Andrew Garcia receives the Yoast Care fund for his contribution to the WordPress community

Meet Andrew Garcia, a valued member of the WordPress community! Jhimross Olinares nominated her for the Yoast Care Fund for his commitment and valuable contributions. Let’s learn more about this WordPress enthusiast.

Nominator Jhimross Olinares: “I am nominating Andrew Garcia for the Yoast Care Fund, because of his long-standing and impactful contributions to the WordPress community in the Philippines. As one of the co-founders of WP Meetup here in the Philippines. Especially in Manila, a consistent leader in local WordCamps and meetups, and the Local Lead for WordCamp Asia 2025, Andrew has demonstrated unwavering dedication to growing and empowering the community. He is a true tech leader and open source advocate, inspiring many WordPressers through his leadership and commitment. He has been actively involved in the WordPress community for years, and I’m genuinely surprised he hasn’t been nominated for the Yoast Care Fund until now. His influence and contributions make him truly deserving of this recognition.“

Let’s get to know Andrew Garcia

Those are some lovely words by Jhimoross. Let’s get to know Andrew a bit better and ask him some questions about his work and passion for WordPress:

Hi, Andrew! What do you do in the WordPress space?

I currently work as an Implementation Consultant, helping organizations build, manage, and optimize WordPress websites at scale. My day-to-day responsibilities involve helping clients achieve optimal performance, security, and reliability for their WordPress sites.

I’ve worked with WordPress for over 15 years.

Back in 2016, I helped co-found WordPress User Group Philippines. Carrying forward the work of the volunteers who organized the first WordCamp in Southeast Asia. Since then, I’ve helped organize WordCamp Manila in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2023. In addition to that, I led Manila’s first Do_Action charity hackathon in 2019. My journey as a community organizer culminated in serving as Local Lead when Manila was selected as the host city for WordCamp Asia 2025.

Beyond organizing events, I enjoy supporting fellow organizers across the Philippines, while they build local communities and create opportunities for people to learn, connect, and contribute.

How did you first discover WordPress, and why did you start contributing?

I first discovered WordPress in my early days as a junior developer while looking for a Content Management System for a client’s website. We were impressed by how easy it was to use and how flexible it was to customize. What started as a single project quickly became a platform that I continued to use throughout my career.

Much of my coding knowledge is self-taught. I learned through web guides, blog posts, forums, and online communities, and along the way, I received a great deal of help from people who generously shared their knowledge and experience. That experience shaped how I view community. I wanted to pay it forward by helping create spaces where people could learn from one another, share experiences, and grow together.

When I came across a newly formed WordPress Meetup group in Manila looking for volunteers, becoming a community organizer felt like a natural fit. Looking back, contributing to WordPress was never just about the software-it was about giving back to the community that helped me grow.

What do you think made you stand out for this nomination?

WordPress Manila recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, which gave me an opportunity to reflect on my journey within the community. I believe what may have stood out for this nomination is my long-term commitment to building and growing the WordPress community in the Philippines.

Over the years, I’ve taken on many roles-WordPress professional, meetup organizer, speaker, WordCamp organizer, and community leader. But the common thread has always been helping create spaces where people can learn, connect, and contribute.

One realization I’ve had is that people come to WordPress for the software, but they stay because of the community. Some of my most meaningful experiences have been helping first-time attendees feel welcome, encouraging someone to give their first talk, supporting new organizers, or watching community members grow into leaders themselves.

If there is one thing that distinguishes my contribution, I hope it is my commitment to helping others find their place in WordPress. That belief is reflected in a phrase I often use to welcome newcomers: “Welcome, you have found your community.”

What’s your favorite WordPress memory or something you’re most proud of?

Standing on the plenary stage of the Taiwan International Convention Center during the closing ceremony of WordCamp Asia 2024, moments after Manila was announced as the next host city for WordCamp Asia 2025.

That memory remains vivid to me because it marked the culmination of many years of work by the WordPress community in the Philippines. Even before submitting our application, we had spent nearly a year preparing to ensure we were ready to host an event of that scale. Behind that moment were countless volunteers, organizers, meetup leaders, and community members who had spent years growing and nurturing the local WordPress ecosystem.

Being on stage in front of thousands of attendees felt incredibly special because I was representing not only our organizing team, but also my country and the many Filipinos in the audience. It felt like a moment of recognition for everything our community had built together.

I can still remember the cheers from the crowd and the excitement on people’s faces. There was a genuine sense of pride and anticipation in the room. For me, it wasn’t just the announcement of a future event-it was a celebration of how far the Philippine WordPress community had come and what we could accomplish when people came together around a shared purpose.

It’s a memory I’ll carry with me for a very long time.

If you could shape the future of WordPress, what would it look like?

When I first learned how to code, it felt like discovering a superpower. I was amazed by the idea that you could take something from your imagination and bring it to life using technology.

That “aha moment” when you finally figure out how to make something work is a genuine source of joy. That I still relish to this day. It’s a feeling that never really goes away, whether you’re building your first website or solving a complex problem years later.

What WordPress has done so brilliantly is lower the barrier to entry. It allows someone with little to no technical background, armed only with curiosity and a willingness to learn, to create something meaningful using free, readily available software. In many ways, WordPress democratizes the ability to create and share ideas with the world.

If I could shape the future of WordPress, I would continue to push in that direction. I would love to see WordPress become even more accessible to newcomers and to see more communities emerge in regions that are still underserved today.

The software itself is important, but communities are what help people take that first step. I hope to see more local groups sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and helping others experience. That same joy of building websites and bringing their ideas to life. To me, that is the true strength of WordPress

Thank you for this interview, Andrew, and for all your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Andrew Garcia who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.