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The CSR Gild Awards honors exceptional corporate sustainability programs. It is organized by the League of Corporate Foundations, a network of corporate foundations and corporations dedicated to advancing CSR practices in the Philippines.
Sun Life Foundation was named a Finalist under the Outstanding CSR Project in Environment category for the Food Shed Farming Enterprise, a collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines that constructs food sheds in remote areas.
This donation enables World Vision Philippines to distribute 1,024 Hope Kits to families in communities affected by disasters. Each kit contains essential items including blankets, a mosquito net, and a sleeping mat, helping address the immediate needs of disaster-stricken and displaced families.
One year, they're working from home. The next, they're freelancing. Some are building small businesses while juggling side hustles. Others are saving for their first solo trip, paying off gadgets in installments, or helping support their families while trying to build a future of their own.
They are making financial decisions earlier than previous generations, but they are also making them differently.
This shift has changed the way they think about almost everything they spend on, from entertainment and transportation to banking and shopping. They expect products to be simple, digital, flexible, and available when they need them.
For many Filipinos, applying for a personal loan can still mean preparing documents, completing multiple requirements, and making repeated trips to the bank. But borrowing for a bigger goal doesn't have to be that complicated.
CEO Jerry Ngo shares bank’s success story on its employee retirement readiness program
EastWest CEO Jerry Ngo speaks at the BSP-sponsored PERA@Work Forum on advancing retirement readiness among Filipino workers
East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) championed the role of employers in strengthening retirement readiness among Filipino workers at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-subsidized PERA@Work: Powering Employer-led Retirement Security Forum.
Speaking at the forum, EastWest CEO Jerry G. Ngo shared the Bank's experience as the first universal bank in the Philippines to launch a voluntary Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) contribution program for employees.
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Health, security, and peace of mind are becoming just as important as compensation
For many Filipinos, work has always been about more than just earning a living. It is about providing for loved ones, building a better future, and creating a sense of security for the people who matter most. Today, however, the way employees evaluate job opportunities is evolving. While salary remains an important consideration, many are increasingly looking beyond compensation such as healthcare access, family protection, financial security, work-life balance, and overall well-being.
Recent studies suggest this shift is becoming more pronounced. Aon's 2025 Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study found 64% of Filipino employees are considering changing employers within the next year, highlighting the growing importance of creating a workplace experience that goes beyond a paycheck.
These initiatives earned EastWest three major recognitions from Asian Banking & Finance (ABF): Mid-Sized Retail Bank of the Year – Philippines and Analytics Initiative of the Year – Philippines, both for the second consecutive year at the Asian Banking and Finance Retail Banking Awards, and its first IPO Deal of the Year – Philippines award at the Asian Banking and Finance Corporate and Investment Banking Awards.
The awards demonstrate the impact of EastWest’s continued push to make banking more intuitive, accessible, and relevant to customers’ evolving financial needs. The Bank combines digital convenience with personal, advisory-led service across its store network which provides customers with more ways to transact, seek guidance, and manage their money with confidence. In 2025, digital transactions accounted for 51% of total transactions, while new digital onboarding capabilities enabled customers to open accounts and access services with less time and effort.
EastWest also completed customer journey improvements across digital onboarding, dispute resolution, complaints handling, and in-store experience. These enhancements helped drive an eight-point improvement in the Bank’s Net Promoter Score and a lower complaints ratio, reflecting stronger customer experience outcomes.
“Our progress begins with understanding what customers genuinely need and removing the friction that can get in their way,” said Ms. Ivy B. Uy, EVP and Head of Branch Banking Group. “Whether they are opening an account, exploring an investment, growing a business, or planning for the future, we want every interaction with EastWest to feel more relevant, thoughtful, and easy.”
The same customer-first discipline also shaped EastWest’s award-winning analytics initiative. As market conditions evolved and customer preferences shifted, the Bank used data-driven insights to better understand how customers manage savings, investments, and liquidity across different life stages and financial goals.
These insights gave EastWest Stores and relationship managers a stronger basis for meaningful customer conversations, enabling more personalized guidance on fixed-income investment options while supporting both immediate needs and long-term financial planning.
Beyond retail banking, EastWest was also recognized for its role in expanding access to the Philippine capital market as a Domestic Participating Underwriter for the initial public offering of Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
Completed in November 2025, the transaction became one of the largest initial public offerings in Philippine history and drew strong investor interest, reinforcing confidence in the country’s capital markets.
Through its distribution network and client relationships, EastWest helped support domestic and retail investor participation, contributing to a more diversified shareholder base. The offering also strengthened Maynilad’s capital base for long-term water and wastewater infrastructure investments while broadening its access to funding.
“These recognitions reflect different strengths of the Bank, but they are connected by one purpose: creating meaningful value for the people and institutions we serve,” Uy added. “They encourage us to keep listening, learning, and finding better ways to help our customers move forward.”
EastWest’s latest ABF wins validate its customer-focused growth strategy: using insight to make financial decisions more relevant, improving access across physical and digital channels, and connecting more Filipinos to opportunities in banking and investment.
From July 30 to August 2, 2026, ArteFino's Isang Dekada edition will bring together more than 100 Filipino brands across The Fifth, North Court, South Court, and Lifestyle Hall at Power Plant Mall in Makati City.
Throughout the four-day event, Security Bank cardholders will enjoy complimentary admission upon presentation of their Security Bank card, a dedicated payment lane for faster checkout, and flexible payment options, including 0% ChargeLight Installment for up to 12 months or Charge Now, Pay Later on a minimum single-receipt purchase of PHP10,000.
"ArteFino has always been about celebrating the people behind the craft. The makers, the stories, and the traditions they carry forward. That's something we're proud to support," said Tanya Deakin, Corporate Communications Division Head of Security Bank. "As we celebrate 75 years of BetterBanking, we're grateful to partner with organizations that create opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs while giving our clients access to experiences they'll genuinely enjoy."
King Domingo, Client Experience Lead, Sun Life Philippines; Daureen Andal, Chief Product Solutions Officer, Sun Life Philippines; and Tim Charlton, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Insurance Asia Magazine
Sun Life Philippines has been recognized for excellence in both innovation and employee engagement, winning two honors at the Insurance Asia Awards 2026:
Insurance Product Innovation of the Year – Philippines for Sun Life EasyLink Protect
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Held in Cebu and Iloilo, the initiative brought together migrant workers, seafarers, dependents, and stakeholders for a day focused on health, financial literacy, and community support.
On-site services and informational sessions were provided by government agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, and PhilHealth. Meanwhile, healthcare services were delivered by Physicians Diagnostic Services Center Inc., which offered physical examinations, blood sugar testing, and a wellness lecture addressing the unique health challenges faced by seafarers.
From left to right: Daniel Han (Head Acquiring, JCB International Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Malaysia Branch), Kenta Yanase (Country Manager, JCB International Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Malaysia Branch), Shimpei Yamaguchi (Managing Director of JCB International Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.), Eng Sheng Guan (Chief Executive Officer of Fiuu), Jacqueline Lim (Chief Business Development Officer of Fiuu) and Oon Wee Keong (Chief Operating Officer of Fiuu)
Fiuu, the leading fintech platform in Southeast Asia, has secured a JCB Direct Acquiring license as a Regional Acquirer across Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. The milestone strengthens Fiuu’s card acquiring capabilities by enabling Fiuu to connect directly with JCB and process transactions in-house, reducing reliance on intermediaries and giving merchants a more dependable way to accept JCB payments across online and offline channels.
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Learning how to set rates is one of the hardest parts of freelancing. It can be difficult to know whether you’re charging too much, too little, or just enough. If you’re a young freelancer trying to figure it out, here’s an expert guide to pricing your work from three seasoned professionals.
Start with a minimum sustainable rate
For many new freelancers, the first step in pricing starts with an important personal consideration: How much do you actually need to earn to make freelancing sustainable? For finance expert Arnel Legaspi, this means building a baseline rate that reflects the minimum needed to sustain both your personal and work expenses.
As part of its commitment to delivering BetterBanking, Security Bank is making fund transfers free for all customers starting July 10, 2026.
For years, free fund transfers have been among the exclusive benefits enjoyed by the Bank's Gold, Wealth, Corporate, and Business Banking clients. Beginning July 10, 2026, Security Bank is extending this benefit to all customers, making everyday banking simpler, more convenient, and more affordable.
Maya, the Philippines’ leading digital financial services platform, won two accolades at the PR Awards Asia-Pacific 2026—Gold in the Best Brand Collaboration category and Silver in the Consumer Launch category. Its Welcome to Maya Black campaign was also shortlisted in the PR Event category.
Maya took home Gold in the Best Brand Collaboration category, a new award under the Effectiveness track, for its 2025 campaign, Save a Housemate. Save with Maya.
Billease, one of the Philippines’ leading consumer finance and buy-now-pay-later platforms, today reported audited consolidated results for the financial year ended 31 December 2025. Revenue grew more than 80% to US$151.2 million and net profit reached US$13.6 million, extending Billease’s multi-year track record of profitability—a rare position in a market where the majority of digital banks and lenders remain in the red.
The platform’s gross loan book grew more than 77% to US$212.1 million, total assets reached US$233.5 million, and Billease now onboards more than 100,000 new customers every month. The business delivered a return on assets of roughly 6.8%.
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The Conrado Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (Alcantara Foundation) was recognized as a Finalist in the Outstanding CSR Project for Arts and Culture category at the 2026 CSR Guild Awards, held on June 30, 2026 at The Westin Manila in Mandaluyong City, for its corporate social responsibility initiative with Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev).
Recognition was given for the Alcantara Foundation and Alsons Dev’s joint project aimed at strengthening Davao City’s creative industry. A key milestone is the 2025 Culture, Arts, and Heritage Summit, a multi-stakeholder platform that convened over 300 artists, cultural workers, and representatives from the government, academe, and private sector to identify sector needs, co-develop strategies, and help build an enabling environment for creative growth.
For years, Robi Domingo has been one of the country's most recognizable television personalities, effortlessly hosting live shows, interviewing celebrities, and becoming a familiar face in Filipino homes. Away from the spotlight, however, he has embraced a role that's redefining what success means to him - an entrepreneur, employer, and leader.
Alongside his thriving media career, Robi has expanded into entrepreneurship through his ventures in the milk tea industry and his food business, Oink. While building successful businesses has been rewarding, it has also given him a new perspective on leadership and responsibility. "They're both challenging in very different ways. When you're in front of the camera, the pressure is immediate. You have to think on your feet and deliver your best because you only have one chance to get it right," he shares. "Running a business is a different kind of pressure because it's long-term. You're not just thinking about yourself anymore - you think about your business partners, your employees, your customers, and the families that depend on the business. Every decision, whether it's marketing, product development, or operations, has a ripple effect."
