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Collin Morikawa becomes first American to win Race to Dubai

COLLIN Morikawa became the first American to win the Race to Dubai title after a late surge took him to victory in the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday as Rory McIlroy faltered at the Jumeirah Golf Estates course.

Morikawa, who won this year’s British Open, finished with a flawless round of 66 including six birdies to top the leaderboard at 17 under par and win by three shots.

The American also ended the season as the European Tour’s number one.

Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick carded 66 to move up 11 places on the final day and the Englishman finished tied for second with Sweden’s Alexander Björk.

“I feel so good, I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t watching what Matt Fitzpatrick was doing today,” Morikawa said.

“Boy, did he put out a run. He came out firing… But it’s 18 holes, all I needed to do was catch a spark.

“It’s an honor to be the first American to do that (win the Race to Dubai) on the European Tour, to put my name against many greats, hall of famers — it’s special.”

McIlroy held a one-shot lead going into the final day and looked set to become the first three-times winner of the event.

But the Northern Irishman made bogeys at the 15th, 16th and 18th holes to finish tied for sixth — five shots behind Morikawa. — Reuters

Suns bury Nuggets for 12th straight win

DENVER NUGGETS guard Facundo Campazzo (7) defends Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne (15) during the second half at Footprint Center. — REUTERS

THE Phoenix Suns never trailed en route to their 12th consecutive win, a 126-97 blowout of the Denver Nuggets, on Sunday in Phoenix.

Cameron Johnson led all scorers with 22 points coming off the Suns’ bench. Deandre Ayton led the Phoenix starters with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting to go with eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

Devin Booker added 17 points and seven assists, Jae Crowder scored 15 points, and Chris Paul finished with nine points and 10 assists. Cameron Payne and JaVale McGee scored 10 points each.

The Suns pushed the longest winning streak in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the franchise’s best run since winning 17 straight in 2006-2007 to 12 games.

The loss marked four straight for the Nuggets, and the third during the skid by a double-digit-point margin.

Jeff Green led Denver with 19 points. Aaron Gordon posted a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, JaMychal Green added 14 points and eight rebounds. Will Barton, Monte Morris and Austin Rivers each scored 10 points.

The Suns set the tone early, closing out a 48-point first quarter on a 15-3 run.

Phoenix’s burst to close the opening period extended its lead to 20 points. The Suns held a double-digit-point cushion for most of the rest of the game.

Denver, playing without reigning Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić for the second consecutive game due to a sprained wrist, cut the gap to nine points midway through the third quarter.

Phoenix responded with a 17-4 run to close out the period. The Suns extended their advantage to as many as 30 points behind a balanced scoring effort.

The Suns scored as many field goals off assists (33) as total field goals they yielded to Denver. The Nuggets shot just 33 of 90, while Phoenix went 46 of 87. — Reuters

Germany’s Zverev defeats Russia’s Medvedev to capture second ATP Finals championship

TURIN, Italy — Germany’s Alexander Zverev capped a memorable year by sweeping aside Russian world number two and defending champion Daniil Medvedev (6-4, 6-4) to win the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Finals on Sunday, claiming the title for the second time in his career.

The 24-year-old Zverev, who did not face a single break point in the final, has now won six titles in six finals this year — including Olympic gold in Tokyo and two Masters titles in Madrid and Cincinnati.

Zverev, who also beat world number one Novak Djokovic on Saturday, became only the fourth player to beat the top two players in the world in the semis and final of the season-ending tournament.

Victory was also sweet revenge for Zverev, who lost in three sets to Medvedev in the round robin stage and came into the match having lost his last five meetings against the Russian.

“You keep talking about the perfect match… It was great. I mean, in the final against somebody, I had lost five times in a row, so I had to play one of my best matches,” Zverev said in a post-match interview.

“I’m happy about that, happy to go on holidays with this win now… There’s no better way to end this season than winning here, so I’m obviously fairly happy, but I’m also now very much looking forward to next year already.”

Zverev lost the first five points of the match but quickly changed gears to win 12 of the next 13, taking the early break and going 3-1 up in no time.

The German hardly put a foot wrong thereafter and was at his aggressive best from the baseline and the net to put Medvedev on the back foot, serving out the opening set and wrapping it up in 33 minutes.

Medvedev continued to struggle with his serve as Zverev broke him in the opening game of the second set to pile the pressure on the reigning US Open champion.

Although Medvedev briefly found his groove at 3-2 down in the second set, the German immediately slammed the door shut to deny a break point opportunity.

Zverev’s ability to cover the court with long strides also proved too much for Medvedev, who looked to find angles for passing shots but quickly found himself scampering to stay in the rally.

With the writing on the wall, the Turin crowd tried to urge Medvedev to force a decider but Zverev was firmly in control, sealing the title with his eighth ace.

Earlier, French duo Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut won their second ATP Finals doubles title by beating American Rajeev Ram and Briton Joe Salisbury (6-4, 7-6(0)).

`After their victory, Mahut signed the camera with the message “Where is Peng Shuai,” the Chinese former doubles number one, whose safety and whereabouts have been a concern since she accused a former vice-premier of China of sexual assault. — Reuters

WTA says Chinese tennis star’s call with Olympic chief is not enough

SHANGHAI — Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai’s video call with the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not address or alleviate the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) concern about her well-being, the WTA said on Monday.

The whereabouts of former doubles world number one Peng have been a matter of international concern for nearly three weeks after she alleged that a former senior Chinese government official sexually assaulted her.

She appeared at a dinner with friends on Saturday and a children’s tennis tournament in Beijing on Sunday, photos and videos published by Chinese state media journalists and by the tournament’s organizers show. But they have done little to quell concerns.

“It was good to see Peng Shuai in recent videos, but they don’t alleviate or address the WTA’s concern about her well-being and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion,” a WTA spokeswoman said in an e-mail.

Asked about the call with the IOC, the spokeswoman said: “This video does not change our call for a full, fair and transparent investigation, without censorship, into her allegation of sexual assault, which is the issue that gave rise to our initial concern.”

The IOC said in a statement that Peng held a 30-minute call with its president Thomas Bach on Sunday and thanked the Olympic organization for its concern.

“She explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time,” the IOC’s statement said.

“That is why she prefers to spend her time with friends and family right now. Nevertheless, she will continue to be involved in tennis, the sport she loves so much.”

The concern over Peng comes as global rights groups and others have called for a boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February over China’s human rights record. The WTA has also threatened to pull tournaments out of China over the matter.

On Nov. 2, Peng posted on Chinese social media that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship. The post was quickly deleted and the topic has been blocked from discussion on China’s heavily censored internet.

Neither Zhang nor the Chinese government have commented on Peng’s allegations.

France’s foreign minister called on Sunday for Chinese authorities to let Peng speak publicly.

“I’m expecting only one thing: that she speaks,” Jean-Yves Le Drian told LCI television, adding that there could be unspecified diplomatic consequences if China did not clear up the situation. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the IOC’s statement.

The United States and Britain have also called for China to provide proof of Peng’s whereabouts.

Current and former tennis players, including Naomi Osaka joined the calls seeking to confirm she was safe, using the social media hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.

Men’s singles world No.1 Novak Djokovic said it would be strange to hold tournaments in China unless the “horrific” situation was resolved. — Reuters

NFL roundup: Jonathan Taylor scores five times as Colts blast Bills 

JONATHAN Taylor rushed for 185 yards and scored a franchise-record five touchdowns Sunday as the Indianapolis Colts walloped the Buffalo Bills 41-15 in Orchard Park, NY. 

Mr. Taylor tallied four scores on the ground and another on a pass as Indianapolis (6-5) made a mockery of the point spread that had Buffalo listed as a seven-point favorite. Mr. Taylor is the 16th player in National Football League (NFL) history to score at least five touchdowns in a game. 

It was the second loss in three games for the Bills (6-4), who fell a half-game behind surging New England in the AFC East. Buffalo’s performance was rife with mistakes, such as seven penalties and four turnovers. 

Indianapolis quarterback Carson Wentz was 11 of 20 for 106 yards and a touchdown, but he merely needed to avoid mistakes and hand the ball to Mr. Taylor. 

Chargers 41, Steelers 37: Justin Herbert threw for 382 yards and the game-winning touchdown as host Los Angeles (6-4) recovered from blowing a big fourth-quarter lead against Pittsburgh (5-4-1) in Inglewood, California. 

Mr. Herbert’s 53-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams with 2:09 left erased Pittsburgh’s short-lived lead, which came on Chris Boswell’s 45-yard field goal at the 3:29 mark. Mr. Herbert completed 30 of 41 passes with an interception and added a team-high 90 rushing yards. Austin Ekeler accounted for 115 yards from scrimmage and scored four times. 

Ben Roethlisberger, who was activated from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) list Saturday after missing a 16-16 tie against Detroit last week, connected on 28 of 44 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns. 

Football Team 27, Panthers 21: Taylor Heinicke threw three touchdown passes to upstage former teammate Cam Newton, helping Ron Rivera and Washington top Carolina in Charlotte, NC. 

Mr. Newton was playing his first home game with the Panthers (5-6) since 2019. He was signed before last weekend’s upset victory at Arizona. He threw for 189 yards on 21-for-27 passing with two touchdowns. 

It was a good homecoming for Rivera, who guided the Panthers to the Super Bowl in the 2015 season. He was fired during the 2019 season and hired by Washington in 2020. Terry McLaurin made five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Antonio Gibson gained 95 yards on 19 carries for Washington (4-6). 

Texans 22, Titans 13: Tyrod Taylor rushed for two touchdowns and Desmond King II recorded a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions as Houston (2-8) snapped an eight-game losing streak with the upset of host Tennessee (8-3). 

Mr. King returned his second interception of Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill 25 yards to the Tennessee 15-yard line, and Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn followed with a 37-yard field goal with 3:26 to play to make it a two-possession game. 

It was Mr. Fairbairn’s 57th consecutive conversion from 40 yards and in, securing Houston’s second victory of the season. The Titans had their six-game winning streak snapped as they committed five turnovers. 

Dolphins 24, Jets 17: Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdown passes, including a tiebreaking one to Myles Gaskin in the fourth quarter, as Miami outlasted New York in East Rutherford, NJ. 

Mr. Tagovailoa threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Mr. Gaskin to give Miami (4-7) a 21-14 lead with 10:15 left. The drive had been kept alive by a roughing-the-passer call on New York’s John Franklin-Myers on an earlier third down. 

New York’s Joe Flacco went 24 of 39 for 291 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He lost a fumble on a strip sack in the red zone and fell to 0-5 the last two seasons as a starter for the Jets (2-8). 

Ravens 16, Bears 13: Devonta Freeman’s 3-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left lifted visiting Baltimore (7-3) over Chicago (3-7). 

After the Bears took a 13-9 lead with 1:41 remaining, the Ravens, helped by a 21-yard pass-interference penalty and a 30-yard completion from quarterback Tyler Huntley to Sammy Watkins, drove 72 yards in five plays. 

Andy Dalton had found Marquise Goodwin for a 49-yard touchdown pass with 1:41 remaining to give Chicago the lead. 

Browns 13, Lions 10: Cleveland welcomed back Nick Chubb with open arms and closed out visiting Detroit. 

Mr. Chubb returned for Cleveland (6-5) after missing last week’s blowout loss to New England while on the reserve/COVID list. He rushed for 130 yards on 22 carries and caught a short touchdown pass Sunday as Cleveland rushed for 184 yards and never trailed. 

Detroit (0-9-1) hasn’t won since Dec. 6, 2020, and gets its next chance on Thanksgiving against Chicago. 

Vikings 34, Packers 31: Kirk Cousins completed 24 of 35 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns, and Greg Joseph made a 29-yard field goal as time expired to lift Minnesota over visiting Green Bay in Minneapolis. 

Justin Jefferson had eight catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns for Minnesota (5-5). Adam Thielen added eight catches for 82 yards and one touchdown, and Dalvin Cook had 22 carries for 86 yards and a score. 

Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of 33 passes for 385 yards and four touchdowns for Green Bay (8-3). Davante Adams had seven catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling had four catches for 123 yards and one touchdown. 

Bengals 32, Raiders 13: Joe Mixon rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries and Evan McPherson kicked three field goals of more than 50 yards to lift Cincinnati to a victory over host Las Vegas. 

Joe Burrow went 20-for-29 passing for 148 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals (6-4) ended a two-game losing streak. Tyler Boyd had six receptions for 49 yards, with Ja’Marr Chase adding three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown. 

Derek Carr went 19-for-27 passing for 215 yards with a touchdown and an interception, with tight end Darren Waller catching seven passes for 116 yards for the Raiders (5-5), who have lost three straight games. 

Eagles 40, Saints 29: Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns and Darius Slay returned an interception for a touchdown as host Philadelphia held off New Orleans. 

Mr. Hurts passed for 147 yards and ran for 69 as the Eagles (5-6) had 242 yards on the ground against the NFL’s No. 1 run defense. Philadelphia won at home for the first time since a 24-21 victory against the Saints in Week 14 last season and has won consecutive games for the first time this season. 

Trevor Siemian, who had not thrown an interception in two previous starts since Jameis Winston suffered a season-ending knee injury, threw two picks, including Slay’s touchdown. Mr. Siemian completed 22 of 40 throws for 214 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score, although New Orleans (5-5) lost its third straight. 

49ers 30, Jaguars 10: Jimmy Garoppolo threw two short touchdown passes, and San Francisco used ball control and a stingy defense to beat host Jacksonville. 

Mr. Garoppolo connected with Brandon Aiyuk for a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter and tight end George Kittle on a 1-yard score in the third. The TD passes helped the 49ers (5-5) cap an important seven-day stretch with a second consecutive win. 

Much as they had done Monday night in a clock-draining, 31-10 home win over the Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers ran up a 38:22 to 21:38 time-of-possession dominance over the Jaguars (2-8). 

Chiefs 19, Cowboys 9: Chris Jones recorded 3.5 sacks and forced a fumble as host Kansas City smothered Dallas by limiting the NFL’s top-rated offense to 276 yards and no touchdowns. 

The Chiefs (7-4) continued a defensive resurgence, winning their fourth straight by pressuring Dak Prescott and allowing him to gain just 216 yards on 28-of-43 passing, with two interceptions. Prescott’s last attempt was picked by L’Jarius Sneed off a deflection by Jones with 1:00 left. 

While the game was billed as a clash between two of the NFL’s best offenses, Patrick Mahomes also did not throw for a TD. But the Chiefs rolled to a 13-point lead early in the second quarter before relying on their defense to hold off the Cowboys (7-3). 

Cardinals 23, Seahawks 13: Colt McCoy, subbing for the injured Kyler Murray, threw two touchdown passes to tight end Zach Ertz as Arizona defeated host Seattle in an National Football Conference (NFC) West matchup. 

Mr. McCoy, who led the New York Giants to a 17-12 victory at Seattle last season as an injury replacement, completed 35 of 44 passes for 328 yards as the division-leading Cardinals (9-2) improved to 6-0 on the road. James Conner scored on a 1-yard run with 2:20 remaining to help clinch the victory. 

Russell Wilson, in his second game back after finger surgery, was 14 of 26 for 207 yards for the Seahawks (3-7), who dropped to 1-4 at home. — Reuters 

Can quotas help women join boards?

TIRACHARDZ-FREEPIK

I am still wondering why women do not like quotas and insist that women get to positions of power only by merit. We were talking to a diverse group of women on the subject of female representation on corporate boards and these revelations came up. Sometimes, it is the women who prevent other women from getting into top positions and seats at the B suite. What is the reason behind this strong desire to prevent other women from taking a shot at the board room?

Merit is for those who have arrived, who have been affirmed because they already are in the position. What about the quiet, humble women who are as bright and smart but do not speak much? Will they never get to be chosen?

Last night, I was listening to commentaries from political scientists on what it takes to be President — and a professor from UP says: you have to be a Chief in many ways — chief diplomat, commander in chief, chief legislator, chief citizen, and one more — maybe chief executive. And now I think of women who rise to the top of organizations, they, too, must be chief everything. And when they rise further up into board rooms, the more they have to be a balance of mind and wit, soft or core skills and experience.

So, when we talk about women getting into boards because of merit, we actually notice only the articulate, the confident smart talker, and forget those who are just as qualified but do not speak as much. Though a stellar academic and professional record say much, the other stuff that make women get the positions are connections or networks. This is why we have organized the NextGen Organization of Women Corporate Directors or NOWCD. To give voice to the women who can contribute to the boards of publicly listed companies (PLCs) as well as NGOs. It will soon get its affiliation with the Women Corporate Directors International (WCDI), by which NOWCD members may be offered board seats even in international companies.

Why am I for quotas? Because quotas, like any number or target, gets talked about and remains in the consciousness of others who otherwise may not care. Quotas, even if they are filled by wives and daughters, or some token woman, will start a fire that may cause our PLCs to be more mindful of the contributions of the other sex. Most boards are still male-dominated, aka “old boys club,” and this practice is often condoned by shareholders anyway.

There are many reasons. One is the seeming lack of qualified female candidates for independent directors. So, this is one area where NOWCD will work on to ensure there is a pipeline of other qualified candidates fit for the board room. Women corporate executives often drop out in their 40s and never return due to childcare and other choices. Those who stay are a few who never get the chance to rise to the C Suite. In a leaking funnel, women in boards are only 17%, even if women are the greater number in finishing college, almost 52%.

The other reason is prominence or being known in the circles. There is a lack of promotion or self-promotion in the guise of humility. There are women who are shy or timid vs. the few who claim their seats early and network with the “boys” in organizations that matter. So, those who get elected to boards in associations, end up also getting known to the men, and then get chosen to join PLCs or NGO boards.

The third reason may be lack of resources for women to talk about professional directorships and learn from mentors. This is another area that NOWCD will address. While the same 20 women are chosen and are in multiple boards, these women have chosen to organize and endeavor to teach others how to get to the B suite. In fact, we now number 30 members and growing.

So, why quotas? Or no quotas? I have argued for quotas while those who just say merit, need to address the issue than just live with it. We all can learn a thing or two from other women on why we should give the others a leg up, and not just be silent about it.

So, how will women rise up to the Board level? We have to find them, train them, and eventually escort them to their seat at the proverbial table.

This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or MAP.

 

Chit U. Juan is a member of the MAP Diversity and Inclusion Committee, chair of the Philippine Coffee Board, councilor of Slow Food (www.slowfood.com) for Southeast Asia and is an advocate for organic agriculture.

map@map.org.ph

pujuan29@gmail.com

map.org.ph

Advertising a presidential candidate

MACROVECTOR-FREEPIK

In my last column, I likened a presidential campaign to a total marketing process, the electorate to the market, the candidate to a brand, public opinion polls to market surveys, local chapters to distribution channels, hugging voters and shaking their hands to personal selling, and the communication program to the advertising plan.

I wrote in that column that some political candidates think that advertising and marketing are synonymous, that advertising is all there is to marketing a candidate. That is why our air lanes are now saturated with their advertisements months before the start of the official campaign period.

In product advertising, the No. 1 principle of effective advertising is that the advertisement must be consumer oriented, meaning it should say what benefits the consumer would derive from the product. Similarly, advertisements of political candidates should be voter oriented. The advertisement should address the concerns, interests, and values of the voting population.

Principle No. 2 says the benefit promised should be the most important among the several benefits that can be derived from the product. In political advertising, the advertisement should focus on the most serious concern or the primary interest of most voters.

The advertiser of a product determines through market surveys what benefits the target consumers are looking for in a product and which benefit, among many, is the most important to them. The concerns, interests, and values of voters can be determined through public opinion polls or surveys.

Last Wednesday, five presidential candidates presented at the 47th Philippine Business Conference and Expo what they would do in the first 100 days in office if elected president. I deduce that what they would focus on in their first 100 days as president is what they perceive to be the most serious concerns or in the best interests of the voters.

I do not know if their priorities were based on surveys. Some political candidates do not believe in surveys. They cannot comprehend how the opinions of 1,200 people could reflect the sentiments of millions of voters spread all over the archipelago. Anyway, here are the policies and programs of the five presidential candidates in the order of the candidates’ rank in government:

Vice-President Leni Robredo: Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic through wider and more effective healthcare programs and energizing the economy through a stimulus package for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Senator Panfilo Lacson: Laying the foundation of a clean government, restoring confidence in government by requiring public officials to waive their rights under the bank secrecy law, funding fully the Universal Health Care Act, supporting the MSMEs, and expanding agriculture.

Senator Manny Pacquiao: putting corrupt officials in jail, implementing a housing program for informal settlers, reducing loans.

Senator Bong Go: restoring financial stability and the economy to pre-pandemic levels, supporting the tourism industry and agriculture, continuing the Build, Build, Build program, and increasing the Malasakit centers.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno: reinforcing the healthcare system, rehabilitating the economy by providing jobs, business and career opportunities, and reducing petroleum and electricity taxes.

Former senator Bongbong Marcos did not participate in the conference. But in his advertisement, he promises to unify the country, develop agriculture, and find new sources of energy.

In product advertising, the advertisement cites the support for the claim of high quality or superiority of the brand like a special ingredient or a unique process. In political advertising, the character, formal training, or substantial experience of the candidate or all of them are presented as the basis for the ability of the candidate to deliver his promise.

Here are the respective images the presidential aspirants said they project themselves as:

VP Robredo: a leader who marched and worked alongside people and fought for their dreams of a country they deserve; a public servant who did what she could with the limited power and resources available to her to uplift the lives of the people.

Senator Lacson: Experienced in governance, a leader, honest

Senator Pacquiao: one who truly loves the country and the Filipino people and is dedicated to improving their lives that they may not experience the suffering he went through.

Senator Go: Chosen by President Duterte to continue his reform program

Mayor Moreno: Harbinger of true and meaningful change

Former Senator Marcos: Unifying president who will bring about the country’s golden age.

The next Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia reports will indicate which candidate the voters think addresses squarely their concerns and interests and if that candidate is capable of fulfilling his promise. It is not the end of the journey to Malacañang for the presidential hopefuls who rank poorly in the surveys. They can revise their advertising strategy on the basis of what the results of the latest surveys suggest.

In the presidential race, the TV commercial can be likened to a vehicle. A change of vehicle may bring one to the destination ahead of others. A change in TV commercial may enable a presidential candidate to overtake the others and stake a claim on Malacañang.

 

Oscar P. Lagman, Jr. had worked for a public opinion/market research firm, an advertising agency, and taught marketing subjects in three graduate schools.

Economic forum and COVID summit

The year 2021 will end in six weeks and there are many business conferences and economic forums that pin their hopes for 2022. Among those events that I attended and plan to attend are the following:

1.) The Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E), Nov. 17-18. This is the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PCCI) annual big event and this year’s theme was “Innovation PH: Economic Recovery for All.” The Chairman of the 47th PBC&E was Jeffrey Ng who is also the President of our UP School of Economics Alumni Association (UPSEAA).

2.) The Stratbase-ADRi Pilipinas Conference, Nov. 22-26. The theme of this five half-days conference is “Sustaining Economic Recovery Post-Pandemic Towards 2022 and Beyond.” Sessions on business and foreign policies including the continuing territorial theft by our huge bully neighbor across the sea.

3.) The BusinessWorld Virtual Economic Forum (BWVEF), Nov. 24-25. The theme is “Recovery Roadmap PH: 2022 and Beyond.” Opening sessions —about global economic growth prospects, pandemic shifts, and business resilience and sustainability — already set the recovery roadmap. See more details at https://www.bworldonline.com/bwvef2021/.

4.) The CDC Ph COVID Summit on Nov. 25, Vivere Hotel, Alabang. The Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines’ (CDC Ph) big event featuring speakers who are all doctors from the Philippines and the US who are known for successful early treatment, outpatient and home-based treatment of COVID, up to critical care inpatient cases.

ECONOMIC PROSPECTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
The country’s economic outlook is not good. With deep GDP (gross domestic product) contraction of -9.6% in 2020, we should grow at least 10.5% this year to be at 2019’s GDP size or level. This is not possible as GDP growth in the first three quarters of the year was only 5.1% so we will reach the 2019 level around the second or third quarter of 2022.

Consumer prices are unkind for the Philippines this year. The inflation rate from January-October is high at 4.5%, while our ASEAN neighbors Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore had inflation rates of only 1% to 1.8%, while Malaysia’s was at 2.3%.

And when it comes to public debt, the Philippines seems to have the biggest jump in government debt/GDP ratio in Asia — from only 37% in 2019, this is projected to rise to 59% end-2021 (see table).

The Duterte administration is doing something very wasteful that succeeds only in significantly raising consumer prices and public debt but not domestic production of goods and services.

ECONOMIC PROSPECTS GLOBAL
The global outlook is not good either. High inflation has creeped into the world’s major economies like the US, the UK, Germany, France, and South Korea. Plus, they have high or rising debt/GDP levels, which will require higher taxes to pay those debts and business taxes are often passed on to the consumers.

Then there are global supply constraints due to resignations or firing of workers due to mandatory vaccinations in many countries. And steep energy price hikes as northern hemisphere countries are facing early cold blasts and a severe winter and they have downscaled or retired many of their reliable coal and nuke power plants.

COVID SUMMIT SPEAKERS
The CDC Ph event speakers are all doctors known nationally and internationally: Rafael Castillo (Philippine cardiologist, member of the Professional Regulation Commission’s Board of Medicine), Allan Landrito (Philippine community health specialist), Marivic Villa (Fil-Am pulmonologist based in Florida), Sabine-Hazan Steinberg (Morocco-US gastroenterologist, clinical trials specialist), Peter McCullough (US cardiologist), Pierre Kory (US critical care specialist), Ryan Cole (US pathologist), and Homer Lim (President of CDC Ph and an integrative oncologist).

It is a hybrid conference with in person speakers and audience, plus online speakers from the US and an online audience. Tickets are P2,000 for in-person and P500 online local attendees, $20 for online foreign attendees. Vaccination cards or a negative antigen test (available at the entrance) will be required to attend the in-person conference, following the IATF guidelines. More details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/423107965866240.

There will also be a fund-raising dinner on Nov. 24 also at Vivere Hotel. Hotel Manager and President of PCCI-Muntinlupa, Elvie Sanchez-Quiazon, has been very generous in supporting the two events.

SLIPPERY SLOPE IN VACCINATION PROGRAM
First, only healthcare workers, the elderly and those with comorbidities must get the COVID-19 vaccine, then this became all 18+ years old must get vaccinated.

Second, only two doses can “protect,” now a third dose will be needed after three or six months.

Soon this booster shot might become mandatory, every six months or yearly.

Third, there is no explicit mandatory vaccination yet but there is mandatory presentation of a negative PCR regularly at the individual’s cost, which will force and coerce the un-vaxxed to get the vaccination.

Fourth, children and those below 18 were initially spared, now they need to be vaxxed. There is also mandatory vaccination for faculty and students in many state universities and colleges before in-person classes resume.

COVID SURGE IN EUROPE
In particular, these countries have steep increases and they have vaccination rates of 61% to 77% of their population as of Nov. 20, meaning up to nearly 100% of adult population:

  • Germany, 59-64,000 on Nov. 17-20, previous peaks were 30-32,000 in mid-April.
  • The Netherlands, 20-23,000 on Nov. 17-20, previous peaks were 12-13,000 in mid-December 2020.
  • Belgium, 18-21,000 on Nov. 18-20, previous peaks were 21-24,000 in Oct. 29-30, 2020.
  • Austria, 14-19,000 in Nov. 17-20, previous peak was 9,000 in mid-November 2020.
  • The Czech Republic, 14-23,000 in Nov. 17-20, previous peak was 17,000 in early January.
  • Hungary, 5-21,000 in Nov. 15-20, previous peak was 11,000 in late March.
  • Greece, 6-8,000 in Nov. 9-20, previous peak 4,600 in early April.
  • The UK has sustained high daily cases of 34-51,000 from October to November.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Minimal Government Thinkers.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Four tech trends to propel the Philippines into its next wave of growth

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Over the next 10 years we will experience unprecedented technological progress. A potent mix of massively enhanced computing power, automation, and smart technologies is set to reinvent a wide range of industries as part of the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0. While this has the potential to cause significant disruption by reshaping whole companies and markets, it also promises significant GDP growth.

In the Philippines, the government’s National ICT Ecosystem Framework lays out the country’s roadmap to developing its digital economy, which is anchored on five interdependent pillars: talent and skills, accessibility, platforms, infrastructure, and standards and regulations. Realizing this roadmap would be a significant boost to the economy — a recent study commissioned by Google finds that digital transformation can unlock $101.3 billion in the Philippines by 2030.

Our perspective is that four rapidly emerging technology growth engines are likely to be especially significant along the path to achieving these goals: the future of connectivity (5G and the Internet of Things or IoT), applied artificial intelligence (AI), distributed infrastructure (cloud computing), and automation.

FUTURE OF CONNECTIVITY
The pandemic has accelerated digital uptake across the globe, with the Philippines showcasing a similar trend: the number of Filipino internet users tripled to 73 million in 2020 from 23 million in 2010, according to the World Bank’s Philippines Digital Economy Report 2020. However, while COVID-19 has hastened digital adoption, the country still lags behind its regional peers: internet services are comparatively more expensive with slower broadband speeds and unequal access due to a lack of competition and limited infrastructure. Importantly, the accessibility, affordability, and quality of broadband is likely to determine the speed of uptake and development of the other technologies given that it serves as the key driver of the other technological trends.

In light of these limitations, the government is looking to boost connectivity with a National Broadband Plan that seeks to foster faster deployment of digital infrastructure, especially in remote areas, and a free wi-fi program to provide free internet access in public areas.

Today, the industry is looking to incorporate sensors and other devices across networks as part of the Internet of Things (IoT). It is accelerating the 5G rollout, enabling networks to bring new applications to customers. Globe Telecom has set up 5G coverage across 1,906 sites nationally, allocating P76 billion ($1.5 billion) in capital expenditure for fiber and 5G network expansion. Infrastructure advances have enabled Union Bank to become Globe’s first 5G-powered bank, while Apper.ph’s partnership with Globe is set to test console-less gaming using cloud technology and 5G. Similarly, PLDT’s Smart brand rolled out its Smart 5G nationwide in July 2020, launching the first 5G-powered e-sports hub, as well as a 5G-powered sports broadcast for the Philippines Basketball Association.

APPLIED AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is regarded by many governments as a nation-defining capability. Our research suggests that, by 2024, more than 50% of user interactions will be augmented by AI-driven speech, written word, or computer-vision algorithms. Rapid adoption of AI and its applications has gone hand-in-hand with the accelerated digital uptake spurred by the pandemic as organizations have sought to identify levers to spark their next wave of growth.

The value of AI has not gone unseen. In the Philippines, the Department of Trade has created a roadmap to realize the potential of AI and establish the country as an AI hub in the region. As part of this, the government has established the private sector-led National Center for AI research (NCAIR) to spearhead the country’s research and development efforts on AI and in nurturing and developing AI talent in the country.

On the industry side, we are already seeing moves from sectors that will be significantly affected by the adoption of AI such as high tech and telecom, financial services, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and education.

Examples include Medgate Philippines’ incorporation of AI into its telemedicine platform to create AIDA, a chat-bot system that helps patients to self-triage and assess risk factors to determine whether they should seek a teleconsultation, visit a clinic, or go to an emergency room. In banking, Union Bank plans to use AI to tailor product and service recommendations to customers by analyzing their profile and previous transactions.

Disruptions resulting from the effective implementation of AI will see labor displacements from repetitive tasks, faster development cycles for new applications, and more detailed customer insights for companies; at the same time, there will be an increasing need for highly specialized services and talent.

To help firms adjust, develop new technologies, and use computational tools (especially AI), the NCAIR has been created to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

DISTRIBUTED INFRASTRUCTURE (CLOUD AND EDGE COMPUTING)
A distributed IT infrastructure helps companies stretch their computing power to the edge of their networks, expanding reach to data-hungry devices across a large number of  dispersed locations with less latency, while supporting faster decision making with on-demand advanced analytics.

Although far from mature here in the Philippines compared to other countries, the switch to cloud and edge computing looks set to accelerate, given recent government initiatives, a young talent pool, and infrastructure developments. Enterprise-cloud spending is anticipated to reach $2.6 billion by 2024, up from $1.8 in 2020, according to a study from GlobalData.

More recently, major industry players such as Alibaba Cloud have expanded their footprint in the Philippines: for instance, with the establishment in 2020 of the Philippines Ecosystem Alliance to promote cloud adoption and analytics amongst local businesses. Alibaba Cloud is also set to open a data center here by the end of 2021, with plans to develop Filipino talent by training 50,000 local IT professionals and bring 5,000 businesses online by 2023.

PROCESS AUTOMATION AND VIRTUALIZATION
Process automation and virtualization, which combines the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), robotics, digital twins, and additive manufacturing, is set to revolutionize employment. The Asian Development Bank anticipates that a quarter of jobs in outsourcing and electronics will be shed due to automation; however, this will be offset by new roles within those industries.

Responding to the anticipated disruption from automation, the Philippines Skills Framework Initiative prioritizes skills development in the most vulnerable sectors: construction, creatives, food, health and wellness, IT-BPM, logistics and supply chain, manufacturing, and tourism.

We can expect these four tech trends to bring far-reaching changes for Philippine companies, industries, and markets — and across the wider society. These fast-moving technology trends can bring growth and competitive advantage for organizations prepared to embrace these changes. Consumers also stand to benefit, with novel and more affordable services and applications — in healthcare, entertainment, and financial services for instance — and in the creation of new areas of employment. At the same time, it will remain vital for all stakeholders to assess and mitigate business, operational, compliance, legal, and societal risks in the context of these profound technology shifts.

 

Jon Canto is interim managing partner for the Philippines at McKinsey & Company.

Xi to ASEAN: China won’t bully small countries

REUTERS

Chinese President Xi Jinping told a gathering of ASEAN leaders that his nation will avoid dominating the region, a pledge that comes as Beijing is involved in disputes with bloc members over its broad claims in the South China Sea.

“China firmly opposes hegemony and power politics,” Mr. Xi told a virtual gathering to mark three decades of ties between Asean and his country, official Xinhua News Agency reported.

He added that Beijing wants to get along with its neighbors and work to maintain lasting peace in the region. China will “never seek hegemony, let alone bullying the small nations as a big country,” Mr. Xi said, in comments that echo a veiled swipe he took at the US last year.

Yet China’s expansive territorial claims in the resource-rich South China Sea have put it at odds with neighbors including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. Last week, the Philippines accused China of firing water cannons to prevent its boats from resupplying a South China Sea outpost.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr.  said on Twitter Thursday that he had conveyed “our outrage, condemnation and protest” to Chinese counterpart Wang Yi over the incident. Mr. Locsin said three Chinese coast guard vessels had blocked two Philippine boats trying to transport food to soldiers stationed on Second Thomas Shoal, also known as the Ayungin Shoal.

Last month, the Philippines and Malaysia complained about incursions by Chinese vessels in areas of the South China Sea they claim as their own. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah warned last month that his country could see more Chinese ships in its maritime territory while state-owned Petronas developed the Kasawari gas field in its exclusive economic zone off Sarawak.

ASEAN CONCERNS
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told ASEAN leaders and Mr. Xi via video Monday that issues “relating to the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully and constructively in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.” He was referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea agreement that serves as a legal framework for maritime activities.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told the gathering that problems in the body of water can’t be resolved by force.

“We abhor the recent events in the Ayungin Shoal and view with grave concern other similar developments,” he told the meeting. “This does not speak well of the relations between our nations and our partnership.”

In 2016, an international tribunal ruled that China’s efforts to assert control over the South China Sea exceeded the law. The case was brought by the Philippines, which argued that China’s claims of historic rights don’t comply with the UNCLOS.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said at the time that the ruling was binding, but it lacks a mechanism for enforcement. China and ASEAN have been working on a code of conduct covering the disputed body of water for nearly 20 years.

For decades, the US has sent warships and aircraft near disputed areas of the South China Sea — which has some $3 trillion worth of trade transiting through it annually — in an effort to assert the freedom to navigate through what it considers international airspace and waters.

China wanted Myanmar’s coup leader, Min Aung Hlaing, to attend the ASEAN gathering but decided against the move when members of the bloc objected, The Irrawaddy news website reported, without saying where it got the information.

Last month, ASEAN blocked the military leader from attending an annual summit on the grounds the regime has not done enough to end violence after seizing the government in a coup in February.

However, the nine ASEAN countries agreed on Monday to China’s suggestion that Myanmar’s ambassador to Beijing, U Myo Thant Pe, serve as a representative to the bloc, Mr. Saifuddin said. He added China has donated 28 million covid vaccine doses to the 10 countries in Southeast Asia, and another 1 million doses would be shipped to Malaysia on top of the 500,000 already received. — Bloomberg

Democracy slipping away at record rate, institute warns

BRUSSELS — A greater number of countries are sliding towards authoritarianism, while the number of established democracies under threat has never been so high, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) said on Monday.

Populist politics, the use of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to silence critics, a tendency of countries to mimic the anti-democratic behavior of others, and disinformation used to divide societies are mainly to blame, the Stockholm-based intergovernmental organization said in a report.

“More countries than ever are suffering from ‘democratic erosion’,” IDEA said in its 2021 study on the state of democracy, relying on data compiled since 1975.

“The number of countries undergoing ‘democratic backsliding’ has never been as high,” it said, referring to the regressive turn in areas including checks on government and judicial independence, as well as media freedom and human rights.

Afghanistan, which was taken over by Taliban militants in August after international troops withdrew, is the most dramatic case this year, while Myanmar’s Feb. 1 coup marked the collapse of a fragile democracy. Other examples include Mali, which has suffered two coups since 2020, and Tunisia, where the president has dissolved parliament and assumed emergency powers.

Large democracies such as Brazil and the United States have seen presidents question the validity of election results, while India has witnessed the prosecution of groups of people critical of government policies.

Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Serbia are the European countries with the greatest declines in democracy. Turkey has seen one of the largest declines between 2010 and 2020.

“In fact, 70 per cent of the global population now live either in non-democratic regimes or in democratically backsliding countries,” the report said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in authoritarian behavior by governments. The study said that there was no evidence that authoritarian regimes were better at fighting the pandemic, despite Chinese state media reports to the contrary.

“The pandemic provides additional tools and justification for repressive tactics and silencing of dissent in countries as diverse as Belarus, Cuba, Myanmar, Nicaragua and Venezuela,” the report said. — Reuters

Australia to reopen to foreign visa holders in bid to revive economy

BW FILE PHOTO

CANBERRA/SYDNEY — Australia will allow foreign visa holders to enter the country from the start of December, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, the latest step to restart international travel and support its economy.

Australia shut its international border in May 2020 and allowed only restricted numbers of citizens and permanent residents to enter in a bid to curtail the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).

The rules were relaxed in recent weeks to allow foreign family members of citizens to enter, and Mr. Morrison said this will be scaled up from Dec. 1 to allow vaccinated students, business visa holders and refugees to arrive.

“The return of skilled workers and students to Australia is a major milestone in our pathway back,” Mr. Morrison told reporters in Canberra. Australia will also allow in vaccinated tourists from South Korea and Japan from Dec 1, he said.

The return of foreign students, who are worth about A$35 billion ($25 billion) a year to the Australian economy, will be a major boost for the education sector.

More than 235,000 foreigners, including about 160,000 students, held visas for Australia at the end of October, government data showed.

Many Australian universities have come to rely on foreign students, who make up about 21% of total enrolments, and the border closure led higher education facilities to lay off hundreds of staff.

Many students locked out of Australia have said they would switch to alternative universities if they were unable to begin face-to-face learning in 2022.

The relaxation of the border rules is also expected to ease labor shortages, which threaten to stymie an economic rebound.

“This will be critical relief for businesses who are struggling to find workers just to keep their doors open and for those who need highly specialized skills to unlock big projects,” said Jennifer Westacott, chief executive of the industry body, the Business Council.

Border rules, swift lockdowns and tough social distancing rules helped Australia to keep its coronavirus numbers far lower than many other comparable countries, with around 200,000 cases and 1,948 deaths.

Most new infections are being reported in Victoria state, which logged 1,029 cases on Monday. New South Wales, home to Sydney, reported 180 cases. Other states and territories are COVID-free or have very few cases. —  Reuters

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