There was a time when having a stable job meant security. You stayed loyal to one company, collected your benefits, and built a predictable rhythm in life. But in 2025, more than the entrepreneurial drive to explore new horizons, there’s evidence that many Filipinos are becoming entrepreneurs on the side.
In my twenty years covering technology and the publishing industry, it is becoming more apparent how Filipinos have been making use of tech to earn a little bit more on the side. In 2006 when Google Ads and SEO were the new fad, many Filipinos turned to blogging to make some extra income. An extra USD $400 paid into their PayPal accounts made the world of a difference – and they got to do this while writing about their passions. Today, with the evolution of content creation with influencers, I’d say the industry has truly evolved. It’s not just a few hundred bucks here and there, the gig economy has turned into full time businesses with passion projects funding new ventures.
The modern Filipino worker has quietly evolved into something else — part employee, part entrepreneur. Some people flip thrift finds online, run small car rental services, or lease out a spare condo unit for extra income. Others trade electronics or resell imported goods on TikTok Shop after office hours. Even professionals like lawyers, teachers, and marketers are now exploring consulting or coaching on the side. The entrepreneurial spirit isn’t just for those with deep pockets anymore; it’s become the new baseline for survival and independence.
For me, the realization hit when I thought about putting up a small coffee shop at home during the pandemic. I already had the espresso machine, the beans, and the technical knowledge and training having built a similar shop for my employer before. I had everything except the capital. But that’s how many side businesses start in the Philippines: with skills and ideas that just need a small push to take off. It’s the same mindset that drives countless Filipinos to test the waters of entrepreneurship, even while keeping their day jobs.
According to a recent Ipsos study on Gig Life in the Philippines, nearly six in ten Filipinos take on gig work to earn extra income. What’s striking is that this isn’t just about making ends meet — 60% of them now see it as a long-term career choice. Flexibility, control over one’s time, and the ability to work from anywhere have become just as important as job titles and corner offices.
Even with fluctuating income, the optimism is unmistakable: 78% of gig workers say they’re satisfied with the freedom this lifestyle gives them. The idea of having one “main” career is slowly giving way to the idea of having multiple income streams — an evolution in how Filipinos see work and opportunity.
Managing the realities of freedom
But freedom comes with friction. Managing cash flow, juggling clients, and sustaining operations all require financial support — and this is where the intersection of entrepreneurship and technology becomes critical.
Traditional banks used to feel like closed doors to small businesses and freelancers. Lengthy forms, endless requirements, and physical branch visits often meant that funding came too late — or not at all. As someone who has been with BPI since I was a child, I’ve witnessed the huge transition with working with my parent’s relationship manager (sitting in, quietly as a child as I listen to them talk), to getting my first ATM, then transitioning to online banking. I can’t remember the last time I was inconvenienced by a long line, and this was after going through the motions of a personal loan, which I also got through BPI. Going through the steps of a business loan on their website brought back familiar, and good memories.
That’s why, on the flipside, tools like BPI’s Ka-Negosyo On The Go (KNOTG) matter. It’s a fully online platform that puts financing a few clicks away from those who need it most. Entrepreneurs can check eligibility, compute loans, and even sign documents digitally through DocuSign — all while being guided by a BPI representative.
For many SMEs, this digital-first approach becomes the missing link between ambition and execution. Ka-Negosyo Loans simplify the things that usually weigh business owners down — from funding equipment upgrades to managing daily operations. They bridge the gap between aspiration and access, offering the kind of flexibility that mirrors the need to be agile in the SME market.
Here’s the truth: we’re all entrepreneurs now, in one form or another. So much has changed in the past 20 years. Yes it is a little bit harder because of inflation, and perhaps the cold realization of adulting, but technology has also made it so much easier to get your loans approved without the anxiety of waiting to be approved.
As technology continues to make finance more accessible, it’s becoming clear that the Filipino entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t just live in the boardrooms, but the many small enterprises that power the daily lives of Filipinos, from the neighborhood bakery, to the corner coffee shop, and to the school supplies store that has known the names of everyone in the neighborhood.
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