When a team brings together decades of expertise across legal, tech, and human resources, it transforms how a company innovates. This is exactly what’s happening at UNAWA, with three co-founders joining forces, each with their field of mastery, all aligned under a shared vision to drive digital transformation and compliance solutions.
In recognition of their ongoing commitment and foundational contributions, UNAWA’s original founders now formally acknowledge Chief Operations Officer Atty. Gino Jacinto, Chief Technology Officer Vernier “Vher” Agbay, and HR Director Melissa “Sally” Dimalanta as co-founders. Having been with UNAWA from the start, each has played an instrumental role in shaping the company’s innovative direction, from designing new compliance solutions to fostering a collaborative culture. Their collective expertise and vision continue to drive UNAWA’s mission forward, blending legal acumen, technological innovation, and a people-centric approach to redefining legal tech and digital compliance standards.
What Makes UNAWA’s Co-Founders the Perfect Fit?
At the heart of UNAWA’s mission is a commitment to simplifying compliance and secure digital solutions. Yet, meeting this goal requires more than just a good idea; it requires strategic leadership from people who understand the unique demands of their respective fields. With Atty. Gino’s deep legal insight, Vher’s technological expertise, and Sally’s focus on team cohesion and culture, UNAWA has what it takes to disrupt the legal tech space.
Atty. Gino brings over 15 years of experience as a lawyer and legal executive in startups. His vision is clear: redefine compliance and security in a way that’s accessible for all.
“Legal processes should serve people, not slow them down,” he says.
Gino’s approach is hands-on; he understands the struggles of traditional compliance and is dedicated to building practical, digital solutions for issues like notarization and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks. His leadership aligns UNAWA’s product innovation with stringent legal requirements, ensuring solutions like SignSecure and UCheck are always up to par with regulations.
Vher, a veteran in software development, has spent years behind the code, crafting digital solutions that prioritize security and functionality. He sees the potential of UNAWA’s tech stack to meet global standards, but he also knows that technology must be accessible. Vher’s approach is to streamline complex processes into user-friendly systems.
With his guidance, UNAWA is pushing beyond web-based platforms and exploring mobile solutions, keeping both local and international users in mind. His technical vision complements Gino’s legal insights, creating a synergy between law and technology.
Sally rounds out the leadership team by bringing a unique perspective from HR and people management. With a background in large-scale operations, Sally understands that a company's success depends on its people. She ensures that UNAWA’s internal culture remains one of integrity, collaboration, and innovation.
“Our team is our biggest asset,” she emphasizes.
As a co-founder, Sally is building a workplace where talent thrives, creativity is encouraged, and employees are aligned with UNAWA’s ambitious goals. Her work is not only about recruitment or retention; it’s about fostering an environment where groundbreaking ideas can flourish.
How Do Three Co-Founders Drive UNAWA’s Vision?
The magic of this team isn’t just in what they bring individually — it’s in how they work together. Gino’s legal precision, Vher’s tech-driven solutions, and Sally’s people-first approach form a powerful triad. They’ve redefined leadership as a collective effort, leveraging each other’s strengths and experiences to build solutions that are robust, secure, and scalable.
When it comes to compliance tools like UCheck, Gino ensures legal rigor, while Vher’s team builds the technical framework that makes the tool reliable and user-friendly. Meanwhile, Sally makes sure the internal team is engaged, skilled, and ready to support these ambitious projects. Their collaborative style not only drives UNAWA’s innovations forward but sets a benchmark for how leaders from diverse backgrounds can come together to tackle complex challenges.
Their teamwork on SignSecure’s new iteration is a testament to this synergy. Gino’s commitment to non-repudiation, Vher’s secure, user-friendly coding, and Sally’s focus on seamless team operations mean that SignSecure isn’t just a digital signing tool — it’s a fully realized solution that meets industry standards, technical needs, and user expectations.
UNAWA’s Future: What’s Next for the Company and Its New Leadership?
With these three at the helm, UNAWA is poised to achieve remarkable growth. They’re not just setting sights on market success; they’re laying the groundwork to make UNAWA a household name in the digital compliance and legal tech space.
Gino envisions UNAWA as a trusted compliance partner for businesses across Southeast Asia. Vher, meanwhile, is focused on pushing UNAWA’s tech to new levels, possibly making it the gold standard in user-friendly, secure digital solutions. And Sally is committed to cultivating a dynamic workplace that attracts top talent and inspires groundbreaking ideas.
These co-founders share an unwavering dedication to driving UNAWA’s mission of simplifying compliance and securing digital transactions. And it’s this shared vision that makes UNAWA a force to watch.
Founding Vision and New Leadership Synergy
UNAWA’s journey began with the vision of its original founders, Atty. Monalisa C. Dimalanta, Atty. Regina Jacinto-Barrientos, and Atty. Maria Raquel S. Chavez, each of whom brought invaluable expertise in legal compliance and digital transformation. These pioneering women played an instrumental role in establishing UNAWA as a leading regulatory and legal technology startup in the Philippines, helping to shape the foundation on which the company now stands.
“A new era of growth and innovation lies ahead of us,” says Atty. Jacinto-Barrientos, UNAWA CEO. “I am honored to lead UNAWA alongside our new co-founders — Gino, Vher, and Sally. Their expertise and dedication have already begun to accelerate our progress. My heartfelt gratitude goes to our board and founding partners, who continue to support and trust in the vision we’re building together. UNAWA’s accomplishments are truly a testament to the combined efforts of everyone involved.”
