Career Introduction HIPE Japan Inc.

John Lloyd
Serrano

Software Engineer, HIPE Japan Inc.

Seven years in tech, and counting. I learn by doing, one project at a time.

IT分野の仕事を始めて7年になります。いつも現場で実践しながら学んできました。

Portrait of John Lloyd Serrano
Cebu, Philippines → HIPE Japan Inc. 2019 to Present

01. Beginnings

Why I Chose This Path

It started with a dream to make games.

In senior high, my dream was simple. I wanted to make my own game, one that many people would enjoy playing. That dream is why I chose a path in technology.

I went to college and worked at the same time to get started. It was not easy, and I was tired most days. After my first year, I chose to focus fully on work.

高校生のとき、夢はシンプルでした。多くの人が楽しんでくれる自分のゲームを作ることです。その夢が、私がテクノロジーの道を選んだ理由です。大学と仕事を両立して始めましたが、簡単ではなく、ほとんど毎日疲れていました。1年生を終えたころ、仕事に集中することにしました。

For reference, my school background: Pardo National High School, then University of Cebu, ICT Strand, then one year of college before I chose to work full time.

02. Early Career

Learning By Doing

It started with 300 hours of required training in grade 11: repairing computers, installing Ubuntu and Windows, and even helping install security cameras in big buildings. It was the most enjoyable experience I had ever had.

Nov 2017 to Jan 2018IT Support Specialist (Intern)Hi-Life Marketing
Feb to Mar 2018IT Support SpecialistWLCLIFE Support Sales and Leasing
Mar 2018 to Sep 2020Software EngineerWLCLIFE Support Sales and Leasing
Jul 2020 to Feb 2021Game Developer (Part-time)Axcela PH
Mar to Nov 2021Frontend Web DeveloperJOGXPRESS

In four years, I had five different roles, and I never stopped moving forward.

03. Along the Way

Early Projects

This was my first real job, not an internship. I had a lot of fun with my teammates, got scolded many times, and felt frustrated sometimes too. But I learned a lot by doing the work.

Inhouse CRM System

Software Engineer

Hi-Life Marketing

Mar to Oct 2018

Inhouse POS System

Programmer

Hi-Life Marketing

Dec 2018 to Jun 2019

Myth Slayer and ACE (Games)

Programmer, part-time

Axcela PH, work from home

Jul 2020 to Feb 2021

Website Maintenance

Programmer

JOGXPRESS

Mar to Nov 2021

We built the CRM and POS systems from scratch with plain PHP and SQL, no framework. Then the pandemic hit, the company struggled, and it eventually closed. That is when I found my next chapter.

04. Chasing the Dream

A Chance to Make Games

Hard work, big dream.

When the pandemic hit, my company closed. I found a part time job as a game developer instead, and it led straight back to my childhood dream.

The schedule was strict and the work was demanding. But the team was friendly and inspiring, and together we shipped two real games, Myth Slayer and ACE.

この時期はスケジュールが厳しく大変でしたが、チームは温かく、支え合いながら二つのゲームを完成させました。子供の頃からの夢に、初めて仕事として近づいた瞬間でした。

Role
Game Developer, Part-time
Company
Axcela PH
Duration
Jul 2020 to Feb 2021

05. A New Beginning

First on the Team at HIPE Japan

Nov 172021

The day I joined HIPE Japan Inc.

I was given both the backend work and the UI design for a brand new project. I was the first member of that team.

Ruby and Ruby on Rails were both new to me. For almost a month, I learned them mostly on my own, in a language and a codebase I had never used before.

I had colleagues and friends across HIPE Japan the whole time. They were not on my own team yet, but their help got me through it.

06. The Project

An O2O Solutions Platform

In Japan, people often look at products online, but they still buy them in physical stores. This platform connects online interest with in-store behavior.

It was even tested in a real social experiment in Shibuya Ward.

Role
Project Leader
Duration
Nov 2021 to Nov 2025
Status
Completed

Right after this, I also worked on a Legal Consultation App for HIPE Japan. It connects everyday Japanese citizens with legal professionals online. I worked on it from January to March 2025.

07. Right Now

What I'm Building Now

This is what I am working on from 2025 until now. One team project, one project I built alone, and one AI project with teammates.

Team project

HR Test Product

A test product for a global HR and staffing company. My team and I built this together.

Solo project

PersolHR Platform

An AI powered HR platform for a global HR and staffing company. I designed and built this on my own.

Team project

Molave AI

An AI powered tool that helps people practice for interviews. My teammates and I built this together.

molave.ai.persolhr.com

A Personal Project

Games I Made, Just for Fun

In 2023, in my free time, I taught myself Unity and started building my own games. Two of them are still growing today.

This is the same dream I had in senior high, and I am still chasing it. I work on FableFarm and FableDreams about one hour every day, and I hope many people will play them one day.

Unity C#
FableFarm, a relaxing farming game

FableFarm

A relaxing farming game. Plant crops, grow a farm, and enjoy a slow, peaceful world.

FableDreams, a 2D roguelike dungeon shooter

FableDreams

A 2D roguelike dungeon shooter. Fast, challenging runs through a world that changes every time.

Off the Clock

Life Outside Work

Work is not the only thing about me. Here is what fills the rest of my week.

Minecraft and Dota

I still play games like Minecraft and Dota. It is how I relax and stay sharp.

Anime

I always have a show I am watching. Ask me for a recommendation.

Sunday Cycling

Every Sunday evening, I ride my road bike. It helps me reset for the week.

Fun Runs

I join local fun run events when I can. My longest run so far is 21 kilometers.

Basketball

I play with friends and cousins on weekends. There is always some friendly trash talk.

Thank You

Thank you.

I would love to hear your questions.

ご質問をお待ちしております。

Let's keep talking. We will work it out together in English, one question at a time.

Got a Question Later?

Send Me a Question

If you think of a question after today, you can send it to me directly here. This opens your email app with the question already filled in.

This opens your own email app, addressed to jlserrano223@gmail.com. Nothing is sent automatically from this page.

←→ navigate  ·  N notes  ·  F fullscreen