Earl Valencia is a formidable disruptor in the realms of finance and technology, and he’s using his knowhow to bring interest-free credit to unbanked Filipinos with his newest venture, Plentina
Fintech entrepreneur Earl Valencia has no shortage of achievements under his belt. After completing his degree in electrical engineering at Boston University, he then went on to attain a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He then co-founded the National Innovation Centre of the Philippines, Qbo, as well as startup accelerator IdeaSpace Foundation.
However, Valencia’s most recent venture is not based in the Philippines, but in Silicon Valley. Launched in 2020, Plentina is a “buy now, pay later” fintech and AI company that enables Filipinos to avail of instant credit with interest-free microloans. By utilising machine learning, the brilliant app can determine the trustworthiness of its users, building its own credit ratings thereafter. With over 40 brand partners including Smart Communications, Philippine Airlines, and Robinsons Supermarket, Plentina shows no signs of slowing down—in fact, after 400,000 installations on the Google Play store, Plentina will be launching with iOS and Huawei in the next couple of weeks.
While he currently resides in Westport, Connecticut, Valencia frequently makes his way back to the Philippines. Find out where and what he likes to eat in Metro Manila, below:
See also: A Taste of Home: Washington, DC Chef Paolo Dungca on His Favourite Filipino Restaurants
What do you miss most on the food/drink front when you are away from the Philippines or haven’t been back for a while?
I miss a lot of food, but what I really miss is real, crispy sisig, good pork barbecue and street food like kwek-kwek or fish balls. For dessert, I of course miss good halo-halo with ube ice cream and mango bravo.
What is the first dish you want to eat when you return, and where do you go for it?
The first place I went to the last time I was in Manila was Max’s Restaurant for fried chicken. It was a place where I could get a taste of banana ketchup.
Do you have a favourite restaurant in the Philippines? For fine dining and for more casual experiences?
I love Japanese food and steak in the Philippines, so I am a big fan of Kimpura for Japanese and Elbert's Steak Room for a good steak.
See also: The 23 Best Japanese Restaurants in the Tatler Dining Guide 2022