Asian Banking & Finance and Insurance Asia Summit - Philippines - March 10, 2026
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Overview Asian Banking & Finance and Insurance Asia Summit - Philippines
Asian Banking & Finance and Insurance Asia are honoured to present the Asian Banking & Finance and Insurance Asia Summit - Philippines, taking place on 10 March 2026. With the theme “Intelligent Inclusion & Sustainable Profitability: Reinventing Customer Value in the Philippine Financial Sector,” this year’s summit will bring together industry leaders and experts to examine how innovation, technology, and regulatory frameworks are shaping the next phase of inclusive finance in the Philippines.
The summit will provide a vital platform to discuss the evolving dynamics of financial inclusion, from AI-driven lending and microfinance to cloud migration, automation, and embedded finance. Attendees will also gain insights into the future of digital distribution in micro-insurance, emerging investment opportunities, and strategies for balancing innovation with compliance.
Join this pivotal event to explore how interconnected digital infrastructure, data sovereignty, and resilient business models can empower the financial ecosystem across the country. Stay tuned and be part of the conversation driving the future of banking and insurance in the Philippines.
Why the Asian Banking & Finance and Insurance Asia Summit 2026 in the Philippines is a Must-Attend:
NETWORK
Connect with the Philippines’ top banking and insurance leaders. Strengthen partnerships with executives and policymakers driving financial inclusion, digital transformation, and resilient business models across the country.
INNOVATE
Discover how AI, automation, and cloud technology are powering smarter financial operations. Explore digital solutions that enhance customer experience, improve access to financial services, and strengthen the backbone of the Philippine financial ecosystem.
EXPLORE
Dive into the opportunities shaping the country’s financial future—from AI-driven lending and microfinance to embedded finance and micro-insurance. Gain insights into how institutions are adapting to evolving regulations and enabling inclusive growth.
GROW
Equip yourself with actionable strategies to build resilience and intelligence into your operations. Stay ahead of regulatory developments, manage emerging risks, and seize opportunities in the Philippines’ expanding digital and interconnected economy.
SPEAKERS
TG Limcaoco
President and CEO
BPI
President and CEO
BPI
Poonam Anandani
Head of Technology, Process and Data
Home Credit Philippines
Head of Technology, Process and Data
Home Credit Philippines
Shereen Michelle Vallauthan
Chief Innovation, Digital and Operations Officer
CIMB Philippines
Chief Innovation, Digital and Operations Officer
CIMB Philippines
Lester Cruz
CEO
Singlife Philippines
CEO
Singlife Philippines
Lester Cruz, Chief Executive Officer of Singlife Philippines, is leading the company’s continued growth as a pioneer in the digital insurance space. His extensive experience in digital banking, startups, and fina cial services is driving efforts to strengthen partnerships, boost customer engagement, and expand Singlife’s market presence. Under his leadership, Singlife aims to solidify its position at the forefront of digital insurance in the Philippines.
Lester previously transformed UNO Digital Bank and CIMB Bank Philippines into fast-growing franchises and spent 15 years at Citi, managing Wealth Management and Insurance Businesses at Citicorp Financial Services and Insurance Brokerage Philippines, Inc. (CFSI).
Sanjay Chakrabarty
President & CEO
Pru Life UK
President & CEO
Pru Life UK
Francis Chiu
FVP - Head of Consumer Banking Applications
BDO Unibank
FVP - Head of Consumer Banking Applications
BDO Unibank
Jennifer Ng
Senior Vice President, Marketing Group Head
PNB
Senior Vice President, Marketing Group Head
PNB
Jose Eduardo O. Ang
Chief Product & Innovation Officer
Insular Life
Chief Product & Innovation Officer
Insular Life
Representative
Smartstream
Smartstream
Representative
GCash
GCash
Marlon Sorongon
Chief Information Security Officer
Maybank Philippines
Chief Information Security Officer
Maybank Philippines
Gino Riola
Chief Marketing Officer
Allianz PNB Life
Chief Marketing Officer
Allianz PNB Life
Karen Jill Espineli
Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel
AXA Philippines
Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel
AXA Philippines
Representative
Landbank
Landbank
Jun Palanca
Country Manager
ING Philippines
Country Manager
ING Philippines
Jun was appointed country manager in January 2023. Building on ING’s track record in the Philippines, Jun is responsible for continuing the business momentum by executing the pillars of its Asia Pacific strategy to leverage ING’s global network, deepen client relationships and strengthen its position as the ‘go-to bank’ for sustainable finance. As country manager, he also has overall responsibility for the operations of the Manila Branch. A banking veteran with 30 years of experience, Jun worked at Citibank Philippines from 1993 to 1995. He joined ING’s project finance team in 1996 and was with ING for 10 years. He was the director of Loan Syndications Asia at ING before moving to Merrill Lynch in 2006. Jun worked at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) as regional head of Structured Finance Syndications, Export & Agency Finance and Aviation Finance in 2010. He was appointed regional head of Loans Distribution Asia and head of Structured Credit Distribution of SMBC in 2016. Jun joined ING from SMBC as head of Wholesale Banking, Philippines in May 2022.
Emelyn M. Justiniano
Vice President and Head of the Bank's Digital Banking Strategy Group
Landbank
Vice President and Head of the Bank's Digital Banking Strategy Group
Landbank
Anthony Louis Gunzon
Chief Marketing Officer
Malayan Insurance Co., Inc.
Chief Marketing Officer
Malayan Insurance Co., Inc.
Representative
Globe Business
Globe Business
Jef Lacson
Chief Financial Officer
UnionDigital Bank
Chief Financial Officer
UnionDigital Bank
I am a results-driven CFO with nearly 20 years of experience leading financial transformation, governance, and capital strategies across Asia’s financial services and fintech sectors.
Currently, I serve as Chief Financial Officer of UnionDigital Bank, working on the bank’s latest strategic pivot — derisking and rebuilding the lending portfolio, strengthening governance frameworks, and driving capital-raising efforts to secure long-term sustainability and growth.
My leadership track record spans regional and country-level CFO roles at Pacific Cross International, AIG, QBE, and Nat-Re, and a career foundation at KPMG in risk advisory and audit.
My contributions have been recognized with distinctions such as Top CFO you should Follow (New in Asia, 2025), Top 10 Best CFOs in Asia (TradeFlock, 2023), Young Gun by Insurance Business Asia (2020), and 25 Most Inspiring Young Professionals in the Philippines (2018).
I also hold multiple professional certifications (CPA, CIA, CISA, ASEAN CPA, FICD, CLSSGB) and a Master’s in Business Economics with a thesis on Insurtech, underscoring my commitment to financial innovation.
Peter Noordzij
Wholesale Banking Tech and Shared Tech
ING Hubs Philippines
Wholesale Banking Tech and Shared Tech
ING Hubs Philippines
Lance Katigbak
Principal
Boston Consulting Group
Principal
Boston Consulting Group
Lance is a Principal in Boston Consulting Group’s Manila office and has worked with offline and online retailers in the Philippines and USA. He has also led some of BCG’s proprietary research on the Filipino consumer. Lance recently rejoined BCG after spending the last four years at Clair, a US-based neobank, where he was the first employee and led the company as Chief Revenue Officer from 0 to its first $1 million in revenue. At BCG, he has worked with clients in retail, fintech, and consumer goods on topics around strategy, transformation, and performance management across 14 countries in North America and Asia-Pacific. Lance graduated from Harvard University with a degree in visual studies. Outside of work, Lance is an avid half-marathon runner, home cook, husband, and dog dad to two golden retrievers.
AGENDA
PLENARY
*Subject to change
8:30 - 9:00 AM REGISTRATION
9:15 - 9:20 AM Welcome Remarks
- Tim Charlton, Publisher, Asian Banking & Finance and Insurance Asia
9:20 - 9:35 AM Opening Speaker
9:35 - 9:55 AM Keynote Speaker
- Lance Katigbak, Principal, Boston Consulting Group
9:55 - 10:15 AM Speaker 3
- TG Limcaoco, President and CEO, BPI
10:15 -10:45 AM Panel Session 1: Expanding Financial Inclusion Through Smarter Credit, Embedded Finance & Intelligent Distribution
Panelists:
- Poonam Anandani, Head of Technology, Process and Data, Home Credit Philippines
- Shereen Michelle Vallauthan, Chief Innovation, Digital and Operations Officer, CIMB Philippines
- Lester Cruz, CEO, Singlife Philippines
10:45 - 11:25 AM NETWORKING BREAK
11:25 - 11:45 AM Speaker 4
- Reserved
11:45 - 12:05 PM Speaker 5
- Sanjay Chakrabarty, President & CEO, Pru Life UK
12:05 - 12:15 PM Speaker 6
- Representative, Globe Business
12:15 - 12:45 PM Panel Session 2: Reinventing Customer Value: Lifetime Revenue, Retention, and Next-Generation Personalisation
Panelists:
- Francis Chiu, FVP - Head of Consumer Banking Applications, BDO Unibank
- Jennifer Ng, Senior Vice President, Marketing Group Head, PNB
- Jose Eduardo O. Ang, Chief Product & Innovation Officer, Insular Life
- Karissa Herrera, Lead of Finance, Google Philippines
12:45 - 12:50 PM Speaker 7
- Representative, Smartstream
12:50 / 1:00 - 2:00 PM MIDDAY BREAK
BANKING
2:00 - 2:20 PM Speaker 8
2:20 - 2:40 PM Speaker 9
- Emelyn M. Justiniano, Vice President and Head of the Bank's Digital Banking Strategy Group, Landbank
2:40 - 3:00 PM Speaker 10
- Representative, GCash
3:00 - 3:30 PM NETWORKING BREAK
3:30 - 3:50 PM Speaker 11
- Peter Noordzij, Wholesale Banking Tech and Shared Tech, ING Hubs Philippines
- Jun Palanca, Country Manager, ING
3:50 - 4:20 PM Panel Session 3: Digital Bank Differentiation & Monetisation: Sustainable Unit Economics in a Fragmented Market
Panelist:
- Jef Lacson, Chief Financial Officer, UnionDigital Bank
4:30 PM END OF PROGRAM
INSURANCE
2:00 - 2:20 PM Speaker 8
2:20 - 2:40 PM Speaker 9
2:40 - 3:00 PM Speaker 10
- Karen Jill Espineli, Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel, AXA Philippines
3:00 - 3:30 PM NETWORKING BREAK
3:30 - 3:50 PM Speaker 11
3:50 - 4:20 PM Panel Session 3: Strengthening Protection Access: Affordable Products, Faster Claims & AI-Augmented Distribution
Panelists:
- Gino Riola, Chief Marketing Officer, Allianz PNB Life
- Anthony Louis Gunzon, Chief Marketing Officer, Malayan Insurance Co., Inc.
4:30 PM END OF PROGRAM
For inquiries, reach us at
For more details, contact:
Asian Banking & Finance and Insurance Asia Events Team
+65 31581386
SPEAKERS
TG Limcaoco
President and CEO
BPI
President and CEO
BPI
Poonam Anandani
Head of Technology, Process and Data
Home Credit Philippines
Head of Technology, Process and Data
Home Credit Philippines
Shereen Michelle Vallauthan
Chief Innovation, Digital and Operations Officer
CIMB Philippines
Chief Innovation, Digital and Operations Officer
CIMB Philippines
Lester Cruz
CEO
Singlife Philippines
CEO
Singlife Philippines
Lester Cruz, Chief Executive Officer of Singlife Philippines, is leading the company’s continued growth as a pioneer in the digital insurance space. His extensive experience in digital banking, startups, and fina cial services is driving efforts to strengthen partnerships, boost customer engagement, and expand Singlife’s market presence. Under his leadership, Singlife aims to solidify its position at the forefront of digital insurance in the Philippines.
Lester previously transformed UNO Digital Bank and CIMB Bank Philippines into fast-growing franchises and spent 15 years at Citi, managing Wealth Management and Insurance Businesses at Citicorp Financial Services and Insurance Brokerage Philippines, Inc. (CFSI).
Sanjay Chakrabarty
President & CEO
Pru Life UK
President & CEO
Pru Life UK
Francis Chiu
FVP - Head of Consumer Banking Applications
BDO Unibank
FVP - Head of Consumer Banking Applications
BDO Unibank
Jennifer Ng
Senior Vice President, Marketing Group Head
PNB
Senior Vice President, Marketing Group Head
PNB
Jose Eduardo O. Ang
Chief Product & Innovation Officer
Insular Life
Chief Product & Innovation Officer
Insular Life
Representative
Smartstream
Smartstream
Representative
GCash
GCash
Marlon Sorongon
Chief Information Security Officer
Maybank Philippines
Chief Information Security Officer
Maybank Philippines
Gino Riola
Chief Marketing Officer
Allianz PNB Life
Chief Marketing Officer
Allianz PNB Life
Karen Jill Espineli
Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel
AXA Philippines
Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel
AXA Philippines
Representative
Landbank
Landbank
Jun Palanca
Country Manager
ING Philippines
Country Manager
ING Philippines
Jun was appointed country manager in January 2023. Building on ING’s track record in the Philippines, Jun is responsible for continuing the business momentum by executing the pillars of its Asia Pacific strategy to leverage ING’s global network, deepen client relationships and strengthen its position as the ‘go-to bank’ for sustainable finance. As country manager, he also has overall responsibility for the operations of the Manila Branch. A banking veteran with 30 years of experience, Jun worked at Citibank Philippines from 1993 to 1995. He joined ING’s project finance team in 1996 and was with ING for 10 years. He was the director of Loan Syndications Asia at ING before moving to Merrill Lynch in 2006. Jun worked at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) as regional head of Structured Finance Syndications, Export & Agency Finance and Aviation Finance in 2010. He was appointed regional head of Loans Distribution Asia and head of Structured Credit Distribution of SMBC in 2016. Jun joined ING from SMBC as head of Wholesale Banking, Philippines in May 2022.
Emelyn M. Justiniano
Vice President and Head of the Bank's Digital Banking Strategy Group
Landbank
Vice President and Head of the Bank's Digital Banking Strategy Group
Landbank
Anthony Louis Gunzon
Chief Marketing Officer
Malayan Insurance Co., Inc.
Chief Marketing Officer
Malayan Insurance Co., Inc.
Representative
Globe Business
Globe Business
Jef Lacson
Chief Financial Officer
UnionDigital Bank
Chief Financial Officer
UnionDigital Bank
I am a results-driven CFO with nearly 20 years of experience leading financial transformation, governance, and capital strategies across Asia’s financial services and fintech sectors.
Currently, I serve as Chief Financial Officer of UnionDigital Bank, working on the bank’s latest strategic pivot — derisking and rebuilding the lending portfolio, strengthening governance frameworks, and driving capital-raising efforts to secure long-term sustainability and growth.
My leadership track record spans regional and country-level CFO roles at Pacific Cross International, AIG, QBE, and Nat-Re, and a career foundation at KPMG in risk advisory and audit.
My contributions have been recognized with distinctions such as Top CFO you should Follow (New in Asia, 2025), Top 10 Best CFOs in Asia (TradeFlock, 2023), Young Gun by Insurance Business Asia (2020), and 25 Most Inspiring Young Professionals in the Philippines (2018).
I also hold multiple professional certifications (CPA, CIA, CISA, ASEAN CPA, FICD, CLSSGB) and a Master’s in Business Economics with a thesis on Insurtech, underscoring my commitment to financial innovation.
Peter Noordzij
Wholesale Banking Tech and Shared Tech
ING Hubs Philippines
Wholesale Banking Tech and Shared Tech
ING Hubs Philippines
Lance Katigbak
Principal
Boston Consulting Group
Principal
Boston Consulting Group
Lance is a Principal in Boston Consulting Group’s Manila office and has worked with offline and online retailers in the Philippines and USA. He has also led some of BCG’s proprietary research on the Filipino consumer. Lance recently rejoined BCG after spending the last four years at Clair, a US-based neobank, where he was the first employee and led the company as Chief Revenue Officer from 0 to its first $1 million in revenue. At BCG, he has worked with clients in retail, fintech, and consumer goods on topics around strategy, transformation, and performance management across 14 countries in North America and Asia-Pacific. Lance graduated from Harvard University with a degree in visual studies. Outside of work, Lance is an avid half-marathon runner, home cook, husband, and dog dad to two golden retrievers.