Author: Dawn Solano

Country Funders Finance Corp. (CFFC) has launched Easylend, a new loan product aimed at improving access to credit for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), commuters, and agribusiness operators across the Philippines. CFFC, an inclusive finance company under the Ropali Group, said Easylend offers faster processing and simpler requirements compared with traditional loans. Motorcycle loans can be approved in one to two hours, while business and agricultural loans may be processed within 48 hours. Applicants need only one valid ID and proof of income. Company officials said the product seeks to address barriers faced by first-time borrowers, many of whom…

Samsung has launched the Galaxy S25 FE and the Tab S11 series in the Philippines, expanding its premium device lineup with models powered by Galaxy AI. The Galaxy S25 FE, marketed as the gateway to the S25 flagship series, features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, slimmer bezels, and IP68 dust- and water-resistance. The device is built with armor aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, a combination Samsung says makes it thinner, lighter, and more durable. The model carries a 4,900mAh battery, the largest in the FE line to date, with 45W wired charging that can…

Nearly nine in 10 organizations in the Philippines are struggling with cybersecurity burnout, with employees losing hours of productivity each week due to stress and fatigue, global security firm Sophos said. The findings are from the Future of Cybersecurity in Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) report, commissioned by Sophos and conducted by Tech Research Asia, now part of Omdia. The 2025 edition surveyed 926 cybersecurity and IT professionals across Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. Citing the report, Sophos Asia-Pacific and Japan executive Gavin Struthers said 89 percent of Philippine organizations experienced burnout, among the highest levels globally.…

Rizal has long been known as a weekend destination, with its trees, museums, and cafes attracting visitors from Metro Manila. However, beyond its reputation for leisure, a different side of the province is steadily taking shape, one defined by innovation.

For decades, gold has been the world’s ultimate safety net. Countries keep it in their central banks as a way to store value and protect their economies against crises. Now, a young lawmaker from Camarines Sur, rep. Migz Villafuerte, wants the Philippines to do the same with Bitcoin. Villafuerte recently filed House Bill No. 421, or the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, which would require the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to purchase 2,000 Bitcoin per year over five years, for a total of 10,000 BTC, an amount that, at today’s rates, would cost roughly ₱63.6 billion. These reserves would then…

For many Filipinos, loans once meant a major decision: buying a house, financing a car, or starting a business. Today, borrowing looks very different. When I first heard about credit scores, I thought they were only for people taking out car loans, mortgages, or running a business. I’m a Gen Z just starting to figure out money, and credit always felt like something far away, something for “grown-ups.” But at the recent CIBI Impact 2025, I learned something that surprised me. Even the smallest loans I take now are already shaping my financial identity. The rise of small-ticket, short-term credit…

Agentic AI is becoming one of the most talked-about concepts in technology this year. At Secure Horizons 2025, a gathering organized by the Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines to help leaders and companies strengthen their defense strategies, the spotlight briefly turned to this emerging form of artificial intelligence. This discussion, led by Charmaine Valmonte, the chief information security officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures explained what it means, why it matters, and what risks organizations must anticipate. Generative AI is powerful but narrow, for it only works within limited parameters. It follows instructions, from fetching data to forming output. It’s simply…

A mission-critical tech firm offers affordable packages, available either as a one-time perpetual license or a subscription-based service, to help LGUs improve disaster readiness and response in the Philippines. At a recent presentation, AGN Networks Solutions Inc., led by president and CEO Carlo Grant Yu, said its mission-critical systems are now within reach of LGUs, including those in remote provinces that often face the brunt of typhoons and storms.“If they cannot afford a perpetual license, we can also provide our system as a service,” Yu told PhilSTAR Tech during the sidelines of their AI solutions launch event held August 13…

De La Salle University (DLSU) won top place in a 24-hour hackathon with a speech-enabled business app, emerging as champion in the Metro Manila leg of the Byte Forward Hackathon. The app delivers sales and inventory insights, offers smart pricing and bundling suggestions, integrates AI-powered Q&A, and features an auto-ordering system. Moreover, the event was organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Converge SME Solutions, and Rev21 Labs during the Metro Manila Business Conference (MMBC), held at Seda Vertis North in Quezon City from August 7 to 8, 2025. The…

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is broadening its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives to create practical solutions that address everyday Filipino needs, from government services to energy efficiency. The new projects were introduced at the 2025 AI Fest, held from August 11 to 13 at the Iloilo Convention Center. “By 2028, we envision AI driving inclusive innovation, stronger governance, empowered communities, and globally competitive industries for a sustainable, tech-enabled future,” said DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. in his keynote speech.Earlier in June, the department announced plans to allocate more than 2.6 billion for AI programs by 2028. Since 2017,…