Here’s what you missed at DevFest x BizFest Cebu 2018!
Here’s what you missed at DevFest x BizFest Cebu 2018!
Last October 27, 2018, GDG and GBG Cebu hosted the biggest Google Tech Conference in Cebu for 2018, DevFest x BizFest Cebu 2018 at the Summit Galleria Hotel Cebu.
Over 680 Developers and Entrepreneurs gathered for a whole day event filled with sessions and talks with workshops on the future of tech and business with local and international speakers. In case you missed this event, here’s a brief summary of what transpired as well as GDG Cebu’s 10th year Celebration!
Speakers
The organizing team has combined a complete set of experts to talk about numerous topics that aligns with this year’s theme: Into the Future.
The morning program was attended by both GDG and GBG members starting first with a keynote from the web developer advocate for Google, Yohan Totting.
Yohan talked about the topic, Into the Future of Web. He also shared dos and don’ts as well as tips on websites and apps for the developers.
This was followed with a talk by Accenture’s Arvin Yason who talked about Disrupting Technology: Key Learnings from the Accenture Liquid Studio Network. He also shared his experience in tech and on how developers and businesses should approach new technologies.
In the afternoon, more talks and sessions were done; and the large crowd was divided in 5 breakout sessions with 2 rooms dedicated for workshops about Machine Learning(GDG) and Starting a Startup (GBG). We will go through the workshops more in the next items to come.
For a full view of the program, you may refer to the program list below.
Plenary
Breakout Sessions
Workshops
Panel Discussions
As promised, Panel discussions were one of DevFest x BizFest Cebu’s trademark sessions. In the morning, we got to hear our experts answer questions that focus in the following topics: Future of Software Development and Future of Business, moderated by Thinking Machines’ Director of Growth, Chelle Gray and CTO of Symph, Albert Padin. In the afternoon, 2 more panel sessions were moderated by Gray focusing on the topics: Women of the Future and Running a Software Team.
Here are some of the well-known questions: will AI take over the world? How do we get our product in to the market? I’m planning a start-up where do I go? How to create an environment to keep a good team? What should women do in the future?
Even some audience members volunteered and added a question themselves. They even touched the ethics side of Artificial Intelligence. One thing is for sure, all panelists agree that regarding change in technology, both entrepreneurs and developers should be equipped with the skills to adapt and learn how to use these new processes that maximizes its potential to come with user’s design and promote good usage of the said product.
In the feedback, we noticed that audience would want to ask questions for the panelists, thus, this will be taken consideration in our future events.
Workshops
Aside from the regular talks and sessions that are 30–45 mins long, this year, we opened 2 workshops for coding and business.
Google Developer Experts from Singapore held a 3 hour workshop for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for participants who want to dive in and start coding with TensorFlow. The session catered for 30 participants who pre-registered prior to the event. Additional material was shared by our speakers for participants to take home for them to continue their journey in machine learning.
For the business side, Symph team led a Start your own Startup workshop were they talked about the steps of having an idea to executing it to become an app or entity. We hope to see our participants but their ideas into action and create their app, market and start their own company soon.
Tech Showcase and Sponsor Booths
If you thought that the fun and excitement only happened inside the halls, well you’re mistaken. The road to DevFestxBizfest Cebu 2018 was full of amazing booths from local developers showcasing their community projects. We also have our dear sponsors, PLDT and Accenture to name a few, who set up a booth and gave prizes to our participants who joined their games.
What amazed everyone was the ages of the people who are showcasing their booths. We have students aging from 14 to 17 years of age creating an app that can track cancer! There are also other passion projects that helped save the environment, promote peace and make a statement. (I can only look back to my 14–17 year old self, what was I doing? ;) laughs)
Big shout out to our tech showcase winner, Project Meitus. You guys are awesome! Looking forward to seeing your mobile app help save more lives and help evolve the way we treat cancer in the country.
Prizes
Awesome raffle prizes were given courtesy of our sponsors. Many thanks to Accenture for providing us with the following prizes to raffle out to our audience:
- Google Chromecast
- Google Home Mini
- Google Home
- Google Pixelbook
We also want to thank BTS for our social media winners’ prizes! Great way to use our tracker #DevFestxBizFestCebu2018 #gdgcebu #gbgcebu #devfest18 if I may add.
Congratulations to all our winners! We indeed got a complete experience after the event. Knowledge check, fun check, meet new people check and a chance to win an awesome prize, check!
Thank you to all our 600+ participants who have supported us every step of the way. This event wouldn’t be possible without you! You are awesome!
Gratitude to all our volunteers, creatives and organizers who have had spent their time and effort in creating an environment where tech meets business ❤
More thanks to our speakers from different parts of the world who spent their weekend with us. Thank you for inspiring more people in their journey in tech and business. May we see you again soon. Daghang Salamat!
Lastly to our amazing sponsors. We couldn’t have pulled this off without you guys. Until our next event!
Devfest x Bizfest Cebu 2018 is sponsored by Google, brought to you by GDG Cebu and GBG Cebu. Presented by Accenture. Official internet provider and Co-presented by PLDT Innolab. In collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry Cebu. Special thanks to Inspire team, Unionbank, and Symph. Supported by Kyocera Document Solutions Development Philippines Inc., Catalina Car Rentals, and Bubble Tea Station. Our community partners: Devcon Cebu, HTML Cebu, UVNS, Wordpress Cebu and Laravel Cebu. Our media partners: Istorya.net, Third team Media, Inquirer.net, Cebu Daily News, Basta Bisaya, Utterly Random Techie, Cebu’s Finest, Cebu Tech Guide and Halo Halo Radio. Our PR Partner PR Works.
If you want your company to partner with us in future events, message us in Facebook or email us in contact@gdgcebu.org for more information.
For more information about Devfest x Bizfest Cebu 2018, make sure to follow us in social media at GBG Cebu and GDG Cebu. Also join their official meetup group @GDGCEBU and visit their website at gdgcebu.org
Xoxo,
Frances
