Likhaan Group

InventSchool Training Center at Amecos Innovations in Caloocan City opens February

January 8, 2009 – 7:27 pm

Likhaan Newsletter No. 52 January 2009

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Likhaan Newsletter No. 52 January 2009

Year 24 ▪ Number 52 eMail Edition

QUEZON CITY, METRO-MANILA, PHILIPPINES January 2009

The InventSchool™ Training Center at Amecos Innovations in Caloocan City opens February

The InventSchool™ Training Center at Amecos Innovations, Inc. in Caloocan City will open its training program in February 2009. The Amecos group of companies, headed by Dr. Antonio F. Mateo, is composed of A. Mateo Engineering (Consultancy) Services (AMECOS), Amecos (AII) and Inventions & Innovations Marketing Corporation (IIMC).

The training center will carry The InventSchool™ comprehensive education program, which consists of the following training courses.

Regular Educational Programs

1. Technological Inventions Division (TID) course program – Scientific and Technological Creativity (SciTeC™), Entrepreneurial Creativity and Venture Management (EnCVM) and New Products and Innovation Management (NuPIM).

SciTeC™ training program has four (4) core courses: SciTec 1 (Basic) - Introduction to Creativity and Thinking (ICT), SciTec 2 (Primary) - Idea Generation and Creative Development (IGCD), SciTec 3 (Intermediate) - Creative Research and Invention Development (CRID) and SciTec 4 (Advanced) - Inventerprise Development & Venture Management (IDVM). In addition, the core courses have eight (8) supplementary courses (Continuing SciTec™) and eight (8) complementary courses (Special SciTec™).

2. Social Inventions Division (SID) course program – Creativity in Social Invention and Community Innovation (SinCom™), Social Invention Workshops (SIW) and Social Entrepreneurship and Community Management (SECM).

SinCom™ training program has four (4) core courses: SinCom 1 (Basic) - Introduction to Creativity and Thinking (ICT), SinCom 2 (Primary) - Idea Generation and Creative Development (IGCD), SinCom 3 (Intermediate) - Social Innovation Research and Development (SIRD) and SinCom 4 (Advanced) - Social Entrepreneurship & Community Development (SECD). Eight (8) supplementary courses (Continuing SinCom™) and eight (8) complementary courses (Special SinComä) support the SinCom™ core courses.

Lateral and Special Training Courses

1. Introductory Seminar-Workshops & Summer Institute [Lateral Entry Courses to The InventSchool™]

▪ TISem - Technological Invention Seminar

▪ SISem - Social Invention Seminar

▪ TeSIS - Technological & Social Invention Seminar

▪ OSW - Orientation Seminar-Workshop on Thinking, Creativity and Creative Teaching / Learning

▪ SumIns - Summer Institute on Education for Scientific-Technological Creativity & Social Invention

2. Teachers’ Forum & Seminar-Workshops [Special Entry Courses to The InventSchool™]

▪ T-ForCE - Teachers’ Forum on Creativity in Education

▪ SPEd - Seminar on Shifting Patterns of Education

▪ CTII - Creative Teaching and Instructional Innovations

▪ CEIL - Workshop on Creative Education and Innovative Learning

▪ SCIS - Stimulating Creativity and Inventiveness of Students

Annual Programs

Aside from the regular, lateral and special training courses, The InventSchool™ International conducts several annual programs [Annual Institute, Workshop, Conference & Convention/Exposition]. These are:

▪ AC-TSI - Annual Conference on Technological & Social Inventions

▪ AW-CSTSI - Annual Workshop on Creativity in Science, Technology and Social Inventions

▪ AI-EP - Annual Institute on Educational Programs for Scientific-Technological Creativity & Social Invention

▪ IS-ACIE - The InventSchool™ Annual Convention & Invention Exposition

[See Likhaan Newsletter No. 51, December 2008, for the complete list of InventSchool™ training courses.]

The InventSchool™ Training Center at Amecos Innovations is located at #36 Alma Jose Street near corner Zabarte Road.

Likhaan Group organizes its National Council, governing body of all its member-organizations

The Likhaan Group, Inc. (TLG) organized recently its National Council, the governing body of all member-organizations of Likhaan. The Council is composed of presidents, chief executive and operating officers, directors and selected senior members of TLG organic institutes and affiliated organizations, and chairpersons of the Council’s working committees.

The members of the Likhaan National Council are Dr. Tomas C. Ongoco, president of Quezon City Academy, chairman; Rafael Nelson M. Aboganda, president of The Likhaan Group, Inc., vice chairman; Carlos A. Soriano, vice president of The Likhaan Group™; Jose R. Malbarosa, president/CEO of Global Protective Systems & publisher of CEO Magazine; Jaime Noble Maza, Jr., executive director of Korean-Philippines Information Technology Center, Quezon City Polytechnic University (QCPU); Rizal “Rey” C. Alejaga, vice president of The InventSchool™ International, Inc. (TISI), specialist on memory skills, critical thinking, learning capability and cognitive development; Anthony R. Manas, executive director of The InventSchool™ International, professor, World Citi Colleges (WCC) & associate professor at ABE International College of Business and Economics; Rolando Q. Jimenez, community & cooperative development consultant; Enrique D. Lukban, local governance, management & marketing consultant; Simon R.Guillermo Jr., population & management consultant; Carlos S. Casas, inventor of Audio-Voca, a “live-sound” hi-fi & 3-D stereo audio system; Alfred-Jose Herbolario, Likhaan Baguio (Cordillera Region), professor of Cordillera University; Pablo M. Tejada, Legaspi (Bicol Region), professor of Bicol University; Ma.Theresa M. Maturan, Cebu (Central Visayas); Reverencio Orig, Davao (Central Mindanao); and Dr. Fernando Ubaldo Jr., biologist & naturopathy specialist.

Ex-officio Council members are Ernesto A. Forcadilla, Likhaan Canada/North America, chief executive for international operations of The Likhaan Group and The InventSchool™; and Rene Alegria Forcadilla, Likhaan Middle East, chief executive for Middle East operations of Likhaan and The InventSchool™, faculty member of Higher College of Technology (HTC), formerly Oman Technical Industrial College, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

The Council will provide overall coordination/management and policy integration; carry out operational streamlining, harmonization and synchronization of activities of TLG member organizations; oversee the operation of working directorate & central secretariat, general administration & finance, and fund generation. It will also support institutional planning and public affairs; development planning and research, policy research and strategic studies; information services, development communication and publications; international studies and understanding, special projects and development con­cerns; organization of creativity network and volunteer corps, formation of alliance network; and coordinate Likhaan affiliate and associate organizations.

Working committees. The TLG National Council will have an executive committee and seven (7) working committees as follows:

1. Academic Committee – review, evaluate and improve educational programs and training courses of The InventSchool™, The Likhaan Institute and other TLG organic institutes and affiliated organizations.

2. Research Committee – appraise, assess and upgrade educational research, social research, social inventions, invention development, creatological research, and scientific-technological R&D projects.

3. Development Committee – study, process and consolidate socio-economic development, community development and other related development projects.

4. Organization Development & Human Resource Committee – evaluate, process and unify membership education and institutional planning for TLG and its organic and affiliated organizations.

5. Finance Committee – enhance ways and means programs, support fund raising campaigns, and other fund generation projects.

6. Audit Committee – review and audit institutional funds, fund campaign operations, funded projects and endowment funds.

7. Alliance Network Committee – provide support to Likhaan branches and alliance network development, and organizational affiliates.

Profile of The Likhaan Group National Council Members

TOMAS C. ONGOCO, president of the Quezon City Academy, chairs the Likhaan National Council and The InventSchool™ board of directors. He is director of EarthSavers Movement; education director, DREAMS Academy; secretary-general, National Environmental Watchers Society (NEWS); consultant, Business Earth, Inc.; consultant, manuscript development division, Academe Publishing House; adviser, Association of Science Teachers and Educators of the Philippines (ASTEP); member, board of directors, Alberto-Enrico Education Center (AEEC); and editorial board member of Firefly Magazine. Recently, Professor Ongoco – scientist-artist-educator – was named one of the six recipients of the 2008 “Father Neri Satur Award” for environmental education. He was recognized for writing a book, “Ambon sa Tagtuyot” (Summer Drizzle), containing the popularization of scientific data through drama and poems, including the ills of smoking, and a unique “Balagtasan on Climate Change.” Ongoco also translated into Filipino former US Vice President Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” the Oscar-winning documentary on global warming. He gave it a Filipino title, “Isang Hindi Matanggap na Katotohanan.” He served as director of the Science Foundation of the Philippines of the National Science Development Board (now Department of Science and Technology). Some 20 years ago, he initiated the use of the word “garbology” to mean the study of garbage which is one of our major problems today.

RAFAEL NELSON M. ABOGANDA is current president of The Likhaan Group, Inc. and vice chair of the Likhaan National Council. He is an independent development management and environmental management consultant, and serves as editor-in-chief of CEO MAGAZINE. Jointly with several co-workers, he launched The InventSchool™ on 7 July 1973. He also initiated the organization of the InventClub™, an association of young inventors and inventive researchers in 1982. He played a key role in shaping creative education and training program in the Philippines as well as the promotion of inventive activities and local inventions in the 1970s and 1980s. Early in his career, he was involved in agricultural and rural development, building construction, shelter systems and tribal settlements design, and environmental management and public health & sanitation. At Likhaan, he manages development research, planning and management program with focal points on community innovations and sustainable development. He also directs social invention and community innovation projects for urban renewal and rural development. He maintains short-term training, development planning and environmental management consultancy assignments with local and foreign organizations. He was educated at the National University in Manila with BSc. in civil and sanitary (environmental) engineering and took up baccalaureate courses in architecture.

CARLOS A. SORIANO is presently vice president of The Likhaan Group and manages the Likhaan National Council working committees. He plays a large role in the day-to-day management and operations of Likhaan and its member-organizations. He is a development manager and community innovator. He served as development management officer at the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC). He managed community enterprise and rural development projects, promotion of local technology, and training programs at TLRC. At Inventech Management Corporation, he was involved in the promotion of local inventions and technology development planning. Previously, he served as educational technologist of the multi-media division, Philippine Human Resources Development Center (PHRDC). He was educated at the National University in Manila and University of the Philippines in Quezon City.

JOSE R. MALBAROSA is board member/treasurer of The Likhaan Group and chairs the Likhaan National Council executive committee. He is president and CEO of Global Protective Systems, Inc. since 1986. He represented the Firemaster Ltd. of London, England for fire suppression systems and the GEM SPRINKLER Company of USA. For 15 years, his company installed modern fire protection systems, sprinklers, fire alarm and smoke detection systems, FM 200 SYSTEMS, and related safety and security systems for buildings, manufacturing plants, and sensitive facilities. In 1996, he engaged in publishing business serving for two years as publisher of the first and only Bikol Daily News for the Bicol Region in Southern Luzon, Philippines. He later teamed up with industrial communicators and CEOs in Metro Manila to publish the CEO MAGAZINE for business, industry, chief executive officers, entrepreneurs, government leaders, the academe, and various professionals including media people. He was educated at National University and Adamson University both in Manila and completed management engineering. He underwent postgraduate studies in project management at the Ateneo de Manila University and attended management seminars in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong during the recent past.

JAIME NOBLE MAZA, JR. is board member/corporate secretary of The Likhaan Group and chairs the Likhaan Working Directorate. He is currently the executive director of the Korean-Philippines Information Technology Center located at the Quezon City Polytechnic University (QCPU) in Novaliches, Quezon City. Prior to this, he was executive director of SB NegoTech, the livelihood and trade training center of Quezon City government. He heads the WIA Batch ’65 Foundation that gives free kindergarten education in Mallig, Isabela province, Philippines. He was educated at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City completing BSc. in physics and studied electronics and communications engineering at University of the East in Manila.

ERNESTO A. FORCADILLA, presently based in Toronto, Canada, is handling the international operations of The Likhaan Group and The InventSchool™. He led the formation of the Likhaan Institute Foundation, Inc., which took over the operation of The InventSchool™ in 1981. He is an outstanding painter-sculptor. He designs corporate logo, brochures, annual reports and magazine/periodical layouts. He currently produces “Corporate Wall Clock” for Canada’s largest corporation using customized digital imaging. He invented award winning “educational toys” to develop intelligent creativity of children. He is currently the principal coordinator, editor/designer and team leader/webmaster of The InventSchool™ Website. He was educated at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City where he completed a bachelor of fine arts degree.

RENE ALEGRIA FORCADILLA, presently based in the Sultanate of Oman, Middle East, is co-founder of the Likhaan Institute Foundation, Inc. and lecturer of The InventSchool™. Since 1985, he is a member of the teaching staff of the Higher College of Technology (HTC), formerly Oman Technical Industrial College, in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. He is the inventor of the “Electric Utility Meter Reading System (EUMERS)” and currently working on “Smart Switch,” a wireless technology. He served as research associate and program officer at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the training center for senior executive officers of the Philippine government. He finished BSc. in electrical engineering at Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) and received a Diploma in electronics technology at the Philippine College of Arts and Trades (PCAT) now Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), all in Manila.

RIZAL “REY” C. ALEJAGA, a specialist in memory skills, critical thinking, learning capability and cognitive development, is vice president of The InventSchool™ International, Inc. (TISI) and member of the Likhaan National Council. He is currently a lecturer on creativity, critical thinking, managerial leadership and memory development. He completed BSc. in chemical engineering at Adamson University (AdU). He studied methods and techniques of memory enhancement in Malaysia and India. He is actively promoting the development of memory and critical thinking skills.

ROLANDO Q. JIMENEZ, is one of the original member of Likhaan since mid-1970s. He is a consultant on cooperatives development and management, entrepreneurship, management and administrative system, housing and human settlement, research and development studies. He was vice president of Acemont Infrastructure Developers, Inc. and a board director-secretary of the Likhaan Institute Foundation, Inc. Since 1971, he has conducted various training programs on entrepreneurship, enterprise development, cooperative management consulting, cooperative organization, strategic planning, business planning and development, project planning and analysis, policy formulation, budget preparation and group dynamics. He served in assignments of major responsibility in different parts of the country in the following areas of management, research and development: Market survey of vegetable seeds in the Cordilleras, project evaluation of development program in Ilocos Norte, feasibility study of gasifiers in Metro Manila, integrated social forestry for the Natural Resources Management Center, management and organization studies of government offices, integrated cooperative systems study in Palawan, integrated rural development in Mindoro provinces, agricultural credit and rural capital formation, barefoot doctors in Mindanao (Region XII), cooperative entrepreneurship in Davao, Laguna, Misamis Oriental, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Quezon, Zamboanga, Iligan, Leyte and Benguet. Jimenez served as management training specialist of the Cooperative Entrepreneurship for Rural Development (CERD) Project, a development program of the International Labour Organization (ILO) from 1991 to 1993. He was assistant vice president of BLISS Development Corporation from 1986 to 1990. He also served as director of the accounts management department of the Shelter Development Group, Ministry of Human Settlements. He finished Bachelor in Liberal Arts (A.B.) at San Carlos Major Seminary, Makati and Master in Business Adminstration (MBA), both at Letran College, Manila. He also attended a diploma course in Project Management for Rural and Small Industries Development New Delhi, India

ENRIQUE D. LUKBAN is a director of Management & Governance Institute (MAGI) of Likhaan. He is an independent consultant on development finance and administration, project development and management, enterprise development, social marketing and local government. He held various positions in government agencies, non-government organizations (NGO), and private corporations such as Development Heuristic Management and Communications Consultants Inc., Asia-West Marketing Communications Inc., Development Academy of the Philippines and the J. Walter Thompson Corporation. He served as management and administrative advisor for the Southern Mindanao Agricultural Programme (SMAP), a project of the Department of Agriculture assisted by the European Economics Commission (EEC). He was also a Philippine representative of Arcotrass Gmbh, a German Consultancy Firm. Lukban also served as special assistant to the Undersecretary for Special Concerns of the Department of Agriculture where he was assigned to oversee the operations of the foreign assisted projects. He worked at Louie Berger International as the operations management specialist for the agriculture component of the Rainfed Resources Development Project (RRDP), a government project funded by the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID). At the same time, he was a senior partner at the MOG and Associates, a private corporation specializing in political research, analysis and planning. He was educated at the University of the Philippines where he completed his Bachelor of Arts major in Economics; he also took up courses in M.Sc. in Economics and Business Administration, as well as statistical technique in marketing research. He received his diploma in Industrial Management and Consultancy in Delft, The Netherlands, and Project Management for Rural and Small Industries Development in New Delhi, India.

SIMON R. GUILLERMO, JR. is a consultant on development economics and management, housing and urban development, demography, and business administration. He served as direc­tor for planning, research and monitoring of the Shelter Development Group and as department manager for regional operations of Bliss Development Corporation, both in the Ministry of Human Settlements. He has been involved in human settlements development planning, housing and population studies, community development and social research. He served as consulting analyst in the reorganization of the government shelter agencies at the Presidential Commission on Government  Reorganization. Guillermo managed training programs and community development projects at the Development Academy of the Philippines. His special interests include management development and re­search, integrated area development, ethnicity and cultural communities, and environmental management. In early years, he headed the Special Projects Department of the Presiden­tial Assistant on Housing and Resettlement Agency (PAHRA), where he also served as economist and demographer. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Economics at St. Louis University, Baguio City, and Master of Arts (Demography) at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. He also finished training courses in population and housing statistics and housing cooperatives.

ANTHONY R. MANAS is member of the board of directors of Likhaan and serves as executive director of The InventSchool™ International, Inc. (TISI). He is currently a professor at the World Citi Colleges (WCC) and served as associate professor at ABE International College of Business and Economics. He has been involved in a broad range of activities including being former vice president of the Center for Assistance on Community Mortgage Program, Inc. and project manager of CISP-Land Development Corporation and the Center for Housing and Human Ecology Development Foundation, Inc. He also worked as analyst (socio-environmental division, corporate planning group) and community relations officer (social engineering department) both at the National Power Corporation (NPC). His areas of specialization include working with modeling and simulation techniques in participatory decision-making analysis and processes, micro-finance, and business planning using quantitative modeling and evaluation techniques. He graduated from National College on Business and Arts (NCBA) in Quezon City with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). He completed AB in political science at Far Eastern University in Manila and enterprise development course at University of the Philippines, Institute for Small Scale Industries, (UP-ISSI). He also took up graduate studies in public administration (MPA) at the University of the Philippines, Quezon City.

TIMELINE OF THE INVENTSCHOOL™ INTERNATIONAL:

Part 2 – 1988-2008

Founded: 7 July 1973 ▪ Quezon City, Metro-Manila ▪ SEC Reg. No. 155808, Issued: 29 September 1988

Below is the continuation of the chronological look at The InventSchool’s growth over the past 35 years.

The Middle Years

As The InventSchool™ developed, it embarked on upgrading and standardization of course programs, conducting summer institutes and expanded its training programs to include social inventions and other related seminars. Here are the highlights of our middle years:

1988 – September 21, The InventSchool™ International, Inc. (TISI) was repositioned as a corporate institution of Likhaan and registered with SEC, Reg. No. 155808 issued on September 29. Started the improved SciTeC™ Course Program―basic and primary courses.

1989 – February 20, during the celebration of the 3rd Festival of Filipino Inventions at the Ninoy Aquino Nature’s Park in Quezon City, a “Conference of The InventClub™ Federation on Young Inventors and The InventSchool™ Program” was held with Mr. Farag Mousa, head of WIPO’s Section for Relations with International Organizations & Promotion of Innovation in Developing Countries, as special guest speaker. The conference was attended by students and faculty representatives from Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) InventClubs™, the only active clubs at that time. May 11-13, conducted the “1st Summer Institute on Scientific & Technological Creativity” at MIT, Manila.

1990 – The InventSchool™ International, Inc. (TISI) and Likhaan Institute Foundation, Inc. (LIFI) continued conducting SciTeC™ course program―basic and primary courses―at irregular intervals. The IDEA FACTORY for Social Inventions was set-up by LIFI and the Social Inventions & Community Innovations, Inc. (SICI).

1991 – LIFI-InventSchool™ continued developing Intermediate SciTeC™ course design and training materials.

1992 – LIFI-InventSchool™ continued updating the Intermediate SciTeC™ course materials. Soon after, the intermediate course was divided into two: Intermediate and Advanced courses. Started developing Advanced SciTeC™ course design and training materials.

1993 – August, “1st Orientation Seminar Workshop on Thinking, Creativity and Creative Teaching for Teachers & Educators” at Lourdes School of Quezon City. Continued holding SciTeC™ courses―basic and primary―for students on limited scale at MIT and PUP. In spite of lack of funds, the InventClub™ at MIT and PUP, coordinated by Atty. Mario Pantoja and Dr. Pedro Yunzal, respectively, organized annual school-based invention contests until 1996.

1994 – Continued preparation of Continuing/Specialized SciTeC™ course designs and training materials. August 19, LIFI-InventSchool™—with the recommendation of then Budget Secretary Salvador M. Enriquez, Jr.—sought financial support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and endorsement from the Department of Education, Culture & Sports (DECS) for the organization of InventClubs™ and the preparation of training manuals for the SciTeC™ courses (basic, primary, intermediate and advanced) and its testing in five regional centers. In a meeting with DECS Secretary Ricardo Gloria, he told LIFI-SICI officers to proceed to DOST for assistance. DOST Secretary William Padolina endorse the Likhaan-InventSchool™ proposal to the Technology Application & Promotion Institute (TAPI). LIFI-InventSchool™ officials explained The InventSchool™ and InventClub™ program to Dr. Maripaz Perez, director of TAPI, in a meeting in September. However, Director Perez, in her letter of October 7, informed Likhaan that the project is not in line with their program. She noted that the proposal has “close resemblance… to the science club, science fairs and summer camp programs of the Science Education Institute (SEI).” Forthwith, the TAPI Director endorsed the proposal to SEI for appropriate action. In spite of continuous follow-up, DOST and all its agencies disregarded the InventSchool™ program.

1995 – August, the Institute for Social Invention (ISI) in London, UK cited The InventSchool™ in its publication, Best Ideas - A Compendium of Social Innovations and the ‘Global Ideas Bank’ on the Internet. By late 1995, after several follow-ups on The InventSchool™ project proposal, DOST, TAPI and SEI have not provided any assistance to the training program of The InventSchool™ and the organization of InventClubs™. LIFI-SICI considered the proposal has been rejected. Updated the regular SciTeC™ courses.

1996 – Preparation of SciTeC™ course program manuals and initial course outline for social inventions. Continued literature research and educational studies on creativity and invention, and updated the training materials on creativity, technological innovations and social inventions. Started writing the trainers’ guidebook and students’ workbook for SciTeC™ courses.

1997 – Continued preparation of SciTeC™ course program training manuals and teachers’ guide. July, The InventSchool™ developed a new educational program parallel to SciTeC™ courses called the “Creativity in Social Inventions and Community Innovations Course” or the SinCom™ Course Program. Accordingly, the educational program of TISI was reorganized into two (2) major course programs: 1) Technological Inventions Division (TID) and 2) Social Inventions Division (SID). Developed two SinCom™ training courses adopting SciTeC™ 1 and SciTeC™ 2. and started preparation of other SinCom™ course designs and training materials.

1998 – Continued literature research, educational studies and preparation of SciTeC™ and SinCom™ course programs, training materials and teaching guides. Developed two additional SinCom™ training courses adapting SciTeC™ 3 and SciTeC™ 4.

1999 – Started upgrading and standardization of SciTeC™ and SinCom™ course programs instructional materials, training manuals and teaching guides. Continuing and special courses added.

The Recent Years

In year 2000, as The InventSchool™ started to mature, it embarked on upgrading and standardization of all course programs, conducting summer institutes and expanded its training programs to include social inventions and other related seminars. Here are the highlights of our recent years:

2000 – May 17-19, conducted the “2nd Summer Institute on Scientific & Technological Creativity” at Quezon City Academy (QCA), Quezon City. July, introduced Creativity in Business Entrepreneurship to MBA students in the Graduate School of De La Salle University at Greenhills, San Juan City. Developed additional SciTeC™ and SinCom™ continuing and special courses.

2001 – November 28-29, “2nd Orientation Seminar Workshop on Thinking, Creativity and Creative Teaching for Teachers & Educators” at Quezon City Academy, Quezon City. Completed The InventSchool™ comprehensive regular educational program with set of courses, program of studies, curricular content (outline), and learning set-up.

2002 – April, developed course design on “Stimulating Creativity and Inventiveness of Students” and worked on course materials for SinCom™ (social inventions) courses with the support of LIFI. New training courses added to the comprehensive educational program; content outline drawn up.

2003 – Developed lateral training courses and content outline under the comprehensive educational program, curricular structure and course outline.

2004 – Started reactivating the Local InventSchool™ at MapuaTech (MIT) in Manila. Formulated special training courses under the comprehensive educational program, curricular structure and course outline.

2005 – Developed annual institute, conference and workshops under the comprehensive educational program. Core structure and program plans formulated.

2006 – June, course manual on “Creative Problem-Solving and Decision-Making (CPSDM)” revised. In association with LIFI, prepared teaching guide to “Operational Mechanism of Creativity and Thinking (OMCaT),” a specialized 16-week course for college students.

2007 – Continuing preparation, updating and improvement of SciTeC™ and SinCom™ training materials and other educational programs and training courses.

The InventSchoolä Today

Year 2008, The InventSchool™ started to review and evaluate its training programs and reactivate its learning centers in different schools, colleges and universities in Metro Manila.

2008 – First quarter of the year: Review and evaluation of available The InventSchool™plans/programs and updating of institutional development plans for incorporation in the new TLG Strategic Development Plan (SDP). April, Likhaan redefine its restarting points for organizational reactivation. The first organization proposed to be fully reactivated is The InventSchool™ International, Inc. (TISI) which was also the first organization of The Likhaan Group of organizations (TLG) established by Imbensyon Pilipino on July 7, 1973. July-December, Likhaan and The InventSchool™ celebrate 35th anniversary with free lectures on creativity and thinking, and other programs/activities. °

NEWSROUNDUP

Three top Filipino inventors call on PGMA in Malacañang

Early this month, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received in Malacañang three top Filipino inventors who brought prestige, honor and glory to the country by winning top honors in the recent inventor’s competitions held here and abroad.

Inventors Rolando Dela Cruz, Antonio Mateo and Aquilino Tubigan called on the President at Malacañang Palace’s Music Room to explain to the Chief Executive their individual inventions.

Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, who joined the President during the inventors’ call, said they are well-known for their contributions in medicine, construction and telecommunications.

The award-winning inventors explained their inventions to President Arroyo.

Multi-awarded Filipino inventor Rolando dela Cruz received the World Intellectual Property Office gold medal for his invention “DeBCC,” a cream developed from cashew nut extracts mixed with other common Philippine herbs, that treats basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer generally caused by frequent exposure to sunlight.

Basal cell carcinoma usually affects the face, ears, scalp, neck, shoulders, and back.

The prestigious award was given at the closing ceremonies of the National Inventors Week, an annual activity of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) that gives support to Filipino inventors by bringing together in one venue their inventions/innovations for the public to appreciate and investors’ possible commercialization.

Dr. Antonio Mateo, a certified engineer, educator and inventor, won the 2008 Gold Merit Award by the Invention and New Product Exposition (INPEX) for his “Improved Flaring Tools for Flexible Piping System.”

His improved flaring tools have provided water distributing companies a surefire way to improve the delivery of water to customers and prevent water system leakages.

Aside from this invention, Mateo is also recognized for inventing the “Super Wheelchair” which doubles as bed and bathroom and is designed to provide mobility and a cleaning facility for bedridden people. “It’s a convertible wheelchair with a cushioned toilet bowl as chair. It is also equipped with a shower which can be connected to a faucet; a seatbelt, and a mini-table which doubles as a head rest,” Mateo explained.

Aquilino Tubigan was given the 2008 Jury Awards, also by INPEX, for his “I-Charj Coin Operated Cell Phone Charger” which provides “dying” cell phone batteries a nifty gadget that charges a mobile phone’s battery for a fee.

By inserting a P5 coin into the “I-Charj’s” coin-slot, the customer can charge his or her cell phone battery for 10 minutes. The machine can charge the battery of all cell phone models.

Alabastro said that the President expressed amazement at the innovativeness and timeliness of the trio’s inventions.

She added that the President instructed her and the DoST to take notice of the plight of all Filipino inventors and support them 100 percent of the way.

“She (President Arroyo) committed that she will, by instructing us (DoST), to attend to the needs of the inventors and whatever additional support she can provide, she will see what she can do to augment this support through her social fund,” Alabastro said. [Source: Gov.ph/news]

Who Developed Patis?

Contrary to popular belief, there was no fish sauce or Patis yet during the Spanish occupation. Patis began to become a part of most Filipinos’ diet only after the Japanese occupation. Here is an account of how an enterprising lady discovered the fermentation of Patis. Immediately after the war, the family of Ruperta David or Aling Tentay started a dried fish business. One day, Aling Tentay stored in jars some salted fish that turned into fragments even before they dried. While in jars, the fish fragments turned into a liquid substance that tasted like our Patis today. Thus the beginning of the thriving Patis business of Aling Tentay, which was officially registered in 1949 and is known today as Tentay Food and Sauces Inc. (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Likhaan offers free lecture-workshop on “Creativity and Thinking”

The Likhaan Group is offering free lecture-workshop entitled “Understanding the Nature of Creativity and the Structure of Thinking” or ‘Creativity and Thinking’ for short.

The lecture is given free, on a first come first served arrangement, to any school, college or university, business companies, civic/social clubs, religious organizations, professional associations, non-government organizations, and similar groups in Metro Manila and nearby cities and towns.

All requests for free lectures must be submitted by email to: likhaangroup@likhaan.com, likhaangroup@yahoo.com or likhaangroup@gmail.com or call/text Mobile phone#09272957076 or #09184956535.