The President speaks fintech

I arrived from Oxford and London just hours before Day 1 of the Manila Tech Summit 2025. I immediately realized that the truth rang clear: the show must go on. And it did, brilliantly.

- LITO VILLANUEVA

The two-day summit organized by FinTech Alliance.PH at Shangri-La The Fort was nothing short of surreal. Months of preparation culminated in a high-impact gathering that drew more than 100 distinguished speakers, panelists and moderators from across the globe. Together, they delivered powerful insights on where the Philippines stands and where it must go in this fast-changing digital economy.

For the first time in our nation's fintech history, no less than President Marcos delivered the keynote address. His presence alone affirmed the summit's stature as the country's leading platform for financial technology.

When I greeted him upon arrival, the President remarked with candor: "I cancelled all my engagements today except this one." On that same day, a typhoon had prompted the suspension of government work and classes. Yet he made time for this summit. That choice spoke volumes about the gravity of our collective mission: to build a digitized Philippines powered by a financially inclusive ecosystem for all.

What struck me most was that the President speaks fintech, not in jargon, but in the language of urgency, opportunity and national purpose. With clarity and conviction, he mapped a digital future where fintech is no longer a side conversation, but a centerpiece of the country's economic agenda.

His speech captured both the progress and promise of digital transformation in the Philippines. He was candid about the darker side of technology: rampant fraud, cyber risks, AI-driven scams and the menace of online gambling. He reaffirmed government action through the National Fiber Backbone, the National ID system, Free Wi-Fi for All and stricter anti-scam legislation.

This was a crucial reminder that innovation must always walk hand in hand with vigilance, consumer protection, security and safety.