THE first school in the Philippines for inventors, aptly named as Inventors School of the Philippines (ISP), is set to formally open its doors on February 20 to pave the way for young and gifted Filipinos to harness their visionary talents.
A brainchild of renowned Filipino inventor Aquilino Tubigan Jr., who invented the charging station, called as the i-charj, now found in malls, convenience stores, transport terminals, ships and the like, ISP is his way of imparting his personal experience and legacy to young, but determined, Filipinos who would like to make a difference in the lives of other people.
Tubigan said the goal of ISP is to make great and advance ideas happen. Unlike the traditional educational path for most Filipino students featuring the K to 12 basic education to be followed by higher learning in college, ISP offers both formal and nonformal schooling and shall cater to kids from as young as 7 years old to nurture their gifts of foresight so that they can come up with their own inventions.
The Filipino inventor believes that just like what he did, inventors can actually turn their own inventions into a business, which is why Tubigan’s current adage goes in the vernacular as “Ang imbensiyon ko ang negosyo ko,” or “My invention is my business.”
As early as Grade 4, Tubigan already had an ambition to become a scientist. He believes the ISP is his way of imparting to others what the Bible has been teaching all along. He does not want to just give Filipinos fish; he wants to teach them how to fish. He also thinks innovation is the key to progress and there is an alteProgram as viewed by marginalized Filipinos, so that’s when he thought of coming up with the ISP. He also envisions the school to increase the number of Filipino inventors.
Tubigan encountered rough sailing in bringing about his innovative idea out in the market. He had difficulty in funding his own project in the beginning he strategized schemes and developed solutions. He had a hand in his own invention right from the start. He had i-charj patented, set up his own company, Xcellcomms, market the product and subsequently managed everything himself. He sustained his own company for 10 years. That speaks a lot about his personal evolution, as well.
In order to bring his invention to the international market, he also competed in a global inventors’ meet in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, in the United States back in 2008 by borrowing money for his airfare. His efforts paid off as he got a gold medal in the competition for his breakthrough idea. His invention has become a necessity these days. He envisions the ISP to offer two-year Certified Business Project Developer course for senior inventors and a one-year Certified Business Product Developer for junior inventors beginning in June this year.
The Filipino inventor said the main difference between the ISP and the traditional schools is the graduates of the school for inventors actually become job creators compared to being job seekers, like most colleges and universities do with their graduates.
Once an inventor from ISP develops a product, which has a great potential in the market, ISP shall also help out in seeking the resources to develop the product and eventually sell it to the market. The inventor shall actually be generating jobs while creating market value to his invention. That is precisely the route taken by Tubigan when he invented the charging station and he is confident that it could be replicated by more Filipinos through the ISP.
In order to kick start its operations on a high note, the ISP shall be having a formal inauguration of its office along España Boulevard on February 20.
For starters, Tubigan said the ISP shall be offering a Summer Boot Camp for kids between 7 and 12 years old. The school shall be offering six courses initially, namely, Basic Drone DIY, Basic Robotics, CCTV Hook on Smartphones, AM Radio Actual Assembly, 2D Animation DIY and PC Assemble and Disassemble.
Each course shall only be good for five days and students shall only be spending two to three hours in school per day.
He believes by imparting to kids what the adults are already doing as early part of their learning, they can have a more promising future compared to those who would be relying solely on the current education curriculum.
As Tubigan’s way of giving back to his community in Manila, the first batch of enrollees in ISP are the street children of the city, who are better off learning new things in order to provide them possible income-generating opportunities than risking their lives begging for alms or simply roaming the streets for food and sustenance. ISP wants to impart to less fortunate individuals how science and technology could improve their lives. The Filipino inventor said he will also provide for the food and snacks of the street children while studying in ISP.
He said he hopes to make ISP the turning point of their lives to eventually become productive members of the society. The school is also expected to produce more inventors that will shape the future of the Philippine job market.