Banking on community spirit. BDO Siargao Island Festival brings community together, ushers in full-service banking on the island.
Music, island energy, and community spirit filled the air at the BDO Siargao Island Festival, where business owners, community partners, and residents came together to celebrate a new milestone for the island.
Held in April at Paseo de Cabuntog in General Luna, the Festival highlighted BDO’s broader presence in Siargao with the opening of its full-service BDO Unibank branch—bringing a complete suite of financial services closer to home, from savings and loans to remittances, foreign exchange, and digital banking solutions.
The event also showcased BDO’s community banking channels: BDO Network Bank (BDONB) and Cash Agad. With branches in Dapa and General Luna, BDONB has become a trusted partner for small and medium enterprises, offering no-collateral loans with flexible monthly payments.
Meanwhile, Cash Agad’s 36 partner stores across barangays allow residents to withdraw cash conveniently without travelling far. Together, these touchpoints help Siargao residents and businesses manage all their financial needs without leaving paradise.
“The Festival is our first Island Banking initiative,” shared Keith Chua, BDO First Vice President and Area Head. “More than just a festive event, we hope the Bank’s presence reinforced our steadfast commitment to supporting the growth of Siargao.”
Bringing banking closer. The BDO Siargao Island Festival introduced the bank's products and services to community members at the Paseo de Cabuntog in General Luna last April.
Fueling investor confidence
For many business owners, BDO’s full-service banking is already making a difference. Gediminas Simaitis, a foreign entrepreneur who has called Siargao home for over a year, shared that BDO’s arrival influenced his decision to deepen his investments on the island. “Once I heard that BDO was coming, I opened both personal and business account,” he said.
As he grows his business, Gediminas sees BDO as a key partner. “The bank provides security and fast responses, which are very important. For foreign investors like me, managing funds across countries can be challenging, and I believe BDO can help address that.”
For established local enterprises, the Bank’s services are felt everyday. Haneza Pearl Bortanog, Finance Supervisor of a boutique hotel, explained how BDO’s solutions make daily operations smoother. “Payroll and supplier payments are processed quickly, which really lightens our workload.”
She added that card terminals have also strengthened their business. “With more guests using credit cards and international cards, especially during tough times, these services help us keep the operations running efficiently.”
Enabling business growth
For homegrown entrepreneurs, BDO’s presence has been equally transformative. Maricel Bodiongan-Nogalo, owner of a local tour services business, recalled how helpful the staff were: “As someone not very familiar with technology, they assisted me personally in setting up online banking.”
Maricel had been a client back in Manila, so when she heard about the new branch in Siargao, she knew it would be a big boost. “When we applied for a loan, the approval was very fast. Malaki ang naitulong ng BDO sa negosyo namin.”
Beyond these success stories, the Bank’s full presence on the island makes everyday financial tasks simpler and more accessible for locals and entrepreneurs. With branch staff ready to assist in person and digital tools like BDO Online and BDO Pay available anytime, communities in Siargao can manage savings, payments, and business transactions with ease.
Residents, entrepreneurs, and visitors are welcome to experience these services firsthand. Visit the new BDO branch at Siargao Town Center from Monday to Saturday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
