About
Who I am (today)
I'm Dorell, an indie builder from Cebu, Philippines. I lead JavaScript Cebu and have co-organized React Cebu and Laravel Cebu over the years.
I started as a QA at NCR, became a software engineer, then former CTO at WebriQ. Now I'm building my own things — products, cohorts, and communities.
I use AI, code, and simple systems to ship real products. I build in public not because I have everything figured out, but because it's the only honest path forward.
What I'm exploring
- → Building faster and better with AI and automation
- → Figuring out how to turn that into a free, sustainable life
- → Helping others build and learn along the way
What I believe
- • Most people don't lack ideas — they lack a system that helps them actually build.
- • AI is a power tool, not a fantasy. I use it to ship faster, think better, and stay human.
- • Real work beats performance. Quiet progress beats loud promises.
- • You don't need permission, funding, or a perfect plan. One honest experiment can change everything.
- • Consistency matters more than intensity. I'm still fixing this in myself.
- • Cebu is not a limitation. You can start where you are. Location is not your ceiling.
The Origin Stories
How the work began — the actual moments that led to building, teaching, and showing up.
Automating Responsible AI Development
You can't automate judgment. But you can automate the scaffolding that forces you to apply it. Here's how to make responsible AI use the path of least resistance.
Why AI Makes Us Lazy (And How to Fight It)
The framework is simple. Following it is hard. Not because it's complicated — because we're human. Here are the temptations, the warning signs, and how to build the discipline.
Why I Built Dorellworks (My Life OS)
Most builder sites show the finished work. Mine shows the daily motion. This is why I built a public system to track projects and progress in real time.
The Responsible AI Development Framework
Six phases for workflow. Five practices for thinking. A systematic approach to using AI that amplifies your judgment instead of replacing it.
How I Migrated a Payment System with AI (Without Breaking Production)
A legacy Laravel payment system. 800-line methods. A language I don't regularly use. High stakes. Here's how I used AI to migrate it — and what I learned about responsible AI development in the process.
The Origin of Cebby
Born at Cebu Hacktoberfest 2024 — how a question about automating event discovery turned into a platform that pulls events from across the Cebu tech community into one place.
How Learn With Dorell Started
After years of free community work, I finally tried something paid — and had to work through a lot of internal resistance to get there.
Other Key Moments
Why I Build Openly
This site exists because I believe the best way to build a life is to show it — unfinished, uncertain, and in progress. Here's why I'm choosing to build in public.