This article is part of a Spotlight series on how brands can further leverage the social commerce opportunity in Southeast Asia. Read more.
The Philippines is one of the most social media active countries in the world, yet has one of the lowest rates of online spending across Southeast Asia. This is largely due to a preference for cash-based transactions, as 71% of adult Filipinos do not have a formal bank account.
This all changed when COVID-19 struck. Everyday life was upended by the pandemic, as strict lockdown regulations left people stuck in their homes for more than a year (and still counting)....