Speech Before the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines November 3, 2021 - If you were in a hospital emergency room - lucid enough to choose between a young, smart-looking and articulate surgeon who had graduated a few years ago and just finished internship – and an unassuming, timid and older-looking surgeon who has tucked under his belt numerous successful surgeries – who would you choose? Let me answer that question towards the end of my speech. Executive Director Mr. Ebb Hinchliffe, to the officials and members of this esteemed Chamber, to all the guests joining us today, a pleasant afternoon to everyone. As we speak, our nation is still struggling to defeat the coronavirus pandemic with so much uncertainty. Our economic charts show how this health crisis took an excessive toll on the Philippine economy, as our Gross Domestic Product fell by a record 9.6% in 2020. While signs of recovery may have been felt this year, 2021, with the availability of the vaccines, we know