Friday, July 26, 2019

10 Reasons Why DICT's DigitalJobs.PH (RISTT) Initiative is Successful


Last July 16 and 17, I moderated 3 panels at the 3rd Philippine Impact Sourcing Conference (PISCON 2019) at Royce Hotel, Clark Pampanga.

The event celebrated what the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), through its ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB), has achieved with its Rural Impact Sourcing Technical Training Initiative.

I got the chance to moderate the RISTT graduates panel for the past two years where they share their journey from challenges to success stories.

Moderated 2 breakout panels as well that focused on getting jobs at online freelancer platforms, the importance of certification, and assessment. 

The breakout panels gave us the opportunity to learn from various personalities passionate in helping freelancers grow through personal advocacies. 

Great insights from Julia Jasmine Sta. Romana, MK Bertulfo, Marvin De Leon, and Jason Dulay. From the audience, we also learned from Liberty Baldovino, MJ Bravo, Alexis Vida Lim, Roger Anthony Apostol Ines, among others.

Why is the DigitalJobsPH (RISTT) Initiative Successful?

During the panel introduction, I shared 10 reasons why the RISTT initiative is gaining momentum and continuing success.

#1. The Project Raises Potential ICT Leaders in the Countryside

In the past two years, a total of 1,832 individuals were trained by the program from 94 key locations in the Philippines.

The chosen areas are those not qualified yet as "Next Wave Cities" where potential BPO locators would go to. 

Developing ICT manpower skills in these areas are intended to help them find jobs online and some eventually form their own companies, organization, cooperatives. All with the intention of sustaining what they have started.

RISTT / DigitalJobsPH 2019 Targets

The event also serves as a venue to formalize partnerships with various local government units for the RISTT implementation this 2019. 

The project is set to train 2,112 Filipinos this year under its rebranded digitaljobsPH program (formerly Rural Impact Sourcing Technical Training).


#2. The Project Creates a Supportive Climate For Its Scholars

The DICT leadership, from national to local, has been consistent in reminding students/graduates of their duty to give back and train more people who can benefit from the skills and opportunities they were able to gain as a result of the program.

The DICT, LGU, partner organizations began tapping graduates to also conduct talks and workshops to help train more local constituents. 

Facilities such as DICT's RIS Hub & Tech4Ed were also helpful to graduates who don't own computers yet. They use these facilities to look for projects online and serve clients.

#3 The Project Identifies Scholars Thoroughly

Aspiring program scholars go through a thorough application process that includes testing and interview.

Priority is given to the unemployed, new graduates, returning OFWs, homemakers, part-time workers, person(s) with a disability, and retirees.

The screening helps in the filtering and give the scholarship slot to those who want, need, and willing to commit for its completion.

#4 The Project Nurtures Potential ICT Leaders

To further support the graduates after program completion, the DICT encourages its graduates to self-organize and come up with its own project initiatives where they can help each other and give back to the community.

Some formed companies, organization, and cooperatives.

One of the most inspiring ones is Digiworkz Carmona. This is a cooperative initiated by graduates from the RISTT batch 1 Carmona class.

They give training, whether pro bono or funded to local constituents. They also seek out project opportunities and members work on completing them.

Last PISCON 2019, the Filipino Online Professionals Service Cooperative - FOPSCo. was also launched. The movement is composed of DigitalJobsPH (RISTT) trainers, graduates, and freelancers from various parts of the country.

#5 The Project Equips Scholars


The training programs include e-commerce & digital marketing, graphic design, web development, social media marketing, virtual assistant, search engine marketing, and content writing. 

The training tasks are stringent with a resemblance to real-world work experience. It requires completion of hands-on tasks and execution of a marketing campaign where the student works on finding a job online.

This means the graduates are well equipped and can proudly show their completed class task work as a portfolio. It reflects the hard work they went through to become skilled and qualified to earn their completion certificate.




#6 The Project Develops Potential Leaders


Through this project, the DICT has identified numerous trainers in the countryside to teach its various training modules and help the students/graduates find online job opportunities.

Most have continued with their advocacy and created programs to sustain the initiative. A good number of them are also supported by the DICT local cluster.

The DICT is also tapping experienced and qualified RISTT graduates as trainers.

#7 The Project Will Lead To New Generation of Rural BPO Leaders/Owners

For a program to reach its full potential, DICT's commitment to this is for the long term. As a result, the project gains are visible and measurable.

For example, rural BPOs started forming in the first year of RISTT from its trainers and graduates in certain areas. Actively getting clients and gradually growing their team.

Growth is escalating - slowly but surely.



#8 Strong DICT & Partners Teamwork

This project would not have grown without the hard work of everyone involved especially at the LGU, local ICT council, DTI, DICT cluster, and provincial directors. 

The continuous briefing, updating, training, teamwork, and occasional coaching of everyone involved make every challenge a welcome opportunity for growth.

#9 Partners Give Value To The Project

Partners in this project contribute their resources to make it a success. 

This includes trainer related expenses, venue, food, computers to be used, Internet connectivity, among others.

The availability of these resources and support especially during the 21-day marketing campaign period was a difference-maker.

#10 DICT Reproducing Rural Countryside ICT Leaders

As the initiative paves way for trainers and graduates to level up, the impact of their initiatives usually results in empowering people from other areas too.

Unlike in the usual setup where ICT Leaders usually come from urban areas, this project is giving form to new ICT Leaders motivated in making difference in their rural community.

The rise of new countryside ICT Leaders is what can help make initiatives such as RISTT/DigitalJobsPH continuing success leading to more online jobs, Rural BPOs, startups, cooperatives, among others.

(source of photos: DICT Twitter account)

Monday, July 15, 2019

Will Your Idea Die Or Thrive?


In a competitive and distracting online world, it is a challenge to spread an idea that can grip a person's attention long enough and be compelled to take action.
If you have an interesting idea executed in a project, will it be easy to spread the word? 
You can say that with online advertising, it can be easy especially if you have the budget for it. But what if you don't have enough to keep paying for it? How long will your idea live on and thrive? Is it only good for one-time dissemination or will it keep passing on?
Will the idea be interesting enough for people to share it with their friends and connections? 
The target market you are aiming for, do they belong in overlapping communities, groups, that exposes them to competing ideas, offerings, propositions? Are they close enough to believe, trust, and sway each other?

Will Your Idea Die Or Thrive?

An idea requires to be put to the test. Not once but in several iterations. Always improved each time. Especially if you are convinced of its potential and ability to benefit a great number of people.


Sunday, April 17, 2016

Preview of Elephone P9000 Dual-Sim, Wireless Charging, Fingerprint Security, Slow-Motion Photography

The smartphone brand Elephone arrives in the Philippines and available exclusively through online retail giant Lazada. This unit is made by fast-growing Chinese smartphone manufacturer Elephone (HK Elephone Communication Tech Co., Limited).

Elephone P9000

The Elephone P9000 (or access it from the mobile app) will be available in the Philippines exclusively through Lazada starting April 18, 12:00 NN. It can be purchased for P11,499.

Its features include:
  • 1.6mm narrow bezel vision 
  • 5.5-inch OGS screen of 1920 X 1080 resolution and 85% color saturation 
  • Low power consumption & ultrathin
  • Micro arc carved surface built with metal frame
  • Wireless charging 
  • 3000 mAh battery
  • 4GB RAM 
  • Helio P10 64-bit Octacore SoC 
  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow 
  • Fingerprint to lock / unlock / secure
  • Type C USB interface
  • NFC-enabled P9000 offers the exchange of data between devices within the 10.00 cm range. 
  • Built with a Sony IMX258 13 Megapixel CMOS sensor 
  • F/2.0 large aperture 
  • Dual flash
  • 1080P slow motion photography
  • Laser-aided auto focus feature 
  • Speedy shutter
  • Aircraft-grade Xeon metal
  • 7075 aluminum alloy for high hardness, strength, and anti-corrosion
Check out the Elephone P9000 video below for an overview:



Visit Lazada Philippines to know more about this gadget. (or access it from the mobile app)

Additional info: Tips when buying from Lazada Philippines

Elephone P8000

If the P9000 is too much for you, you can consider its predecessor - the Elephone P8000. This will be available in the Philippines exclusively through Lazada starting April 18, 12:00 NN (or access it from the mobile app).

Its features include:
  • 5.5” Full HD display at 1080 P Screen
  • 3GB RAM
  • 16GB ROM
  • Android 5.1 OS (it will be upgraded to Android 6 by mid-May 2016)
  • 64-bit Octa Core SOC integrated with A53 structure technology
  • 21 hours of talk time
  • 2-4 days standby time (at regular use) 
  • MT6753 
  • 4165mAh battery
  • 5V 2A input allows the phone to be quickly charged from 0% to 10% in 10 minutes. 
  • Press-touch ID
  • Advanced fingerprint ID which allows its owner to access the device in one easy stroke and can lock functions.
  • 13MP Samsung primary camera performing in low-light condition with anti-reflection technology
  • 5MP front camera
  • Metal frame



Additional info: Tips when buying from Lazada Philippines

Elephone S1


If you are on a search for a budget phone, the Elephone S1 can also be an option. Its price is P3,999. This will be available in the Philippines exclusively through Lazada starting April 18, 12:00 NN. (Access it from the Lazada mobile app.)

Its features include:

  • Packed in double-sided glass and metal framing
  • 5.0” HD Screen display and adopted on-cell lamination
  • IPS technology
  • 720P HD display
  • MT6580 Quadcore CPU
  • Built-in Hexagon DSP Core
  • Running on Freeme OS
  • 142.3 gram and 6.7 mm slim body
  • 13MP Sony IMX149 rear camera which allows 1080P shooting and supports various effects such as black and white, embossing, neon glow, etc. 
  • Sapphire lens protects the camera from any chips and breakage due to falling or scratching
  • 360 identification, fast fingerprint unlock

Additional info: Tips when buying from Lazada Philippines

If you are a first time buyer in Lazada Philippines, the discount codes below can be a great deal for you  (valid for this April 2016 only). You can use to purchase any item on the site or access its bestsellers list (or access it from the mobile app).