Forem: Gladwin Ferdz Del Rosario

Not Just Building Code, But Sparking the Possibilities ✨ - GDG PUP's Build with AI 2025

Gladwin Ferdz Del Rosario — Mon, 26 May 2025 05:23:01 +0000

Whitecloak Technologies Inc., 20th Floor, Strata 2000, F. Ortigas Jr. Rd, Ortigas Center, Pasig, Kalakhang Maynila – May 25, 2025 – Who would have thought that developing an AI chatbot could be both engaging and achievable in just one day? Participants of GDG PUP’s Build with AI 2025 did exactly this using the Gemini 2.0 API, Streamlit, and ChromaDB!

Hosted by Emmanuel Oaing from GDG PUP’s Community Relations
Department, the event was structured into two main parts: the technical workshops and the project development phase. The day unfolded in the following sequence:

Ingress and Technical Setup
Opening Remarks by Gladwin Ferdz Del Rosario(me), CTO - GDG PUP
Icebreaker
Tech Workshop 1: Intro to Building AI Agents with Gemini 2.0 by Loyd Vendiola
Lunch Break
Tech Workshop 2: Introduction to Building AI Applications with Gemini, Streamlit, and ChromaDB by Danielle Bagaforo Meer
Project Development Phase
Project Presentation
Closing Remarks by John Paul Curada, Data and ML Lead - GDG PUP.

Opening Ceremonies:
The event took place at the inspiring office of Whitecloak Technologies Inc., the event’s venue sponsor. Build with AI 2025 began with the technical setup of tools and software, followed by opening remarks delivered by… me, Gladwin Ferdz Del Rosario, Chief Technology Officer of Google Developer Groups on Campus Polytechnic University of the Philippines. I highlighted the event’s goals: to innovate, to learn, and to connect. This event aimed not only to teach the technical skills needed to build an AI chatbot as the final project but also to spark new connections and possibilities with each other throughout the day.

Next came a lively icebreaker session where participants played human bingo, moving around to complete tasks with other attendees and breaking the ice for collaboration. The icebreaker became a networking session for participants to get to know one another, build connections, and set the tone for teamwork and creativity, a way to spark the aforementioned connections and possibilities throughout the day.

Technical Workshops:
The first technical workshop was led by Loyd Vendiola, Associate Cloud Engineer at Computrade Technology Philippines. He delivered the second workshop: Intro to Building AI agents with Gemini 2.0. Gemini is Google’s next-generation family of large multimodal models developed by Google DeepMind. Gemini 2.0 processes and understands text, images, audio, video, and code with improved performance, efficiency, and reasoning capabilities. Loyd demonstrated how to create AI agents using simple natural language prompts via the Gemini API or platforms like Vertex AI. Participants learned how developers can define tasks, guide models with instructions, and integrate additional tools or memory to build dynamic, goal-oriented agents. With minimal coding, these agents can interact with users, retrieve information, call APIs, or automate workflows — opening opportunities to embed intelligence into a wide range of applications.

Following this, Danielle Bagaforo Meer, AI x Blockchain Engineer at BayaniChain*, delivered the second workshop: *Introduction to Building AI Applications with Gemini, Streamlit, and ChromaDB**. This session prepared participants to connect all the tools and build a complete AI application — specifically, an AI chatbot. Gemini served as the core engine for natural language understanding and response generation. Streamlit provided an interactive and user-friendly web interface, while ChromaDB offered memory and context through vector embeddings by storing and retrieving relevant information. Danielle guided participants through building an intelligent chatbot capable of meaningful conversations, context retention, and responsive interaction within a web app.

Project Development
Then came the event’s most intense and exciting phase — the project development challenge. Around ten teams worked on creating customized chatbots using their chosen datasets and implementing various features. Participants were deeply engaged: debugging, coding new algorithms, drawing flowcharts to visualize chatbot structure, refining prompts, and integrating APIs. The atmosphere was a vibrant mix of focused energy, collaboration, and rapid problem-solving as teams pushed to bring their ideas to life.

During the project presentation segment, teams showcased their
unique AI chatbot solutions. Some of the participating teams included Iskoder, Chronos, Teresian, Team Watawat, Jet Set Go, and others. Their projects reflected creativity and technical prowess, featuring use cases such as:

A chatbot answering frequently asked questions to assist PUP students
A recipe chatbot suggesting and explaining dishes from a specific cookbook
A location-aware chatbot providing directions based on place names or uploaded images

These presentations highlighted the participants’ understanding of AI’s real-world applications and their innovative approaches.

Concluding Ceremonies:

The event concluded with closing remarks by GDG PUP’s Data and Machine Learning Lead, John Paul Curada. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all participants, commending their dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm throughout the day. He emphasized the importance of collaboration, continuous learning, and the vast potential AI holds in solving real-world challenges.

Build with AI 2025 is part of GDG PUP’s very own hackathon
competition, Sparkfest, providing participants a supportive environment to develop and improve their projects. An invitation highlighted throughout the day by the event hosts and GDG PUP’s Chief Technology Officer, Gladwin Ferdz Del Rosario which emphasized Sparkfest as a platform where participants could turn their ideas into real-world solutions.

Personal Reflection and Conclusions:
Helping lead Build with AI 2025, I realize it was so much more than just a coding event — it became a true catalyst for innovation and a launchpad for new possibilities. Watching the participants dive into hands-on workshops and then bring their ideas to life through the project phase was inspiring. They didn’t just build AI chatbots; they showcased creativity, technical skill, and practical problem-solving in ways that genuinely impressed me. What struck most was how the event embodied the spirit of sparking connections — not just between people, but also between ideas, technologies, and opportunities. By giving students the platform to innovate and build, they can unlock their potential and turn ideas into meaningful solutions that impact the world around them.

As a famous quote once said:

“The programmers of tomorrow are the wizards of the future. You’re going to look like you have magic powers compared to everybody else.”

Gabe Newell

Who Ran the World? Code!: A KakaComputer Coverage for CTRL+ALT+RUN at Parqal, Aseana

Gladwin Ferdz Del Rosario — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 15:29:36 +0000

Parqal, ASEANA, Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, Brgy. Tambo, Parañaque, Metro Manila - February 22, 2025 - Have you ever envisioned an event where the tech community unites, not for coding nor tech in general, but for physical activity and wellness? This vision became a reality on February 22, 2025, at Parqal, Aseana with Ctrl + Alt + Run 2025.

This article primarily provides insights into the event through my video coverage, which can be viewed here:

It will also include timestamps to delineate specific parts of the event.

The event attracted a diverse crowd from various tech organizations, fostering a sense of camaraderie beyond the usual professional and technical interactions/environments.

The call time was set for 4:00 AM, yet even before that hour, the venue was already bustling with enthusiastic runners, eager to participate and reconnect with their peers.

The event started through an opening prayer (0:14), seeking the safety and well-being of all participants. This was followed by opening remarks (0:27) from one of the event’s lead organizers, Mitchie, who warmly welcomed the attendees. In her speech, she emphasized that Ctrl + Alt + Run 2025 aimed to unite individuals from the tech community in a space where they could engage in physical activity and enjoy themselves beyond their usual professional environments.

Stephie and I were doing this from 8-9 months now because we wanted to bring everybody, people in tech like you to be in one place and have fun where it's not all just about work.

1:01 - Following the opening program, the event was followed by an overall warm-up session also provided by the Ctrl + Alt + Run organizing team.

Gun Start and Runners' Assembly:

5:40 AM - The runners’ distances were divided into 10km, 5km, and 3km. The 10km runners were the first to line up since their gun start was at 5:30 AM, followed by the 5km and 3km runners at 5:45 AM.

The Great Run: My Experiences

The energy among the runners was incredible, as everyone came together to stay active and have fun as a community. Beyond the run itself, the event had several exciting elements that made the experience even better.

One of the most motivating parts, especially for a first-time runner like me, was the milestone charms given at different points of the course. These small rewards kept me going, and I received four of them at 1:57, 2:55, 3:12, 3:49, and 4:27 in my video coverage. Alongside these, hydration stations were placed at key spots, ensuring that runners could get water when they needed it most.

Another thing I really appreciated was the medical support. Medics were stationed at every turn, always ready in case of emergencies. I also noticed medics on scooters patrolling the race, prepared to respond quickly if needed. Even better, ambulances were placed in key areas for major emergencies, and I experienced their readiness firsthand when I got leg cramps near one. The medics immediately assisted me, which was a huge relief.

Finally, what made the event even more special was the amazing support from the ushers. They not only guided us but also cheered us on, making the run feel even more exciting. I even caught moments of them cheering at 4:43 and 4:57 in my video.

Following the main run, participants were treated to a variety of exciting activities designed to further enhance the experience. Several games and interactive booths, organized by various tech communities, were set up for the runners to enjoy. These engaging post-run attractions can be seen starting at 5:21 in my video coverage. Participating tech communities with booths included No-Code Philippines, Embedded Systems PH, Eastwood City Chess, and Java User Group Philippines, each showcasing unique activities at their respective stations.

Some days before the main run, participants were provided with race equipment based on their selected kit.

Full Kit Inclusions:

Singlet
Race bib
Running belt
Charms bracelet
One free charm representing a chosen tech community logo
Race bag (distributed after the event)
Race medal (awarded after the event)

Lite Kit Inclusions:

Race bib
Charms bracelet
One free charm representing a chosen tech community logo
Race bag (distributed after the event)
Race medal (awarded after the event)

The kit that I got was the lite kit under 10km.

Overall, Ctrl + Alt + Run 2025 was an incredibly well-organized event that made sure every runner had a fun, safe, and memorable experience.

Conclusions and Personal Thoughts

Ctrl + Alt + Run 2025 was more than just a fun run—it was a powerful reminder that the tech community thrives not only in front of screens but also in real-world connections. As people who spend countless hours optimizing code, solving problems, and pushing the limits of innovation, we often forget to prioritize our own well-being. This event proved that while we build fast, efficient systems, we must also take time to step away, move, and take care of ourselves.

A concept that deeply resonates with me is ikigai, the Japanese philosophy of finding purpose. In tech, we often associate our purpose with creating innovative solutions, debugging complex systems, and advancing our skills. However, true fulfillment isn’t just about these things. But, it’s also about balance. It may also be about being part of a vibrant community, taking care of our physical health, or through finding joy beyond the lines of code we write.

Throughout the event, I witnessed people reuniting after long periods apart, sharing moments of excitement and camaraderie. Runners exchanged high-fives along the loops, cheering each other on and offering words of encouragement to keep pushing forward. Some waved enthusiastically to familiar faces in the crowd, while others shared smiles and brief conversations as they ran side by side. Amongst the sweat and feeling of tiredness was an atmosphere filled with a sense of unity, determination, and mutual support, making it more than just a race or a fun run.

An event like this reminds us that our purpose goes beyond just being engineers, developers, or tech enthusiasts. At the end of the day, we're people who need to move, connect, and feel a sense of belonging.

The title of this article, “Who Ran the World? Code.”, is taken from the song "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyoncé from its famous line “Who runs the world? Girls.” In our case, we, the tech community, ran the world, just like our code does. Code is structured, efficient, and constantly improving, and in many ways, so are we. But on the morning of the event, we left our code running on our machines and ran ourselves. We pushed forward, just like we push our systems to perform at their best. We optimized not just our programs but our own endurance, proving that we are more than just the work we produce.

Ultimately, Ctrl + Alt + Run 2025 was a celebration of movement, both in tech and in life. It showed that while we build the future through innovation, we must also build a healthier, more connected version of ourselves and the community. In another sense, just as we collaborate to create great innovations, we thrive when we support each other beyond our computers. Every step taken, every high-five exchanged, and every word of encouragement reflected the strength of our community. Because when we run, not just our programs, but ourselves, we don’t just keep up with the world. We help create it, together.

When Bright Minds Meet to Shine in the Big Stage - Looking Back to TedxUPV Women: Anchored in Tech

Gladwin Ferdz Del Rosario — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:00:00 +0000

When Bright Minds Meet to Shine in the Big Stage - Looking Back to TedxUPV Women: Anchored in Tech (A Commemoration for Women's Month)

The Theatre at Solaire, Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines – November 15th, 2024 – TEDx, the inspiring stories of tech, life, and everything we often watch online, has now come to life on the big stage.

March is recognized as Women's Month, a time to celebrate and honor the achievements of women across various fields. In commemoration of this significant month, I would like to reflect on a remarkable event held last year that I attended as a volunteer. This major event featured distinguished women speakers in the field of technology under the TEDx platform, highlighting their contributions, insights, and impact on the industry.

Hosted by Gian Dizon and Monique Angelika, TEDxUPV Women: Anchored in Tech was held at The Theatre at Solaire, Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, on November 15, 2024. The event brought together diverse personalities, leaders, and notable figures in technology, business, and society.

The full lineup of speakers included:

Anda del Rosario – Leadership Coach and Team Coach, Coach Anda
Belle Rodolfo – Beauty Editor & Content Creator
Carla Mae Leonor – Design Division Chief, Design Center of the Philippines; Co-Founder, Bughaw Creative Collective
Chezka Gonzales – Blockchain Advocate and Entrepreneur
Fabi Cariño – Multi-awarded HR and Wellness Global Thought Leader; Founder, Ifacilitate Thrive and Mind Your Mind Academy
Jade Bonacolta – Head of North America Marketing for Media, Entertainment, and Games at Google; Founder, The Quiet Rich
Jason Hugh Uy – Legal Intern, Saladanan & Ampuan Law Firm; Undergraduate Student, De La Salle University
Jommel Macabagdal – CEO, MAC Management Inc.; CEO, What Matters Inc.; CFO, MAXIMUS Built Solutions Inc.; Programs Execom Lead, Project Management Institute - Philippines Chapter; Part-time Professor, De La Salle University (Civil Engineering)
Joyce Santiago Savage – International Motivational Speaker & Mindset Mentor, Joyce Savage
Karen Gil – Commercial Director and AGM, The Astbury
Katrina Balmaceda Uy – Head of Strategy at With Content
Lotis Ramin – Country President, AstraZeneca; President, PHAPCares Foundation
Mary Claire Delgado – School Leader, Oakland Unified School District
Mary Lou Cunanan – International Business and Cross-Cultural Communications Lecturer; Business Development Executive; Writer
Nandini Singh – Statistics & Data Science Student
Neeta Bhushan – Founder and CEO, Highest Self Institute; 5x Award-Winning Author; Top 50 Podcast Show Host, The Brave Table
Nikki Huang – Writer
Rana Gujral – CEO, Behavioral Signals
Sam Sammane – Founder and CEO, TheoSym
Sofia Tajanlangit – Founder and CEO
Stewart Levitt – Principal and Managing Partner, Levitt Robinson Solicitors & Attorneys
Susan Blanchet – CEO, Origen Air Systems Ltd.
Sydney Lai – Co-Founder, GaiaNet.ai

As a member of the volunteer corps who worked closely with the speakers and enjoyed exclusive access to the backstage and other areas of the venue, the experience provided me several valuable takeaways, notably:

Mother Knows Best:

Mary Jane Kurup, Managing Director of VP Events Philippines, learned the importance of balance after a health scare caused by the stress of juggling motherhood, marriage, and a career. Regretting not taking care of her son, she adopted the "three 8s" system: 8 hours for self-care, 8 hours for work, and 8 hours for family. This shift allowed her to prioritize what mattered most and set boundaries. As she has said:

“For all women leaders out there, don’t forget to say ‘no’ or ‘not available.’ Empower yourself with the right gadgets that can help you work more efficiently and quickly,” Kurup urged.

Update your “Personal” Operating System:

Motivational speaker Mary Joyce Savage stressed the importance of aligning one’s beliefs, values, and life choices to create a cohesive and fulfilling life. She compared this process to updating a personal operating system, where individuals must actively address and eliminate the “glitches” in their mindset and habits. By focusing on self-improvement and personal growth, instead of comparing oneself to others, Savage encourages us to embrace the latest version of ourselves. As she puts it,

“Updating the glitches into greatness, installing the latest you.”

Life is a Continuous Learning Journey:

Rana Gujral, CEO of Behavioral Signals, as I remembered once said,

“My titles are my learning journey,”

Reflecting how each role is a step in personal and professional growth. He explained that when things become comfortable, he seeks out new challenges, seeing them as opportunities to learn and evolve. This mindset underscores that each new venture or position is more than just an achievement; it’s a chance to build knowledge, take risks, and continue growing.

Conclusions:

March, celebrated as Women's Month, is a time to recognize the achievements of women and advocate for greater inclusivity in all fields—including technology. TEDxUPV Women: Anchored in Tech was more than just an event; it was a powerful testament to resilience, passion, and the limitless potential of women in the tech industry. It showcased brilliant minds from diverse backgrounds—women who are breaking barriers, individuals overcoming personal challenges, and those relentlessly pursuing their dreams despite the odds.

But beyond this one event, the movement toward inclusivity continues to grow, both locally and globally. Initiatives such as BuildHers+, PyLadies, She is DevCon, Code Without Barriers and more, actively support and uplift women in tech, creating opportunities for learning, mentorship, and career advancement. These programs are a testament to the fact that innovation thrives when diverse voices are heard, and when talent is nurtured regardless of gender.

As a male in tech, I firmly believe that the industry is stronger when women are equally represented, empowered, and given the space to lead. To the women striving to make their mark—keep pushing forward.

Your ideas, your skills, and your presence are shaping the future. The challenges you overcome today will pave the way for the next generation, proving that technology is a space for everyone.

The road may not always be easy, but your journey is worth it, and the tech world is better because you are part of it.

Engineering a Seamlessly Connected World: Spring into APIs with OpenAPI Automation & WireMock Testing at GCash

Gladwin Ferdz Del Rosario — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:09:09 +0000

GCASH Office, W Global Center, 9th Ave. cor. 30th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila - February 20, 2025

Ever wondered how top companies streamline development and boost efficiency? Let’s explore how GCash becomes a successful fintech company by optimizing their development through strategic automation, leveraging OpenAPI and WireMock Testing to streamline operations and drive innovation.

The first Java User Group Philippines meetup of 2025 highlighted how Spring is utilized in Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). GCash, serving as the event's venue sponsor, featured expert speakers from their team who shared insights into their best practices for API development and testing.

Speakers

Lorenzo Dee, Head of Back-end Engineering at GCash, who presented "Effortless Testing with WireMock", discussing strategies for seamless API testing.
Roy Donasco, AVP, Head of Technical Transformation Delivery at GCash, who spoke about automation in OpenAPI, focusing on optimizing API workflows through automation.

Opening Remarks

Tristan Mahinay, one of the leaders of Java User Group Philippines (JUGPH), welcomed the attendees and provided an introduction to JUGPH, its dedicated volunteers, current sponsors, and past events. He emphasized the expansive Java ecosystem and its thriving community in the Philippines. Additionally, he highlighted the Java Community Process (JCP) Java in Education initiative, which aims to foster Java education and engagement among developers.

Effortless Testing with WireMock

By Lorenzo Dee, Head of Back-end Engineering at GCash

Introduction to WireMock

During the talk, Mr. Lorenzo Dee introduced WireMock as a tool used for mocking and stubbing downstream services in software development and testing. WireMock enables developers to simulate the behavior of real services, APIs, or dependencies that an application interacts with, facilitating efficient testing and debugging.

Understanding Downstream Services

As a supporting explanation, downstream services refer to external or dependent services that an application interacts with to fetch data, process requests, or perform specific functions. These services are typically those that the system calls, rather than services that call the system.

WireMock vs. Traditional Java Class Mocking

Unlike mocking a Java class, WireMock is specifically designed to mock HTTP requests, allowing developers to replicate real API interactions. This is particularly useful when mocking the downstream of an API request, as it enables testing of various scenarios, including failures, slow responses, and unexpected payloads.

WireMock in GCash: Performance Testing

According to Mr. Dee, GCash utilizes WireMock for performance testing, ensuring that the system can handle high traffic and varying response times efficiently. By leveraging mocks, GCash is able to cover various test cases without relying on actual downstream services, thereby enhancing the speed and reliability of its testing process.

Paid vs. Free WireMock

At the end of the talk, an attendee inquired about the differences between the paid and free versions of WireMock. In response, Mr. Dee explained that the paid WireMock is a hosted service, meaning it runs as a managed cloud-based service, eliminating the need for users to set up and maintain their own WireMock instances. This version offers additional features, scalability, and enterprise-level support, making it particularly beneficial for large-scale projects and teams.

OpenAPI Automation

By Mr. Roy Donasco, AVP, Head of Technical Transformation Delivery at GCash

Introduction to API Design-First Approach

Mr. Roy Donasco began his talk by highlighting the API Design-First Framework, an approach that prioritizes defining an API’s structure and behavior before writing any implementation code. This method ensures clear documentation, better collaboration between teams, and a more maintainable development process.

Advantages of an API Design-First Approach

Clear Documentation
Design-First Philosophy
Collaboration and Communication
Client and Server Development in Parallel
Automatic Code Generation
Testing and Mocking
Contract-First Signing
Avoids Over-Engineering
Easier Versioning and Evolution

The Importance of Schema-First Development

Mr. Donasco emphasized that a best practice in API development is to always design the schema first, as it serves as the blueprint for how APIs will function. By defining the schema early, developers can avoid inconsistencies, enhance security, and improve the overall developer experience. A well-structured schema also helps streamline integration, making it easier for frontend and backend teams to work in parallel without misalignment.

Automating API Development with OpenAPI Generator

Mr. Donasco also introduced the OpenAPI Generator, a powerful tool that automates the creation of API client libraries, server stubs, and documentation from an OpenAPI specification. This significantly reduces manual coding efforts, enforces consistency, and accelerates API development.

By leveraging OpenAPI Generator, teams can ensure that their implementations remain aligned with the API specification, ultimately leading to more robust and reliable applications.

Mr. Roy Donasco discussed the OpenAPI approach using the API Generator in Spring Boot. Details about his practical demo are below:

Networking, Raffle, and Closing Ceremonies

The speaker sessions were followed by a raffle featuring computer mice sponsored by GCash and JetBrains licenses provided by JetBrains. Additionally, food was served, generously sponsored by both the venue and GCash, along with networking sessions among the attendees.

Conclusion

The success of the First Java Meetup of 2025 at GCash is a testament to how strategic development and strong community engagement drive innovation. GCash’s seamless approach to automation, leveraging OpenAPI and WireMock, showcases how technology can be optimized to enhance efficiency, scalability, and reliability—critical factors in the ever-evolving fintech industry.

Their commitment to refining best practices in API development not only benefits their internal processes but also sets a high standard for the broader developer community.

Beyond the technical insights, this event underscored the power of tech communities in shaping the future of software engineering. As a Java User Group Philippines (JUGPH) volunteer, I’ve witnessed firsthand how these gatherings create opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and growth. Events like this inspire developers to push boundaries, share knowledge, and innovate together.

Attending tech meetups is more than just learning about new tools and frameworks—it’s about being part of something bigger. The synergy between industry leaders like GCash and communities like JUGPH is a reminder that technology thrives when we grow together.

Let’s continue to engage, innovate, and drive the future of tech—one meetup at a time.