Angel Thoughts
Meet three youthful techies with grand dreams and plans for the country’s computer technology industry! They are childhood friends Ian Bangayan, 40, Henry Chua Jr., 32, and Darlon Sayarot, 30.
So convinced are they about digital technology’s contribution to the change and enhancement in our lives that they got together and formed a party-list, CLICK to do their share in bringing it about.
CLICK stands for Computer Literacy Innovation Connectivity and Knowledge. The young friends are convinced that technology, as Darlon stresses, “is the best way forward!”
“There are so many opportunities and skills our people can use at present, using computer technology and skills they can learn,” adds Ian. “The internet connection should be expanded all over the country! That is where our CLICK comes in. CLICK aims to help push that needed impetus in technology,” says Henry Chua Jr.
Ian, a resident of Manila, is with his dad’s company. He graduated from the University of Michigan where he took up Business studies. He is married to Gretchen Chua and they have three children.
“We would like to see a more holistic approach to the use and application of technology around the country. Technology has the power to effect change in the lives of all Filipinos and we would like to see the benefits of technology reach as many of our countrymen as possible. Our economy is evolving together with the advances in technology. Alpha Beta, a Singapore-based consultancy firm, estimated that the internet economy in the Philippines is expected to grow from an estimated $7.5 billion in 2020 to about $28 billion in a short five years.
Darlon, a three-termer councilor in Imus, Cavite, and a La Salle graduate pointed out that “digitizing the marketplace through apps and portals opens up a new field that our existing rules may not have much visibility in. Throwing in the possibility of digital payments and loans into the mix would also add a level of complexity that, if not addressed through proper rules and regulations, can hurt people in the market and hinder the growth of the new economy. This new segment that is set to grow and generate value is here to stay and we need to establish the appropriate laws and rules that encourage the development of the correct environment so that our SMEs and their potential workers and consumers can harness the benefits. We can see a more digitally enabled workforce that can get more things done at work. If they choose to, they can bring value to their employers from the comforts of their own homes instead of suffering through traffic. We can experience a higher level of convenience as digital consumers of a wide array of apps and platforms that cater to us at a click of a button.”
Ian explains: “As the economy expands with technology, we need to ensure that our people are equipped with the correct tools to adapt to the fast pace of change. We would like to see homegrown talent come out with homegrown tech but we cannot achieve this without investing in education. For example, we can encourage university courses that bring us up to speed with the rest of the world through topics like blockchain, artificial intelligence, edge computing, etc. A bigger focus on STEM classes in schools as early as the elementary levels can help build the foundation for this. Increased adoption of devices could also make seemingly dry topics, like mathematics, more interesting for children to study through the use of more interactive electronic modules that may be hard to copy ‘offline.’”
Students adapting to new technology would mean that our teachers would possibly need to familiarize themselves with new approaches in learning and refresh their knowledge base with updated trends. Government can help re-skill teachers so that they are aligned with the increased investment in the new fields of focus, noted Henry, a La Salle University graduate and a single dad with one child.
“Not all children are inclined to steep themselves in the sciences though. An up-and-coming industry called e-Sports may be a potential path for them. Projected to be worth around $2 billion this year, eSports is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Competitive computer gaming is a real thing and has captured the attention of the world. Traditional sporting organizers like the SEA Games or Asian Games have already included eSports in their events. There has even been talk about the potential for eSports to make it into the Olympics,” disclosed Darlon. He said that new job opportunities would open to more people with better and expanded technology.
Technology is a great enabler for development in the country. But, Ian stressed, “We can’t hope to take advantage of it if we are sorely lacking in infrastructure. How do we hope to benefit from digital businesses, work from home setups, online distance learning, and mobile gaming, much less decentralized finance, crypto-currency, and the metaverse, when the basics of cheaper, faster, stronger, and more stable internet connectivity nationwide are missing? We hope that we can do our part by cutting existing red tape, reviewing artificially created barriers to entry so we can encourage more competition, and helping develop a national backbone that we can use to connect our barangays.”
CLICK would like to support a holistic plan for infrastructure and development geared toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They hope that if they get the chance to join congress, they can help steer the country through this process instead of neglecting development in another key area for the future. And with enough oars paddling in the right direction within congress and government, they can look to the future and be nimble enough to create and change. Their battle cry: “Buhay #GawingHiTech.”