My Web Development Journey: A Cebu Web Developer's Story

Almost 10 years in web development, and I still find myself learning something new every now and then. I guess that's one of the things I've always enjoyed about being a developer. No matter how familiar you are with a certain technology, there's always something you haven't encountered before.

Hi! I'm John Semblante, a web developer from Cebu, Philippines. I've spent most of my career working on front-end development, WordPress, and websites for different industries. Since I've finally decided to start writing on my portfolio, I figured my first post should be about something I'm very familiar with: my journey as a developer.

How It All Started

Like many web developers, I started with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Much of my work during those earlier years involved converting website designs into actual working pages. I've worked with PSD files, Figma designs, and the usual challenges that come with front-end development.

I remember spending a ridiculous amount of time fixing small CSS issues. Sometimes you'd change one thing, only to realize you've messed up something else. Haha! Those little frustrations were part of the learning process, though, and they helped me become more comfortable with responsive layouts, browser compatibility, and paying attention to details.

Eventually, I became more confident working with different designs and requirements. It wasn't always about making things look exactly like the mockup anymore. I also had to consider how the website would behave on different devices and whether it would actually be easy for people to use.

Getting Deeper Into WordPress Development

WordPress became a huge part of my career as I started handling more projects. I got into custom themes, plugins, WooCommerce, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Gutenberg, and page builders like Elementor and Divi.

What I like about WordPress is that there's quite a lot you can do with it. Some projects only need a straightforward business website, while others require custom functionality, integrations, or more complicated setups. I've had the opportunity to work on websites for businesses in e-commerce, real estate, travel, and other industries.

One project that really challenged me was a heavily customized WooCommerce website for a client in the psychology and rehabilitation industry. Unlike a typical online store, the platform required users to register, complete an initial 100-question assessment, and work through additional quizzes and activities.

We also developed a custom user dashboard using a separate WordPress plugin. It brought together user information, premium plans, weekly reports, and other features. WooCommerce was customized to support rehabilitation appointment bookings, allowing users to choose available schedules with their doctors.

It was one of those projects that made me realize how much WordPress could do beyond its usual features. Connecting different functionalities wasn't always straightforward, but the experience taught me a lot about custom plugin development, WooCommerce customization, and building more complex WordPress applications.

Exploring Modern Development and AI Tools

Although WordPress remains one of my strongest areas, I've also been exploring React, Next.js, and other modern development tools. It's been interesting learning different approaches to building websites and applications while applying the fundamentals I've gained from front-end development.

More recently, I've been spending time experimenting with AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor AI, GitHub Copilot, and Claude. I've also been learning how to configure and train AI sub-agents to handle specific development tasks and fit into my workflow.

It's honestly impressive how these tools can help with coding, debugging, reviewing code, and understanding unfamiliar concepts. Something that previously required plenty of searching and trial and error can sometimes be approached much faster with AI assistance.

That said, I still believe it's important to understand what you're building. AI-generated solutions aren't always correct, and you still need to review the code, test the functionality, and make sure everything works as expected. For me, these tools are becoming useful additions to my workflow, but not replacements for having a solid technical foundation.

Learning Beyond Coding: My Interest in SEO

Another area I've recently started exploring is Search Engine Optimization (SEO). While I've encountered SEO-related requirements throughout my development career, I wanted to better understand what happens beyond building and launching a website.

I recently joined an SEO workshop organized by the Cebu SEO Community, which gave me an opportunity to learn more about how search engines work, how websites can improve their visibility, and the strategies involved in reaching the right audience.

It was interesting to look at websites from a different perspective. As a developer, I often focus on performance, responsiveness, functionality, and user experience. Learning more about SEO reminded me that building a technically sound website is only part of the process. People also need to be able to find it.

I'm still learning and exploring this field, but I can see how combining web development experience with SEO knowledge could help me build websites that are not only functional but also more effective for businesses.

A Few Things I've Learned Along the Way

If there's one thing I've realized after all these years, it's that experience doesn't necessarily mean you'll have an answer to everything. I still encounter problems that require research, testing, and sometimes a little trial and error.

I've also learned not to jump straight into coding without understanding what needs to be done. Taking time to understand the requirements can save a lot of unnecessary changes later, especially when working on customized applications.

With how quickly the industry is changing, I've also realized that learning shouldn't stop at the technologies you're already comfortable with. Whether it's exploring React, experimenting with AI tools, or attending an SEO workshop, there's always something useful to pick up.

And while new tools can make our work easier, I still think having a good understanding of the fundamentals goes a long way.

What's Next?

For now, I'm continuing to improve my skills in WordPress, modern web development, AI-assisted workflows, and SEO. I don't necessarily have everything figured out, especially with how quickly things are changing in the tech industry, but I'm interested in seeing where these new skills and experiences will take me.

As a Cebu web developer, I'd love to continue working on interesting projects, whether with local businesses or teams from other parts of the world. I'm also hoping to document more of my experiences here, from WordPress development and technical challenges to new tools, workshops, and other things I learn along the way.

Anyway, that's a little bit about my journey so far. Nearly a decade later, I'm still learning, experimenting, and figuring things out one project at a time.

Thanks for dropping by and reading my first post!

If you'd like to see some of the projects I've worked on, feel free to check out my portfolio.

Until the next one!

John Semblante WordPress / Full Stack Developer | Cebu, Philippines