THE EYE OF THE STORM
by Franchette Soriano, The Web Philippines, January/February 1999

Stormviz's man talks about his sites

Maybe at least once in your surfing life, you came across a Filipino actor's or actress' web site. I wouldn't be surprised that site had "Stormviz" stamped at the bottom of the page. Storm Visualization & Imaging, established in July 1994, has a wide range of services that includes computer-generated animation, visual effects, and of course, web page designs.

Stormviz, as it is popularly called, is now well known and associated with the creation of Filipino celebrity web sites. The likes of Mikee Cojuangco, Charlene Gonzalez, and Zsa Zsa Padilla, to name a few, all had their web page developed by this company. This is not surprising, as a site by Stormviz characteristically features an elegant design combined with an intensive and well-organized content.

Ronnie Miranda, a BS Math graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University, is the man behind the company. Miranda is the "Eye of the Storm," as the official Stormviz site calls him. Contrary to popular belief, getting celebrity clients was all but sheer coincidence. "It seemed that many people, including celebrities, liked the web sites I created. So through email inquiries, referrals and by word-of-mouth, I was getting more celebrity clients."

He had an early start in the Internet industry. When the Internet was first introduced in the Philippines in 1994, I immediately saw the potential of this. The possibilities were endless." Being one of the initiators of computer-generated imagery (CGI) upon its introduction in the country was an advantage. "Having an extensive background in computer graphics, 3D animation and visual effects, I realized that making web sites were far easier. So I ventured into this and geared my services towards companies and businesses, including celebrities."

Making a web site is a continuous learning process for Miranda. "As I created each one, I tried out new things and even discovered new techniques. And this is where all the fun is: when you get to create and develop new programming techniques and apply it in a very artful way."

He adds: "So each web site is actually a stage in programming development, therefore, I enjoyed and was excited in creating all of them. Of course, if a trick works, I apply it to all my other web sites."

What are his most popular sites? "My daily log reports show that the web sites of Charlene Gonzalez, Pops Fernandez and Mikee Cojuangco have very high traffic."

True enough, the counters on these sites boasts of thousands of hits each. "(They) are visited frequently because they are constantly updated and people want to know the latest news about them. People like to see lots of new photos."

"Many people think that it's glamorous to create and maintain a web site," he adds. "On the contrary, it entails a lot of responsibility and is very demanding because the webmaster has to maintain the 'image' of the celebrity and even help the celebrity market herself. A web site is somewhat an extension of a celebrity's life and visitors can get a glimpse of who they really are."

Despite the task, Miranda is proud to say that he personally creates and maintains all his web sites. "Also, I have to be constantly in touch with them so I can immediately update their web sites with the latest news, pictures, etc."

There are some things that make things more exciting for Miranda. "It was more fun when a celebrity was directly involved in the creation; that is, she created some of the graphic elements herself, gave specific directions on the design and layout and provided input on certain sections."

"Each web site has its own unique feature," he answered, when asked about his favorite site. "They are distinct from each other and have their own character."

"Personally, I focus on content and information. A web site can have a great design and tons of photos, but if it doesn't have any information, and content, then its just an empty piece of paper, so to speak. On the other hand, a web site may have lots of information but if it is not presentable or organized, then it just confuses and discourages a potential surfer to navigate through it. So I make it a point to incorporate both ideas but always put premium on the information aspect."

Ronnie Miranda is the man who definitely knows what a web developer should be. "I hope I haven't disappointed them with the quality of my work and services." With those thousand hits on his sites' counters, there's no doubt about the answer to that question.