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By Heherson Valdez
Aside from dominating the international stage with gold, silver, and bronze awards, the Philippines continues to exemplify its world-class performance in the global innovation ecosystem, with 12 Filipino inventions receiving special awards at the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) 2024, held from November 27 to 30 in Seoul, South Korea. Get to know three of them by diving into their stories, from ideation to international recognition.
1. Turbo Rice Steamer by Francisco Gecosala
Francisco Gecosala, a 66-year-old inventor from Barangay Paraiso, Koronadal City, South Cotabato, proves that age is no barrier to innovation. Driven by a deep desire to create something meaningful for his community and industry, Gecosala set out to solve a practical problem. His most notable invention, the Turbo Rice Steamer, was born from a casual conversation with friends about their mechanical skills, which sparked his curiosity and challenged him to design a device capable of cooking large quantities of rice quickly and efficiently, without sacrificing quality. This innovation has since transformed traditional rice cooking, offering a more sustainable and innovative solution.
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By Heherson Valdez
At the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) 2024, the Philippines made its mark with four groundbreaking innovations that bagged bronze and special awards in categories spanning eHealth and Safety, Agriculture, Water and Environment, and Materials Science. These homegrown inventions not only showcase the ingenuity of Filipino inventors but also highlight the country's growing role in the global innovation ecosystem.
1. eHATID LGU and SMILHIS LHIE by Jaztine A. Calderon
In remote areas of the Philippines, healthcare systems face persistent challenges such as limited connectivity, outdated infrastructure, and inefficient data management. Addressing these issues, eHATID LGU, a digital medical records system, empowers rural health centers with offline-capable technology to manage patient data, submit reports, and make data-driven decisions. Invented by Jaztine A. Calderon, a BS Development Communication graduate from UP Los Baños and Gender and Development Officer at Ateneo de Manila University, eHATID LGU transforms healthcare services in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). Its offline functionality ensures healthcare continuity even in areas with unreliable internet access, improving efficiency and service delivery. Complementing this innovation is the SMILHIS LHIE (Local Health Information Exchange), which securely integrates patient data from multiple facilities, enabling better diagnosis and treatment across the country.
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