Who we are
The Morning Pod is a small, closed accountability co-working group for Christian solopreneurs, freelancers, and creators based in the Philippines. It is run by Edwin Laagland, from the Philippines, under HiwagaMedia.
For the purposes of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173), we are the personal information controller for the information described on this page. “We”, “us”, and “our” mean The Morning Pod.
What we collect
We collect information in three ways: what you give us, what we get from you being in the pod, and what your browser sends us when you visit the site.
| Where | What |
|---|---|
| Application form | Your name, email address, what you do, and the answers you write about your business and why you want to join. |
| Anything you send to [email protected], and our replies. | |
| Sessions and community | Your name, what you share in standups and the community channel, and your camera and audio while a session is live. We do not record sessions. |
| Website analytics | Page views, referring site, browser, device type, and country. No name, no email, no advertising profile. |
Cookies
Our analytics tool does not use cookies and does not track you across other websites. WordPress may set essential cookies needed to keep the site working and secure. We do not use advertising or retargeting cookies.
How we use it
- To read your application and decide whether the pod is a good fit, for you and for the group.
- To reply to you, send session details, and run the pod day to day.
- To understand which pages people read, so we can make the site clearer.
- To keep the website secure and working.
- To meet legal obligations, if we are ever required to.
We process your information because you have given us your consent by applying, because we need it to run the pod you asked to join, and because we have a legitimate interest in running and securing the site. You can withdraw consent at any time (see Your rights).
Who we share it with
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share it only with the service providers that help us run the site and the pod, and only as far as they need it to do that job.
| Provider | What they do |
|---|---|
| UpCloud | Hosts the website and its database, including your application, on servers in Chicago, USA. |
| Cloudflare | Speeds up and protects the site. Visitor requests pass through its network. |
| Amazon SES | Delivers emails from the website, such as application notifications. |
| Umami | Cookieless website analytics. |
| Session platform | Hosts live sessions and the community channel. Video conferencing and messaging provider (named here once confirmed). |
We may also disclose information if the law, a court, or a government authority requires it.
What you share in the pod
The pod works because people speak honestly. What you say in a session or in the community channel is heard by the other members of your cohort, and we ask every member to keep it in the room.
We cannot control what another person does with what they hear, so share what you are comfortable sharing. Your application answers are read only by us.
Where data is stored
The website is hosted in the United States, so your information is processed and stored outside the Philippines. Our providers are bound by their own security and privacy commitments, and we choose them with that in mind. By applying, you understand your information will be handled in this way.
How long we keep it
- Applications that are not accepted: up to 12 months, then deleted.
- Members: for as long as you are in the pod, and up to 12 months afterwards.
- Emails: as long as needed to handle the matter, and then deleted or archived.
- Analytics: aggregated figures with no personal identifiers, kept as long as they are useful.
You can ask us to delete your information earlier, and we will unless the law requires us to keep it.
Your rights
Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you have the right to:
- Be informed about how your information is processed.
- Access the personal information we hold about you.
- Object to processing, or withdraw your consent.
- Correct information that is wrong or out of date.
- Ask us to suspend, remove, or delete your information.
- Receive a copy of your information in a common format.
- Claim compensation if you have been harmed by misuse of your information.
To use any of these rights, email [email protected]. We aim to reply within 15 days. If you are not happy with our response, you can file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission of the Philippines at privacy.gov.ph.
Security
We keep the site on managed servers behind Cloudflare, use HTTPS, and keep software updated. We limit access to your information to the people who need it. No system is perfectly secure. If a breach puts your rights at risk, we will tell you and the National Privacy Commission as the law requires.
Age limit
The Morning Pod is for adults running their own work. It is not meant for anyone under 18, and we do not knowingly collect information from children. If you think a child has sent us information, email us and we will delete it.
Changes to this policy
If we change how we handle your information, we will update this page and the “last updated” date at the top. For changes that matter, we will also email current members and applicants.
Contact
Questions about this policy, or want to use one of your rights? Write to us and a real person will answer.