Why Piolo Pascual – and millions of OFWs – believe in BDO’s ‘Alagang Kabayan’

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April 16, 2026 | 11:00am

MANILA, Philippines — For many years now, Piolo Pascual has been a familiar and heartfelt presence at the annual BDO Pamaskong Handog celebration—personally welcoming returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with hugs, smiles and genuine warmth.

The homecoming event highlights his two-decade journey with BDO—one rooted in malasakit or genuine care—as he joins the bank in celebrating the resilience and sacrifices of Filipino kabayans around the world.

“Every year, I make it a point to join BDO’s Pamaskong Handog events no matter where in the Philippines they’re held, to give back and bring joy to overseas Filipinos and their families,” Pascual shares in an exclusive interview with Philstar.com.

“With the bank’s assistance, overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries can send and receive money easily, and this is why they value BDO so much. There’s so much sincerity and compassion there. Iba talaga mag-alaga ang BDO!” he adds.

This “Alagang Kabayan” lies at the heart of BDO’s promise to OFWs—and for Pascual, it’s the exact reason Filipinos abroad continue to trust the bank.

“I’ve been a BDO accountholder longer than I’ve been an ambassador,” he recalls, “so I’ve experienced how the bank goes out of its way to make transactions easier and more personal for its clients. Talagang ‘we find ways’ sila!”

He continues, “In our two-decade partnership, I’m grateful to BDO for its trust in me. Thinking about it makes me emotional because the bank never dropped me throughout the ups and downs of my life and career.”

Creating lasting relationships

For BDO, its partnership with Pascual mirrors the type of relationship it builds with its clients—especially with the millions of Filipinos working overseas.

“In many ways, this reflects how we serve our OFW clients. We don’t view relationships as short-term or transactional,” says Genie Gloria, BDO Senior Vice President and Head of Remittance.

“We walk with them through the different stages of life—from their early years abroad, to supporting their families back home, and eventually planning for their future in the Philippines. Just like our partnership with Piolo, these relationships are built on care, reliability and long-term commitment,” she adds.

Through BDO Remit, the bank ensures that OFWs can send money, pay bills quickly and transact online through services that are accessible, reliable and secure. At the same time, BDO provides financial guidance to help kabayans move closer to their dreams.

One way BDO Remit does this is by forging strategic partnerships with both the public and private sectors.

The bank works closely with government agencies such as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas to help OFWs access information, services and financial literacy programs.

Gloria also highlights BDO Remit’s global partners—from Mastercard, Xoom, DBS, Ria and Remitly, to foreign banks such as Seven Bank.

In Japan, for instance, OFWs can simply download the Seven Bank app and use International Money Transfer services to remit money to the Philippines 24/7.

“These partnerships enable us to deliver security, reliability and accessibility—so overseas Filipinos feel supported not just by a bank, but by a broader ecosystem that understands their needs and safeguards their hard-earned money,” Gloria explains.

A suite of financial solutions

As a lifelong partner for every milestone, BDO recognizes how crucial remittances are to overseas Filipinos.

“For many OFWs, remittances are deeply connected to long-term aspirations—educating their children, owning a home, or achieving financial stability. Our role goes beyond fund transfers; it’s about helping transform today’s sacrifices into tomorrow’s opportunities,” Gloria says.

BDO offers a wide range of financial solutions for savings, loans, investments and insurance. One such product is the BDO Kabayan Savings account, which comes with a Mastercard-powered debit card for daily spending, withdrawals and digital transactions.

This is complemented by digital tools like BDO Pay, an everyday payment app that empowers OFWs to send money to any BDO account without cashing in—and without transaction fees. Once OFWs remit to their BDO Kabayan Savings account, they can freely use BDO Pay features such as Send Money, Pay Bills and balance inquiry.

The app also allows payment to over 2,100 billers in the Philippines—no enrollment needed. Beneficiaries can likewise use the Remit Status Inquiry feature to quickly check the status of incoming remittances.

“Since we began actively promoting BDO Pay to our Kabayan clients in 2025, we’ve seen users grow by over 120%—a trend we expect will continue as more OFWs experience its benefits,” Gloria notes.

When asked how BDO plans to further strengthen its commitment to OFWs and their families, she says: “Our focus remains on financial education and expanding access. We will continue enhancing our digital capabilities while strengthening partnerships with government agencies and global payments and remittance platforms.”

Pascual echoes this sentiment: “When it comes to trusting your hard-earned money, it’s important to choose a bank that has stood the test of time and proven its reliability. BDO is here to stay and serve Filipinos.”

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Editor’s Note: This #BrandSpace story is created with BDO. It is produced by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom. 

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