About Mara
Hi! I'm Mara, an undergraduate Computing Science student at Simon Fraser University. I first got into coding through Hackergal's 4th annual hackathon in grade eight, and immediately fell in love with programming. That experience also sparked my passion for mentorship, which led me to become a coding instructor so I could help others discover the same excitement I felt early on.
From building RedactAI, a local-first AI security tool I solo-developed in 24 hours at a TELUS-sponsored national hackathon competing against 180+ teams, to rebuilding nonprofit web platforms for 7,400+ users as a Software Developer with SFU Blueprint, I've had the chance to work on projects I'm really proud of.
Outside of technical work, I serve as President of SFU Women in Computing Science, leading a team of 13 to support 600+ students across the faculty. I've also taught coding workshops for SFU Science Alive, hackathons, and outreach events, and represented the Faculty of Applied Sciences as a Student Ambassador.
I'm currently working as a Machine Learning Software Engineer Co-op student at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), where I'll be finishing my term at the end of Summer 2026.
I'm currently seeking Fall 2026 co-op opportunities, particularly in Machine Learning, where I can continue building impactful AI systems and infrastructure, and grow alongside passionate teams. If you're interested in collaborating, feel free to reach out!
Hobbies and Interests
Singing
Growing up in a Filipino family and community, I was always amazed by how so many of my people are breathtaking vocalists! I performed in Concert and Jazz Choir in high school, and sang in Church settings as well. Slowly (but surely), I developed my vocal technique and I'm confident in singing with people and in front of huge audiences. I'm always down for a Karaoke night, so let me know if you want to hang. In the photo above, I'm singing at a school event!
Cosplaying
I'm a huge anime fan and have always loved dressing up, so cosplaying came naturally to me! Some of my favorite shows are Gurren Lagann, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Welcome to the NHK. The only challenge is that cosplay can get expensive, especially with full pre-made outfits, but I still love the process. You'll usually find me walking around Anirevo Vancouver in the summer. The photo above shows me as Misa from Death Note!
Playing the Guitar
I'm still a beginner at guitar and working on getting the basics down, but I picked it up so I could accompany myself while singing. It's definitely a challenge (especially on the fingers, ouch!), but I'm excited to keep improving little by little. For now, I'm learning chords, practicing simple songs, and trying to build muscle memory.
Multimedia
I don't take this hobby too seriously, but when it comes to editing videos or designing creative materials, I really enjoy it, and I think I do pretty well! In my Intro to Software Engineering course, I produced the final demo video for our group project, and it won Best Video Presentation in a class vote out of 25 teams. I like working on small creative projects and putting care into project branding.