James Deakin, Angie King, Tim Yap and More Talk About Hot Topics of Today and the Future

JAMES DEAKIN

MOTORING EDITOR, TATLER PHILIPPINES
MOTORING TV HOST, CNN PHILIPPINES

“Our best weapon to fight traffic in Metro Manila streets is technology. But we tend to push it away. We are saying technology is not welcome here, that it is criminal to think out of the box. We’ve created a hostile environment for creative ideas to live and breathe.

“If none of us saw Uber coming, or Netflix, Spotify, Viber, online banking etc, who is to say that the next great app to disrupt or revolutionise buses, jeepneys, or tricycles is not at the tip of some developer’s fingers? But because we created such an inhospitable environment for disruptions, developers will either hesitate to work or take their ideas somewhere else.

“We’ve reached that point of a transport crisis that gave rise to motorcycle taxis. We must look at them as an alternative solution. My dream is to live in a world with mass transit. We must break out of a mindset of ownership [like private cars which are the most inefficient way to move people today] and start thinking shared economy. A shared economy, plus our ability to cooperate in large numbers and turn our thoughts into things, has seen Homo sapiens  evolve from one of the most vulnerable species in the animal kingdom to the most dominant one. It’s time we use knowledge against our new predators, like traffic.”

ROCIO OLBES-RESSANO

WIFE, MOTHER, PHILANTHROPIST

“With IVF [in vitro fertilisation], a woman can take a lot of control back.

“I see more women getting into it because many of them are settling down later in life. Being pro-woman, I believe in choosing and being strong. It is nice to know that technology has brought us to a point where you do not have to say you need to be a mother immediately. You can still explore the world and go around. Which is something that I did.

“There is a lot of empowerment that goes with IVF. If I had not been proposed to by the love of my life, I would have gotten married even later. I was raised to be adventurous, a go-getter, and I was enjoying life.

“The entire IVF process was a challenging but a beautiful journey. For me, I began parenting the moment I started the IVF process. At the end of the journey, I was gifted with two beautiful boys.”

ANGIE KING

LGBT ADVOCATE, CAR RACER, TV HOST

“Even if I am part of the privileged segment of society, I still have my moments where I feel discriminated against for being a trans woman. I do experience inequality, though not as often as other LGBTs. I was ready to give everything up just to come out as who I really am back in 2015. The plan was to move to Los Angeles, put up something there, and say goodbye to the Philippines. Luckily, things worked out great and I am still here! My family and friends accepted me, I still work in the car industry, I have more businesses now and I have a TV show about cars. But I still have issues, like not being able to change my passport name and gender marker, which causes problems, especially when I travel. Gender equality is still a dream for us. Filipinos in general tolerate the LGBT community if they are in the hair and make-up business or in the fashion industry. But there are now many of us from various sectors—from our congressional representative to models, engineers, doctors, CEOs, and many more. Hopefully we can achieve complete acceptance. However, while our community is diverse, the laws for us are dated. The only way to bring real change is through legislative action.”

AUDREY ZUBIRI

WIFE, MOTHER, COLUMNIST

“Technology can bring us closer as a family, but we have to police it. It gives us more access to our children and information to raise them. We can work, travel, and keep connected. But technology’s dangers, if left unchecked, can hinder the growth of our children. That’s why we shouldn’t turn over our parenting mandate to technology.

“As much as we embrace technology, parents should hold on to the values and principles we grew up with. A big chunk, for me, comes from religious foundation. Today there is a tendency to be so sure of oneself and feel like it is all about you. Social media brings relationships and emotions to a more superficial level. Studies show that too much use of social media deters the development of empathy, because it brings about superficial relationships. Relationships are built not on viewed experiences but shared ones. The home must still be the biggest influence on our children.

“The best thing for a parent to do is to work with, rather than fight technology. It has its positive aspects.”

RICHARD HEYDARIAN

AUTHOR, COLUMNIST, POLITICAL WRITER

“Across late-developing countries, from Czarist Russia to post-Marcosian Philippines, there is this obstinately enduring myth that what we need is a ‘strongman’—a single-minded, decisive leader who can, almost magically, carry a nation through the valley of tears and plunge it into the stream of modernity. What this dangerously simplistic narrative misses is that the success of nations is anchored in strong institutions, not strongmen. What we desperately need are visionary leaders who invest in the bureaucracy and organs of the state as well as sincerely engage and collaborate with the civil society as the intermediaries of collective national development. Leaders, even the best of them, are ultimately fallible mortals, who can deteriorate and become drunk on power if left unchecked. For every Lee Kuan Yew, there are dozens of Mugabes and Gadhafis who devastated their once promising nations. The only way to perpetuate a good legacy across generations is via strong institutions. Even more so in the 21st century, where the very physics of power have shifted beyond our wildest imaginations, thanks to technological disruption, democratisation of information, and climate change. Thus, collaborative teamwork and optimal delegation are sine qua non  for good leadership. We need young, dynamic bright leaders willing to look forward and at the big picture.”

TIM YAP

EVENTOLOGIST, COLUMNIST, HOST, ACTOR

“Same sex couples are fighting for the right to get married. Both church and state recognise only heterosexual couple unions. Personally, I am not fighting for the approval of marriage; it is such an uphill battle to push for that. But what about a legally approved union? Most couples like us just want to enjoy the same rights as straight couples. We are not asking for preferential treatment, just for fairness and equality. I am positive though that soon, without bringing religion into the picture, same sex unions could be approved by our lawmakers. Same-sex relationships are like any normal relationships which need to grow. I opted to commit to a same sex union because I wanted to take our relationship to the next level. When two people who love each other get together, it is this love that should be celebrated. I hope the day will come when we will get that kind of understanding and respect from everyone.”

PAULO CAMPOS III

CO-FOUNDER / CEO ZALORA

“The advent of social media has been the most transformative cultural force in the Philippines today. Based on statistics on usage and highest social media penetration, the Philippines is rightly the social media capital of the world. This makes social media a very important channel for e-commerce.

“At the same time, it raises concerns, especially on its impact on the young, on self-image, and on assessments of fulfilment. Young people spend too much time on social media and allow what they see to define their own level of happiness. This can lead to a vicious circle of hollow fulfilment based not on reality but perception. Social media can never replace that human connection as everything there is somehow curated, insulated.

“And yet, social media is here to stay. We will see more and more Filipinos use it for good and connect with friends and family wherever they are in the world. We must not allow social media to consume our day. It’s not the end-all and be-all. In moderation, social media can certainly be good.”

MARIFE ZAMORA

FOUNDER, FILIPINA CEO CIRCLE

“The Philippines has come a long way in women empowerment...but not far enough. Only a few women are at the top of Philippine corporations and multinationals. Harvard Business Review  published a study that showed women excel more than men in 16 out of 18 leadership competencies. Studies show that companies with women in the top executive posts and on their boards make decisions that are more effective in protecting company value and performance. Having more women in the C-suite is connected to higher margins, bigger profits, and total return on investment. Why is the Filipina not up there yet? Surviving as a woman in business is a special art. But first she must survive as a woman, beginning with a strong work ethic and a fierce ‘worth’ ethic. Power has its own language. Titan. Icon. Do these words conjure the image of a woman? No. Rather, not yet. But if the problem is achieving that power, the solution is to empower. And women themselves are the secret to empowering women. As Madeleine Albright said, ‘There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women.’”