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On remote work — Can the Philippines export talent without exporting people?

September 17, 2026 · 50 min

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Being a virtual assistant (VA) is now the dream job for most Filipinos, according to a new Remitly study. As one of the growing professions in the remote work sector, VA work has given Filipinos greater access to international job opportunities.


Across the Philippines, a growing workforce of remote professionals is serving overseas clients from laid-back hubs like Bohol and El Nido. But behind the flexibility lies a tough reality: social isolation, job insecurity, and zero employee benefits.


In this episode, Howie Severino talks to Maria Sucgang, a millennial CEO pioneering a model that networks freelancers to provide the safety nets that foreign employers don’t give. They discuss the potential to keep talent in the provinces, reducing the need for foreign migration, and whether AI threatens the future of remote work.

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