When Jesus Rupert Manacsa accepted his first marketing job in 2021, he walked into a company that had just opened its branch. There were no established marketing systems, no automated workflows, and no digital structure to build on. For someone new to the industry, the challenge should have been intimidating. Instead, it became the opportunity that shaped his entire approach to the profession.
He quickly realized that the role demanded more than creativity. It required building processes from scratch, introducing new tools, and helping a traditional industry—calibration engineering—adapt to a digital-first world. That experience made him rethink what it means to be a modern marketer.
“Technology changed the way I approached marketing,” he says. “I became more excited about strategy once I saw how digital tools could simplify the work.”
The impact was immediate. In one company, he redesigned their online presence and introduced a more structured digital workflow. In another, he helped shift outdated practices into streamlined systems that allowed the team to respond faster and connect with more customers. For Rupert, seeing how technology reduced manual work was the moment he understood how powerful digital transformation could be.
These early experiences shaped the way he views the entire industry today. He believes digital marketing is no longer an optional skill set—it is the foundation of how companies grow, even in sectors not traditionally associated with technology. “Small improvements in automation can translate into real improvements for the company,” he explains. “That’s what motivated me to keep learning.”
His fascination with digital tools naturally pushed him to explore more advanced strategies—website-based lead generation, email automation, optimized social media campaigns, and data-driven customer engagement. Each project gave him more confidence, especially after seeing how companies benefited from systems they never had before.
Rupert’s philosophy is straightforward: marketing works best when it solves real problems. That principle guides how he connects with clients and audiences today. He listens first, understands their challenges, and then designs solutions that technology can support. In his view, digital tools aren’t about replacing traditional marketing—they’re about strengthening it with speed, accuracy, and measurable results.
Now a full-time professor at National University Laguna, he brings the same digital-first mindset to the classroom. Earning his Certified Marketing Professional (CMP) credential reinforced his approach, giving him the confidence to teach strategies aligned with global standards. It also allowed him to integrate real-world insights into academic settings, guiding students through the evolving landscape of modern marketing.
As he sees it, the industry will only continue to accelerate toward digital transformation. Marketers who understand automation, analytics, and online platforms will remain competitive, while those who rely solely on traditional methods will struggle to keep up. “Traditional marketing will always be part of the foundation,” he says. “But today’s marketers need to understand how digital tools help us scale, measure, and improve faster.”
For Rupert, staying relevant is a commitment. He continues studying digital marketing, exploring new platforms, and integrating fresh ideas into both his work and his teaching. In a field where technology evolves quickly, he believes the best mindset is simple: stay curious, stay adaptable, and stay willing to learn.
