Chasing $1000: My Hostinger Contest Story

Great day fellow Hivers!

It’s been a while since I shared what I’ve been up to in real life. This past week has been quite a ride as I escaped from this non-stop online life and took a solemn part in Holy Week's rituals and traditions. Aside from these I also took part in Hostinger Horizons showcase competition.

Background

Let me take you back to the earlier days of April. I believe most from the Philippines here had seen the viral video of the bullying incident in a public high school on April 4, 2025.
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Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, new bullying incidents shocked the community: the fatal stabbing of a student in Parañaque and the deadly altercation involving Grade 8 students in Las Piñas.

As a mental health advocate, I reflected on how I could contribute to anti-bullying initiatives in my own unique way. Noticing that most students are frequently using smartphones, I decided to create something easily accessible to them through their devices.

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(I worked on a free resource called the Coping and Resilience Toolkit to support individuals who have experienced bullying. This toolkit is designed to offer practical strategies and accessible guidance, empowering students and others to build resilience and cope effectively with the challenges of bullying.)

I was in the middle of developing this project when I came across the Hostinger Horizons Contest. The competition immediately caught my attention as an opportunity to showcase my work, connect with a wider audience, and potentially winning $1,000 would provide significant support to advance mental health advocacy efforts in the Philippines.

The $1000 Dollar Challenge
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"We’re looking for innovative, exciting, and beautifully crafted web apps. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, this is your chance to push boundaries and create something amazing."

Contest Timeline

• April 9–15: Build your web app and share it with us.
• April 16–20: The community votes for their favorites on Discord.
• April 21: We announce the winners and celebrate your achievements.

Prizes

• Grand Prize: $1,000 in cash!
• The 2nd and 3rd place winners will get Apple AirPods 4.
• 4th–10th place: 4 years of free Business Web Hosting (new or renewal) + 200 messages each.

This contest got me excited (who wouldn't be?). It gave me the opportunity to advance my efforts while also having a chance to win a prize that could elevate my advocacy notches higher.

I'm glad that Hostinger Horizons relies on AI prompts to create web apps. Since I've been learning coding for some time now, the no-code approach is a huge relief especially because installing additional programs and libraries would put too much strain on my aging 15-year-old laptop. With Horizons, I can build and improve my web app just by writing clear prompts, making the whole process much more accessible and efficient for someone with limited hardware resources.

The Block Bullying Web App
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Participating in the Contest

I encountered difficulties uploading my post on X because my account has not been verified yet. I had to work within limited characters, so I frequently had to shorten the app’s description. Since editing wasn’t an option, I had to delete and repost multiple times. At one point, my account was even flagged for spamming due to the repeated uploads.

Securing a Spot on the Shortlist

It was exhilarating to see my project included in the shortlist. The $1,000 prize suddenly felt within arm’s reach. I just needed to rally support from my Discord family to secure the votes.

Special thanks to @damour, @demotry, and @day1001 for going the extra mile to cast their votes, and to @krios003 and @wittyzell for noticing and supporting my request. Your efforts truly made a difference, and I’m deeply grateful for your support.

The Results

I am truly grateful to have participated in this contest. Just making it to the shortlist feels like a victory in itself. Plus, securing the website for another four years is an invaluable prize that means so much to me.

I would like to congratulate all the participants for creating such impressive web apps using Hostinger Horizons. The creativity and innovation displayed by everyone truly made this competition remarkable. You can view the list of winning apps and see the full showcase of winners here: https://www.hostinger.com/blog/website-competition-hostinger-horizons

Hostinger: The Smart Choice for Domains and Hosting

If you’re looking to build a website and need a reliable domain and hosting provider, I highly recommend Hostinger. Their platform is user-friendly, secure, and packed with features for all types of websites—from personal blogs to online stores. Use my referral link so we can both benefit: https://hostinger.ph?REFERRALCODE=WGKMDASEI187

Quo Vadimus: Where Do We Go from Here?

Remember when I shared the Free Mental Health Screening Tool? I wrote about it here.

I am currently workimg on to participate in the upcoming Psychological Association of the Philippines Convention (PAPCON) 2025, where I plan to present my study to the professional community.
Presenting at this national convention will help amplify important conversations around mental health, connect with fellow advocates, and inspire meaningful change within our communities.