While many countries struggle with unemployment, the Philippines is racing toward an ambitious goal: creating 8 million digital jobs by 2028. The recent HL Accelerator Summit at the Quezon City MICE Center offered a glimpse of how that vision is becoming reality, as over 1,500 Filipino freelancers and tech professionals connected directly with international employers—marking the first time HighLevel has fully sponsored and endorsed a community-led event in Asia.
What started as a modest community gathering exploded into a phenomenon that attracted
1,500 attendees—with lines around the block for additional entry. The event drew participants
from over 10 Southeast Asian countries and attracted government officials from across the
Philippines, plus reporters from every major periodical and TV station for a dedicated press
conference.
The scale caught even sponsors by surprise. “Think about it—with zero official brand influence,
Jaycee Tan managed to draw 1,500 attendees,” noted one international observer. Attendees
dressed up for the occasion, treating it like a major industry milestone rather than a typical
business seminar.
The locally-organized event, more job fair than conference, featured live hiring sessions where
Australian, American, and British agencies interviewed candidates for virtual assistant and CRM
specialist roles paying significantly above local wage standards. Ten agencies conducted back-
to-back interviews from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with several offering immediate employment to
qualified candidates.
“We’re not just training people for jobs that might exist someday,” said Jaycee “Cece” Tan, co-
founder of HL Accelerator, the Filipino-led company behind the summit. “We’re connecting them
with employers who are hiring right now, today.”
From Freelancer to Six-Figure Agency Owner
The summit celebrated the first anniversary of HL Pilipinas, which has grown into one of the
largest Filipino-led HighLevel communities since launching in 2024. HighLevel, an international
CRM automation and sales platform, sponsored the event alongside major industry players, like
LevelUp Marketplace and HL Pro Tools. Also included were Hot Prospector, myCRMSIM,
Agency Support for HighLevel, SaligPay, Telework PH, and Onesource Inc. recognizing the
Philippines as a premier source of digital talent.
The partnership represents more than corporate goodwill—it signals HighLevel’s recognition of
the Philippines as a transformative market. “Alicia from HighLevel brought the fire, teaching over
one thousand Filipinos about entrepreneurship,” said one attendee, referencing Pagano’s
dynamic presentation on the HighLevel Certified Admin Program.
“Cece and Dea approached us several times with what they were doing, and they were
persistent,” explained Pagano. “We kept giving them milestones to meet, saying, ‘Come to us
when you hit this, and we’ll see what we can do,’ and they did that. This whole event is
testament to their determination.”
The significance extends beyond a single event. As one sponsor noted: “This week, HighLevel
changed lives. Next week, HighLevel is going to change the trajectory of a country.”
During the summit, HL Accelerator recognized its first cohort of certified HighLevel
Admins—professionals who completed rigorous training in CRM automation, SaaS operations,
and remote agency management. The certification opens doors to higher-paying positions and,
for some, the path to building their own six-figure agencies.
Government Backing for Digital Transformation
The event received strong government support, with the Department of Information and
Communications Technology’s ICT Industry Development Bureau (DICT-IIDB) serving as co-
organizer. Attorney Leandro Angelo “Dino” Aguirre of DICT positioned the summit within the
broader EDGE PH program (Empowering Digital Workers of the Gig Industry Ecosystem in the
Philippines).
“This furthers our roadmap for 8 million digital jobs by 2028,” Aguirre said in his opening
remarks, highlighting how events like these bridge the gap between government policy and
private sector execution.
Quezon City administrator Michael Victor Alimurung acknowledged the significance of
international stakeholders investing in local freelancer empowerment. “When there’s opposition,
there is rationalization, and when there’s a will, there’s a way,” he told the audience in Filipino,
referencing the persistence required to build sustainable digital career pathways.
Skills, Knowledge, and Mindset
Financial literacy speaker Chinkee Tan addressed the psychological barriers many Filipinos
face when transitioning from traditional employment to digital entrepreneurship. “Did you know
that you are just one idea away from doubling your income?” he challenged the audience.
“Skills pay the bills, knowledge increases your value, and mindset builds the future.”
The message resonated with attendees who came seeking not just jobs, but career
transformation. Beyond the immediate hiring opportunities, speakers shared advanced
monetization strategies, custom app development blueprints, and practical steps for scaling
from individual freelancer to agency owner.
The Bigger Picture
The summit reflects broader trends reshaping the global workforce. As companies worldwide
embrace remote work permanently, countries like the Philippines with strong English
proficiency, cultural adaptability, and competitive labor costs are positioned to capture
significant market share in the digital economy.
For the 1,500 professionals who attended Sunday’s event, the opportunity extends beyond
individual career advancement. They’re part of a national strategy to transform the Philippines
into Asia’s digital workforce capital, one certified admin and successful freelancer at a time.
Those interested in HighLevel certification can visit http://gohighlevel.com/cece-certification for
more information.