Every year, over 10 million Filipinos living and working abroad send money back home supporting families, fueling consumption, and stabilizing the economy. In 2023 alone, remittance inflows hit over $36 billion, making the Philippines one of the top remittance-receiving countries in the world. 

But why is remittance such a big deal in the Philippines? 

A Culture and Economy Built Around the OFW 

The phenomenon of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) isn’t new and is deeply rooted in both economic policy and cultural values. OFWs send money home not just for basic needs, but to invest in education, housing, healthcare, and celebrations. 

Key reasons for the high volume: 

• Large diaspora: Filipinos are present across the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Asia. 

• Family-first culture: Remittances are seen as a duty, not just a financial transaction. 

• Government facilitation: Agencies like POEA and OWWA have institutionalized overseas work programs. 

The Remittance Engine is Powerful But Under Pressure 

Despite the scale, the traditional remittance ecosystem is plagued by: 

• High transaction fees 

• Slow transfer times, especially across corridors with limited banking infrastructure 

• Lack of transparency and tracking 

• Dependence on legacy systems or manual processes 

With the Philippines pushing for greater digital financial inclusion and cross-border efficiency, the need for smarter remittance infrastructure is more urgent than ever. 

Enter Fable Fintech: Powering the New Age of Cross-Border Payments 

One of the companies addressing this transformation is Fable Fintech, a global API based technology that enables banks and financial institutions to have a FinTech agility by modernizing their cross-border remittance infrastructure. 

• Built with banks in mind, Fable provides: 

• White-label, API-driven remittance technology 

• Real-time transaction tracking and settlement 

• Multi-currency and Multi-corridor solutions 

• AML/KYC and compliance modules pre-integrated into the platform 

• Seamless integrations with license and payout partners across the world 

Fable is trusted by leading banks, neobanks, and money transfer operators across the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East—including in the Philippines, where they help institutions reduce costs, increase transaction speeds, and offer more transparency to customers. 

What This Means for Banks and Fintechs in ASEAN 

As the remittance landscape evolves, financial institutions in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia are under pressure to: 

• Digitize their services 

• Expand payout and cash-in options 

• Deliver the speed and cost efficiencies using API based banking models 

• Compete on experience, not just pricing 

• Offer a local brand they trust to send the money to their loved ones 

• Build an ecosystem around remittance like allow bill payments, offer investment options, pay medical bills, etc. to enhance the service to the OFW’s 

Working with platforms like Fable Fintech, allows banks and payment companies to stay ahead of the curve—offering fast, secure, and user-friendly remittance services while keeping costs under control. 

Looking Ahead 

In a country where we are the fourth largest receiving country and remittances touch nearly every household, the way money moves matters. It’s more than a transaction—it’s a lifeline. 

The future of remittance in the Philippines is faster, cheaper, and smarter—and it’s being built by companies like Fable Fintech behind the scenes.