Future-Proofing Through Partnership: 6 Business Lessons from Eastern Communications

Eastern Communications Co-Coordinators Atty. Aileen Regio and Jaeson Evangelista reveal how they are leading the charge in digital transformation through strategy, technology and human touch.

Agility in entrepreneurship is about how an entrepreneur can quickly adapt to changing market conditions and seize opportunities. It can make the difference between a successful pivot and failing to promptly respond to a game-changing tech-enabled trend. Embodying the business agility required in today’s changing world is a 146-year-old company, Eastern Communications. Through the decades, it has transformed itself from a telegraph company to a telecommunications company to a technology solutions provider, and serves as a shining example of agility for entrepreneurs and business leaders across the country.

In its current form, Eastern is a provider of information and communications (ICT) solutions to businesses in the metro and to other digital hubs across the Philippines. In short, Eastern Communications–itself a master of transformation–is helping countless businesses transform through tech. It has done this not through doggedly following online trends but instead by staying true to company values and business fundamentals: serving the customer.

Leading the charge in Eastern Communications’ rapid expansion–the company’s revenue grew by an impressive 8.4% in 2024 behind its strong B2B market share–are the Co-Coordinators of Eastern, Atty. Aileen Regio and Jaeson Evangelista. The Business Manual spoke to the duo about the principles and experiences that have guided their work—and how these can serve as critical lessons for Filipino entrepreneurs and MSMEs alike.

Lesson 1: Transform with Purpose

It’s no coincidence that the company leading digital transformation has mastered transformation itself. Atty. Aileen Regio recalls, “When I came in nine years ago, Eastern Communications was just in NCR, Region 3 and 4–only three regions. But now we’re nationwide.”

While maintaining a stronghold in the business districts of Makati and Bonifacio Global City, Atty. Regio led a push towards serving businesses in the rest of the Philippines.

This rapid expansion wasn’t random—it was data-informed and stakeholder-driven. Before entering new regions, Eastern mapped local industries and digital readiness by partnering with LGUs, business chambers, and community leaders. And, crucially, data from the government’s DICT and the IBPAP named developing “digital cities” in the Philippines where the potential for growth was greatest.

Atty. Regio explains, “If you know the industry, more or less, you will know what the needs are of those companies… What will be the pain points? What will be government’s stake in terms of developing that particular region? And therefore, you will also know what particular product or service you will offer to that region.”

This deliberate approach ensured that every new investment was relevant, sustainable, and impactful. 

Empowering the Philippines’ Digital Cities

Eastern Co-Coordinator Jaeson Evangelista tells us more about the specific services that the telco provides, saying, “We have modernized our facilities and aggressively expanded our fiber footprint across the nation.”

Having identified the market for its services, Eastern Communications then embarked on the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) with the company playing a major role in the consortium. This fiber network connects several key locations in the country such as Sorsogon, Masbate, Marinduque, Camiguin, Siargao, Boracay and Zamboanga. The PDSCN express route was completed in 2023.

Identifying the Philippines’ digital cities, building the fiber network around these locations, and providing services for the businesses there are all part of Eastern’s strategic plan. It also serves the company’s greater purpose to lead the digital transformation of businesses. 

Digital transformation isn’t just about connecting businesses with high-speed Internet; it is only the beginning. Evangelista explains, saying, “You really need to have connectivity as a basic service to be able to grow your business in terms of ICT. And you need security when you have internet connection, right? So [we provide] a wide range of services that caters specifically to enterprise and B2B.”

This second tier of services includes cybersecurity, cloud services, AI-enabled services, DDoS-protected IDS services, as well as managed services, and business applications.

“We are present in 30 of the 38 digital cities nationwide,” Atty. Regio shares. “After we brought out our submarine cable facilities nationwide, we zeroed in on the digital cities as identified by the DICT and the IBPAP.

“And that’s where we’re going because we know that business process outsourcing companies are there. And that’s where our services are badly needed.”

Lesson 2: Co-Develop Solutions

As an ICT solutions company, Eastern’s business revolves around partnership. However, Eastern’s approach goes beyond the typical vendor-client relationship. Rather than pushing standard services, the company engages in what it calls “co-development,” a simple hands-on approach that has surprisingly deep implications. 

Expounding on Eastern’s co-development, Atty. Regio says, “We talk to [clients] regularly [about] how their businesses are going on a day-to-day basis. What are their challenges? We bring in technology, we bring in expertise from some of our global partners, and we co-develop a solution that will fit their business.”

Through regular communication, Eastern is able to assess their partners’ evolving needs, uncover pain points, and craft solutions tailored specifically for them. From these conversations, Eastern is then able to create new products and solutions that, at times, impact an entire industry.

One example of Eastern’s co-development in action is how the company helped a major bank shift from an expensive MPLS setup to a more efficient SD-WAN configuration. This innovation would eventually become the industry standard.

Lesson 3: Build a Solid Foundation

The clients of Eastern Communications range from enterprises, BPOs to MSMEs. And while the lion’s share of business belongs to enterprise and the growing BPO sector, Atty. Regio and Evangelista have a special message for MSMEs.

With an eye on the larger role of Eastern Communications as a nation builder–and the role of MSMEs in the grassroots–Atty. Regio says, “What we do is that we empower businesses that, in turn, provide goods and services to the individuals, to the Filipino people.”

At the same time, she admits that more effort has to be made in educating MSMEs and supporting their digital transformation–work that Eastern does in its day-to-day operations. 

“Sometimes they’re not just equipped yet,” Atty. Regio says. “So it’s more of an education gap, especially for MSMEs. MSMEs usually don’t have an IT team, right? So we become their IT team also. We become their cybersecurity team also. We become their advisors.”

“They don’t have the luxury of choosing the right partner,” Evangelista adds. “In terms of who can provide them the right solution based on their pain point… this is where Eastern can complement that. Because for every service that we deliver to our client, we make sure that it’s the right solution.”

According to Evangelista, MSMEs should focus on building a strong and scalable digital foundation: bandwidth, cybersecurity, and connectivity. It all starts with reliable connectivity and cybersecurity–these are the lifelines of any modern business, from startups to large-scale enterprises. It’s the digital backbone that supports all future growth.

Evangelista emphasizes that being the right partner for these MSMEs is crucial for their growth. He says, “We are the IT arms of these startup companies, with the right level of expertise to be able to provide the tailored solution based on what they need.”

Lesson 4: Strategic and Operational Synergy Drives Growth

The leadership duo of Aileen Regio and Jaeson Evangelista is both a driving force behind Eastern Communications and a model for entrepreneurs to seamlessly integrate strategic and operational expertise.

Atty. Regio brings strategic and legal prowess, while Evangelista contributes operational and engineering expertise. Together, they assess challenges from both visionary and practical lenses.

“Together, we look at challenges and opportunities in terms of strategic and operational angles,” Evangelista says. “And we respect each other’s perspective, and we make decisions blending the vision and execution.”

“We basically trust each other,” Atty. Regio adds. “I know his strengths. I know my weaknesses. Therefore, we complement each other. His strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa. So it’s very, very symbiotic.”

Together, Eastern’s Co-coordinators comprise a team that is complementary, not redundant–a symbiotic model of leadership for entrepreneurs operating in teams.

Lesson 5: Innovation Must Be High-Tech and High-Touch

For Eastern, beyond all the high tech involved in ICT solutions is a high-touch promise. The company believes that customer experience is just as important as innovation. And because of this, it is service that rises to the fore of what Eastern Communications does.

“We promise to give them service that is not just high-tech, but high-touch,” Atty. Regio explains. “That’s why we make it a point that every year we have not just happy customers, not just satisfied customers. We have successful customers who thrive in the environment that they are in, and the future digital age that we are all venturing into.”

Despite being in a business that is often technical, Eastern never loses sight of human relationships. Their yet to be launched Link VIP Program, for example, was designed to keep their clients informed and empowered–never abandoned. It will offer 24/7 support, usage insights, and even education portals.

“We have the expertise, we have the experience, and we listen,” Evangelista says. “This is what we do in Eastern.”

Lesson 6: Don’t Be Afraid—Digitally Transform Now

Both leaders agree: the time to start your digital transformation journey is now. Not tomorrow, not next year. The business environment is only getting more complex and competitive. But with the right strategy and the right partner, the journey doesn’t have to be painful.

“Digital transformation is–by far–not very easy,” Atty. Regio says. “It’s very difficult. Sometimes it may even be costly. But the trick there is to be able to find a partner who can work hand-in-hand with you to develop a particular solution or a product that will be suited to what you need.

“Map out your digital transformation program. Where do I want to go five years from now? That is where Eastern will come in. For you to be able to go this particular route five years from now, these are the products and the services that you need to be able to reach that goal. Do not be afraid.”

Eastern Communications is a model of how even legacy companies can walk the cutting edge by embracing change, forming the right leadership teams, and building deep partnerships with clients. For entrepreneurs navigating the unpredictable digital landscape, these six lessons from Regio and Evangelista are both a compass and a call to action.

Text VINCENT SALES

Photography BELG BELGICA assisted by ELEANORE ALCANTARA

Videography OMAR VILLANUEVA assisted by RJ CRUZ

Art Direction ANDREA SANGCO

Sittings Editors RJ LEDESMA, JILL TAN RADOVAN

Stylist JOHN MANUEL GUMATAY assisted by PETER SUERTE FELIPE

Makeup Artist YVONNE RAGASA

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Shoot Coordination TONI MENDOZA

Shot on Location ARCHIVE HAUS STUDIO