Two hours apart by plane, yet worlds of untapped collaboration; what could the Philippines and Taiwan learn from each other if we treated proximity not as geography, but as opportunity?

From the vantage point of a short flight, the similarities between our nations become striking. Both are island societies shaped by migration, typhoons, and resilience. Both are navigating rapid urbanization, digital transformation, and climate vulnerability. Both value community — the Filipino spirit of bayanihan and Taiwan’s collaborative civic culture.

Yet despite geographic closeness, exchanges between our countries remain limited. This is why people-to-people collaboration, academic exchange, and innovation partnerships between Taiwan and the Philippines are not just beneficial — they are necessary.

I recently traveled to Kaohsiung for Smart City 2026: Where Smart Means Livable, and what I encountered was more than a showcase of technology. It was a living demonstration of how cities can be human-centered, data-driven, and deeply intentional about improving quality of life. More importantly, it was a reminder that Taiwan and the Philippines are not starting from scratch, we already share values that can anchor meaningful collaboration.

The beginnings of the Bayanihan Lab Network

This exchange was made possible through the Bayanihan Lab Network which is a growing platform dedicated to fostering collaboration between Filipino and Taiwanese innovators, policymakers, and changemakers.

The network traces its roots to three Filipino leaders namely Caren Claire Avenido, Dexter Lloyd Sularte, and Rodolfo Emperado who were connected through their academic journey at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) in Diliman. Their collaboration began when they met Dr. EingMing Wu, current president of EduConnect Southeast Asia Association and a Taiwanese scholar who served as a visiting professor and helped spark conversations around governance innovation, smart cities, and cross-border learning.

What began as academic exchange evolved into a platform that bridges institutions, governments, universities, and innovators between Taiwan and the Philippines. Today, the Bayanihan Lab Network continues to grow, organizing immersion programs, policy dialogues, and learning visits that turn proximity into partnership. In many ways, the network represents the convergence of two cultures — the Filipino bayanihan and Taiwan’s collaborative civic spirit — creating what participants have begun calling “Taiwanihan.”

A Philippine delegation for smart governance

The Philippine delegation was formally welcomed by Charles Lin, deputy mayor of Kaohsiung, underscoring the growing collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines in smart urban governance. Organized by the UP-NCPAG Center for Policy and Executive Development under the leadership of Dr. Enrico Basilio, together with Educonnect Southeast Asia and the Bayanihan Lab Network, the delegation brought together representatives from the Mindanao Development Authority; Department of the Interior and Local Government; Department of Budget and Management; LGU Candelaria, Zambales; the Baguio Business Club; the University of the Philippines; UP-NCPAG graduate students, Bataan Peninsula State University; and Dualtech Training Center Foundation.

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The delegation engaged with Kaohsiung’s Intelligent Transportation Bureau, 1999 Citizen Call Center, business permit digitalization systems, and public works and parks management — all considered benchmark programs in Asia-Pacific smart governance.

I joined this diverse group as part of the private sector and social innovation community, representing Varacco and ThinnkFarm. Our participation highlighted how digitalization is no longer limited to urban systems, but increasingly extends to agriculture, rural development, and community-based enterprises. Working with various government agencies in the Philippines, we see firsthand how digital transformation can empower farmers, improve traceability, and build resilient food systems.

Also part of the broader exchange were participants connected to the UP Open University, including initiatives under the VINTA program. Their presence underscored another important dimension: education and capacity-building as foundational pillars of smart societies. Because a smart city is not defined by sensors alone — it is defined by citizens who can understand, use, and shape these systems.

When smart means livable

Kaohsiung’s approach offers lessons relevant to the Philippine context.

First, livability is the north star. Technology is deployed not for spectacle, but for everyday impact — mobility, accessibility, safety, environment, and citizen services.

Second, government acts as an enabler. Taiwan’s public sector actively supports innovation through coordination, policy alignment, and digital infrastructure.

Third, ecosystems matter more than individual innovations. What we saw in Kaohsiung was a connected system of universities, startups, agencies, and communities working together. This resonates strongly with our work in digital agriculture. Farmers, local governments, universities, and innovators must be linked into one ecosystem for transformation to happen.

This learning journey was also made possible through the support of partners who believe in strengthening global-local collaboration. I extend my sincere gratitude to Ruel Castro of MORE Electric and Power Corporation and Mayor Wendah Dolor of the municipality of Bauan for supporting my travel to Taiwan. Their encouragement reflects a shared commitment to bringing global insights back to local communities, ensuring that lessons from Kaohsiung can help shape smarter, more inclusive, and more livable Philippine cities and municipalities.

Bayanihan meets Taiwanihan

For me, the visit was both professional and personal. It raised important questions: How do we translate these lessons into the Philippine context? How do we ensure digitalization bridges inequality instead of widening it? And how do we remain grounded in values of community and inclusion?

The answer may lie in deeper Taiwan–Philippines collaboration.

Imagine Filipino farmers benefiting from Taiwanese agri-tech innovations, while Taiwanese cities learn from Filipino community-driven models. Imagine universities co-developing digital education programs. Imagine startups co-creating climate-resilient solutions. Imagine governments exchanging governance innovations.

This is the promise of Bayanihan meets Taiwanihan, a partnership rooted in shared values, driven by proximity, and powered by digitalization for social good.

The Philippines and Taiwan are only two hours apart. But through exchanges like this, we may find that we are even closer in vision  and in the shared desire to build smarter, more livable, and more inclusive societies together. – Rappler.com

Ariestelo A. Asilo is TOYM 2021, Asia 21, and PHINMA-DLSU Siklab Fellow. He is the President and CEO of www.varacco.com and www.thinnkfarm.com which operate through social entrepreneurship selling Buy 1 Take 1 Coffee, and creating farmer-scientists in coffee production in Mindanao. Currently, he is taking his Doctorate in Sustainability at the University of the Philippines-Open University and the Chief Executive Officers Program at the Asian Institute of Management. He also has a cat named Libe which he found at the Liberica farm in Cavite. telo@varacco.com