2024 is a milestones year for the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) - yes, milestones - as it marks 55-15-5: the 55th, 15th, and 5th anniversaries of landmark laws that have shaped its history - and unlocks the keys to its future. In this first of a series of episodes marking these milestones, find out about these three landmark laws; plus listen in on a conversation with IS Jung CEO, of FAB's long-time locator Dong-In Entech - as he reveals an aggressive expansion plan for their company's future at the Freeport.

Is the Philippines on its way to finally producing vaccines locally? This episode, Regional Roundup talks with Glovax Biotech Founder and CEO Giovanni Alingog about vaccine security and self-reliance, for both the Philippines and the ASEAN region - and about their plan to build a fully-integrated vaccine plant in the country.

Regional Roundup heads to Davao City, and discovers Cacao Liqueur at boutique heritage hotel The Big House. This episode, we're in a conversation with Lizabeth Robillo-Lu, the House-owner and chef behind this concoction that just could be the new drink to associate Davao with.

Have you heard of the Birhen Sang Barangay, a nearly 75-year old homegrown devotion to the Blessed Mother? This episode, Undercovered speaks with one of their spiritual directors, to find out more about their origin, their devotion, and their work to promote the praying of the Holy Rosary among groups. 

One of the Pillars on which the Brunei Darussalam - Indonesia - Malaysia - Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) stands is Transport Connectivity. In order for trade, tourism, and other exchanges within this ASEAN sub-region to flourish, air and sea linkages must be present. This episode, Regional Roundup is in a conversation with Felicismo Pangilinan, Director for Planning at the Department of Transportation, to find out where we now are vis a vis Transport Connectivity in BIMP-EAGA.

A number of Filipinos across our archipelago remain unserved; if not, underserved by the banking industry. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 181 of our cities and municipalities do not have banks; instead, they have microfinance NGOs, pawnshops, e-money agents, and cash agents offering financial services. In other  places, people rely on their locally-present rural banks. This episode, we speak with UBX, a financial technology company that wants to improve access to banking services across the archipelago, tapping into the networks of rural banks and other financial services providers, and offering itself to them as a banking-as-a-service platform.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is open for investment. Find out what early investors to the Philippines’ newest region have been keen on, what the opportunities there are, and what makes BARMM a unique option to consider, in this Regional Roundup conversation with former Bangsamoro Board of Investments chair - and now Member of Parliament - Ishak Mastura.

The Philippine Space Agency recently tested using satellite-based connectivity for rural banks in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). Find out more about that pilot deployment, in this episode of Regional Roundup.

This is the second episode of our mini-series on what Jagna, Bohol has to offer its tourists. Last episode we focused on its plans for Faith Tourism; in this continuation of the Regional Roundup conversation with Jagna Mayor Joseph Rañola, we talk about adventure tourism - and more.

Regional Roundup heads to Bohol, for a conversation with Jagna Mayor Joseph Rañola. In this first of a two-episode mini-series, we discuss their plans to establish the municipality as a center for Faith Tourism in the province.