Welcome to GeekyFaust!
Hello, and thank you for stopping by!
I’m Faust Haeja Crismel Salabar Principe, the author behind this tech, news, and gadget review site. While I’m not a professional writer or editor, I am passionate about sharing knowledge. You may come across the occasional grammatical or spelling error, but I hope you find value in the content I create.
About Me
I was born on November 11, 1977, at Velez Hospital and later settled in Guadalupe, Cebu City, Philippines. I am the eldest son among four siblings on my father’s side. My father, Anthony Pepito Principe, is a doctor, and my mother, Melba Guerrero Principe, is a nurse.
My biological mother, Rosalie Marinay Salabar, is known in the radio industry as DJ Pine Diaz. She previously worked as a radio announcer for Y101 Cebu.
Early Passion for Technology & Gaming
Growing up in the late 1970s, 1980s, and mid-1990s, I developed a deep interest in technology, particularly gaming. One of my earliest gaming experiences was with the Nintendo Family Computer, a gaming console featuring a red rectangular joystick and white body casing. The game cartridges resembled cassette tapes and had to be inserted into the console.
I was hooked! Playing games became a daily routine, with Rambo, Contra Force, Star Wars, Arkanoid, and Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, and 3 among my favorites. While the graphics were 8-bit, flat, and 2D, the experience was captivating—comparable to what we now enjoy on handheld consoles like the Nintendo DS and PSP Pocket.
My Introduction to Computers
In 1991, I moved to Davao City to pursue my studies under the guidance of my parents. It was here that I first encountered a personal computer—a 486 DX architecture clone with:
✔ 1024 MB internal memory
✔ Black monochrome CRT screen
✔ Star Micronics dot matrix printer
✔ DOS 6.22 operating system
I was fascinated by its capabilities, including menu systems like Direct Access 5.1, spreadsheet applications such as Lotus 1-2-3, and word processors like WordStar 7. My favorite games included Wings of Fury, Prince of Persia, Carmen Sandiego, Lemmings, Sango Fighters, Doom, Mortal Kombat, Pac-Man, and Galaga.
During this time, I also dabbled in programming, learning Turbo Basic, Pascal, and Assembly Language. However, the complex logic and vast numerical computations often led to memory overflow errors and system crashes. Eventually, I decided to shift my focus to a career in teaching.
Education & Career Journey
In 2001, by God’s grace, I graduated with a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Mindanao, Matina Campus. Soon after, I started my career as a Computer Layout Artist at OrangeGrove Hotel in Buhangin, Davao City.
My role involved designing graphics, vector layouts, logos, and promotional materials for marketing. I primarily used CorelDRAW, a software I had mastered through years of self-training.
Additionally, I was responsible for creating backdrop cut-outs from recycled Styrofoam for special events like weddings, debuts, and baptisms.
Becoming a Licensed Teacher
A few months later, the licensure exam results for teachers were released. The anticipation was overwhelming, and after double-checking online sources, I was thrilled to discover that I had passed the exams! I immediately called my parents to share the great news, making them proud.
Shortly after, I received my Professional Teaching License from the Professional Regulation Commission.
Government Service & IT Leadership
In 2002, I was invited to work for the City Government of Davao, thanks to my father, who served as Deputy Mayor. I was assigned to the Planning Section of the Department of Education, Division of Davao City, where I handled data entry for education statistics, enrollment data, and performance indicators—all crucial for school needs analysis.
In 2003, the position of IT/MIS Officer-In-Charge became vacant. Dr. Gloria P. Labor, the Schools Division Superintendent, entrusted me with the role, giving me the responsibility to oversee and manage the division’s technology needs.
This position allowed me to gain hands-on experience in:
✔ Setting up and deploying servers
✔ Managing IT infrastructure
✔ Web development and cybersecurity
I attended numerous IT workshops and training sessions, many of which were funded by the Philippines-Australia Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (PA-BEAM). This collaboration led to the successful development of a DepEd Davao City Division Office website, which was later launched at the Regional Level.
My responsibilities also included:
✔ Configuring firewalls and web content filtering
✔ Monitoring network health
✔ Providing IT support and troubleshooting
A Shift in Career & Blogging Journey
After years in government service, work burnout and management conflicts led me to transition into a new chapter. In June 2008, I was reassigned to Manuel Roxas Elementary School under the Sta. Ana District, where I worked at the Guidance Office and introduced a school website.
By July 2011, I embraced my passion for education and technology fully, securing a teaching position at Pablo Lorenzo National High School in Mandug, Buhangin, Davao City.
The Birth of GeekyFaust
With years of experience in technology, education, and digital marketing, I decided to establish GeekyFaust Philippines—a platform dedicated to sharing tech guides, gadget reviews, and industry news.
At GeekyFaust, we aim to:
✔ Share technical knowledge and digital skills
✔ Provide in-depth product and gadget reviews
✔ Offer simplified tech tutorials and how-to guides
We welcome tips, feedback, constructive criticism, and suggestions from our readers to help us continuously improve.
Let’s explore, learn, and grow together in the ever-evolving world of technology.