trends and developments

Here are some of the excerpts on the recent news, issues, trends and developments in the Philippine innovation sector:

"Engr. Diosdado Banatao was cheered during the 2007 UP Alumni Association in America (UPAAA) General Assembly and Convention Gala Dinner held on September 2 at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton in San Francisco, California when UP President Emerlinda Roman announced that he and his wife Maria had pledged USD$500,000.00 to the UP College of Engineering (COE).

Banatao talked about the pressing need for technology development in the Philippines. He said that technology development is necessary for economic development as they yield high value products that have an almost limitless demand in the global market. He cited neighboring Asian economies of Taiwan, Korea and Japan as examples. Banatao said that the challenge for a developing economy such as the Philippines is “to identify products and services that create a competitive advantage in growth sectors of the global economy.”

However, Banatao stated that the Philippines’ current technology infrastructure is not ready to take on such a task, as it requires sustaining technologies transferred from foreign investments. The problem may be traced back to the shortage of research scientists and engineers in the country due to flaws in the higher educational system, such as the predominant use of teachers with only bachelor’s degrees. He also cited the lack of cutting-edge research laboratories in the country as a problem.

For Banatao, the country’s only sources for research and development are science and engineering schools. Unfortunately, they too have their own problems, namely the lack of support from both the public and private sectors. He said the public and privates sectors, as well as academe, need to develop a culture that respects and rewards people who choose to go into the fields of Science, Technology, and Engineering, especially in advanced research." (Francis Paolo M. Quina, "Entrepreneur calls for Eng’g R&D, pledges $500,000", www.upd.edu.ph)

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video gallery

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our technology events

Innovations Expo 2006 - Gapan City, Nueva Ecija

This was held at the Liwag National High School last September 28 & 29. This was supported by DOST - Advanced Science and Technology Institute, Technological University of the Philippines, AMA Computer Learning Center - Gapan, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Central Luzon Industry and Energy Research and Development Consortium, and Liwag National High School - Gapan.

Despite of the Typhoon Milenyo during those days, which affected many regions in Luzon, we were still able to gather more than 2,000 student-participants within the southern part of Nueva Ecija.

Innovations Expo 2006 - Tarlac City

This was held at the Diwa Convention Center last March 1. This 1-day activity was supported by the following: DOST - Phil. Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development, DLSU - College of Computer Studies, PUP - College of Engineering, DA - Phil-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology, and Digitel.

Around 1,000 student-participants came to listen and learn about the latest technologies like robotics, electronics, agricultural researches, etc.

Innovations Expo 2005 - Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

This was held at the Cabanatuan East Central School last October 17 & 18. This was supported by the following: UP - College of Engineering, PUP - College of Computer Management and IT and the Filipino Inventors Society.

Almost 7,000 students from the elementary and high school levels participated in the different activities such as technology presentations and demonstrations, video documentaries, etc.

Highlight was the presence of CHED Central Luzon Dir. Felizardo Francisco as Guest of Honor and Speaker.

Innovations Expo 2005 - Iba, Zambales

This was held at the Zambales National High School last October 13 & 14. This was supported by the following: DOST - PCIERD, DOST - PNRI, DOST - ASTI and the Filipino Inventors Society.

Almost 9,000 students from all over Zambales came to see and learn the latest technologies such as inventions, nuclear researches, etc.

Innovations Expo 2004 - Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

This was held at the Nueva Ecija National High School last October 26 to 28. This was supported by the following: DOST - Nueva Ecija, Filipino Inventors Society, DigitalFilipino.com, ACSAT, Level-Up!, Net25 TV, Digitel, and NuevaEcija.net.

In the 3-day activity, almost 12,000 attended from all over Nueva Ecija.

Highlight was the presence of DOST Sec. Estrella Alabastro as Guest of Honor and Speaker.

Interactive Science Exhibit 2002 - Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

This was held at the Megacenter the Mall last November 4 to 28. This was supported by the Philippine Science Centrum, Solar Electric, and DOST - Nueva Ecija.

Around 11,000 students in all levels attended in the said event.

Highlight was the support of DOST Sec. Estrella Alabastro as Guest of Honor and Speaker, which as represented by DOST Central Luzon Dir. Conrado Oliveros.

Technology Congress 2000 - Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

This was held at the NE Pacific Mall last July 22-23. This was supported by DLSU - College of Engineering, HatchAsia.com, JobsDb.com, Net25 TV, and DLSU - College of Saint Benilde.

This was attended by almost 400 college students.

Highlight was the support of Sen. Loren Legarda as Guest of Honor and Speaker.

Information Technology 2000 - Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

This was held at the NE Pacific Mall last February 1 & 2. This was supported by the following: Wordtext Systems, Globe, Piltel, Villman Computers, Blas Edward's Computers, Moscom Internet and National Panasonic.

Around 1,300 college students attended in the seminars and exhibits.

Highlight of the said event was the support of Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. as Guest of Honor and Speaker, which was represented by Ms. Janet Toral.

"A country's competitiveness starts not on the factory floor or in the engineering lab. It starts in the classroom."

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a little about our past

Convergex Asia was established in Cabanatuan City by Melvin Ferrer and Ma. Elisa Soco in January 2000. Formerly as Maelisoft Technology, the initial objective of the events management startup was to promote the latest technologies in the province of Nueva Ecija, particularly in the field of Information Technology.

It's first-ever event was the 1st Nueva Ecija IT Expo 2000, which was supported by the following sponsors and partners: Cisco Systems, HatchAsia.com, Microdata Systems, Piltel, Villman Computers, Blas Edwards, Globe Telecoms, Wordtext Systems, MediaG8way, National Panasonic, Philippine National Police, TESDA Nueva Ecija, DTI Nueva Ecija and NE Pacific Mall.

This was participated by 1,300 college students in different colleges and universities within Nueva Ecija.

Highlight of the said event was having the support of Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. as Guest of Honor and Speaker. Another distinguished Guest of Honor was then NTC Comm. and now Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali.

Also in that year, it was another accomplishment where the 1st Nueva Ecija Technology Congress 2000 was held. This was supported by the following: Net25 TV, De La Salle University, HatchAsia.com, John Clements IT Consulting Group, and DLSU - College of Saint Benilde.

Highlight of the event was the support of Sen. Loren Legarda as Guest of Honor and Speaker.

In 2002, more than 11,000 students participated in the 1st Nueva Ecija Interactive Science Exhibit. Some of the partners and sponsors who supported the exhibit: Philippine Science Centrum, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Department of Science and Technology, DepEd - Nueva Ecija, DA - Phil. Carabao Center, Solar Electric Co., Pizza Hut, A&W Restaurant, Greenwich and Megacenter Mall.

Highlight of the said event was the support of DOST Sec. Estrella Alabastro as Guest of Honor and Speaker.

2004 was another milestone for Convergex. For this was the start of the Innovations Expo which became the foundation of bringing the latest local technologies and innovations to more places in the countryside.

Almost 12,000 participated in the 3-day event and was supported by the following: Filipino Inventors Society, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Energy, DepEd - Nueva Ecija, Digitel, Level-Up!, ACSAT, DigitalFilipino.com, Pizza Hut, Greenwich, Mr. Donut, DWNE Radio, Net-25 TV and Nueva Ecija National High School.

One of the highlights of the event was the support of then DOE Sec. Vincent Perez as one of our Guests of Honor.

And for the very first time, DOST Sec. Estrella Alabastro supported us again and had a greater impact on all of us with her very presence as our Guest of Honor and Speaker.

The next 2 years was another feat for our startup: bringing the Innovations Expo to 4 cities in Central Luzon with a total of almost 20,000 participants:

• Zambales National High School, Iba, Zambales
• Cabanatuan East Central School, Cabanatuan City
• Tarlac Convention Center, Tarlac City
• Liwag National High School, Gapan City

This technology roadshow featured the latest technologies, researches, inventions, innovations and collaborations from the following institutional partners and corporate sponsors:

• Central Luzon Industry and Energy Research and Development Consortium
• DA - Phil-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology
• DOST - Advanced Science and Technology Institute
• DOST - Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development
• DOST - Philippine Industry and Energy Research and Development
• DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
• De La Salle University
• Digitel Philippines
• Filipino Inventors Society
• Globe Telecoms
• MediaG8way
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• Smart Communications
• Technological University of the Philippines
• University of the Philippines

In terms of the topics and technologies presented: agricultural innovations from DA-PhilScat, educational software from DOST-ASTI, internet access from Digitel, inventions from FIS and TUP, researches from DOST-PCIERD, DOST-PNRI, CLIERDEC, robotics from DLSU-CCS and UP-COE and mobile service from Globe and Smart.

Now with the unlimited technopreneurial opportunities being opened by the Internet for the global village, our startup will leverage its initial success to reach more people without geographical limitations.

"Knowledge is growing so fast that 90% of what we will know in 50 years time, will be discovered in those 50 years." - thetech.org

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an evolving journey

Since 2000, we have initiated various technology-focused and entrepreneurial events and projects in the Philippine countryside, from having around 1,300 participants in Cabanatuan City to almost 20,000 in various cities in Central Luzon. It was indeed a worthwhile journey!

That in the last 6 years, we have been involved in the promotion, presentation and demonstration of our local researches, world-class inventions, creative technologies and leading-edge institutions. Yes, it was indeed a fruitful endeavor!

That it was our utmost privilege to have been supported by the following:

• Sen. Loren Legarda
• former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr.
• Sec. Estrella Alabastro, Department of Science and Technology
• former Sec. Butch Abad, Department of Education
• former Sec. Vincent Perez, Department of Energy
• Gov. Aurelio Umali, Province of Nueva Ecija
• former Comm. Dondi Mapa, Commission on ICT

Now moving further beyond our geographical limitations, we will always be there in the ever dynamic fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership, learning and technology.

And it will be our foremost commitment to continually collaborate with our technology partners and corporate sponsors in creating an environment for our future technopreneurs, innovators and national leaders.

This is our new journey... to reach out to more people, to more places where the latest and appropriate technologies can have more impact in their lives.

So join us as we'll strengthen our foundation for an innovative collaboration ecosystem for the Philippines!

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." - Steve Jobs, Apple

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