2025 AGENDA

0830 - 0930

Registration

0930 - 0935

Opening Remarks by Summit Chair

Abe Karar, Founder, from AugentisAI

0935 - 1005

PANEL DISCUSSION

Bayanihan Banking: Bridging Tradition and Tomorrow

Banks in the Philippines face dual pressures: modernising legacy systems while expanding services to a vast unbanked population. BSP’s Open Finance Framework and the Digital Payments Roadmap demand infrastructure upgrades, yet nearly half of rural communities harbour fraud fears. How can banks transform traditional, suki-based trust into digital-first resilience while sustaining the local relationships essential for enduring financial inclusion?

How can banks align digital investments with BSP’s agenda by integrating ESG, Open Finance, and AI governance while controlling costs?
Can innovative hybrid models convert traditional touchpoints into micro-digital hubs, preserving local suki trust and fostering a meaningful digital transformation?
What long-term innovation strategies ensure sustained profitability, cost efficiency, and scalability while keeping pace with rapid technological and regulatory disruptions?
How should banks develop leadership talent for AI, blockchain, and digital payments innovation while fostering growth and avoiding innovation bubbles?
How can banks leverage their trust and regulatory strengths to effectively convert fintech competition into broad collaborative ecosystem partnerships?

Rafael Francisco Amparo, Executive Director, Rural Banker Association of the Philippines
Jonah Dunca, CISO, Philippine Veterans Bank
Mary Celina Louies Esteva, Head of IT Governance, UnionDigital Bank
Reynaldo Lugtu, Founder & CEO, Hungry Workhorse
Franco Nazarene, CTO from OwnBank

1005 - 1020

PRESENTATION

How Banks and Retailers Can Work Together to Launch Embedded Finance

Daniel Bessemert, VP Sales, Euronet Software

1020 - 1100

Networking Break

1100 - 1115

PRESENTATION

Digital Financial Inclusion and Linking cooperatives to the Payments Ecosystem

Rajan Narayan, Regional Sales Director, Compass Plus Technologies

1115 - 1130

FIRESIDE CHAT

Lending with Malasakit: Ethical AI that Cares

With many Filipinos lacking formal credit histories, AI-driven credit scoring could expand access yet risks bias and erode trust. While AI promises fairer lending, concerns about privacy, transparency, and empathy remain. How can banks align AI innovation with deeply-held Filipino values - such as malasakit, hiya and utang na loob - to ensure responsible, culturally attuned lending that benefits every community?

Mike Singh, President, Tendo by Tonik Bank

1130 - 1200

PANEL DISCUSSION

Digital Banking, Filipino-Style: When Tech Feels Like Kapamilya

Despite widespread digital adoption, many Filipinos still prefer face-to-face transactions rooted in genuine 'kumustahan'. Digital banking must transcend mere functionality to feel personal, familiar, and culturally resonant. How can banks design digital platforms that not only facilitate transactions but also deepen relationships - capturing the warmth of 'kapamilya' connections and the trusted community spirit inherent in every Filipino interaction?

How can banks preserve may tao po (human presence) in digital workflows while using AI-driven avatars to replicate branch warmth and efficiency?
Should banks offer microfinance via Messenger chatbots and APIs, and can blockchain solutions enhance transparency in community savings effectively?
How can multimodal authentication using local language speech verification strengthen security without complicating user experience significantly?
Can AI-powered loyalty models analyse micro-purchase patterns to personalise offers without undermining the culturally valued customer relationship?
How should banks design offline-first AI features, like SMS-based balance forecasts, to ensure accessibility in areas with limited connectivity?

Kenneth Catugas, Head of IT, ING Hubs Philippines
Gerard Andrei Deinla, Business Operations and Strategy Manager, True Money Philippines
Dannuel Delizo-Orillos, Head of Deposits and Payments, Uno Digital Bank
Michael Ricafort, Chief Economist, RCBC

1200 - 1230

PANEL DISCUSSION

PayPinas 4.0: Building the Next-Gen Payment Ecosystem for the Philippines

As the Philippines advances its digital payment landscape, banks must integrate rural cooperatives, e-wallets, and global platforms while ensuring robust security and accessibility. How can community outlets, remittance corridors, and agile fintech partnerships drive the evolution toward a cash-lite economy that blends local vibrancy with modern, secure payments infrastructure for sustainable growth?

How can banks create unified payment rails connecting rural cooperatives, e-wallets, and multinational platforms while ensuring interoperability and competitive differentiation?
What fraud prevention lessons from past incidents should guide QR Ph’s secure scaling while preserving accessibility for small, community-based merchants?
How can BSP’s Open Finance Framework reduce rural bank participation costs through API standardisation while integrating seamlessly with legacy systems?
Which frameworks can ensure robust fraud prevention and data privacy without complicating user experiences, especially for first-time digital payment adopters?
Should regulatory sandboxes prioritise non-QR innovations, such as blockchain, to strengthen the Philippines’ payments competitiveness across ASEAN?

Francis Chiu, Head of Consumer Banking Applications, BDO Unibank
Rajan Narayan, Regional Sales Director, Compass Plus Technologies

1230 - 1245

PANEL DISCUSSION

Kapwa Finance: Bridging Communities Through Open Banking Innovation

With 1 out of 4 Filipinos still unbanked, BSP’s push for open finance presents a pivotal opportunity. Open banking APIs can empower rural SMEs, unify fragmented fintech ecosystems, and transform customer experiences. Yet, success depends on collaboration between traditional banks and agile disruptors. Can APIs become the backbone of a financial system that truly serves all Filipinos, extending beyond urban elites to every community?

Daniel Bessmert, VP Sales, Euronet Software
Maria Donna Beech Ramos, Head of Operational Excellence, City Savings Bank

1245 - 1315

PANEL DISCUSSION

Pinoy Shield: Securing Banking in the Digital-First Age

With widespread digital adoption and rising threats from phishing and ransomware, how can banks balance rapid innovation with robust security? This panel explores strategies to fortify defences, foster collaboration, and sustain inclusive financial growth. How can banks ensure that digital trust is maintained - protecting OFW families, rural communities, and urban users alike - in today’s evolving cyber environment?

How can banks implement BSP’s 24/7 security mandates cost-effectively while sustaining innovation speed, customer trust, and inclusive financial access?
What localised training strategies can counter SMS phishing targeting OFW families and first-time users while meeting regulatory compliance effectively?
How can banks leverage AI/ML to detect and outpace evolving local threats like phishing, deepfake scams, and habal-habal mobile fraud?
How can leading banks share fraud intelligence via BSP’s CODI with rural banks without compromising competitive advantage or security?
As banks adopt facial recognition, how can they prevent identity theft for vulnerable groups while ensuring interfaces remain user-friendly?

Joseph Anthony Cruz, VP, Digital Platforms Head, Security Bank Corporation
Ryan Gabinete, Chief Audit Executive, Development Bank of the Philippines
Marlon Sorongon, CISO, Maybank
Catherine de Joya Urtola, SVP & Chief Compliance Officer, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited - Manila Branch

1315 - 1320

Closing Remarks

1320 - 1430

Networking Lunch

PHILIPPINES EDITION

02 SEP 2025, DUSIT THANI MANILA

THE PHILIPPINES' PREMIER EVENT ON DIGITAL BANKING TRANSFORMATION

EVENT IN NUMBERS

WHO ATTENDS

WHY ATTEND

2025 AGENDA

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

JOIN THE INDUSTRY LEADERS

2025 PARTNERS

BECOME A SPONSOR