From gaming to real-world solutions

Every staff member of Zuellig Family Foundation knows Diosdado Nimes, or simply Kuya Dads, as their ever-reliable IT technician. Have problems with your laptop? Name it, and Kuya Dads can fix it. So it’s no surprise that such talent would be passed on to his equally skillful son—James Carlos Nimes.

Since childhood, James had always been adept at using computers. “‘Yon na talaga ang kasama ko simula bata ako. Interesado na talaga ako sa computers.”

Though computers were his childhood fascination, James still had the chance to play street games. In the streets of Taguig, James spent a great deal of his childhood time playing tumbang preso, agawan base, patintero, and turumpo. It was a colorful boyhood for this ‘90s kid. When he entered high school, his interest began shifting to computer games.

Using the computer seemed like a pastime for him until James realized that it was something that he would want to pursue as a career. With the support of his parents, and with his dad being a computer technician himself, James followed the calling of his heart.

Changes, transitions, transformations

James’ parents were both working, but he admitted that daily survival also became quite a challenge. Hence, it was a blessing for James that the City of Taguig offered free college tuition for its residents, which consequently made it possible for him to take his dream course: computer science.

It was far from what he imagined, though. College made James realize that using computers is more than just playing games. His major—coding and programming—was no joke. He almost regretted his choice. The former easy-go-lucky student then learned to take his studies seriously and set aside gaming for studying. He pushed himself to learn something new by spending more time in bookstores.

Amid his hardships in college, James found friends who motivated him to do better each day. The once shy boy from high school started to explore the world outside the world he built in the computer games he played.

When he graduated in 2014, James worked in a pharmaceutical company in Makati. He managed the company’s database and the system of medicine booking. He stayed for over a year until the daily commute from Taguig to Makati felt too much.

That was when James heeded his father’s encouragement to join him in ZFF. Things seemed basic for him at first until responsibilities began to pile up. He doubted that he belonged among the brilliant minds he met every day. But James did not give up. “Habang tumatagal, nakikita ko na ang sarili ko sa ZFF. Unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman na kaisa nila ako.”

More than the fulfillment he gets from his job, James also holds this hope of improving the technological systems in the organization. Working in ZFF for several years now, James saw what ZFF lacked in terms of technology, and he badly wanted to be a part of the team who would make improvements. After a few years of perseverance, James has seen gradual developments in the Foundation particularly in Management Information System (MIS). 

James said that his accomplishments would not be possible if not for the support he received from his colleagues and mentors. He never imagined himself doing such a system that would benefit a lot of people, but it was made possible nonetheless.

Since 2016, James’ journey in ZFF has been a rollercoaster ride. Now an MIS Associate at ZFF, for James, there were highs and lows, but each moment is a learning experience. As someone who happened to have very little knowledge about public health, James said that ZFF allowed him to appreciate and understand the healthcare system and the role each of us can do to achieve equitable and affordable services for all.

“Hanggang ngayon, aminado akong hindi ko pa kabisado lahat, pero dito kasi sa ZFF tuluy-tuloy lang ang learning. Araw-araw marami pa rin akong natututunan.” An immersion activity also allowed James to have a grasp of what’s happening on the ground. He visited one of ZFF’s assisted areas in Tarlac where he witnessed wireless access for health specifically designed for pregnant women so their condition can be monitored closely. That moment opened his eyes about the critical role of technology in bringing healthcare closer to the people who need it most.

That experience ignited James’ commitment to do his work. For him, assisting ZFF staff also means reaching the communities especially during this time of restricted movements. “Nasa core values kasi ng ZFF ang ‘Caring for The People’. ‘Yon ang nakita ko sa ZFF and ‘yon din ang ginagawa ko for them in return.”