The Builders Beyond the Beach: GOAB Unleashes a New Era of Grassroots Tech Leadership with Its 2025 Ambassador Program

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a time when global tech conferences often chase prestige and spectacle, Geeks On A Beach (GOAB) dares to dive deeper—into the grassroots, into the communities, into the people who are quietly transforming the future of Philippine tech.

On August 1, 2025, GOAB officially launched its most ambitious community initiative yet: The GOAB Community Ambassador Program. And while its impact may not yet make waves in stock markets or disrupt billion-dollar industries overnight, it’s creating something arguably more powerful—a sustainable ecosystem rooted in inclusion, purpose, and people.

Not Just a Role, But a Movement

The 2025 GOAB Ambassadors aren’t merely figureheads or names on promotional materials. They are the beating heart of a movement that believes in tech as a transformative force—not just for industry, but for lives and livelihoods. They are startup founders, educators, designers, technologists, and students—from cities like Davao, Cebu, Pampanga, Manila, and Bohol—who believe that a rising tide lifts all boats.

At the helm is Ashley Uy, GOAB Community Director and founder of Sprout Up Bohol, whose own story echoes the very DNA of this movement. A former volunteer for TechTalks.ph, Ashley co-organized the first Startup Weekend Bohol in 2014 and attended her first GOAB the same year. What began as a spark in a local initiative is now a roaring flame lighting up communities across the archipelago.

Ashley’s vision was clear: “If we’re going to design the future, it must be built on shared purpose and authentic local insight.” The 2025 Ambassador Program, launched after a successful pilot, is the answer to that call.

Meet the Trailblazers: GOAB’s 2025 Ambassadors

Each ambassador is a community anchor, with a distinct mission:

Ashley Uy (Bohol) – The visionary lead, igniting Bohol’s digital workforce through Sprout Up Bohol

Aldrich Tan (Manila) – User experience champion, pushing human-centered design via UX PH

Christian Geonzon (Davao) – Youth empowerment engine at Davao Young Executives

Grahssel Dungca (Pampanga) – Developer community dynamo with DEVCON.PH

Karl Dela Cruz (Cebu) – User design thought leader through CebuUXD

Liam Mendoza (Davao) – The youngest in the cohort, rallying students with Davao Interschool Computer Enthusiasts

Melissa Lagat (Cebu) – Island innovator and community builder at Startup Island

Shannen Sapar (Davao) – Multi-platform creative force leading UX Davao and Sidlak Creatives

Steven Asoy (Bohol) – Tech advocate and dual-pillar support for both Sprout Up Bohol and DEVCON.PH

These aren’t just digital movers—they are ecosystem multipliers. Each brings not only skills but also an unwavering commitment to amplify opportunities in their cities and beyond.

More Than A Conference—A Platform for Impact

While GOAB remains one of the most anticipated beachside tech conferences in the region, its new direction signals a shift: from annual event to year-round enabler. Through the Ambassador Program, GOAB is building bridges between international stakeholders and grassroots leaders—creating a two-way street where insights, opportunities, and resources freely flow.

Throughout the year, Ambassadors will:

Host local meetups, talks, and knowledge exchanges

Act as connectors for startups needing support

Provide real-time, on-the-ground feedback to shape GOAB’s programs

Spark collaboration between regions and communities

Promote the values of #givefirst and #giveback

Why It Matters—Especially Now

Let’s face it—ecosystem building isn’t sexy. It’s the invisible, thankless work that doesn’t trend on social media or make headlines. But without it, startups collapse, talent drains, and innovation stays locked in silos.

GOAB knows this. That’s why it refuses to stay within the boundaries of a once-a-year event. Instead, it is stepping into the trenches of community development, investing in real leaders doing real work—every day, even when no one is watching.

In the words of one ambassador:

“Being part of GOAB isn’t just a title—it’s a torch we carry for our communities.”

What’s Next: Expanding the Shorelines

GOAB promises that this is just the beginning. In the months to come, each of the ambassadors will be spotlighted in a series of feature stories, sharing their local challenges, breakthroughs, and the unique flavor of innovation in their cities. Expect regional crossovers, grassroots initiatives, and fresh collaborations that blur the line between local and global.

Meanwhile, GOAB continues to invite more partners, mentors, and advocates to support the movement. If you’ve ever wanted to contribute to the Philippine startup scene, now is the time.

Want In? Here’s How

Join GOAB 2025 – Be part of the most meaningful tech conference in the Philippines. Don’t just attend—build.

Become a Beach Club member – Get exclusive deals, event access, and early opportunities to connect with the GOAB community.

Partner with GOAB – Whether you’re a global company, local nonprofit, or angel investor, there’s a place for you here.

To partner, email hello@geeksonabeach.com

From beachfront to backstreets, GOAB’s reach is growing—and so is its impact. Because innovation doesn’t always wear suits or sit in skyscrapers. Sometimes, it shows up in flip-flops, armed with a laptop, a dream, and a whole community behind them.

The next wave of builders is here. And they’re not waiting for the tide.

They are the tide.

#GOAB2025 #BuildBeyondTheBeach #GiveFirstGiveBack

The Return of the Boy Scout: Why Superman Doesn’t Need a Billion Dollars to Save the World

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a cinematic landscape dominated by snarky antiheroes, bloated multiverses, and franchise fatigue, Superman has flown back into theaters—not with the promise of a billion-dollar box office conquest, but with something far more enduring: the power to move hearts.

Let’s get the numbers out of the way. No, Superman probably won’t hit the coveted $1 billion mark. It might not even soar past $700 million. And that’s okay. Because something extraordinary is happening—a cultural shift, a rekindling of something lost in the noise of cynicism and spectacle.

Comic Book Stores Are Alive Again

Across the globe, the once-quiet aisles of comic book shops are roaring back to life. First-timers, curious children, nostalgic millennials, and gray-haired fans are all flipping through pages of Action Comics, All-Star Superman, and the latest issues sparked by the film’s revival.

Retailers report a surge in Superman-related sales, and it's not just the books—it's the shirts, the pins, the posters. It’s the idea of Clark Kent—mild-mannered, humble, and burdened with a moral compass in a chaotic world—that people are bringing home again. Superman is cool again, not because he’s edgy, but because he’s not.

Krypto Is Changing Lives—Literally

In a heartwarming twist that no marketing team could’ve planned better, the on-screen debut of Krypto the Superdog has ignited a global surge in dog adoptions. Shelters from California to Caloocan are reporting spikes in interest for white dogs, large breeds, and yes—pets with an uncanny resemblance to the caped canine himself.

It’s not a stunt. It’s not a trend. It’s what happens when a symbol of loyalty, love, and unshakable goodness makes his way into the cultural bloodstream. Krypto isn’t just a CGI dog; he’s proof that representation—even of our four-legged companions—can change lives.

“Kindness is the Real Punk Rock”

What began as a throwaway line has now become a movement.

“Kindness is the real punk rock,” Superman says, not with arrogance, but with quiet defiance—an antithesis to the blood-soaked one-liners that have dominated genre films for years.

Social media picked it up first. Now it’s on T-shirts, painted on street murals, tattooed on wrists. It’s being quoted in classrooms, during therapy sessions, on protest signs. It’s a rallying cry for those exhausted by division, cruelty, and performative rage. Kindness, radical and unapologetic, is in.

He’s Still the Symbol We Need

Somewhere along the way, Superman became uncool. Too perfect. Too idealistic. Too... good. But that’s precisely why his return matters now.

When hope is branded naïve, when empathy is mistaken for weakness, when leadership is performative instead of purposeful—that’s when we need Superman the most.

This film didn’t try to reinvent him. It reminded us why he mattered in the first place. The world didn’t need another savior with a god complex. It needed someone who listens before he acts, who asks before he flies, who cares without asking for applause.

The Truth Behind the Cape

So no, Superman may not dethrone the box office giants. But it’s doing something infinitely rarer—it’s changing the emotional weather.

It’s reigniting interest in reading. It’s getting people to adopt dogs. It’s convincing fans that kindness is a strength, not a soft spot. And most of all, it’s proving that cultural impact isn’t measured by revenue—but by reverence.

Superman doesn’t need a billion dollars to save the world.

He just needed a chance to remind us who we are when we believe in something bigger than ourselves.

And this time, the world believed back.

Up, up, and away.

EcoWaste Coalition Urges People’s Champ to Drop Endorsement of Illegal Lead-Laced Product

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

QUEZON CITY, August 3, 2025 — From the boxing ring to the political arena, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has stood as a symbol of grit, glory, and integrity. But now, the eight-division world champion is being urged to take a stand in an entirely new battlefield — public health and environmental safety.

The EcoWaste Coalition, an independent toxic watchdog organization, has sounded the alarm over a troubling discovery: several cans of a China-made paint brand called YiAD Paint, prominently displaying Pacquiao’s image and signature, contain dangerously high levels of lead — violating Philippine law and putting consumers at risk.

In an urgent plea, EcoWaste called on the former senator and beloved national figure to immediately dissociate himself from the product and demand its removal from the market. “Your iconic image is being used — likely without your knowledge — to promote a product that is not only illegal under Philippine law but also hazardous to public health,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the Coalition.

The Toxic Truth Behind the Label

EcoWaste revealed that it had acquired 12 cans of YiAD Paint from stores in Apalit (Pampanga), Antipolo City, and Valenzuela City. Seven of those cans were found to contain lead levels far exceeding the legally allowed threshold of 90 parts per million (ppm) — a limit set by DENR Administrative Order 2013-24, part of the country’s comprehensive chemical safety framework.

One particularly alarming sample — yellow YiAD Paint — registered a shocking 58,390 ppm of lead. Other colors also tested dangerously high, including orange (42,690 ppm), green (29,180 ppm), and light green (28,260 ppm). These numbers are hundreds of times over the legal limit and pose a direct threat to anyone exposed to the product, especially children.

The use of lead in paints has been conclusively linked to brain damage, kidney problems, cardiovascular issues, and irreversible neurological damage in children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Lead is classified among WHO’s top 10 chemicals of public health concern, emphasizing its deadly persistence in human systems and the environment.

Pacquiao’s Silence — and the Danger of Endorsement

YiAD Paint cans prominently display Manny Pacquiao wearing boxing gloves and a branded jacket, alongside what appears to be his signature — an unmistakable seal of celebrity endorsement. The manufacturer, YiAD Hardware Tools Co. Ltd., even boasts on its website of a “deep cooperation” with Pacquiao to anchor their brand in the Philippine market.

However, EcoWaste suspects that Pacquiao may have been unaware of the paint’s toxic composition — or may not have given informed consent to such an endorsement. As of writing, he has yet to respond to EcoWaste’s inquiry sent on July 30.

“We believe that if you were aware of the lead content, you would not have allowed your name to be used,” wrote Lucero in her letter to Pacquiao. “Your support for a hazardous product undermines the very values of integrity, patriotism, and social responsibility you represent.”

The Coalition also warned that consumers may be misled into buying these violative products, thinking they are safe simply because of Pacquiao’s association. “This kind of celebrity influence,” Lucero emphasized, “can unwittingly give dangerous products a false aura of trustworthiness.”

Toxic Paints Still on Store Shelves

YiAD Paints are being sold for P95 to P99.75 per 450 mL can — making them easily accessible and affordable to unsuspecting consumers. A disturbing example came from a store in Iloilo City named 3SP, which recently posted a “fresh stock alert” for its newest batch of multi-colored YiAD Paints.

While some YiAD variants — such as gold, purple, and various reds — tested lead-free, the existence of toxic variants in the same product line underscores the inconsistency and regulatory non-compliance of the brand. It also raises questions about how these paints, manufactured as recently as May 2025, were allowed to infiltrate the market despite the nationwide ban on lead paints.

The Law Is Clear — Lead Paints Are Banned

The Philippines had been a global frontrunner in eliminating lead-based decorative and industrial paints, phasing them out from 2013 to 2019 under DENR A.O. 2013-24. The local paint industry complied, demonstrating that safe alternatives are possible.

Yet the resurgence of imported leaded spray paints — especially those from unregulated or loosely monitored manufacturers — is now threatening to undo years of progress.

In response, EcoWaste joined forces with the Philippine Paint & Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI) and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) to publish an updated “Public Notice on Lead-Containing Paints”, a vital resource for consumers and retailers alike, last revised in March 2025:

🔗 https://www.ecowastecoalition.org/leadspraypaints/

Time to Step Up: Will the Champ Answer the Call?

EcoWaste Coalition is urging Pacquiao not just to withdraw his endorsement — but to take the lead in calling for:

The halt of manufacturing and importation of YiAD Paint.

The removal of violative products from store shelves.

The environmentally sound disposal of toxic inventory.

A public statement to raise awareness and protect consumers.

“The people’s champ” is more than a title. It’s a responsibility — especially when public health is in the crosshairs.

The fight may no longer be in the ring, but the stakes are just as high. The bell has rung. The gloves are off. And the nation is watching to see if Manny Pacquiao will once again rise as a true champion — this time, for health, safety, and the Filipino people.

Follow Wazzup Pilipinas for real-time updates on this developing story, including potential responses from Manny Pacquiao and official actions from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).