The Digital Nomad Association Philippines is actively fostering a vibrant community for remote workers in the country. While their official website is under development, DNA PH maintains an active presence on social media platforms, regularly sharing updates, news, and events relevant to digital nomads.
Digital Nomad Association Philippines (DNA PH) Hosts Barstool University Night in Poblacion
On August 7, 2025, the Digital Nomad Association Philippines (DNA PH) held its first Barstool University session at WILD Cafe and Bar in Poblacion. Just as the name suggests, the event consists of university-level professors and lectures, but in lieu of your traditional chalk and chalkboard lesson, we have a projector, a slide deck, and refreshing craft cocktails in hand. Not your typical school day, right?
My run-ins with the term “digital nomad” thus far have been mostly conversational and anecdotal, and what identifying as one really entailed seemed to vary from person to person. I had yet to find the opportunity to learn about these lifestyles from an academic point of view, so when I was so fortunately invited to attend this event, I was more than interested.
As an organization with the overarching goal of establishing the Philippines as a prime destination and global hub for digital nomads, this is just one of the many events that DNA PH organizes to offer its membership resources, support, and a source of community. Barstool University in particular was started with the primary purpose of imparting knowledge and insights about digital nomadism and lifestyles in a laidback, casual setting, while also serving as a networking opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.
After opening remarks by founder Orly Darnayla and Director of Special Projects Kathy Lim-Cabradilla, class was in session. Our lecturer for the night was Dr. Cheryl Soriano, a professor at De La Salle University in the Communications Department currently pursuing research into digital communities and lifestyles.
Titled “From ‘Cloudwork’ to ‘Groundwork’: Intermediation in the Philippine Online Remote Work Ecosystem,” Dr. Soriano’s lecture began by introducing digital nomadism and its development over time. The pandemic brought what was a burgeoning community of digital freelancers into a full-fledged “gig economy” as it forced people to change or become more flexible with where and how they worked. Dr Soriano also introduced the different intermediating players that emerge in the digital nomad space, such as organizational support entities that help to skill and coach workers, community builders (like DNA!) as well as material support agencies that provide resources like working space, electricity, payment avenues, etc. for digital workers.
In a data table from one of the world’s largest online freelance platforms, Dr Soriano showed that the Philippines has the largest number of potential workers globally. However, the same aforementioned data showed that the Philippines was simultaneously the global leader of labor oversupply on the platform, meaning that a large proportion of the potential workers were actually unable to find work. This suggests that while the digital nomad lifestyle can be very appealing to the Filipino for various reasons, realizing those hopes may not be so easy because of a lack of organization and support within the community to help the population maximize their productivity.
This portion of the lecture inspired discussion amongst the attendees as they shared the roadblocks and difficulties that they run into as a digital nomad, which helped underscore the issue that Dr. Soriano’s lecture brings attention to. In this, she also recalls her previous mention of intermediating entities and how over time, this creates a hierarchy in the ecosystem where certain groups, or individuals like elite workers, come to manage the labor supply chain. In Dr Soriano’s words, the “precarity of the ‘good life’” that some believe digital nomadism promises is ultimately dependent on where you sit on the food chain. With digital nomads having now attracted government attention, Dr Soriano ended her lecture emphasizing the need to map the digital sub-economy while also strengthening support ecosystems for digital workers. This also speaks to the importance of organizations like DNA as sources of community, guidance, and opportunity.
Class wasn’t exactly dismissed when the lecture ended, though, as attendees were encouraged to stay for a night of speak-easy networking to chat and get to know one another. Drinks flowed as easily as the conversation, as everyone was enthusiastic to make new connections. Despite most of us sharing the commonality of identifying as a digital nomad or remote worker, there was also a clear diversity of experience that inspired interesting discussions. Everyone seemed to come from a slightly different background, with research students, influencers, architects, and everyone in between coming together to exchange ideas, opinions, and anecdotes.
This non-traditional lecture session with non-traditional lifestyles as the main topic was not only educational but provided ample food for thought about how we can navigate the landscape of digital nomadism, as a knowledge of the current issues and roadblocks that lay ahead are essential to creating a system that works for everyone. I personally found it all not only interesting but also inspiring how despite the challenges, digital nomads continue to forge their own paths. The networking portion of the event was also a great way to keep the momentum going and round out the discussion, as I had a great time chatting with everyone, and made new friends in the process.
The success of the first session of Barstool University makes me excited about the possibilities going forward in terms of potential topics, speakers, and venues. I’m more than glad to have been invited, and look forward to possibly even helping organize a session in the future. Biggest thanks to Dr Soriano for imparting so much knowledge and also leading us into important discussions. Thank you as well to the host venue, WILD Bar and Cafe, and of course to the rest of the DNA PH team who worked to make this event happen. I know I’m not just speaking for myself when I say I already can’t wait for the next one! See you all next period?