In the new global race, data is the fuel, sovereignty is the river

In the age of artificial intelligence, data has become the new oil.

- GEORGE ROYECA

But for countries like the Philippines, young, energetic and hyperconnected, it is more than oil. It is gold.

We are the second largest consumer market in Southeast Asia. We have one of the youngest, most digitally active populations in the world. Every swipe, click and stream generates value. Every digital interaction, from social media to ecommerce, ewallets and gaming, builds a reserve of behavioral insight.

This is not just data for data's sake. This is a living reflection of our economy, our people and our future.

And yet, most of this data, our data, is stored in foreign clouds, governed by rules we did not write and kept in servers we do not control.

That needs to change.

The world is in the middle of a new global race, a digital grand prix. It is not just about who builds the fastest algorithms or the sleekest devices. It is about who owns the track, who controls the pit stops and, most of all, who keeps their fuel supply secure. And make no mistake, data is the fuel. But sovereignty is the driver.