10 Surprising Filipino Discoveries & Inventions

Summary

In this video, we explore 10 surprising Filipino inventions that have significantly impacted the world. From Gregorio Zara's two-way video phone, which laid the groundwork for modern video conferencing, to Roberto del Rosario's karaoke machine that revolutionized entertainment, these inventions showcase Filipino creativity. Other notable innovations include the bamboo incubator by Fe del Mundo, the antibiotic erythromycin discovered by Dr. Abelardo Aguiar, and the jeepney, a symbol of Philippine transportation. The video also highlights technological advancements like Dado Banatang's PC chipset and the volleyball spike's offensive style introduced by Filipinos. These inventions not only reflect Filipino ingenuity but also their significant contributions to various fields.

Takeaways

• 📞 The two-way video phone was invented by Filipino physicist and engineer Gregorio Zara in 1955, laying the foundation for modern video conferencing tools like Skype and Zoom.
• 🎤 Filipino Roberto Del Rosario invented and patented the karaoke sing-along machine in 1975, enhancing the Japanese concept of karaoke with a machine that is widely used today.
• 👶 Dr. Fei Del Mundo designed the bamboo incubator in 1941 to help rural communities without electricity, using a creative solution with wicker baskets and hot water bottles to regulate infant temperatures.
• 💊 Erythromycin, a popular antibiotic, was discovered by Filipino Dr. Abelardo Aguiar in the Philippines in 1949, but he was not given due credit or royalties for his discovery.
• 💻 Dado Banatang, a Filipino from a humble background, invented the PC chipset and the Windows graphics accelerator chip, which are still used in computers today, and he co-founded a leading graphics chips market company.
• 🍲 Pattas, a popular fish sauce, was invented by Ruperta David in the Philippines after the Japanese occupation, modifying fish juice to create a product that has influenced Vietnamese and Thai fish sauces.
• 🚌 Leonardo Salvador Cerrone Sr. revolutionized transportation in the Philippines by redesigning surplus jeeps left by the US Army after WWII, creating the jeepney, a popular mode of transportation that can accommodate many passengers.
• 🖋 Francisco Quisumbing, a Filipino chemist, is rumored to have invented Quink quick-drying ink, which was innovative for its time and was developed in collaboration with Parker Pens, offering water resistance and preventing clogs and fading.
• 🏠 Edgardo Vasquez developed the VAZ Built modular housing system, a pre-fabricated housing solution designed to address the housing backlog in the Philippines, constructed quickly and able to withstand typhoons and earthquakes.
• 🏐 Filipinos were the first to demonstrate the offensive style of setting and spiking in volleyball, an innovation that has become a fundamental part of the sport since it was introduced in 1916.

Q & A

What is the significance of Gregorio Zara's invention of the two-way video phone?

Gregorio Zara's invention of the two-way video phone in 1955 laid the foundation for modern video conferencing technologies like Skype and Zoom, enabling callers and recipients to see each other while conversing.

How did Roberto Del Rosario contribute to the development of karaoke?

Roberto Del Rosario invented and patented the karaoke sing-along machine in 1975, which is the version we know and love today, despite the karaoke concept itself being Japanese.

What medical invention did Fe del Mundo create to assist rural communities without electricity?

Fe del Mundo designed the bamboo incubator in 1941, a makeshift incubator using wicker laundry baskets, hot water bottles, a hood, and oxygen to regulate the temperature of infants.

Who discovered the antibiotic erythromycin and what was the controversy surrounding its discovery?

Dr. Abelardo B. Aguiar discovered erythromycin in the Philippines in 1949 while working for Eli Lilly and Company. However, he was not given the credit or royalties he deserved for his discovery.

What technological advancements did Dado Banatao contribute to the field of computer hardware?

Dado Banatao is credited with the invention of the PC chipset and the Windows graphics accelerator chip, including the 10 megabit Ethernet CMOS with silicon coupler data link control and transceiver chip, and the first system logic chipset.

What is Pattas and how did it originate?

Pattas is a popular fish sauce that was invented by Ruperta David after the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. It was created by modifying the juice of fish fragments from dried fish and was registered as a product in 1949.

How did Leonardo Salvador Cerone revolutionize transportation in the Philippines?

Leonardo Salvador Cerone redesigned surplus jeeps left by the US Army from World War II to increase their functionality for mass transportation, adding railings and extending the body to accommodate more passengers, thus revolutionizing the jeepney industry.

What is Quink quick-drying ink and how was it developed?

Quink quick-drying ink was invented by Filipino chemist Francisco Quisumbing and further developed in collaboration with Parker Pens. It was innovative for its quick-drying, water-resistant properties, and did not clog pen openings or fade.

What is the Vaz Built Modular Housing System and its purpose?

The Vaz Built Modular Housing System is a pre-fabricated or ready-to-build housing system invented by Edgardo Vasquez. It was designed to address the housing backlog in the Philippines by providing easy, quick, and cost-effective construction that could withstand typhoons and earthquakes.

How did Filipinos contribute to the evolution of the game of volleyball?

Filipinos were the first to demonstrate the offensive style of setting and spiking in volleyball in 1916, which has since become a highly used skill in the sport.