ABS-CBN news anchor Karen Davila spotted igloo-like structures in Surigao, which can very well be an alternative to expensive school buildings in the country. Made only of sand, cement, and drum, the structures are not only cheaper and easier to build, but also offer better ventilation for students.
Surigao’s igloo is just one of the many ingenious Filipino inventions that Karen will feature tonight on The Correspondents.
Due to the economic crisis, Filipinos have found a way to cut expenses by inventing alternative systems and machines that can help “Juan” cope with the demands of his everyday life.
High gasoline prices and environmental concerns, for example, have fueled the development of vehicles powered by electricity like the “e-jeep” and “e-tricycle.”
Karen was recently named one of the 2008 Ten Outstanding Young Men by the Junior Chamber International Philippines for her significant contribution to Philippine journalism and her award-winning documentaries. continue reading...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Filipino honored for inventing low-cost stove
MANILA - A 48-year-old Filipino professor has been honored as one of the recipients of the prestigious Rolex Awards for Entrepreneurship for inventing a low-cost stove that uses what is usually considered as waste from rice production.
The honoree is Alexis Belonio, an associate professor of agricultural engineering at the privately-owned Central Philippines University located in Iloilo City in Iloilo province in the Visayas.
Officials of the Rolex Award said Belonio was granted a $50,000 cash prize in addition to a Rolex chronometer watch.
Started in 1976 the Rolex Awards have been established to support pioneering work in science and medicine, technology and innovation, exploration and discovery, the environment as well as cultural heritage.
Belonio’s invention is now widely used by farming households not only in the Philippines but also in Indonesia and Cambodia which belong to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean).
Belonio said he would use his cash prize to promote his invention for free, especially by the poor throughout the world who are suffering from the high cost of cooking food.
“I will focus on disseminating the stove throughout the world,” he vowed. “To achieve this, I will produce more publications to show people how to do it.” read more...
The honoree is Alexis Belonio, an associate professor of agricultural engineering at the privately-owned Central Philippines University located in Iloilo City in Iloilo province in the Visayas.
Officials of the Rolex Award said Belonio was granted a $50,000 cash prize in addition to a Rolex chronometer watch.
Started in 1976 the Rolex Awards have been established to support pioneering work in science and medicine, technology and innovation, exploration and discovery, the environment as well as cultural heritage.
Belonio’s invention is now widely used by farming households not only in the Philippines but also in Indonesia and Cambodia which belong to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean).
Belonio said he would use his cash prize to promote his invention for free, especially by the poor throughout the world who are suffering from the high cost of cooking food.
“I will focus on disseminating the stove throughout the world,” he vowed. “To achieve this, I will produce more publications to show people how to do it.” read more...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Alex Belonio is Rolex enterprise laureate
A 48-year-old Filipino inventor created a new technology that transforms waste from rice production into clean, affordable cooking fuel.
For his unprecedented feat, Alex Belonio was honored by Rolex as one of five Associate Laureates in the 2008 Rolex Awards for Enterprise, which for more than 30 years have supported pioneering work in science and medicine, technology and innovation, exploration and discovery, the environment and cultural heritage. continue reading...
For his unprecedented feat, Alex Belonio was honored by Rolex as one of five Associate Laureates in the 2008 Rolex Awards for Enterprise, which for more than 30 years have supported pioneering work in science and medicine, technology and innovation, exploration and discovery, the environment and cultural heritage. continue reading...
Friday, January 23, 2009
Monthsary: A Filipino Invention?
It seems like the concept of “monthsary” was invented by Filipinos. Google the word “monthsary” and 99% of the links you will come up with are Filipino blogs. I said 99% because I didn’t bother to check if there’s an international link there. There should be a few, though, because Filipinos are all over the world and they’re bound to spread the concept of “monthsary” to foreign countries.
The first link in Google is from Urban Dictionary. The first definition says that a monthsary is celebrated like an anniversary but you only celebrate it for the first eleven months of the relationship since the twelfth month is already an anniversary. It has 52 thumbs up and seven down as of this writing.
Urban Dictionary’s third definition is even more revealing. It reads:
“Commonly used among Filipinos. Its actually supposed to be monthiversary. for some reason they use it. monthsary mean that a couple has been together for a month, thus, monthsary!”
I’m quite sure a Filipino wrote that definition or a foreigner with a Filipino partner. The definition ends:
“used rather than anniversary coz couples are playas and b*tches enough to be together for only a meager amount of time.”
Now, that’s informative — or at least, insightful. Indeed, a monthsary seems to be a convenient way to enjoy the pleasures of celebrating a committed relationship without necessarily being committed to a long-term relationship at all. continue reading...
The first link in Google is from Urban Dictionary. The first definition says that a monthsary is celebrated like an anniversary but you only celebrate it for the first eleven months of the relationship since the twelfth month is already an anniversary. It has 52 thumbs up and seven down as of this writing.
Urban Dictionary’s third definition is even more revealing. It reads:
“Commonly used among Filipinos. Its actually supposed to be monthiversary. for some reason they use it. monthsary mean that a couple has been together for a month, thus, monthsary!”
I’m quite sure a Filipino wrote that definition or a foreigner with a Filipino partner. The definition ends:
“used rather than anniversary coz couples are playas and b*tches enough to be together for only a meager amount of time.”
Now, that’s informative — or at least, insightful. Indeed, a monthsary seems to be a convenient way to enjoy the pleasures of celebrating a committed relationship without necessarily being committed to a long-term relationship at all. continue reading...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Engineer creates Philippines’ first ROV
MANILA, Philippines — The remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), better known as a submersible, has become stuff of the movies ever since it was used in some scenes in the movie Titanic. It found huge applications in the underwater research, mining and salvaging sectors.
One Filipino company aims to be a player in this industry.
Pobletech Inc recently released the Roboteknik i100, country’s first commercial ROV, a robotic machine that can submerge to a depth of up to100 meters and be controlled via remote control box. The ROV and the control box are all connected via an umbilical cord that serves as both power and data cable for the ROV, which transmits live streaming video to a monitor on a control box.
Because the Roboteknik runs on external power, it could be operated for over 24 hours while operators of the ROV work in shifts. The ROV could also be outfitted with external attachments, such as soil and water sample collectors, robotic arms and special cameras.
Meanwhile, the control unit has its own hard disk drive to save hundreds of hours of videos and photos. continue reading...
MANILA, Philippines — The remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), better known as a submersible, has become stuff of the movies ever since it was used in some scenes in the movie Titanic. It found huge applications in the underwater research, mining and salvaging sectors.
One Filipino company aims to be a player in this industry.
Pobletech Inc recently released the Roboteknik i100, country’s first commercial ROV, a robotic machine that can submerge to a depth of up to100 meters and be controlled via remote control box. The ROV and the control box are all connected via an umbilical cord that serves as both power and data cable for the ROV, which transmits live streaming video to a monitor on a control box.
Because the Roboteknik runs on external power, it could be operated for over 24 hours while operators of the ROV work in shifts. The ROV could also be outfitted with external attachments, such as soil and water sample collectors, robotic arms and special cameras.
Meanwhile, the control unit has its own hard disk drive to save hundreds of hours of videos and photos. continue reading...
Sunday, January 18, 2009
QUEZON CITY INVENTOR SAYS NO TO P3.5-BILLION OFFER
MANILA, December 19, 2005 (STAR) By Perseus Echeminada - A barber-turned-inventor from Quezon City refused an offer of P3.5 billion for the patent of his invention, a cream based on cashew nut oil that rids users of warts, moles and other skin growths.
"The formula was a divine gift that I asked from God so I must share with my countrymen and I will hand it down as a legacy to the future generations," Rolando de la Cruz told The STAR.
He said he turned down the offer by two multinational drug firms for the outright purchase of his patent for his RCC herbal cream preparation, which could have assured him of P1 million in interest income a day for the rest of his life.
"I came from a poor family so I want to share this blessing with the poor. I want to make Filipinos beautiful," De la Cruz said.
The De la Cruz family runs the Amazing Touch Co. and has been conducting free treatments for residents of depressed areas, particularly in Zambales, where wild cashew nuts abound.
De la Cruz’s wife, Lydia, said that despite the success of their business, they have no plans of migrating to another country.
"Anytime we can travel but we have to return to Quezon City to keep the cycle of blessing on the move," she said.
De la Cruz paid a courtesy call on Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. last Friday, presenting the Highest Gold Medal award he won at a competition held in Nuremberg, Germany last month. He was accompanied by his wife and children.
De la Cruz told Belmonte of his desire to help the city government’s pro-poor program. Lydia said they wish to provide skin care treatment to overseas workers, particularly caregivers and domestic helpers, so they would look attractive when they arrive at their places of employment abroad.
Lydia said her husband’s invention, which has become popular among celebrities, will be made available to the poor.
"If they really cannot afford it, then we will treat them for free," she said.
Despite the substantial earnings derived from the sale of the cream, the De la Cruz family still prefers to live in a government housing project in Barangay Balumbato in Quezon City. continue reading...
"The formula was a divine gift that I asked from God so I must share with my countrymen and I will hand it down as a legacy to the future generations," Rolando de la Cruz told The STAR.
He said he turned down the offer by two multinational drug firms for the outright purchase of his patent for his RCC herbal cream preparation, which could have assured him of P1 million in interest income a day for the rest of his life.
"I came from a poor family so I want to share this blessing with the poor. I want to make Filipinos beautiful," De la Cruz said.
The De la Cruz family runs the Amazing Touch Co. and has been conducting free treatments for residents of depressed areas, particularly in Zambales, where wild cashew nuts abound.
De la Cruz’s wife, Lydia, said that despite the success of their business, they have no plans of migrating to another country.
"Anytime we can travel but we have to return to Quezon City to keep the cycle of blessing on the move," she said.
De la Cruz paid a courtesy call on Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. last Friday, presenting the Highest Gold Medal award he won at a competition held in Nuremberg, Germany last month. He was accompanied by his wife and children.
De la Cruz told Belmonte of his desire to help the city government’s pro-poor program. Lydia said they wish to provide skin care treatment to overseas workers, particularly caregivers and domestic helpers, so they would look attractive when they arrive at their places of employment abroad.
Lydia said her husband’s invention, which has become popular among celebrities, will be made available to the poor.
"If they really cannot afford it, then we will treat them for free," she said.
Despite the substantial earnings derived from the sale of the cream, the De la Cruz family still prefers to live in a government housing project in Barangay Balumbato in Quezon City. continue reading...
Friday, January 16, 2009
Filipinos’ love of drinking inspired ‘Vitamin Beer’
MANILA, Philippines -- Invention is 5 percent inspiration and 95 percent perspiration, Thomas Alva Edison, one of the world’s greatest inventors, said.
For Filipino inventor Virgilio “Billy” L. Malang, who invented a vitamin-laced beer, that 5 percent inspiration came from the Filipinos’ love of drinking.
“Tubig sa atin ang beer (Beer is like water to us),” he told the Inquirer. “The Pinoy’s weakness is beer, and his next weakness is the next beer,” he added.
A 2004 Kirin Research Institute study ranks the Philippines as the 5th highest beer consumer in Asia (next to China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand), with 1.4 billion liters consumed annually and projected growth of 15.6 percent per annum. A Filipino drinks an average of nearly 20 liters of beer a year.
“Sa Pilipino kasi, tatlong okasyon lang na pwedeng uminom siya—Kapag siya ay malungkot; kung siya ay masaya; at yung pagitan ng dalawa (Filipinos drink only on three occasions—when they are sad, when they are happy and in between),” Malang noted in jest.
Malang’s Vitamin B complex-fortified beer or Vitamin Beer takes some of the guilt out of drinking.
“If you are looking for an excuse to take a swig, this is it,” said Malang, who claimed that Vitamin Beer replaces the essential Vitamin B which is lost when excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed. continue reading...
For Filipino inventor Virgilio “Billy” L. Malang, who invented a vitamin-laced beer, that 5 percent inspiration came from the Filipinos’ love of drinking.
“Tubig sa atin ang beer (Beer is like water to us),” he told the Inquirer. “The Pinoy’s weakness is beer, and his next weakness is the next beer,” he added.
A 2004 Kirin Research Institute study ranks the Philippines as the 5th highest beer consumer in Asia (next to China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand), with 1.4 billion liters consumed annually and projected growth of 15.6 percent per annum. A Filipino drinks an average of nearly 20 liters of beer a year.
“Sa Pilipino kasi, tatlong okasyon lang na pwedeng uminom siya—Kapag siya ay malungkot; kung siya ay masaya; at yung pagitan ng dalawa (Filipinos drink only on three occasions—when they are sad, when they are happy and in between),” Malang noted in jest.
Malang’s Vitamin B complex-fortified beer or Vitamin Beer takes some of the guilt out of drinking.
“If you are looking for an excuse to take a swig, this is it,” said Malang, who claimed that Vitamin Beer replaces the essential Vitamin B which is lost when excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed. continue reading...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
PINOY INVENTOR DEVELOPS VITAMIN-FORTIFIED RICE BEER
A Filipino inventor has developed a rice beer that is fortified with multivitamins and can be considered as food supplement.
Dr. Billy Malang, inventor of the “Rice Beer Fortified with Multivitamins,” said, “hindi mo rin lang naman maawat and Pilipino sa pag-inom, ang sweldo, gagastusin niya para sa pakikisama, etc., e di at least, gawin mo nang healthy ang pag-inom (Since we cannot stop Filipinos from drinking beer, as they would even spend their entire salary for the sake of camaraderie, I made a healthy drink made of beer).”
Malang said the rice beer, which can be stored for six months, is considered a health drink and a food supplement as it is fortified with multivitamins, has low calories, and an alcohol volume of only 3.5 percent.
He added that the patent for this particular invention, which he received July of this year, was approved since he had brought back the vitamins in beer, which is not present in ordinary beer because of the fermentation process.
Malang rice’s beer invention recently qualified for the National Inventor’s Contest, which will be held this November. continue reading...
Dr. Billy Malang, inventor of the “Rice Beer Fortified with Multivitamins,” said, “hindi mo rin lang naman maawat and Pilipino sa pag-inom, ang sweldo, gagastusin niya para sa pakikisama, etc., e di at least, gawin mo nang healthy ang pag-inom (Since we cannot stop Filipinos from drinking beer, as they would even spend their entire salary for the sake of camaraderie, I made a healthy drink made of beer).”
Malang said the rice beer, which can be stored for six months, is considered a health drink and a food supplement as it is fortified with multivitamins, has low calories, and an alcohol volume of only 3.5 percent.
He added that the patent for this particular invention, which he received July of this year, was approved since he had brought back the vitamins in beer, which is not present in ordinary beer because of the fermentation process.
Malang rice’s beer invention recently qualified for the National Inventor’s Contest, which will be held this November. continue reading...
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