Who's Who in Web Technology in the Philippines

So as I slowly research about companies and communities dealing with web development and related technologies in the Philippines, I found there are some respectable faces we should all keep an eye out for regularly. Every tech company in the Philippines in their selves play an important role in where technology is going here. This list displays the movers and shakers; the ones who reach out to the community; the ones who go beyond the call of making money. This list is in no particular order. 


1. Ubertor 

Ubertor allows real estate agents to create a website instantly that is integrated with a number of Google tools and built to follow Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. Ubertor’s CSS is unlocked so that users can manipulate the look and feel of their site [techcrunch]. Ubertor, located in Fort Bonafacio, offers a wonderful place to work and unique company culture and competitive (and I really mean competitive) salaries. Pretty much a dream place to work (IMO). On top of that Ubertor offers their awesome office space and takes an active interest in supporting various tech meetups. 


2. RJ David

RJ David, the creator of sulit.com.ph, is a respectable face in the community for his hard work in creating one the first social and e-commerce sites dedicated for the average Filipino user. It's a fact that Sulit is some where on the top 3 ranking sites (if not the first) in the dot ph domain. Currently RJ is breaking ground and setting an example through his site on ways where ecommerce can work here. RJ is VIP in the community, partaking in private forums, consulting and talks, but in no way puts himself on that pedestal. We can see RJ occasionally posting in the PHP User Group Philippines forums from time to time and open to personal conversation.


3. Janette Toral

In the timeline of web tech, you will see Janette Toral's name around the start of it. Janette would be the web tech ambassador (IMO) because she lobbied some of the Cyber Legislation passed as Philippines Law. She is the author of DigitalFilipino.com, published 14 research reports about Internet, e-commerce amongst many, conducts training on e-learning, e-mail marketing, Internet advertising, blogging, online payment, website marketing, e-commerce project planning, software process improvement, requirements management, and software project management.








4. John Arce

John by trade is a web developer, but he also is the creator of webgeekph.com, a venue for Filipino Web Enthusiasts to share knowledge and network with other members. Through webgeek he has hosted some successful meetings about freelancing and technology as well as participates in some others. I had the pleasure of working with him this past Startup weekend in Manila. Really humble guy and likes to laugh, but definitely I can see why he attracts techno enthusiasts to follow his every post.


5. Proud Cloud
Proud cloud is a web engineering company designed to specialize in creating great things out of simple ideas. Proud Cloud develops in Ruby which is a rarity in the philippines as far as companies goes. They also showcase themselves as an incubator of ideas rather than an outsource group, but they do both immaculately. Proud Cloud also hosts roof camp, a series of meetings to promote new ideas and updates the community on the latest and greatest. Openovate Labs participated in Startup Weekend, an event internationally known and hosted by Proud Cloud in Manila. I had the pleasure to speak to Jay during that event. Chill guy but definitely knows his business and a person that gives and gets a lot of respect for his efforts.


6. Abe Orlandres
He is Self-Employed New media publisher at Yugatech.com, and owner of plogHost web services.  He specializes in New Media Consultancy, Online Reputation Management, Buzz Marketing, Internet Marketing & Consulting, Web 2.0 Strategy and Implementation. Yugatech.com has been in the business since November 2005 and has been growing ever since it started.  Abe Olandres was the Senior Associate of HeadStrong Philippines: a leading software consulting company providing solutions to the financial services industry with focus on capital markets and securities, works with the foremost global investment banks, regional banks, asset managers and Exchanges. He is a multi-awarded blogger in the world of technology. 

Project Group Hug

The world has turned into what people had wanted it to be but the manner of transformation was not technically successful. As an effect, but hopefully not a conclusion, people have lacked respect and most of all, compassion.  From this need of humane healing, the Project Group Hug was born. Start Up weekend’s position was extremely essential to the possibility of this project’s existence. Start Up week end is a free seminar that allows new comers and professionals to pitch their ideas to their potential partners. Construct and increase efficiency in technology, graphic design, and business.  Out of 28 projects, Group Hug placed 5^th. 

October 20, 2011, collaborators from different parts of the Philippines-or even around the world- help cultivate the idea of “technology with a heart”. Group Hug’s primary goal is to help and nothing else. Allow people to grow humanity in them. This project is worth pursuing, saving the parents of sick children from countless efforts of hunting for absolution. Their families may be desperate to look for cures of any kind.  This time, they will have a wider means of searching and a larger chance of receiving funds.  Less fortunate children can now have the opportunity to battle their sickness, to stand up, and heal somewhere in time.

Upon opening the website, you’ll see pictures of sick children, their names, age, and their unusual conditions. Project Group Hug obtained great response from people who joined the Start Up weekend, impressed by the project’s vision of assisting impaired kids. The method of donating is simple: click on the picture of the patient that you want to help. Second, enter the denomination that you want to donate. Third, click Donate Now. Fourth, Enter your name and click check out with Paypal. You can also keep track of their lives because we’ll be posting up-to-date news from them before and after their medical treatments. 

 This venture goals would eventually be in partnership with the three giants in the media: ABS-CBN 2, GMA 7, TV5, GLOBE; Project Group Hug seeks to reproduce awareness about children in dire illnesses who are looking for help, compassion, and happiness. These media outlets have proven efficacy in spreading the news of any kind; whether the news of corruption, killings, murders. They will even be more effective in develop the news of children distressed. You can now help children a lot faster and safer.

The Effect of Happiness

Researches by scientists all over the globe have found evidences that Happiness can increase productivity by a large scale. Producing Happiness might puzzle anyone who has no idea of what Happiness is all about, let alone its meaning.

Happiness acts a fuel of success in a company and a great, almost impeccable, motivator for ordinary workers. Giving them better to do lists helps. Free lunch and snacks help. Surprisingly, a large paycheck fairly increases an employee’s happiness. Every man has his happiness set point. Sadness and depression at work last more than superficial or shallow kind of Happiness.

This is where Company Culture comes. What employees need is lasting happiness that will make them look forward to work, tackle pressure, and, most especially, love their craft. Consistency and creativity play the imperative part in Company Culture; also, Consistency requires diligence and material investments. As long as willingness is there, nothing bad will happen.

Our Company Culture in Openovate comes from employees. We pay our employees to do whatever they want, as long as they are HAPPY. We believe in their abilities to produce and let them learn from their mistakes. We live what we apply to our clients. Our habits are almost out of the things we enjoy so much, or maybe up to the point that we treat work as a serious recreational activity.

Here's our Company Culture

1. At break time, the whole staff must watch at least one movie. 

2. There must be posters of movies, rock stars, and spaceships, so the office would have a lively effect on employees. 

3. The whole staff must go out at some cool place every pay day. 

4. There must be music in the office and every employee is required to submit a playlist. 

5. There must be an employee of the month 

6. Once a month, the whole office must transfer to another exciting place or another office. 

7. There must be field trips to historical or extremely cool places. 8. There must also be a reading session every day. 

9. There must be a white board placed on the wall, which will be called THE WAILING WALL 

10. On the Wailing Wall, every employee must, anonymously, share what they think about Openovate, Gimmick, the World, anything. 

11. There must be Glow in the dark stickers all over the room, and by 6 o’clock, the lights must be closed. 

12. Pets must be allowed in the office 

13. There must be a T.V. or any gaming console in the office 

14. Once a week, any employee can invite his or her friend to the office. 

15. There must be a fund raising event once a year. 

16. There must be a “Best Desk” contest. The winner takes home amazing prices. 

17. There must be a sofa with lots of pillows, where employees can hang out and relax 

18. There must be a fish tank of ideas--literally 

19. There must be a company pet. 

20. Friday must be PIZZA DAY 

21. Thursday must be wear a Green day shirt day 

22. Wednesday is group sharing day 

23. Tuesday must be BEER DAY 

24. Monday must be Bring your friends day 

25. Employees can do whatever they want 

And the TOP 10

At break time, the whole staff must watch at least one movie.

The whole staff must go out at some cool place every pay day.

There must be music in the office and every employee is required to submit a playlist.

There must be field trips to historical or extremely cool places.

There must be a white board placed on the wall, which will be called THE WAILING WALL

There must be a fund raising event once a year.

There must be a company pet.

Friday must be PIZZA DAY

Wednesday is group sharing day

Tuesday must be BEER DAY

Happiness and Life

We are about to launch our Gimmick website this month, so there is a reason to be excited when you browse the internet. You’ll be able to meet up with friends and get closer with your family through Gimmick. Our intention on building Gimmick is just one word: Happiness.

It’s priceless to see your family and friends smile: a bit melodramatic but true. In this world, you can never buy time, and Time comes with Happiness. Gimmick gives you those. When you don’t know where to go pleasurable, log on to Gimmick and browse our wide list of establishments. Have freedom to choose, and save effort from jumping one place to another. Feel free to act as a critic in any establishment.

This whole idea of beginning a website that separates the virtual world from the real world came from the need of the users to notice and excite at the same time. Love of discovery, and love of family; Happiness in friends and Happiness and not wasting time.

The fundamental rule of Gimmick is to know what makes you happy so we could create a better form of Happiness. In recent research, scientists have found out that Happiness can increase productivity by large numbers; however, money has a light effect on happiness.

We will always try the Happiness you deserve every time you use Gimmick. In our company, we let our employees do whatever they want to do. Add some crazy ideas for the office to add a little fun. Have no limit in our imagination. Create anything that needs to be created. We want to be innovative in people’s feelings as well as to be compassionate. That is what we call Company Culture. We play games before meetings. We chat between breaks; the little details that usually escape one’s mind.

What we do in Gimmick is what we do in Openovate: Real life Happiness for real people. We want Gimmick to be more than a generic website. We are not Filipinos, We are Filipiyes.