Actress and TV host Jolina Magdangal has been officially introduced as the brand ambassador of Asialink Finance Corporation’s Women’s Access to Inclusive Support (WAIS) Loan, a financial product dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and supporting inclusive growth among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The announcement comes as Asialink celebrates a 5,000 percent surge in WAIS Loan disbursements—from ₱10 million at launch to over ₱525 million to date. The program has already reached 1,025 women entrepreneurs nationwide, with an average loan size of ₱500,000 per borrower.
“Our growth shows the strong demand for financing solutions designed for women-led MSMEs,” said Samuel Cariño, President and CEO of Asialink Finance Corporation. “With Jolina as our ambassador, we aim to strengthen the visibility and impact of the WAIS Loan.”
Launched in June 2025 with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), the WAIS Loan allows women entrepreneurs to borrow up to ₱20 million, with interest rates starting at 0.99 percent and repayment terms of up to 36 months.
Magdangal, who has also ventured into business, shared her admiration for the program’s success and its impact on women-led enterprises.
“Seeing what the WAIS Loan has accomplished in such a short time is truly inspiring,” she said. “It proves that when women are given access to the right financial tools, they can turn ideas into businesses and businesses into livelihoods.”
Beyond promoting financial inclusion, Asialink’s WAIS Loan program has also strengthened its overall loan portfolio—57 percent of which now comes from women-owned MSMEs.
Eleanor Yap, Chief Operating Officer of Asialink Finance Corporation, emphasized that the WAIS Loan addresses a financing gap long faced by women entrepreneurs.
“The WAIS Loan is our response to a financing gap that has long been overlooked. What sets it apart is its inclusive eligibility framework—it empowers women operating under diverse business structures, whether as sole proprietors, partners, or corporate leaders,” Yap said.
Since its launch, the WAIS Loan has financed businesses in various industries, including retail, services, and agribusiness, helping women entrepreneurs scale their ventures and generate employment. Yap noted that Asialink’s nonperforming loan ratio remains low at 1.5 percent, reflecting the company’s sound risk management and the strong repayment discipline of its women borrowers.
She added that Asialink applies a multi-layered credit assessment process, equipping credit officers to evaluate the financial health of applicants even without traditional bank documents—by analyzing invoices, sales records, and deposit histories instead.
To reach more women-led MSMEs, Asialink operates through a nationwide network of over 250 branches, 2,000 employees, and 5,000 loan consultants, ensuring accessibility even in underserved areas.
Cariño said Magdangal’s partnership embodies the values the WAIS program seeks to champion: resilience, hard work, and the balance of family and career.
“Jolina represents the spirit of the modern Filipina entrepreneur—creative, determined, and wise in pursuing opportunities,” he said. “Through this partnership, we hope to reach and inspire more women to build and grow their own enterprises.”
Looking ahead, Yap shared that Asialink’s three-to-five-year growth strategy focuses on product innovation, strategic partnerships, and expanding delivery channels to connect with more underserved entrepreneurs.
Founded in 1997, Asialink Finance Corporation has grown into one of the country’s largest non-bank financing institutions, with a mission to “help someone today” and a vision to become Asia’s most preferred nonbank financial institution by 2030. (with reports from Aldrine Benitez)
