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I’m a data professional with experience building data products in fast growing companies across Asia Pacific. I’m passionate about providing people with access to data and technology that powers their daily lives.

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✍️ Blog posts

Long form articles and projects

On Databeers Manila
0 min
I spoke at Databeers Manila. The event was one of the best ones I’ve gone to in Manila, and definitely eye-opening to see more and more dataphiliacs in the country!
Jul 31, 2017

On Data Visualization Design
0 min
I was invited to speak last year at the World Information Architecture Day 2016 in Manila on data visualization design and use cases. The video is available for viewing.
May 2, 2017

On Minimalistic Maps
0 min
We take a break and try to plot some cool minimalistic plots of population density in the Philippines.
May 1, 2017

On Facebook News in the Philippines
8 min
Facebook has become one of most visible sources of news in the Philippines, and it has arguably played a huge role in shaping Filipino views. We take a look at how the…
Mar 12, 2017

Fête wisely this 2016
15 min
The gist is music-lovers the world over celebrate Fête dela Musique — World Music Day — in June every year. In the Philippines this year, the 22nd Fête will be held on…
Jun 15, 2016

On the Elections: Election Fingerprints
5 min
In this elections series, we’ll explore various aspects of the 2016 Philippine National Elections, from fraud detection to the differences in how our country votes. In this…
May 27, 2016

On Coverage and Capacity
3 min
Students require rooms, students, and operating budgets in order to receive a proper education. The question is, which resources are in short supply? How does this differ…
Nov 29, 2015

On Schools and Survival
3 min
In what grade level are students most likely to drop out? Are females or males more likely to stay in school? We’ll explore delays and dropouts in the Philippine education…
Aug 26, 2015

On the MRT: A Capacity Conundrum
5 min
The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT) has been operating at 142% capacity since 2004. New prototype trains have been scheduled to arrive in 2015, but the actual deployment…
May 16, 2015

On Why the Hero Generation is an Informed One (TEDxDLSU)
5 min
Businesses and governments in the Philippines should adopt a data mindset - where intuition and personal experience are always backed up by data and an effort to see the…
Apr 5, 2015

On Airline Agitation
4 min
The airline industry is one of the most competitive industries in the Philippines, and has recently undergone a wave of consolidation, rebranding, and restructuring in an…
Mar 19, 2015

On Benford’s Law
5 min
If you were to think of the first digits of a group of related variables, say, tax payments, it would be intuitive to think that the digits would more or less be evenly…
Nov 17, 2014

On Coffee Coverage
1 min
Some people just can’t start the day without having a cup of coffee. By taking a look at the city-specific distribution of Starbucks stores around Metro Manila, we can see…
Oct 19, 2014

On Taxes versus Sales: How large is government compared to publicly-listed corporations?
1 min
Have you ever wondered how government finances compare to the largest publicly-listed corporations in the country? When the financial bulk of private entities outweigh that…
Oct 5, 2014

On Imperial Manila, Modernization Failure, and Comparative Advantage
2 min
With traffic jams and port congestion an all-too-common sight in the Philippine capital, there is growing sentiment that development should be moved away from the metropolis…
Sep 27, 2014

On the Effectiveness of Higher Sin Taxes: Losing Steam? (2014 Q2 Update)
1 min
We update our assessment on the effectiveness of sin taxes with fresh national accounts data for the second quarter of 2014, and learn that sin taxes may be losing steam -…
Sep 16, 2014

On Pump Prices: Where can you gas up for less?
3 min
What providers let your stretch you gas money for more miles? Where is it more economical to gas up? Data from the Department of Energy’s price watch can provide some…
Aug 31, 2014

On Taxes: Do Filipinos really pay the highest taxes among ASEAN countries?’
4 min
Congress is moving to lower income tax rates for Filipinos, with impetus from a report by the Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) asserting that Filipinos…
Aug 24, 2014

On Presidential Priorities (July 2014)
2 min
The annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President of the Philippines, when distilled using word counts, can provide insight into the pressing issues of the day.…
Aug 13, 2014

On Pork and Plunder
4 min
In one of the rarest moments in Philippine history, three high-ranking lawmakers were arrested on charges of plunder related to the Priority Development Assistance Fund…
Jul 4, 2014

On Latin Honors: How hard is it to get to the top?
1 min
An article from the Inquirer takes a look at how there are more latin honors graduates in Philippines colleges and universities than in years past. We can view comparative…
Jun 28, 2014

On the Overweight and Obese
1 min
A report by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reveals that obesity for both children and adults is on the rise in the Philippines. While girls are less prone…
Jun 15, 2014

On the S&P Credit Rating Upgrade
5 min
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has raised the Philippines sovereign credit rating from BBB- to BBB, making it fully in the ranks of investment-grade sovereign debt.…
Jun 1, 2014

On Purchasing Power Parities, the Big Mac Index, and the International Comparison Programme
2 min
The GDP per capita of the Philippines exceeds that of India by 55%, but the cost of living is so much cheaper in India that if you account for cheaper goods and services…
May 25, 2014

On the Filipino Migration and Remittances
3 min
The Filipino diaspora has been a relatively well-documented phenomenon, as poor circumstances in the domestic economy nudge others to seek greener pastures abroad. But where…
May 18, 2014

On Inflation and Poverty
3 min
Because the prices of various goods and services rise and fall at different rates, different groups of people, most notably the poor, experience the burden of inflation much…
May 11, 2014

On What It Means to Be Filipino
6 min
What’s important in life? What do you want in a job? Is suicide justifiable? Would you want a drug addict as a neighbor? How many children would you like to have? Do you…
May 4, 2014

On Delays and Dropouts
3 min
Using new data from the Department of Education, we can take a look at the current state of Philippine education. Is everyone being educated, is it inclusive, and teachers…
Apr 29, 2014

On Fraud and Fake Ballots
3 min
Election fraud in the Philippines is almost always alleged, but never really proven. We can explore an approach that can identify voting data patterns those most likely to…
Mar 30, 2014

On Using Data to Choose your Next Vacation Destination
1 min
Are you looking for somewhere to lose yourself, experience new things, or just sit back and relax? We can take data on flights from the Philippines and construct a circular…
Mar 19, 2014

On the Probability of Mortality
2 min
Everything carries a risk, and nothing has preoccupied the human mind more than the risk of death. What are the safest (and most dangerous) modes of transportation? What…
Mar 9, 2014

On Corruption and Collusion
5 min
They say corruption is ‘infectious,’ and you risk being ‘eaten up by the system’ when you enter government. In this article, we take a look at evidence that reveals how…
Feb 22, 2014

On Presidents and Priorities
3 min
The President’s annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) is a strong indicator of an administration’s priorities and accomplishments, but how do we compare across…
Feb 18, 2014

On the Philippine IT-BPO Industry
4 min
The call center industry, or more widely called IT-BPO, has received its fair share of praise for contributing to economic and job growth, but a job in this industry still…
Feb 10, 2014

On Getting to Know the Filipino Informal Settler
5 min
How well do you know the Filipino informal settler? Is he poor and underprivileged? What happens if you force him to pay rent? Well, short of actually starting a…
Feb 2, 2014

On Maximizing Your Interview Chances: Schedule it right after a break
2 min
If you have an interview coming up, whether it be for a job, award, or in this particular study, parole, your chances are best when the interviewers are fresh from a break.…
Jan 29, 2014

On Your Life Expectancy
3 min
Everyone says that smoking can drastically reduce your life expectancy by introducing all sorts of complications, but the question is: how much of your life are you…
Jan 26, 2014

On Hot Hands and Shooting Streaks
5 min
Basketball fans and players alike will attest to the ‘hot hand’ phenomenon, where the chances or a player making the shot are much higher following a series of successful…
Jan 22, 2014

On Trains and Tribulations
4 min
The Light Rail Transit Line 1 South Extension Project is now out for bidding, with the contract to be awarded in the second quarter of this year. The rail system is under…
Jan 19, 2014

On Holiday Weight Gain and New Years’ Resolutions
3 min
Now that the holidays are over and a new year has started, it’s time to take stock of the weight we have gained, and to decide how to stick to our recurring new year’s…
Jan 1, 2014

On Christmas in the Philippines
2 min
Christmas festivities in the Philippines are world-renowned. Spectacular light displays, early morning mass, and smiles all around make it hard to be in the island nation…
Dec 23, 2013

On Philippine Foreign Trade: USA vs China
3 min
The world is in the middle of an epic struggle for political influence between the USA and China, but what does this mean for Filipinos, who are trapped in the middle, both…
Dec 15, 2013

On the Effectiveness of Sin Taxes in the Philippines: 2013 Q3 Update
2 min
SIN TAXED - How effective are higher sin taxes at reducing alcohol and tobacco consumption? Some say it’s a ‘tax on the poor’ and it would only lead to downshifting to…
Dec 11, 2013

On iPhone Exchange Rate and Tax Arbitrage
3 min
ARBITRAGEURS REJOICE - Due to exchange rate and tax differences, the effective cost of your favorite gadget can vary from country to country, so if you’re looking to buy…
Dec 5, 2013

On the Globe iPhone Forever Plan
3 min
Globe Telecom has recently announced a new postpaid plan for iPhone-loving subscribers. You can trade-in your old iPhone every year for the latest model, provided that you…
Nov 27, 2013

On Yolanda/Haiyan Foreign Aid
2 min
Foreign aid for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) has reached staggering levels, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian…
Nov 23, 2013

On True Filipino Resilience
4 min
Super Typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan) struck the Philippine central islands last November 8, 2012.
Nov 13, 2013

On Giving Cash to the Poor
6 min
New research suggests that unconditional cash transfers to the poor may not be as misguided as usually perceived.
Nov 3, 2013

On the News: No Double Standard Here
1 min
NO DOUBLE STANDARD - The World Economic Forum published its Global Gender Gap Report 2013, which assesses the level of gender equality in different countries. The…
Oct 28, 2013

On Moving People, not Cars
4 min
With the rainy season in full swing, monstrous traffic jams yet again plague the Philippine capital. There is a lot of blame to go around - some say we’re too reliant on…
Oct 23, 2013

On the UAAP Season 76
2 min
What a heartbreaking loss! After recovering from a 17-point deficit, the DLSU Green Archers struggled to make the winning basket in their finals matchup against the UST…
Oct 4, 2013

On Tax Evasion
2 min
The Tax Justice Institute estimated the amount of taxes lost due to tax avoidance for several countries, including the Philippines, using World Bank data on shadow economies…
Oct 2, 2013

On Traffic Accident Hotspots: EDSA and C-5
5 min
Ever wonder where and what types of vehicles are involved in road accidents along Manila’s major thoroughfares? The MMDA twitter account can shed some light on that.…
Sep 29, 2013

On the News
2 min
This week in news: The Philippines posts large gaming revenue gains from recent resort and casino developments along Manila Bay, and the risk of capital flight remains…
Sep 26, 2013

On the Effectiveness of Higher Sin Taxes
4 min
Last year, President Aquino signed the Sin Tax Bill. It’s now been half a year since the new taxes were implemented, and it’s a good time to assess how it’s been achieving…
Sep 15, 2013

On the Economics of Ticket Scalping
6 min
We analyze ticket scalping during UAAP games using a simple demand and supply framework.
Jul 10, 2013

On Melting Coins and Negative Seignorage
3 min
We’re running out of coins!
Jul 7, 2013
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💭 Thoughts

Short thoughts and opinions

On Newborn Parenting
1 min
We recently added a beautiful baby girl to our family, and it’s been a wild ride.
Feb 25, 2023

How the 2008 Financial Crisis Still Affects Us
4 min
Stitching together the threads of the 2008 financial crisis, and how it still affects us today.
Nov 8, 2022

Decision Reversibility
0 min
You can always make fast decisions if decisions are reversible. Don’t get caught up in analysis paralysis when you could have committed and reverted in the same amount of…
Dec 1, 2021

Switching roles
0 min
This is a space to place thoughts that would look too out of place on the regular blog. Unfinished thoughts, initial takes, and personal posts are placed here.
Nov 28, 2021

Cryptocurrencies
1 min
Crypto is a very promising field but the incentives in the system make it gravitate towards fraud and scams more than other emerging technologies.
Nov 25, 2021

The Map is not the Territory
1 min
The map is not the territory; seek ground truth whenever possible to accelerate learning.
Sep 18, 2021

A data team’s product is decisions
3 min
Making your data team’s main product decisions, as opposed to reports, models, or engineered systems, is a great way of communicating the value of the team internally and…
Oct 11, 2020

Dealing with model uncertainty in data products
3 min
Uncertainty can stall the development of data products, particularly in areas where there are domain experts that don’t necessarily understand the end goal.
Aug 6, 2020

On Scientific Studies, P-Hacking, and Media Irresponsibility
0 min
John Oliver lays down the problems with public perceptions of scientific studies shaped by the media.
May 22, 2016

On Academics and Bridging the Gap
0 min
Academics can change the world – if they stop talking only to their peers
Mar 11, 2016

On the Economics and Data of Love, Dating, and Relationships
0 min
Last Valentine’s Day, I was asked by my former college organization to deliver a talk on the “data of love, dating, and relationships” as part of their Young Economists’…
Aug 27, 2014

On the Best Webcomics for your Inner Nerd
2 min
If you’re looking for a place to get laughs, there are various free webcomics that can cater to your inner egghead (don’t kid yourself - everyone has one), so here are six…
Dec 1, 2013

On the Risk-Return Relationship of your Love Life
3 min
Chinese astrology tells of certain animal signs that, because of their inherent characteristics, have varying love compatibilities with each other. By applying statistics to…
Nov 6, 2013

On Why You Shouldn’t Save While You’re Young
5 min
“Save while you’re young” is one of the most common pieces of financial advice for the fresh young professional, but there is an economic argument that it can be overdone.…
Oct 15, 2013

On Crappy Opinion Polls and Belt Tightening
3 min
Online opinion surveys, especially about objectively determinable facts, are at the fringes of proper research. Why ask people what’s in their shopping carts when you can…
Oct 12, 2013

On W.H. Taft Residences
3 min
A building along Taft Avenue, W.H. Taft Residences, is still under construction after nearly 7 years, serving as a prime example of why diversified conglomerates should be…
Oct 9, 2013

On Buying from Abroad through Philpost Express Mail Service (EMS)
6 min
Ordering online from the Philippines is a difficult journey through inaccurate web trackers, inactive phone numbers, uncoordinated post offices, and high tax levies.…
Sep 10, 2013

On the Great Gatsby Curve and Electric Fences in South Africa
4 min
The Great Gatsby tells the story of a man who claws his way from rags to riches, but finds that wealth alone cannot provide him the privileges of those born in the upper…
Sep 8, 2013

On Annoying Elevator Companions
3 min
Elevator rides, despite being tediously mind-numbing moments spent avoiding awkward eye contact, are a necessary evil of city life, but sometimes, there are just some…
Aug 4, 2013

On What Manila Could Have Been
4 min
Manila wasn’t always like this, however. It had a proper urban plan set out for it during the American colonial period, one that would, in my opinion truly make it the Pearl…
Jul 14, 2013

On Annoying Drivers
2 min
I hate slogging through Manila traffic. It’s a horrible waste of time to spend an hour on an otherwise ten minute trip. What’s worse - there are drivers who think that being…
Jun 20, 2013

On Economics Education
0 min
Here’s what four years of economics education has done to my political leanings.
Oct 13, 2012

On Ngrams Part 2: The Philippine Economy
0 min
This installment reveals that growth is now more important than development, the Phillips curve’s tradeoffs do not necessarily apply to this measure, that fiscal policy is…
May 22, 2012

On Ngrams: Philippine History Quantified in Books
0 min
I’ve been messing around with the Google Ngram Viewer which was highlighted in a previous video post.
May 14, 2012

On Prize-Linked Savings
1 min
It’s basically a no-lose lottery; you get the chance to hit a big payday, but you still get to keep your money if you don’t.
May 8, 2012

On that Moment of Choice
1 min
No matter how rationally we try to act, that one moment of choice is still a purely emotional exercise.
May 2, 2012

On Graphs: Finals Week
0 min
This finals week was definitely the most gruelling of my college life.
Apr 20, 2012

On Interest Rates and Mortality
0 min
A limited time on this earth makes time precious.
Apr 20, 2012

On Stochasticity
1 min
Sometimes the noise is more important than the signal.
Apr 20, 2012

On Man’s Insignificance
2 min
From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of particular interest. But for us, it’s different. Look again at that dot. That’s here, that’s home, that’s us.
Apr 19, 2012

On the Opinion Entitlement Fallacy
2 min
The process of argumentation has, for me, always been a journey towards the discovery of truth. However, seldom does this process go well. People usually end up with more…
Apr 19, 2012

On Prices
0 min
It is only through the voluntary coordination of the efforts of various economic agents that we can make the products we use today.
Apr 19, 2012

On Quotes from F.A. Hayek
0 min
“The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they know about what they can imagine they can design.”
Apr 19, 2012

On the Concorde
0 min
The Concorde. It’s a beauty; it’s just about the most beautiful man-made thing in the world. What a shame that it guzzled gas, made so much noise, and was eventually put out…
Apr 19, 2012

On Video: Trial, Error and the God Complex
0 min
It seems so obvious when you listen to him, but it’s when you look around and see everyone trying to fix the world’s problems with their own preconceived master plans that…
Apr 19, 2012
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📰 Newsletter

Latest updates on anything

📗 Field notes

Documenting my explorations