PH CONSUL GENERAL DISCUSSES FOSTERING STEM EDUCATION WITH PHILDEV LEADERS
From left to right: Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Consul General Neil Ferrer, PhilDev Board Member Maria Banatao, PhilDev Executive Director Olivia de Jesus, and Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona. (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer met with Board of Trustees Member Maria Banatao and Executive Director Olivia de Jesus of PhilDev Foundation on 21 August 2024, at the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Center.
Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, and Economic Assistant Jennifer Sto. Domingo also joined the meeting.
The non-profit organization aims to foster science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the Philippines. It also supports deserving students in the United States.
“We welcome PhilDev’s advocacy and efforts in fostering STEM education and innovation, particularly in the Philippines, which aims to uplift the lives of many Filipinos and promote economic growth,” said Consul General Ferrer.
“PhilDev plans to continue its mission to expand science, engineering and technopreneurship programs in the Philippines and in the U.S. We also aim to support more women toward this end,” said Banatao during the meeting.
PhilDev founder Dado Banatao pioneered the personal computer (PC) chipset and graphics acceleration architecture, which are still part of the foundational technologies in all PCs.
“We thank Mr. Dado Banatao for his contributions to Silicon Valley, and Ms. Maria Banatao and their family for inspiring and supporting many Filipino scholars in STEM,” Consul General Ferrer added.
PhilDev developed a subject called Technopreneurship 101, which has since been incorporated in the academic curriculum of engineering students in collaboration with Philippine government agencies, primarily the Commission on Higher Education. PhilDev also plans to contribute to further develop the semiconductor industry in the Philippines.
The Banatao family also supports the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute, in collaboration with University of California campuses in Berkeley, Davis, Merced and Santa Cruz, to provide “information technology solutions for society’s most pressing challenges.”
PhilDev will hold its annual gala event on 12 October 2024 at the Westin SFO in San Francisco, in recognition of the achievements of the global Filipino community. More information can be found on PhilDev’s website. END
Consul General Neil Ferrer meets with PhilDev Board Member Maria Banatao and Executive Director Olivia de Jesus to discuss potential collaborations in supporting STEM education and fostering innovation in the Philippines. (San Francisco PCG photo)