racoma.netI love to write. I write to live. I live to love.

J. Angelo Racoma is a technology journalist and blogger with a passion for emerging standards and communications channels. He has written for a variety of publications in technology, new media and business niches.

Prior to venturing into new media, Angelo served the public sector as an economist and then as an brand manager and application developer for an IT firm. Angelo also helped form WorkSmartr, an outsourcing team that provides new media consulting, content development and virtual assistance services.

Professional Experience

CMSWire

• November 2010 to present: Staff Reporter for Asia Pacific Region

CMSWire is a popular web magazine published by Simpler Media Group, focusing on intelligent information management, modern enterprise collaboration and effective online engagement. The CMSWire audience consists of CIOs, technologists, decision makers, vendors and analysts with a focus on information management practices, content, document and asset management technologies, web publishing, enterprise collaboration and a dash of social media. See author archive here.

TFTS

• October 2010 to present: Staff Writer, Green Technology, News, Gaming, Applications

With 1.5 million readers per month, TFTS featuers up-to-date news and views on technology, which includes computers, software, mobile devices and consumer electronics. The site also highlights the importance of sustainable technology in preserving the environment. See author archive here.

WorkSmartr.com

• January 2009 to present: Chief New Media Strategist

As founder and chief strategist, Angelo directs the company’s efforts in marketing its services to various clients around the globe. To some extent, Angelo also coordinates in hiring of personnel, and other financial and technical matters. He also contributes his expertise and experience to clients and to the team, as necessary.

Splashpress Media

• July 2007 to February 2010: Editor and Content Developer
• December 2006 to July 2007: Network Manager and Content Developer
• March 2007 to February 2010: Assistant Editor, the Blog Herald
• December 2006 to February 2007: Marketing manager and contributor

In various capacities as chief editor, technical editor, head of technical services, and community manager at Splashpress Media, Angelo managed the creative, administrative, marketing and human resource aspects of the media group. He has also spearheaded the development of new media services, portals and applications and ensured smooth operation of existing ones. Angelo has also advised the publisher and the team on strategic interventions and investments, such as acquisition of various online properties. Also contributed content to Splashpress Media’s various publications in various capacities.

Author archives: Blog Herald, Performancing, Blogging Pro, Forever Geek

Bloggy Network

• March to December 2006: Editor, content producer/developer

Wrote regular content for the the network’s technology-oriented weblogs. Also facilitated relevant discussions within the network and across the related media community. Author archive at Apple Gazette.

Enthropia, Inc. (Philippines)

• March to December 2006: Media consultant

Managed and coordinated content, blog and Web-related projects for Enthropia, part owner of Bloggy Network. This includes the Use .COM.PH campaign, gaming blogs, and domain content creation.

BlogMedia, Inc.

• January to March 2006: Content producer/developer

Produced regular content relating to technology, gadgets, and mobile telephony. Author archive at Gadzooki.com.

Word Content

• March to December 2006: Content producer/developer

Managed, conducted research, and produced daily content for client blogs on various niches, including WiFi wireless technology, Voice over Internet Protocol, business, relationships, software and legal issues. Also wrote for Google Tutor as staff writer from 2005-2006.

dotPH Domains, Inc.

• February to November 2005: Internal Auditor and Executive Assistant to the CEO
• February to November 2005: Brand Manager, i.PH Blogs

dotPH is the official registry of the Philippine (.PH) Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD). Being an internet-enabling organization with a worldwide client-base, the firm has been and continues to be active in introducing innovations both in the Philippine and worldwide ICT industry, such as the use of a Shared Registry System (SRS), adoption of the Internet Corporation on Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Universal Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), and the introduction of i.PH, the world’s first anonymous domain and the Philippines’ first locally-developed blogging service.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

• November 2004 to February 2005: Senior Economic Development Specialist (EDS), Investment Programming Division (IPD) / Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) Core Secretariat
• May 2003 to November 2004: EDS II, IPD / ICC-Core Secretariat
• March 2002 to May 2003: EDS I, ICC-Core Secretariat

NEDA is the premier socioeconomic development planning and policy coordinating body of the Philippine Government. The Public Investment Staff (PIS) coordinates and reviews the flow of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds to the country, processing of major capital projects funded through Private Sector partnerships, and preparation of a rolling medium-term public investment program.

Was responsible for facilitating information and processing of major government projects. Contributed to business process efficiency by developing network tools and databases for project tracking and updating. Also coordinated with various agencies of the Philippine Government in facilitating the evaluation and approval of national-government implemented programs and projects, both ODA funded or private sector financed (via Build-Operate-Transfer or BOT Schemes), through the ICC / NEDA Board process. Duties likewise included drafting policy papers/matrices involving the miulti-agency ICC processes.

Published Works

Publisher

• racoma.com.ph – Online commentaries on information technology, business, economics, politics government and social media.
• racoma.net – Online commentaries literature and society. This site serves as J. Angelo Racoma’s personal blog.
• Pinoy Auto Blog – The Philippines’ premier automotive blog, with car reviews and news on the local automotive indsutry.
• Green Liter – Blog on green automotive technology, discussing electric vehicles, hybrids, alternative fuels and green technology.

Editor / Contributor (past and present)

• CMSWire – Staff Reporter, Asia Pacific
• TFTS – Staff Writer
• Manila Bulletin (print and online editions) – Columnist, TECHNEWS Section.
• Forever Geek – Gadgets and technology blog.
• Performancing – Community of blogging and new media professionals.
• The Blog Herald – The premier source for news and commentary about blogging and new media.
• Apple Gazette – Apple enthusiast site.
• Sun.Star Blog Chronicles – The Philippines’ largest network of local newspapers, with publications spanning the major cities. The Blog Chronicles section of the Sun.Star online edition is intended to be a guide to blogging by bloggers.
• Froodee – Community blog on lifestyle, business, family matters, and travel.
• Gadzooki – Community blog on software, gadgets and cars.
• Blog Tutorials – Community blog on blog design, reviews, monetization and optimization.
• Travelogger – Community blog on family travel.
• Pinoy.Tech.Blog – The Philippines’ premier technology weblog. The team comprises professionals, practitioners and entrepreneurs in the various fields of the Philippine ICT realm. Author archive here.
• Pinoy Urban Living Blog – The definitive guide to Philippine urban living, being authored by individuals from various metropolitan/urban areas in the country.
• The Man Blog – the real man’s best friend on the web.

Co-author

• The opportunity to invest : the effect of the real rate of interest on fixed capital formation / J.A.B. Racoma, Renato W. Lee, III. 2001 – Undergraduate thesis (B.S. Econ), University of the Philippines, Diliman; An empirical study on the actual correlation between the real interest rate and investment in the Philippine setting, pre-1997 financial crisis.

Projects

Investment Coordination Committee Electronic Library
National Economic and Development Authority, October 2005 to January 2006

• The ICC Electronic Library project is for the design and implementation of a Web-based Library System for effective document archiving and retreival of official ICC documents, and its attendand technical, user, and system documentation.

Professional Accreditation

• Philippine Civil Service Professional Level Eligible since 28 February 2002, with Career Service Professional Examination rating of 91.89%.

Educational Background

• Postgraduate: Diploma, leading to Master, in Development Economics, University of the Philippines – Diliman, ongoing
• Tertiary: Bachelor of Science in Economics, University of the Philippines – Diliman, November 2001 (Dean’s Medal Awardee)
• Secondary: Ateneo de Manila University, March 1998 (Honorable Mention)
• Elementary: Claret School of Quezon City, March 1994 (Honorable Mention)

Events, Trainings, Seminars, Workshops Organized or Attended

• Training of Trainors on the Responsible Use of ICT, Commission on ICT: Facilitator, December 2009
• iBlog 3, UP Diliman, April 2007 (Panelist/speaker, blogging and media panel)
• NETGENS: Learning Preferences of the New Generation, Techfactors, July 2006 (Resource person and speaker)
• Blogging and Podcasting Workshop, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, April & July 2006 (Resource person, podcasting panel)
• iBlog 2, UP Diliman, April 2006 (Panelist/speaker, professional blogging panel)
• iBlog Mini Summit: Blogging and the Gloriagate Scandal, UP Diliman, 4 August 2005
• First Philippine iBlog Summit, UP Diliman, 7 May 2005 (Participant and i.PH presenter)
• First Diliman Governance Forum: “Reinventing/Reengineering & Reorganizing the Bureaucracy in the Philippines: Why We Should be More Hopeful,” UP Diliman, 15 September 2004
• Fifth Program in Development Economics Lecture Series: “Philippine Economic Development: Learning from the Past and Looking into the Future,” UP Diliman, 20 February 2004 (Organizer)
• Workshop on the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines for Project Development, Implementation, and Monitoring and Evaluation, Asian Development Bank, 19 February 2004
• Philippines-Japan Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Policy Dialogue, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, 17 February 2004
• 2002 InMagic Training Seminar / Workshop, Centro Escolar University Library, 14 October 2002
• Introduction to Extensible Markup Language (XML), Informatics Computer School, Mandaluyong, 10 July 2002
• Seminar / Workshop on Effective Writing, NEDA Communications Advocacy Program / LEAD, 11 to 13 December 2002
• Second Mindanao Budget Summit, EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, 22 June 2002

Organizational Affiliations

• Digital Filipino Club, Member since 2006
• Asian Development Bank Camera Club, Member, 2000-2001
• COPA-NET (Email group of the Council on Philippine Affairs), Member since December 2002
• Pinoy Teachers Network, Technology Liaison and Core Group member since July 2005
• Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) / National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Volunteer Poll Watcher, May 2001 Elections
• SEO Philippines, Member since 2005
• University of the Philippines Alumni Association, Member since November 2001
• UPROTC Noncommissioned Officers Alumni Organization, External Affairs Committee Head, SY 2000-2001; Founding Member
• UPROTC Service Support Battalion, Battalion Executive Officer, SY 1999-2000
• Philippine (web) Usability Group, Member since 2005