Your AI Agent Engineer's Journey, Kershey Cariño

Every brand has a story, but behind every great one is a process—sketches abandoned, concepts reimagined, and details sharpened to perfection. The journey isn't about getting it right the first time; it's about crafting something that truly lasts.

A crumpled paper isn't a failure—it's proof of refinement, iteration, and the pursuit of perfection, just like how I meticulously craft and refine every detail to make every brand I work with truly special.

From Start, To Breakthrough

Who's Behind the Code?

Hello there, I'm Kershey Cariño, I'm a Software Engineer at August99, crafting digital experiences from the Pearl of the Orient—Philippines. Almost 3 years in, and still thriving in my 1st dev job. Funny how life works—I didn't start here. I was an accountancy student, then a Sales Consultant, but something always felt… unfinished. I wanted to create, to build something that lasted. So I taught myself to code, one line at a time. That journey led me here. Now, while I work across the stack, I specialize in front-end—not just designing interfaces, but crafting experiences that connect brands with people. A website isn't just a collection of pages; it's a brand's silent salesman.

How it started?

By mid-2021, stuck in a minimum-wage job, bills kept piling up, and I knew one thing—I needed a change. Not just to survive, but to build a future where my career could actually grow. The pandemic only made things harder. Isolation, uncertainty, and that constant question—"What can I do to turn my life around?" Then, I found web development. Or maybe, it found me. Thanks to Youtube content creators making it feel within reach. But there was one problem—I didn't even own a computer.

What led to the decision?

So, I did what I had to. They say, if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way. From working as a Sales Consultant at Marks & Spencer, I took a leap and joined Telus as a call center agent, saved up, and finally bought my first computer—not for entertainment, but to build something bigger. January 2022 marked the real beginning. With my first computer in hand, I dived into learning—late nights after working hours, countless tutorials, and a whole new world of possibilities. Then came May 2022—the moment I took my biggest risk. I quit my job to build my portfolio. No backup plan, no safety net—just a decision to chase a career in a field where I had zero experience or any formal education. My BPO career was on the rise, but my passion? It was leading me somewhere else. And I followed.

How it was done?

I'm the kind of person who marks a date and gets things done. A calendar person, if you will. And when I set my sights on something, I make sure I follow through. My dive into web development wasn't just passion—it was a structured plan. 3 months mastering the fundamentals. 2 months building websites, turning theory into practice. 3 weeks diving into back-end and expanding my skill set. 1 week preparing for the real challenge—the job hunt. Then came June 2022—the month I got hired. No shortcuts. No skipping steps. Just one goal in mind—to be the developer brands turn to when they need something built right.

— Kershey Cariño

Thank You!

Before you go, I'm grateful to the people who shaped this journey: my early-dev crew Ace, Jairus, and Jomel, who pushed me to learn fast and refine my craft beyond tutorials; my senior Byran, who guided me through the unknown; my supervisor Owtee, who took a chance on me with no degree, just passion and drive; and most of all Aya Israel, my QA and the one who brings quality to my work and my life.

What the Years Actually Taught Me

"An unsplit decision is a business rule with no home." — from Extract the Fact, Judge in Code

"A JSON Schema constrains the container, not the content." — from Structured Is Not Constrained

"The best cache key is almost never the prompt. It's the thing the prompt is about." — from Cache the Thing, Not the Prompt

Recent notes from the build: Extract the Fact, Judge in Code (Aug 15, 2026 · 4 min read), Structured Is Not Constrained (Aug 15, 2026 · 4 min read), Cache the Thing, Not the Prompt (Aug 15, 2026 · 4 min read). Open the notebook for the full catalogue.

Let's Discuss Your Next

Ready to build something that lasts? Contact Kershey, or see the case files.