

They have 36 points from 15 games, five more than Chelsea, while Arsenal’s failure to score at home for the first time this season left them still six points off the pace having played one game more than the two sides above them. — Reuters

Young leads the charge

For the first time this month, Trae Young finally hit half his shots. Prior to yesterday’s outing, he managed to can a mere 34 of his 95 field goal attempts in December — remarkably atrocious for a three-time All-Star. At any other time, the numbers could be explained away by the small sample size; after all, even the best of the best find themselves swooning on occasion. Not in his case, though; a third into his 2024-25 campaign, his 30.8% and 38.4% clips from three-point territory and on aggregate stand as the worst of his career. And, considering that he has invariably leaned on the wrong side of efficiency since being drafted fifth overall in 2018, that’s saying a lot.

The irony, of course, is that the Hawks are winning despite Young’s depressed stats. They may have elephant-walked the start of their season in claiming just seven of 18 games, but they somehow turned it around thereafter even as he continued to put up bricks. In part, it’s because his threat level remains respectable; he leverages his willingness to keep hoisting as opportunities to feed teammates the ball for the score. Not for nothing is he likewise norming an all-time-high 12.2 dimes per contest. In short, he’s the engine propelling the cause of the red and yellow.

Significantly, the Hawks’ defeat at the hands of the streaking Bucks counts as an irony as well. Young may have put up a monster line (35, seven, and 10) while playing decent defense, but they found themselves eight short all the same at the buzzer. And so they bowed out in the Round of Four of the National Basketball Association Cup even as he got to make nine of a judicious 18 shots. They came close to booking a spot in the final, though; they actually led the contest early in the fourth quarter, but could not quite stick the landing.

Notwithstanding the defeat, the Hawks are in a good place. They’re seventh in East standings, and can boast of having upended the league-leading Cavaliers twice along with important triumphs over the Celtics, Bucks, and Knicks. In other words, they have proven their capacity to stand toe to toe with the established elite. It’s not an inconsequential feat, and they have used their victories to further build confidence. Clearly, they were right to abandon the Dejounte Murray experiment in the offseason. But are they also justified in keeping Young, decidedly undersized at 6’1” and 165 pounds? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, he has them exceeding themselves — exactly why he’s around and leading the charge.

 

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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