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Our Authors

Maria Lourdes "Lourdes" Reyes

·280 words·2 mins

I cover the Philippines’ finance and remittance ecosystem, focusing on consumer fintech adoption, microfinance, and how remittance flows affect local economies and household finance.

When I’m not reporting I volunteer with financial literacy programs, explore coastal towns, and collect vintage postcards.

Focus and beats
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  • Primary territory: Philippines (national coverage)
  • Primary pillars: Finance, Remittances, Consumer Fintech, Microfinance
  • Secondary coverage: Regional consumer finance comparisons across ASEAN
  • Escalation: Major regulatory or legal disputes are escalated to senior editors and legal review.

Background and credentials
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  • Background: Business reporter with experience covering banking, remittances, and consumer finance in Manila.
  • Credential: BA in Journalism; 6+ years covering central bank policy, remittance flows, and fintech adoption among OFWs.
  • Expertise & experience: Remittances, consumer lending, microfinance, digital wallets, and migration‑finance intersections.

How I work
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  • Pitch cadence: Send consumer finance or remittance story ideas by Tuesday 10:00 PHT; breaking items via Slack.
  • Preferred formats: Data‑driven explainers, human‑interest profiles tied to finance, policy explainers, and product testing pieces.
  • Editorial priorities: Human impact, data accuracy, and clear guidance for consumers.

Main sources I read and why
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  • BusinessWorld (bworldonline.com) — Primary source for Philippine corporate and central bank coverage.
  • Philippine Daily Inquirer – Business (inquirer.net/business) — Daily business headlines and policy reporting.
  • Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (bsp.gov.ph) — Official monetary policy and regulatory releases.
  • Rappler Business (rappler.com/business) — Investigative and consumer‑focused finance reporting.
  • The ASEAN Post (theaseanpost.com) — Regional context for remittance and migration stories.
  • World Bank Philippines (worldbank.org/en/country/philippines) — Data and reports on remittances and financial inclusion.
  • Remittance provider insights (e.g., remitly.com insights) — Market data and consumer trends for remittance corridors.
  • Tech in Asia – Philippines (techinasia.com/tag/philippines) — Startup and fintech adoption stories in the Philippines.