Big ideas in small towns
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BRANDED booths and paraphernalia underscore the newspaper’s role in fostering local entrepreneurship ecosystems.
SANTO TOMAS, Batangas Councilor Allan Maligaya addresses the participants of DAILY TRIBUNE’s 15th AIF as he urged business owners and small enterprises to learn from the speakers’ knowledge and information on how to start a lucrative business.
SB Corp vp for innovations Wally Calderon addresses the forum, framing government loans as the scaffolding on which small-town ingenuity can actually take flight.
The 15th AIF convenes at Santo Tomas City Hall, fostering provincial entrepreneurship.
a Participant recevies his prize from AIF host Patricia Ramirez during the raffle segment of the program.
Hands meet hands, prizes change possession, but the real victory is entrepreneurial curiosity and determination.DAILY TRIBUNE editor Elmer Manuel ushers a prize to an AIF participant in Santo Tomas, Batangas.
An attendee asks panelists how technology can support small-town businesses.
For some years now, DAILY TRIBUNE has been quietly reshaping the innovation landscape in Philippine provinces.
Through its Asian Innovation Forum, the omnimedia company has created a platform connecting micro and small business owners, fintech firms and government bodies to the tools and loans and mentorship that translate ideas into economic activity.
Now on its 15th iteration, the forum has focused on practical interventions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (financial inclusion, local entrepreneurship, digital literacy).
Maya Business’ pilot programs in Batangas, for instance, demonstrated how tech adoption in provincial markets can enhance efficiency and broaden market participation. Meanwhile, SB Corp backed loans provide the scaffolding for small businesses to scale.
By bridging small enterprise with institutional support, DAILY TRIBUNE has helped foster ecosystems where innovation is operational, lifting local vendors, stimulating commerce and nurturing talent in communities often overlooked by urban-centric growth models.
The 15th AIF was held in Santo Tomas, Batangas, on 27 November 2025.
