...the land of believers

China has the most atheists, Indonesia and Philippines the most believers

Tanutam Thawan| The Thaiger.com

19 October 2019

“According to the survey there is a connection between religiosity, beliefs and socio-demographic characteristics like age, income and education level.”

China is the least believing country in the world but belief in a God gets 100% mention in countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh and Philippines, according to the survey by Gallup International.

According to the survey exploring religious tendencies of 66,000 people in 68 countries across the world, 62 per cent of people in the world define themselves as religious, 74% of people globally believe we have a ‘soul’ and 71% believe in a God. Another 56% believe in heaven, 54% in life after death and 49% in hell.

China has the highest percentage of atheists in the world with 67% not believing in any religion. Every seven out ten people are atheists, more than double than any other country. 23% consider themselves as non-religious. Less than 10% identify themselves as religious in China.

China’s atheist percentage is followed by Japan, a long way behind in second place at 29%, Slovenia (28%) and Chech Republic (25%). Despite rapid industrialisation and urbanisation religion has stayed relevant in the South Korean region with only 23% identifying as atheist.

European countries like Belgium (21 %), France (21%) , Sweden (18%) and Iceland (17%) also have a large percentage of believing population.

Bangladesh, Indonesia and Philippines are the most believing countries with entire population claiming to believe in God, soul, hell and heaven. Thailand and Pakistan have 99% believing population, followed by India, Vietnam and Mongolia.

The survey shows that the levels of religiosity diminish as income and education levels increase. While 66% of people with low income affirm to be religious, this percentage drops to 50% among people with higher incomes. The same trend is verified in relation to education levels: 83% of people with lower education level are religious against 49% of higher level.

According to the survey there is a connection between religiosity, beliefs and socio-demographic characteristics like age, income and education level. As education and income levels grow higher, religiosity levels tend to go down. Also, the expression of different beliefs is higher among young people.

The level of education has a considerable influence on the perception of religion by the society. Women and young children show higher percentage for spiritual forces.

...the microconsumer lending countries

Laos, India, Philiipines, Myanmar and Vietnam the have highest prospects for the development of online microconsumer lending, according to Robocash Group study

Stephen Netto
theonlinecitizen.com
18 October 2019

With a growing attention to financial inclusion of the population lacking access to finance, countries in South and Southeast Asia are demonstrating the dynamic development of financial services.

According to a study by financial holding Robocash Group on the prospects for online micro consumer lending across countries in the region, Laos, India, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Vietnam have taken the highest positions in the company ranking.

The highest score in the ranking (20) belongs to Laos. It combines a high potential of the untapped demand with a positive attitude to short-term online lending from the government and population. The need for relevant products in Laos is similar to the situation in Myanmar, but it is free from some obstacles of the latter.

Over time, the new market will grow, and foreign investors may significantly contribute to this process. The underdevelopment of the legislation and the absence of financial institutes such as credit bureaus encourage experienced foreign companies with a fine-tuned scoring and reliable operation processes to support the efficient development of the market.

India holds second place with a score of 18. Despite a direct connection between the development level of a country and its place in the ranking, India is an exception. Although a significant part of local people already has access to credit products (79.9%), the rest include hundreds of millions of people. It correlates with the formed regulation.

After all, the market has a relatively small number of foreign companies, and not many Chinese startups have entered the market. Hence, the competition remains quite moderate.

Third place belongs to the Philippines (16). The country gives in the leading positions to other countries because of their hidden potential. However, other advantages compensate for it. The country has an established market of short-term lending services, flexible, and facilitative regulation.

Not forgetting, there is a balance between the high demand for relevant products and low debt load among the population. Moreover, the Philippine government is driving the digitization of financial services to decrease the factor of geographical fragmentation. It makes the country stand out on the regional background.

Myanmar is fourth in the ranking (14). As a country with a relatively large number of people below the poverty line and high demand for micro consumer loans, Myanmar stands out in comparison to the more developed countries in Southeast Asia. Still, some points are holding the market back.

Partly, this is due to its underdevelopment. The government has introduced strong regulation to get rid off illegal creditors, which activities have led to debt overload of the population. The latter reduces the attractiveness of the country for foreign companies significantly.

Fifth place belongs to Vietnam (12). Vietnam demonstrates significant demand for micro consumer online loans. With a large number of people living in rural areas (66%), only one-third of the population has access to credit products. Another stimulating factor is the growing GDP forecasted to increase by 6.6% by 2020.

Nonetheless, Vietnam should improve its regulation in terms of licensing of companies and control of financial statements. Overall, the country represents a bright example of the market with a medium position in the ranking. Vietnam is quite perspective but gives in the leadership due to the current difficulties for the business.

...the PH ranking in Property Rights

Philippines gains 3 notches in International Property Rights Index

Louella Desiderio

Philippine Star

17 October 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines moved up to 67th place out of 129 economies in this year’s International Property Rights Index from 70th last year, amid improvements in two out of three components tracked by the report such as physical property rights and intellectual property rights (IPR).

Developed by the Property Rights Alliance which promotes protection of innovation, IPR and physical property rights, the index seeks to serve as a barometer for the state of property rights in the world by looking at three components – legal and political environment, physical property rights and IPR.File

Developed by the Property Rights Alliance which promotes protection of innovation, IPR and physical property rights, the index seeks to serve as a barometer for the state of property rights in the world by looking at three components – legal and political environment, physical property rights and IPR.

Released in partnership with the Foundation for Economic Freedom and Minimal Government Thinkers in the Philippines yesterday, the index showed the country was behind many of its neighbors in Southeast Asia.

In particular, the Philippines trailed behind Singapore (4th), Malaysia (32nd), Thailand (64th) and Indonesia (65th), but was ahead of Vietnam (83rd) and Brunei Darussalam (98th).

The index showed the Philippines’ overall ranking improved as its score increased to 5.309 this year from the previous year’s 5.217.

...the world's best hotel bars

LOOK: One of the best hotel bars in the world is in Manila

ABS-CBN News
16 October 2019

MANILA -- One of the best hotel bars in the world is in Manila, according to an exclusive list published by Forbes Travel Guide on Tuesday. 

The Bar of The Peninsula Manila has been included in a list of the best hotel bars in the world. The Peninsula Manila's website

The Peninsula Manila's The Bar, with its swanky, Cuban-inspired design, was among the 44 hotel bars that made the cut. It is one of only four watering holes in Southeast Asia featured. 

The list -- a first from Forbes Travel Guide -- described The Bar as: "Bedecked in checkered flooring and wood walls, the bar gleans inspiration from an old Cuban cigar factory." 

It also recommends some of its menu items like the sisig croquetas, the Sriracha butter duck wings, and the Batangas Old Fashioned, "which swaps in Maker's Mark infused with Kapeng Barako." 

The full list can be seen here. 

To come up with the list, Forbes Travel Guide sent "inspectors" to stay at hotels around the world anonymously. They then evaluate the bars based on up to 900 standards for the guide's annual star ratings. 

Two bars in Indonesia and one from Singapore were also included in the prestigious list. 

...the improved PH FIFA Ranking

FIFA Rankings 2019: Thailand, Philippines set for rise, Indonesia to fall after poor display


Fox Sports Asia
16 October 2019

Thailand and Philippines are set to rise up the FIFA Rankings table after their latest exploits in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers while Indonesia, Cambodia and Singapore are set to fall down.

Thailand registered a massive 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates while Philippines produced a fine defensive display to hold the mighty Chinese side for a goalless draw. Indonesia, on the other hand, lost 3-1 to Vietnam, Cambodia suffered a 4-0 defeat to Iraq and Singapore went down 3-1 against Uzbekistan.

With their win over UAE, Thailand are expected to move up six spots to 109, while Philippines will gain one spot and will move up to 126. Indonesia will lose one spot and go down to 171 while Singapore will lose two spots and will go down to 159. Cambodia, who were hammered 14-0 by Iran last week, will go down to the 172nd spot after the loss against Iraq.

...the PH golden day in sports

Two golds in one day


Inquirer.net  Editorial
16 October 2019

There’s a lot to celebrate about the triumphs of Carlos Yulo and Nesthy Petecio in the world stage very recently.

Yulo scored the more celebrated victory, becoming the first Filipino world champion in gymnastics, after ruling the floor exercise in the sport’s world championships in Germany.

But not to be overlooked is Petecio, who ruled her division in the women’s competition of the boxing world championships in Ulan-Ude, Russia, beating local bet Liudmila Vorontsove in a sport notorious for hometown bias.

Their gold medal feats, achieved barely 24 hours of each other, not only polished the country’s image in the international scene, they also helped shatter sports’ stubborn sex stereotypes.

Yulo, after all, triumphed in a sport generally seen as feminine, whose women champions are more often heralded as iconic than their male counterparts. Meanwhile, it is not a stretch to say that you’d be in the hundreds when counting down the most influential boxers in history before coming up with a woman’s name.

Yulo and Petecio got their just due from the government, with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) shelling out a cool million for each athlete as reward.

There is, however, the need to go beyond the cheering and the toasting when looking at the feats of Yulo and Petecio. Their victories in the world stage usher in new hope for the country as it hosts the Southeast Asian Games later this year and, more importantly, navigates its way to next year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Yulo and Petecio reinforce the change needed in our country’s national sports program, highlighting the need to funnel limited resources to focus sports.

PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez is a staunch advocate of focus sports, disciplines where the Filipino athlete isn’t hamstrung by physical limitations like height and heft and can flourish on talent and hard work. Upon his appointment in 2016, Fernandez crafted a blueprint called “Change the Game,” which seeks to resuscitate Philippine sports.

 Among his plans was to focus on less popular sports where he believes the country has potential to succeed, such as open water swimming — for the Olympic event, known as marathon swimming —
given the country’s vast water bodies.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao also supports the idea of shifting focus to “weight-classed sports and other sports that does not give undue advantage to bigger and taller athletes.” Examples of weight-classed sports are boxing, taekwondo, judo, wrestling and weightlifting.

Filipino athletes can also excel in gymnastics, marathon, synchronized swimming, diving, cycling, shooting, archery, chess and other similar sports that require intelligence, balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination and endurance.

...the Filipino Princess

Filipino princess champions humanitarian efforts in Cambodia


Anith Adilah Othman
Khmer Times
16 October 2019


Glamorous yet graceful - these are the best words to describe Princess Dr. Maria Amor Torres, a member of the Philippines 'Royal House of Baloi who is recognized globally for her philanthropy work.

As a Mindanao royalty, Princess Dr Maria is aware of the ‘voice she commands’, therefore she chose to make it count by advocating sustainable social developments and promoting universal humanitarianism.

“As one of the Sultans of my region, I have bigger responsibilities as far as social developments and peace-building are concerned,” she told Khmer Times in a recent interview. “These are the duties given to me by the royal authorities who enthroned me.”

“I accept these duties wholeheartedly as it aligns to my aspirations as a humanitarian. There is nothing that will make me happier than to serve humanity, especially our own people,” she added.

Despite having had a life full of glitz and glam as a celebrity formerly, the princess admitted that there is nothing more rewarding than bringing about positive change to the lives of others. She added that her determination to serve humanity remains her biggest motivation.

“Life has never been better and sweeter as I am living the dream now. Living a selfless life with a purpose, building a bright future for our children, fighting for human rights, promoting equality, empowering women and the youth, promoting health and wellness and protecting our environment. This is the best kind of life to live,” she quipped.

Regardless, Princess Dr Maria is showing no signs of stopping. She is now leading a non-profit group that she founded in 2011, ‘We Care For Humanity’, to continue to make changes for the betterment of the world.

“We are an internationally-recognised organisation focusing mainly on the seven United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They are: zero poverty, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities, climate action and peace and justice,” she said.

Thanks to her active participation in the field of philanthropy, Cambodia can now hopefully benefit from the latest collaboration between ‘We Care For Humanity’ and ‘Save Nature Cambodia’, a local group aimed at raising awareness on eco-friendly initiatives among citizens.

“Cambodia is a fast progressing country with very strong culture and passion for the environment. Its people are equally beautiful, resilient and faithful to their motherland.

“Cambodia is also a big advocate of climate change, that is why we are very happy to collaborate with ‘Save Nature Cambodia’. As the Royal Advisor of the latter, I can extend the mission and vision of our organisation concerning matters related to climate change,” she added.

...the falling poverty in PH

PH poverty rate seen falling below 20% starting 2020

Ben O. De Vera

Inquirer.net

16 October 2019

Amid easing inflation and rising incomes, the World Bank expects poverty rate in the Philippines to fall below 20 percent starting next year.

In its Macro Poverty Outlook for East Asia and the Pacific report, the World Bank projected poverty incidence in the Philippines at 20.8 percent by the end of 2019, down from 26 percent in 2015, the latest comparable full-year date from the Philippine government.

The report was released this week on the sidelines of the Washington-based lender’s annual meeting.

The World Bank had estimated poverty incidence in the Philippines at 24.5 percent for 2016, 23.1 percent for 2017 and 21.9 percent for 2018.

Its medium-term poverty projections were based on the lower middle-income poverty line of $3.20 per day.

At that threshold, the World Bank sees the Philippines’ poverty rate further declining to 19.8 percent next year and 18.7 percent in 2021.

“Despite a temporary growth slowdown in the first half of 2019, progress on shared prosperity is likely to continue,” it said.

Partial estimates of the 2018 Family Income and Expenditure Survey showed that incomes of households in lower-income deciles grew at a much faster pace than the average, the World Bank report read.

“Meanwhile, cash transfer schemes from the government will continue to help cushion the impact of negative shocks. Given the continuous expansion of nonagriculture wage employment, rising real wage, continuation of social programs, and stabilizing inflation, the declining trend in poverty is likely to continue,” it added.

In a report last month, the World Bank said the 12-year-old conditional cash transfer scheme called Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) slashed the nationwide poverty rate by 1.2-1.5 percentage points (ppt) between 2012 and 2015.

4Ps also reduced income inequality by 0.5-0.6 ppt in the same period, it said.