About Southern Leyte
Why We Created This Website
It all began with a simple question:
“Ngano lisod gihapon pangitaon ang atong gikinahanglan sa atong kaugalingong lungsod?”
In every province, there are cooks making unforgettable kakanin from recipes passed down for generations. There are welders, artists, plumbers, electrician, technicians, dressmakers, painters, and teachers quietly doing meaningful work, often without recognition. And right beside them, there are clinics with no signs, barangay health centers no one can find online, and doctors who offer free checkups on weekends, unseen simply because they’re offline.
We created this website for one reason:
to serve the Filipino people.
To make it easier for every resident, tourist, or returning OFW to find what truly matters , a nearby doctor, a trusted clinic, a hospital in times of need.
Because in emergencies, in sickness, or even for simple health checkups, time and access matter.
This isn’t just a directory.
It’s a bridge.
A bridge connecting people to essentials, healthcare, food, jobs, local services, places to stay, things to rent, and people to hire.
It’s for the family looking for a pediatrician nearby.
For the traveler needing urgent care.
For the senior who just wants to know where to find the nearest pharmacy.
But more than that, it’s also for the small food vendor, the guitar teacher, the beach resort, the water delivery guy, the freelance graphic artist, and the young plumber starting fresh.
They all deserve to be found.
We built this because we believe in a more connected Philippines. Where support flows not just from top to bottom, but from neighbor to neighbor.
Because true progress isn’t about skyscrapers or trends. It’s about creating tools that lift people up, especially those who’ve always been working hard behind the scenes.
And now, it’s their turn to be seen.
This mission is what inspired Emman Jostol, the creator and lead developer behind SouthLeyte. A Full Stack Software Developer with over 20 years of experience, who has worked with clients from the Philippines, US, UK, Australia, and Singapore, delivering solutions that meet a wide range of global needs.
For over a year, he has been pouring his time and energy into building this system during his free hours. The system went through countless versions and refinements, each step guided by a deep desire to make it more meaningful, more useful, and more human.
What began as a personal passion project soon grew into a full-scale initiative focused on supporting small businesses and improving local accessibility.
But he didn’t do it alone.
This directory was made possible through the support of a dedicated team, individuals who believed in the mission, respected the confidentiality of its development, and gave their time, talent, and heart to bring this to life. Each core member signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to protect the integrity of the project during its early stages.
Some of them were questioned by others who misunderstood their involvement. A few were met with pressure from family or peers, and yet, they remained committed, quietly holding the line out of respect for the vision and trust they were part of.
Together, they built something greater than just a website.
They built a tool meant to strengthen the local economy, promote digital inclusion, and offer lasting value to communities across Southern Leyte, and soon the Philippines.
At its core, this project is a labor of love.
It was made for the Filipino people, to empower local communities, uplift livelihoods, and bring modern digital convenience to every corner it can reach.
Because at the heart of this is a simple goal,
to serve, to connect, and to empower every Filipino.
Behind this mission is a small but passionate team, each playing a unique role in shaping the vision and bringing it to life. They come from different walks of life, with varied religious beliefs and political affiliations, but they set those differences aside because they believe in something greater. United by a shared purpose, they work together to serve the people and create a lasting impact in their communities.
Meet the team:
Jan Anthony Usares Diaz
Advisory, Innovation, and Strategic Development
Janjan is an active adviser and consistent supporter of the directory initiative. From the early stages of planning to the ongoing development of SouthLeyte, he has provided valuable input on innovation, strategies, and long-term direction.
With a sharp eye for potential and a deep interest in sustainable digital solutions, he has helped shape conversations around business models, scalability, and how the platform can evolve to serve more communities over time. His contributions have played a key role in refining the vision and identifying opportunities for growth.
Despite his demanding role as the Operations Manager of Vero Villa, a luxury vacation home rental in Tacloban City, Janjan remains deeply engaged in the project. His commitment to community-driven technology and his belief in empowering local economies through digital innovation continue to guide and inspire the direction of the platform.
Crio Kuzuma
Multimedia Innovation and Creative Direction
Crio is a seasoned film and multimedia director with a strong background in storytelling, advertising, and creative production. Formerly a Director at GMA 7 Philippines, one of the country’s leading television networks, he brings with him years of experience in crafting impactful visuals and compelling narratives for both traditional and digital media.
For this project, he took the lead in exploring how multimedia can elevate SouthLeyte’s reach and impact. From video-based promotions to innovative visual content strategies, he has been instrumental in shaping the creative direction of how the directory presents itself to the public.
With a visionary eye for detail and deep understanding of audience engagement, he continues to develop ideas that bridge technology and media, ensuring that the platform not only functions well but also connects emotionally and visually with its audience.
Now leading his own production company, Kuzuma Studios Video Production, Crio continues to push boundaries in multimedia storytelling, bringing fresh ideas and cinematic quality to every project he takes on.
John Carlo Rama
Community Engagement, QA, and Strategic Input
Carlo is the Operations Manager of Lola Liling’s Lutong Bahay, a well-loved local establishment known for its authentic home-cooked meals. Beyond his role in managing daily operations, he proactively chose to be part of this digital innovation for Southern Leyte, recognizing its potential to uplift local businesses and serve the wider community.
Widely respected for his leadership and integrity, many in the community have encouraged him to run for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). However, he has chosen to focus his energy on contributing to meaningful initiatives behind the scenes. His involvement in the directory project includes testing, data entry, quality assurance, and active participation in brainstorming sessions and strategic planning.
John Carlo brings practical insight from the grassroots level and a forward-thinking mindset that has helped refine both the technical and user experience aspects of SouthLeyte.
Dave Olarte Del Rosario
Community and Creative Advisory
Dave brings a unique blend of technical expertise, cultural leadership, and community advocacy to the team. As a licensed Aircraft Mechanic with a background in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, he is known for his discipline and precision, qualities that complement his creative and advisory contributions to SouthLeyte.
An active musician, visual artist, and President of Lakbay Sining, Dave has been a driving force in revitalizing the creative and cultural scene in Hinunangan. His passion for the arts and community empowerment has guided his input on how this application can better serve local artists, musicians, and cultural workers.
As a Sangguniang Barangay Member and long-time community organizer, Dave sees technology as a tool for inclusive progress. In his role as an adviser, he actively provides input on how the platform can uplift communities by promoting local businesses, creating visibility for underserved sectors, and opening up more job opportunities across Southern Leyte.
With his deep roots in culture and grassroots leadership, Dave ensures the platform stays true to its core mission. He is committed to empowering people, sustaining livelihoods, and helping communities grow creatively, economically, and collectively.
Jim Ong-oy
Marketing and Innovation Advisory
Jim Ong-oy is an entrepreneur and innovator known for his creative approach to solving real-world problems.
He is the founder of E-hatud, the first local delivery service of its kind in Southern Leyte. Created with the vision of offering fast, reliable, and accessible delivery services, E-hatud has become a vital link between local businesses and residents, making daily life more convenient while supporting the local economy.
As an adviser to the directory project, Jim contributes strategic guidance rooted in real experience. With a strong background in marketing and a knack for out-of-the-box thinking, he offers fresh ideas on how SouthLeyte can reach wider audiences and better serve both users and business owners.
Jim’s entrepreneurial mindset, coupled with his deep understanding of local consumer behavior, continues to influence the platform’s direction. His input helps ensure the project remains innovative, marketable, and genuinely helpful to the communities it was built to serve.
Roxanne Dapitan
Senior Quality Assurance and Technical Direction
Roxanne is a seasoned Senior QA Specialist with extensive years of experience in quality assurance and software development. Despite a busy professional career, she generously contributed her time to this project during her free hours, offering both technical expertise and unwavering support.
Her involvement focused on quality assurance, technical direction, and contributing to key development tasks. With a sharp eye for detail and a high standard for performance, Roxanne ensured the platform was rigorously tested and ready for real-world use.
Her experience, combined with her willingness to support this initiative outside of her full-time work, made her one of the project’s most reliable and technically insightful contributors.
Loushel Puray
Research and Development, QA, and Innovation
Loushel Puray is a student with a strong passion for technology and innovation. Despite her academic responsibilities, she dedicated her free time to actively supporting the research and development phase of the platform, with a focus on testing, quality assurance, and exploring real-world scenarios to strengthen the system’s stability.
Outside of tech, Loushel nurtures a personal love for baking and pastries, a creative pursuit that inspires her and balances her analytical work. This blend of creativity and curiosity enables her to approach challenges with both heart and precision, making her a valuable part of the team.
She consistently offered thoughtful insights on features and improvements, helping to shape SouthLeyte’s user experience. Driven by the desire to make her family proud, she sees her contributions as part of a larger historical shift in technology for Southern Leyte.
Loushel remains one of the quiet forces behind the system’s reliability, always asking what can be improved and always thinking one step ahead.
Louisa Cablao
QA and Research Support
Louisa is part of the QA and R&D team, helping test features, check for issues, and support new ideas in development. While still gaining experience, she’s focused, hands-on, and always ready to contribute.
From testing small functions to giving feedback during research phases, Louisa brings fresh energy and a steady commitment to helping the team move forward.
She enjoys learning through real-world tasks and finds motivation in seeing her efforts make a difference. Whether it’s running test cases or assisting in new experiments, Louisa is steadily building her skills and growing with the team every step of the way.
