From the Blog
Sharing insights on technology, development challenges, and my professional journey in the tech industry.
Scam Alert: The
"PrimeX Ventures" Trap
A deep dive into a suspicious job offer demanding "Onsite" work in Tarlac. How a fake Facebook page, bot followers, and a "laggy" website revealed a potential human trafficking scheme.
Level Up: Officially BIR Registered & Building SaaS!
Taking a major step forward in my freelance career by legitimizing the business with the BIR and venturing into Software as a Service...
Babala: How This BDO Phishing Scam Can Empty Your Account
A breakdown of a dangerous BDO phishing email and crucial steps to protect your funds from being stolen...
The +639 Dilemma: Why Philippine Numbers Are Flagged
An exploration into why the +63 country code has a reputation for scams and how legitimate professionals can navigate this challenge...
From 0% to 97%: Is Turnitin Losing Its Reliability?
A shocking discovery reveals a massive discrepancy in Turnitin's AI detection, raising serious questions about the tool's updated algorithm...
More Than a Meeting: The 72 Failures of Arnoks' CEO
Lessons in resilience, faith, and business synergy from my meeting with Jonathan Dela Cruz Taguines, the CEO of Arnoks...
Coming Soon: The "Kapilya Near Me" Android App!
A first look at my first-ever Android app, a passion project designed to help brethren find chapels and schedules worldwide...
Welcome to the Team, Dan Mark De Leon!
A monumental day for B.I.T.S. as I officially welcome my best friend and our very first employee...
Anatomy of a Time-Waster: A Case Study
A deep dive into a potential client that went from a simple inquiry to a masterclass in red flags...
Finding Value in a New Sideline
A small win from a new sideline tutoring a foreign client, and the lessons learned about diversification...
The "Mag-uumapaw ang Pag-asa" Album is Out Now!
A personal and spiritual milestone—sharing the release of the INC A Cappella 10th Anniversary Album...
More Than a Passing Grade: Conquering the MIT Exam
A personal win that goes beyond projects and clients—passing my Master's comprehensive exam...
From Zero to $17: A Small Win That Feels Like a Jackpot
Celebrating the small wins and the validation that comes from monetizing a passion project for the first time...
Anatomy of a Scam: The "We Want to Fund Your Project" Email
A breakdown of a classic advance-fee fraud email targeting freelancers and how to spot the red flags...
"Our Mission is a Secret": Dodging Dubious Offers
A case study on identifying red flags and why critical thinking is a freelancer's most valuable skill...
Thank You for the "No": A Freelancer's Greatest Blessing
Why a client's rejection isn't a failure, but a valuable lesson in professionalism, growth, and gratitude...
The Verdict: Google Waived $6,400 of My Bill
The final chapter of the Google Cloud billing saga, with a huge credit and valuable lessons learned...
From a $7,000 Mistake to a Business
How a painful lesson led to a major step forward in my freelance career by officially registering my business...
How One Bug Cost Me Over $7,000 on Google Cloud
A painful but valuable lesson on cloud costs, API usage, and the simple preventative measures every developer should take...
Anatomy of a Nightmare Client
A real-world case study on the most important skill a freelancer can have: knowing when to walk away...
My First Six-Figure Project
Three years. Three years na akong freelance developer. Sa loob ng panahong 'yon, sobrang dami nang pinagdaanan...
'Satisfactorily Completed' vs. 'Client Satisfaction'
Para sa ating mga freelancers, ang kontrata ang ating sandigan at panangga. Nariyan lahat ng usapan...
The 'Basic' Project: A Freelancer's Tale
Client: Yung project, basic lang. The 'basic' project: A system with inventory, user tracking, database...