Aquino cites Filipino ingenuity at Science Week celebration

President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the innate ingenuity of the Filipinos as exemplified by their works that greatly contribute to the country’s progress and development.

In his speech during the opening ceremonies of the 2011 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Wednesday, the President said that the event vividly depicts the inherent qualities among Filipinos in the field of Science and Technology that raises the hope of the nation.

“Patunay ang pagdiriwang na ito na ang taglay na pagkamalikhain ni Juan dela Cruz ay may makabuluhang mga bunga at nakasentro ang kanyang mga imbensyon at inisyatiba sa pag-aangat ng antas ng buhay ng kanyang mga kababayan,” the President said.

The Chief Executive also acknowledged the various works of Filipino inventors which, he said, made the lives of others simpler and easier since the time of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

“Hindi na bago sa atin ang mga pangalan ng mga Pilipino na nag-iwan ng marka sa larangan ng agham at teknolohiya sa buong mundo… umpisahan po natin kay Gat Jose Rizal na gumawa ng isang uri ng lighter na gawa sa kahoy na tinawag niyang sulpukan… Hindi rin maaaring mawala ang pangalan ni Fe del Mundo na lumikha ng isang incubator na yari sa kawayan para sa mga pamayanang walang elektrisidad, at maging sa kasalukuyang panahon…humahagibis pa rin ang hari ng kalsada ang Jeepney na isa ring sagisag ng pagkamalikhain at inobasyon ng mga Pilipino,” the President stressed.

“Noon hanggang ngayon makabuluhan ang naiambag ng ating malikhaing pag-iisip hindi lamang para kilalanin tayo sa mundo kundi para mapangalagaan din ang kapakanan at kaunlaran ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

The President also noted the High Impact Technology Solutions (HITS) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which he described as very useful and functional to the lives of the Filipino people.

The HITS include the Mosquito Ovicidal-Larvicidal Trap, brown rice, baby foods, water filter, automatic weather stations, mass transit system, PC tablet, RxBox and the latest projects in genomics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, among others.

Present during the event were cabinet members led by Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Also in attendance were the major industry stakeholders and business leaders as well as investors.

Anchored on the theme “Nasa Siyensa ang Pag-asa”, the science and technology event was participated in by other government offices, the business sector, and the academic community who presented their works and inventions.