Dreb Bitanghol receives the Yoast Care fund for his contribution to the WordPress community

Meet Dreb Bitanghol, a valued member of the WordPress Community Team! Nominated by Yvonne Palanca for the Yoast Care fund, Dreb is being acknowledged for his steadfast dedication and substantial contributions to the community. Join us in celebrating this enthusiastic WordPress enthusiast’s journey and discovering what makes his passion for the platform so special.

Nominator Yvonne Palanca: “Dreb is a remarkable figure in the WordPress community, with an unwavering commitment to advancing WordPress and an exceptional track record of contributions. Dreb has consistently demonstrated a keen sense of innovation and has contributed to core updates. He is known for his outstanding efforts in building and nurturing the WordPress community. Through active participation in forums, WordCamps, and local meetups, he has fostered connections, provided guidance, and inspired newcomers to contribute. He was a Speaker at WordCamp Taipei 2018. In addition, he was the lead organizer of many WordCamps; such as the first WordCamp Asia in Bangkok, and local WordCamps like WordCamp Davao 2019 and the upcoming WordCamp Manila 2023. Dreb is a shining example in the WordPress community. His innovative spirit, community-building efforts, advocacy for open source, commitment to education, and leadership qualities have left an indelible mark on the WordPress ecosystem.”

Let’s get to know Dreb Bitanghol

That’s quite an introduction, Yvonne! We would love to get to know Dreb even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Dreb! What do you do?

I am an Engineering Manager at The Code Company, which means I work closely with talented web engineers & strategists for media publishers who want to succeed in the digital space. In addition, I support the growing WordPress communities in the Philippines. Currently, I help organize WordCamp Asia 2024 for the second time. It’s the biggest WordPress gathering in Asia, and it will take place in Taipei, Taiwan.

Why WordPress?

I chose WordPress, because I am who I am today (and where I am) because of my career in this industry. It’s helped me grow, just like WordPress itself has grown over time. I also love that WordPress keeps improving its interface, extensive directory of plugins, theming and hosting ecosystem, and huge community worldwide.

WordPress’s versatility suits various website types, from blogs and online media platforms to eCommerce. It’s a canvas that enables individuals and businesses to easily create and manage online content, ultimately contributing to the democratization of the web. And the best part? There is a vibrant, open-source community that backs up its continued development and growth.

As a WordPress community supporter & contributor, my commitment to WordPress is driven by its empowering role in making web publishing more accessible, and fostering a collaborative global community of developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and users.

What did you work on?

My contribution to the WordPress open-source project is mainly focused on the community. I am a meetup organizer in Davao City, Philippines. In addition, I was the lead organizer of WordCamp Davao 2019. I volunteered at WordCamp Manila 2016, was a co-organizer of WordCamp Manila 2017, 2018, and 2023, and a speaker at WordCamp Iloilo and WordCamp Cebu.

Outside the Philippines, I’ve given talks at different WordCamps and meetups, such as WordCamp Singapore 2016, WordCamp Jakarta, WordCamp Bangkok, and Saigon WordPress meetups, among others.

I was the website team lead of WordCamp Asia 2020, a member of the volunteer organizing team in WordCamp Asia 2023, and I’m currently co-leading the volunteers organizing team of WordCamp Asia 2024. In addition, I was a community deputy/program supporter in 2018 and a core contributor to WordPress 4.4 release.

Why did you start contributing?

I would say it happened naturally. I have been working as a freelancer at home since 2011, and there came a point when I was looking for a group or community that could fill in the social aspect of this profession — being able to network and connect in the same industry.

Another reason is that I’m thankful to our open-source community and the WordPress project. I have been driven by the fact that this open source gave us so much. This project has always been a collective effort of a solid community — and I want to be part of it. Big or small, this contribution could be my legacy, or our legacy, that would last beyond us.

Could you share your first contribution with us?

My involvement in the WordPress community started in 2016, when I reinstated a WordPress user group in my home city in the Philippines: WordPress Davao. I’ve been organizing meetups in our user group ever since. In 2016, I took the courage to apply and got accepted to speak at WordCamp Singapore 2016. WordCamp Singapore was my first WordCamp, and I remember being ecstatic; it felt like a door to a world filled with adventures had just opened.

Following the 2016 WordCamp in Singapore, I have shared and given talks to different WordCamps in the Philippines and around Asia.

I volunteered at WordCamp Manila in 2016 and became co-organizer of the same WordCamp in 2017, 2018, and 2023. Then, in 2019, I supported our team, and brought the WordCamp experience to my hometown. I am proud to say that I made WordCamp Davao 2019 a reality.

Thank you for this interview, Dreb, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Dreb Bitanghol who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.