The “IT Park Tech Shaman” – Blesses Startups with “Binary Rituals”
In Cebu’s IT Park, where glass towers glow with code-driven ambition and caffeine-fueled startups chase their next funding round, one enigmatic figure stands out — the “IT Park Tech Shaman.”
Known to appear at coworking spaces and tech events, this man, often seen carrying a USB necklace and laptop bag filled with incense and flash drives, performs what he calls “binary rituals.” His goal: to bless startups for luck, creativity, and server stability.
At first glance, it sounds like satire. But to those who have met him, it’s both spiritual and strangely fitting — a fusion of technology, superstition, and Filipino faith.
Who Is the IT Park Tech Shaman?
Locals say his real name is Arvin Reyes, a former IT specialist who once worked for a BPO company in Lahug. After years of coding and system troubleshooting, Arvin says he began to experience “spiritual downloads” — messages from what he calls the Digital Realm of Consciousness.
In 2019, he left corporate life to pursue what he describes as “digital spirituality.” Since then, he has been offering startup blessings, tech cleansings, and office energy alignments to young companies in Cebu’s thriving IT Park district.
“Every line of code has energy,” says Arvin. “If your code is written with fear or burnout, the system absorbs it. My work clears that.”
The Binary Ritual
The ritual, which Arvin calls the “Bitstream Blessing,” combines modern tech with ancient symbolism. He starts by lighting a stick of sage or burning candle beside a CPU casing (symbolizing the “heart” of the business). Then, he opens a terminal on his laptop and types lines of code while chanting in a mix of English, Tagalog, and binary.
One of his chants translates to:
“010101 – let the system flow, 111000 – let ideas grow.”
Participants say the process feels both absurd and fascinating. The ritual ends with him sprinkling holy water over keyboards, routers, or prototype devices, while reciting affirmations about clarity, innovation, and success.
Bridging Faith and Technology
Filipinos have long blended faith and modernity — from blessing new cars and homes to saying prayers before exams or job interviews. The IT Park Tech Shaman simply takes that belief system into the 21st century.
In Cebu, where technology meets spirituality daily, Arvin’s presence feels oddly natural. Many tech workers, especially startup founders, admit that his rituals provide a mental reset in a high-pressure environment.
One startup co-founder from Apas shared:
“We laughed at first. But after his blessing, our team genuinely felt lighter. It’s more about morale — like cleansing stress before product launch.”
The Rise of Tech Spiritualism in Cebu
The Philippines’ rapid digital growth has birthed new cultural hybrids — and tech mysticism is one of them. Whether it’s fortune tellers offering “social media readings” or shamans using smartphones for aura analysis, spirituality has found new forms in the digital age.
Cebu, in particular, with its mix of Catholic tradition, urban creativity, and IT innovation, has become the perfect setting. The IT Park Tech Shaman embodies that intersection: blending faith, energy work, and code.
“In Silicon Valley, they have meditation pods and energy coaches,” Arvin explains. “Here, I just use incense and binary.”
Digital Cleansing for Startups
Beyond the rituals, Arvin offers what he calls “digital energy assessments.” He visits startup offices, checks workstations, and claims to sense “data fatigue” or “server anxiety” — terms that, while not technical, resonate metaphorically.
He advises teams to declutter their desktops, organize shared drives, and delete unnecessary files as part of digital feng shui.
To him, a clean system is a manifestation of mental clarity.
“When your workspace flows, your code flows.”
Even skeptical CEOs admit that these symbolic gestures help their teams refresh and refocus — and sometimes, that’s exactly what a growing startup needs.
Critics and Curiosity
Naturally, not everyone in Cebu’s IT Park takes Arvin seriously. Some dismiss his binary chants as a gimmick — a performance for social media likes. Others, however, argue that his work bridges mental wellness and creative motivation.
One HR manager even described inviting him before team hackathons to “lighten the mood and release tension.”
Whether people view him as a performer, philosopher, or prankster, the IT Park Tech Shaman continues to draw attention. His schedule, shared through a simple Facebook page, lists available slots for “System Blessings” and “Code Healing Consultations.”
A Spiritual Take on Coding
Underneath the theatrics lies a deeper philosophy — the belief that technology itself has “energy.” Arvin compares coding to prayer:
“When you code, you’re creating something invisible that affects reality. That’s sacred.”
This idea resonates with younger developers, who see programming not just as logic, but as expression and creation.
In a country where faith and resilience intertwine, the notion of coding as a spiritual act feels strangely empowering.
Pop Culture Attention
Social media has turned the Tech Shaman into a local phenomenon. Videos of his ceremonies — featuring burning incense beside laptops — have gone viral on TikTok and Reddit. Memes call him the “Binary Babaylan”, referencing the precolonial shamans of the Visayan islands.
Despite the humor, Arvin embraces it. “If laughter spreads awareness about spiritual wellness,” he says, “then it’s working.”
His followers now include not just IT workers, but students, freelancers, and even call center teams seeking balance between mind, code, and soul.
Cebu’s Unique Blend of Belief and Innovation
Cebu continues to surprise the world with its blend of modernity and mysticism — and the IT Park Tech Shaman is just one example of that colorful mix. From dream interpreters in Colon Street to energy healers in Busay, the island’s cultural fabric thrives on imagination and faith.
For travelers looking to experience Cebu beyond its business scene, you can explore its more relaxing side — Cebu Beach island-hopping details here, perfect for clearing the mind after a week of coding marathons.
Discover Cebu’s tropical adventures
The Future of Digital Spirituality
As startups continue to flourish, Arvin believes his work will evolve too. He’s currently developing a mobile app that provides “daily binary blessings” — combining motivational affirmations with digital numerology.
He dreams of holding larger events someday — maybe even a “Hackathon for the Soul.”
“I’m not here to replace religion or logic,” he says. “I’m just reminding tech people that creation, whether through prayer or programming, is sacred work.”
Final Thoughts
The “IT Park Tech Shaman” may sound like a character from science fiction, but he represents something profoundly human — the need for meaning in a fast-paced digital world.
Whether you see his rituals as spiritual innovation or creative performance, one thing is certain: in Cebu’s ever-evolving landscape, technology and mysticism continue to coexist — one byte, one blessing at a time.
