Philippines Becomes First Asian Country to Receive Full HighLevel Sponsorship

MANILA, Philippines - August 13, 2025 - Last Sunday's HL Accelerator summit at the Quezon City MICE Center offered a glimpse of how the Philippines’ 8-million-digital-jobs vision is becoming reality. More than 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 began as a modest community gathering turned into a phenomenon, attracting participants from over 10 Southeast Asian countries, government officials, and major media outlets. Lines stretched around the block as attendees treated the summit like a milestone in the industry rather than a typical seminar.

The event leaned more toward a job fair than a conference, with live hiring sessions where Australian, American, and British agencies interviewed candidates for virtual assistant and CRM specialist roles paying well above local standards. Ten agencies conducted back-to-back interviews, with several offering immediate employment.

"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."

 From Freelancer to Six-Figure Agency Owner

The summit also marked the first anniversary of HL Pilipinas, now one of the largest Filipino-led HighLevel communities since its 2024 launch. HighLevel, an international CRM automation and sales platform, sponsored the event alongside LevelUp Marketplace, HL Pro Tools, Hot Prospector, myCRMSIM, Agency Support for HighLevel, SaligPay, Telework PH, and Onesource Inc., recognizing the Philippines as a premier source of digital talent.

For HighLevel, the partnership reflects more than corporate goodwill—it signals 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 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, and they hit every one. This whole event is testament to their determination."

During the summit, HL Accelerator recognized its first cohort of certified HighLevel Admins—professionals trained in CRM automation, SaaS operations, and remote agency management. The certification opens doors to higher-paying roles and, for some, the path to building their own agencies.

Government Backing for Digital Transformation

The Department of Information and Communications Technology's ICT Industry Development Bureau (DICT-IIDB) co-organized the summit. Attorney Leandro Angelo "Dino" Aguirre positioned the event within the 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, emphasizing how such gatherings bridge the gap between policy and private sector execution.

Quezon City Administrator Michael Victor Alimurung also highlighted the importance of persistence in building sustainable digital careers.

Skills, Knowledge, and Mindset

Financial literacy speaker Chinkee Tan addressed the psychological barriers Filipinos face when shifting from traditional jobs to digital entrepreneurship. "You are just one idea away from doubling your income. Skills pay the bills, knowledge increases your value, and mindset builds the future."

The message resonated with those seeking not just jobs but transformation.

The Bigger Picture

The summit reflects broader trends in the global workforce. As remote work becomes permanent for many companies, the Philippines—with strong English proficiency, cultural adaptability, and competitive labor costs—is poised to capture a significant share of the digital economy.

For the 1,500 professionals who attended, it was more than a career opportunity—it was a step toward positioning the Philippines as Asia's digital workforce capital.

Those interested in HighLevel certification can visit http://gohighlevel.com/cece-certification for more information.

Reference: 

HighLevel’s Global Growth Finds a New Powerhouse: The Philippines