A First for Everything
WordCamp Asia 2025 was held in Manila, Philippines, from February 20-22, marking my very first flagship WordCamp and my first international trip. For me, this experience was surreal—one for the books! I’ve spoken about WCAsia so much, to so many people, yet it always feels like it was worth even more. Everyone should experience something like this at least once.
I kept delaying this recap, trying to make it perfect, only to realize that it wasn’t quite possible. WordCamp Asia was an experience, deeply rooted in my heart yet so difficult to capture in words (or even in pictures). Beautiful, serene, overwhelming, exhilarating, and full of warmth, this event redefined my standards for conferences and, more importantly, for community—welcoming, inclusive, and just right.
The Journey to Manila
This trip was significant for many reasons, but mostly because I was emceeing for the first time at a flagship event. Although I received the Diversity Scholarship for WCAsia 2024, I couldn’t attend, making this year’s opportunity even more special.
But from visa applications to solo travel to finally making it there, it was a journey in itself! For Indian residents, the Philippines offers an eVisa option, making the process fairly accessible.
If you’re looking for a guide on how to apply for a Philippines visa, check out my separate blog post here.
Visa was sorted, I flew to Mumbai first and had a friend bring Mumbai’s ultimate—Vada Pav before we flew to Manila. Being a vegetarian, food was one of my biggest concerns, and little did I know how much of a topsy-turvy journey I’d have to go further on.
Staying at Conrad Manila: Hospitality at Its Finest
After changing 3 flights and travelling for a full 24 hours, we landed in Manila! Literally kept myself up on lemon water throughout. The first thing that caught my eye was their beautiful cars! And then, we headed to the stunning Conrad Manila!
My standards for hospitality are set & shaped by the Tatas. In the Philippines, I stayed at Conrad, a Hilton property, and this became the only property that could come anywhere near the Taj. Mindful housekeeping, accommodating receptionists, and thoughtful longue staff— The level of hospitality I received made my stay so much more enjoyable and made me feel at home. Mindful hospitality goes a long way!
Filipinos, in general, are incredibly kind and accommodating—even the cab drivers!
Coming to food, considering its geography, Filipino cuisine revolves around seafood and poultry, making it tricky for vegetarians to navigate and find something without eggs, if alone meat. There may be hidden ingredients like fish or shrimp flakes, oyster sauce, chicken oil, rennet cheese, etc. And since rennet is banned in India, but not outside the Parmesan is different too. Fruits can be your best friends on such trips for real. Having done a lot of research, I was particular about my food throughout.
At Conrad, my only option on Day 1 was gluten bread. I shared my concern later that day, and starting Day 2, Chef Becca personally took charge of my meals, ensuring I had a variety of vegetarian options every morning. She even brought out a cheese platter at one point to verify the ingredients haha.
Every Saturday, they have a national-level fireworks competition at the Bay. You could actually see how populous the city is at this time. I was glad that we were around, and with my room facing the Bay, it was all the more lovely.
What is a WordCamp & Why is WCAsia special?
WordCamps are the flagship event(s) of WordPress, a software covering around 43% of websites around the globe. Primarily a tech conference, they are known for their diverse community and global outreach through local communities. They bring together enthusiasts, developers, designers, bloggers, business owners, etc to learn, network, and contribute. They hold global significance as hubs of innovation and collaboration within the WordPress community. They’re organised by local communities as well as global communities. The Global community organises three flagships WordCamps, these are continent-level Camps: WordCamp Europe, WordCamp US & WordCamp Asia.
Read about WordCamp Bhopal 2023
WordCamp Asia 2025: The Main Event
Over 1,400 attendees from 71 countries gathered at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), with nearly 15,000 joining online. The event started with Contributor Day, followed by two days of insightful talks, panels, workshops, and networking opportunities.
As for me, the networking began right on the flight, my seatmate turned out to be headed to the Camp too and was an Indian (didn’t seem like prima facie though). The serendipity of it all set the tone for what was to come.
Contributor Day: Giving Back to the Community
WordCamp Asia kicked off with an incredible Contributor Day, with almost 800 contributors, many first-timers, coming together to collaborate and give back to WordPress. Guided by 37 table leads and 16 experts from the Human Library, participants engaged in meaningful discussions and tackled important tasks, reinforcing the open-source spirit of WordPress.
Post-Contributor Day, we headed to Social Night at Baluarte San Diego which had a cute setup for dinner for the speakers, sponsors, volunteers & organisers; followed by Elementor and Hostinger’s Manila Mingle Party.
Conference Highlights
The first full conference day began with opening remarks reflecting on WordCamp Asia’s journey, tracing back to the first Southeast Asian WordCamp in Manila in 2008. The excitement peaked with an inspiring keynote by Gutenberg Lead Architect Matías Ventura on the future of Gutenberg and WordPress. I’ve been a fan of Gutenberg for almost a decade since I started blogging.
I had the opportunity to emcee on Day 1—a nerve-wracking yet exhilarating experience. Practicing backstage, I made friends with Shubham who stayed to support me throughout—really sweet of him! I introduced some amazing speakers, including
- Nirmal Desai, CEO of CreedAlly, who spoke on Building a WordPress Agency
- Chiaki Kauno from Vektor Inc. shared insights on Essential Steps for WordPress Multilingual Success
- Dhanendran from 10up spoke about the Role of Microservices in Headless WordPress
- Abhishek Raijal from Awesome Motive shed light on Getting Started with WP Interactivity API
After-Hours Networking & Parties
The heart of a flagship WordCamp lies in networking and the crazy parties. People do island hopping in the Philippines, I found myself party-hopping instead.
The night continued with parties hosted by WooCommerce and Verisign. Gustė from Hostinger was really kind to invite me to their private dinner. This was followed by an impromptu plan with WPMU DEV’s- they’re so cool! The nightlife was something I’d never experienced—at 5 AM, the city of Manila was still alive, lights twinkling, and people socializing over at McD as if it were early evening! A city that never sleeps, witnessed, lived.
The Grand Finale & A Special Announcement
While I was packing for Asia I had this thought to do something Indian for once. Of course, I was to represent my country. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I considered wearing a saree. I was skeptical, but I packed one anyway, just in case I felt confident enough. So it was the final day of the conference and the final chance of me wearing it. Thanks to friends who motivated me further. It wasn’t the easiest choice, but it was absolutely thrilling! Loved every bit of it being noticed and appreciated by the global folks, right from the hotel staff to our neighbours, extending to the West, it was crazy.
Honestly, I’d been at the sponsor area throughout this day. There were so many raffles, it was all buzzing with energy. I spoke to so many people!
The Best Moment?
The announcement of WordCamp Asia 2026!
The excitement was palpable. After so much anticipation, countless rumours, and endless debates, the moment finally arrived—WordCamp Asia is coming to India in 2026! For the Indian WordPress community, this was nothing short of a full-circle moment.
To wrap it all up, the last party was at PICC itself: the After Party!
A special note of thanks to the incredible organizing team — putting together an event of this magnitude is no small feat. From coordinating speaker logistics to ensuring smooth operations across multiple tracks, their dedication truly shone through. Every detail was thoughtfully taken care of — whether it was the assistance with special immigration lines, the shuttle buses for our convenience, or the constant on-ground support, everything was impeccably managed. Kudos to the team for pulling off such a well-organized and heartwarming event. Your hard work is deeply appreciated!
The People, Always the People!
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it every single time—WordCamp has always felt like a big family reunion, even if you’re meeting people for the first time. It’s always about the people. I wanted to stay longer, explore more, talk more (even if it meant a sore throat!) and experience more of the country, but perhaps that’s for another time.
In all of this, how incomplete would it be to not mention the wonderful folks I got to meet—Michelle, Gustė from Hostinger, Samah from Yoast, Viktoria & Conodor from Kinsta, Devin, Hari Shanker, Tim, Eva, Arjay, Chiaki, Nirmal, Shubham, Krupa, Himal, Anooja & Vinod from Flexicloud, Napaphat, Vedanshu, Aurelio, Loana. The list is definitely longer… sorry if I’ve missed someone: you’re remembered with a smile nonetheless!
And then, there was the big, vibrant Indian contingent—some familiar faces, some new—and all adding to the warmth.
I’m a people person. My energy depends upon the people. And even as I write this, I know words will never fully capture what this experience meant to me. Some knew of my presence there; a majority did not. The ones I knew helped me connect with those I didn’t. But there were also those who came by without knowing me—just a smile or a kind word away, reminding me how simple yet profound human connections can be.
I’d recommend anyone to experience this community at least once!
What Did I Bring Back?
As I returned home, friends kept asking what I brought back for them. My answer? “A rejuvenated Astha.” (Apart from the sponsor swags of course).
And honestly, I couldn’t have said it better. This trip wasn’t just my first flagship WordCamp or my first international journey—it was a journey of self-growth, confidence, and belonging. It reminded me of the power of community, the impact of knowledge-sharing, and the beauty of stepping out of my comfort zone. The support, the kindness, the sheer joy of being in the moment—I carry it all with deep, wholehearted gratitude.
Thank you, WordCamp Asia, for the memories, the friendships, and the inspiration. Here’s to many more moments like these!
To the Philippines—Salamat Po! And to the WordPress community—Mahal Kita!