Author: Jayvee Fernandez

Once known as the BPO capital of the world, the Philippines is undergoing another shift—this time toward becoming a global hub for applied AI. And according to industry insiders, it’s not just about automation; it’s about reinvention. In a roundtable chat with David Foote, founder of Zennya Health, and Carlo Almendral of AI First, we dove deep into how artificial intelligence is already reshaping the way Filipinos work, learn, and build the future. I met David about two decades ago, during a time when tech was awakward. It was the era of Web 1.5 where the Internet was still attempting…

If you’re reading this, you’re one of two people: a current Xiaomi 14 owner thinking about upgrading to this newest model or someone who has heard “good things” about Xiaomi’s flagship ecosystem, especially the Leica-tuned camera. Heck, you might even be a POCO user (Xiaomi’s sister brand) looking to switch. As a user of both models let me give you some perspective. I remember seeing a contact post on the elusive Interwebs (it is elusive because the news feed just keeps updating whenever you load up your social apps) that we should normalize smaller phones. And after one year of…

I’m putting the spotlight on tech-savvy dads who want their homes to run smoother, smarter, and cooler.

My father passed away during the pandemic. He never got to see the rise of AI in the form of ChatGPT and Google Gemini but I’m sure he would have been floored.

Flashback: it is March of 2023. The world is slowly awakening from a three year pandemic. As life begins to re-emerge on the city streets and people restart their routines, a new normal has emerged. With the lockdown, a headfake experiment has just been conducted, and for almost three years the question to “can people truly be productive at home?” has been answered. It’s a resounding yes. The workplace has never been the same. With hybrid work becoming the new normal for a vast majority of the population – well, at least for PhilSTAR Tech readers it’s roughly 70% –…

In an age where AI has voice actors on edge, the Philippines’ “VoiceMaster” is already training the bots himself. I met Pocholo Gonzales about twenty years ago. It was the dawn of Web 1.5, considered the precursor years to social media, a time when the Internet was slowly entering its wireless phase in coffee shops, and of course the invention of the word “podcasting” thanks to the iPod. He was an industry pioneer, bringing voices online into the digital space. Into iTunes. Into YouTube. It was more than just the dubbing and recording for commercials. I think he, like many…

Summer’s officially here, which means parents have roughly two months to keep their kids entertained at home and outdoors. As parents we are truly wary of excessive screen time when the kids get bored at home. But it doesn’t mean we should stop using technology to keep them engaged. Here are some fun toys that have really cool underlying tech behind the play Virtual Drum Kit – P4,200 You know it’s really great that your kids want to learn a musical instrument – until they start practicing with drums. Drums are perhaps one of the favorite instruments your child wants…

I’ve written about a fair number of tech infrastructures in my time, but walking through the details of NARRA1—the massive hyperscale data center in Laguna built by Digital Edge—made me pause. Here’s a structure that doesn’t just hold petabytes of data; it’s engineered to do it responsibly, quietly, and coolly—despite being smack in the middle of a tropical country known for 40-degree summers and surprise typhoons. There’s a nerdy story behind this piece and it has to do with reconnecting with friends right after the pandemic. I had been corresponding with Johnny Benitez, a friend from my high school years…

For years, Republic Act 7160—better known as the Local Government Code—has been both foundational and formidable for anyone navigating the intricacies of Philippine local governance. From students and SK leaders to aspiring public servants, many refer to it, but few truly grasp its depths. Tech entrepreneur and civic leader Eli Rabadon is changing that, using AI. Eli, the President-elect of the Rotary Club of Midtown Diliman and a former SK Chairman in Bulacan, recently built a custom GPT on ChatGPT to demystify RA 7160. His goal? To make one of the country’s most important—but often misunderstood—laws more accessible and engaging…

What if the path to a new passport started with a YouTube search? Paul and Bea didn’t just move to Spain. They built a thriving life in Valencia after leaving behind their successful wedding videography business in the US. Now, they’re showing others how to do the same through their YouTube and Instagram accounts, offering invaluable advice for Filipinos navigating the journey to European residency. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bea and Paul 🇪🇸 Life in Spain ☀️ Travel Tips ✈️ (@everythingisboffo) I met Bea a lifetime ago when she was still working at The Picture…