Our Country is not a Dumping Ground

OUR COUNTRY IS NOT A DUMPING GROUND
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.

Our country's problem on waste disposal is very much alarming. Many people suffer from diseases caused by these wastes. Most of us, especially those in the government, tolerate waste importation. If you can observe, our country has several problems regarding waste disposal. That is not enough. Our country imports toxic waste under the guise of cheap recyclable materials, such as lead, battery scrap and the like. Now I ask: Why should we take care of someone else's waste and then worry about how it will be properly disposed of?

Despite a national ban on the entry of hazardous waste in our country, the Philippines became a favorite dumping site for scrap lead acid batteries. According to Greenpeace, our country has imported container van. Greenpeace also revealed that these batteries were processed in factories far below ORCD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) environmental and occupational health standards. They also found lead contamination on soil, river sediment and vegetation around the so-called "leading recyclers" far above Australian and other OECD countries' standards.

Metal battery scraps, plastic containers, computer junks and ash from incinerators were among the hazardous wastes that these foreigners dump here. These contain dangerous amount of chemical elements and compounds like lead, mercury, cadmium and the like. These waste materials cause dangerous effects on human beings.

Just recently, Greenpeace conducted blood tests on 35 children between the ages 2 to 15 from around the plant of the Philippine Recyclers, Inc. (PRI) in Marilao, Bulacan. Experts from UP College of Public Health assisted Greenpeace in that activity. On the other hand, the PRI is a major lead battery smelter which processes lead acid batteries coming mostly from developed countries such as Australia and Japan. Greenpeace found that majority of the children sampled have elevated blood lead levels ranging from 8 ug/dL (micrograms per deciliter) to as high as 29 ug/dL.

These levels of toxic exposures are definitely high for children and could damage their young bodies. People living near factories such as PRI have complained of ash falling in their wells and on their food that cause them to cough blood and have stomach cramps. Lead poisoning causes mental retardation, decrease in IQ, psychological disturbances, reading disorders, impaired hearing and even deformities among children. Ah, how lucky are some of us living in the city, as we are not exposed to these environmental hazards. Lucky? How about pollution?

Western industrialized nations are targeting Asian countries like the Philippines to become their toxic dumping site. Maybe, these countries view us as a very weak nation. That's why they are doing this. Now, if we will analyze the situation more carefully, both the importer and the exporter of these wastes can make profit. Industrialized nations, while getting rid of their hazardous wastes, can save the cost of expensive sanitary disposal. Poor nation, like ours, where recycling factories import cheap trash, can extract small amounts of usable plastic or metals. However, the consequences to human life and the environment are staggering. Industries will not be forced to cut waste and look for cleaner technologies as long as they have access to cheap and easy dumping sites and are not legally and morally prosecuted by law. For them, profits and self-interest are their top priorities. It’s high time to put an end to these practices.

In our present world where the capitalists rule, these wastes were sent by industrialized countries to places where disposal and processing cost is cheaper. They go to poor countries which are relatively weak when it comes to opposing waste trade. Now, if we will be vigilant enough to oppose importation of waste, the lead acid battery manufacturing industry would be forced to make these processes clean. That is by eliminating the use of lead in batteries.

We must be fully aware that these toxic wastes are being imported by our country under the guise of cheap recyclable materials. These dangerous materials were brought here in our country probably because they think that these are too dirty for industrialized countries to be adapted.

The toxic waste problem is not just a controversial issue of worldwide importance. This problem plagues poor countries like us because of legal loopholes and the laxity of implementing the laws, inability to check the dangers it will cause and the absence of a truly united front to face the problem.

Our local authorities should strictly enforce the law, especially RA 6969, which clearly states the prohibition of entry of hazardous wastes and their disposal in Philippine territory, regardless of purpose. If we really care for the future of the next generation, we should be vigilant enough in addressing this problem.

- The Featinean folio, Summer 1997, pages 49-51

Merchants of Misery

MERCHANTS OF MISERY
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.

I have always been preparing to write articles with relevance to the present issues of concern that happen in our society. Certain concrete, reliable and important data should be gathered so that the presentation will merit a favorable response. In sudden deliberation of my conscience, I believe that I should not write just to write something. From now on, I will refrain myself from doing this. I will use my pen, not for personal glory, but for social justice.

Most people who commit crimes in our country were under the influence of drugs. Drug-related case are very rampant, considering that there were many news reports telling us that most of the suspects in murder and rape cases were drug users. Most of us already knew the relative effects of drugs, not only in our body and mind, but also in our society. So I will not discuss it here in detail. My concern most is the organized crimes that also destroy every inch of peace in all corners of the community we live in.

Our country has become one of the major transshipment points for international drug syndicates, such as Bamboo Gang and the 14K Group. In the Us and other parts of the world, the most popular were the Italian Mafia, Chinese Triad and the Japanese Yakuza. They are not small-time criminals but an organized one.

It's very hard to fight organized groups like these because of their system of internal security and the development of trustworthy contacts in the government and the military bureaucracy, particularly those personnel concerned with law enforcement. When such criminal organizations flourish, we can expect corruption among government officials to protect their personal interest. Organized crimes were not just mere gangsters who only use violence. They were now in a full-scale business with nationwide and international network.

What these organized crimes want is power and money. What differs them from some law-abiding organizations with the same objective is that the laws and regulations they obey, the ethical and moral standard they use and the procedures they employ are private and secret enough that they devise them, change them according to situations, and were summarily and invisibly administered. Organized crime, like capitalism, is a business. Its goal is profit, and its means to that end is to establish monopoly to destroy the competition. Both legitimate business and organized crime seek freedom from government meddling by giving sums of money to persons in key positions. Some of these key figures in the government and in the military hierarchy were in the payroll of these organized crimes. Crime lords are not just gangsters. Most of them are legitimate businessmen and key political figures. So, how can we destroy these crime syndicates if those who ought to protect the citizens were the ones who destroy the future of these people?

The drug problem that confronts our country has grown to such a proportion that requires careful study involving all sectors of our society. It is no longer sufficient that we leave these problems to the law enforcement alone. What we need is holistic approach that involves not only the police or the government, but also the citizens as well.

Every citizen of the community must play a vigilant role. All cities, municipalities and barangays should be truly harnessed in this campaign. Every family, most especially the parents, should show love and concern for each one.

I know many of us wants to help eradicate this social problem. In my part, as a journalist, one of my passions is to investigate and jeopardize the operations of these vermins of society. if you know something about drug pushers and drug users but felt helpless and cannot do something to expose them, you may send letter to me about what you know. These letters may be anonymous, but please, state clearly all the necessary facts that we need, such as the name of the persons involved, the methods and place of their operation, the key persons behind them and how much money involved. Given an opportunity to be an investigative journalist, I know you can help us in obtaining reliable informations. I promise to act on these matters. And I hope that you will totally support us in our quest for justice. This is our battle cry, "Justice before profit!"

- The Featinean folio, Summer 1997, pages 58-59

Disiplina at Karangalan

DISIPLINA AT KARANGALAN
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.

Sa ikauunlad daw ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan. Masasalamin natin sa kasabihang ito kung ano ang tinatawag nating disiplina.

Marami ang nakakaalam ng kasabihang ito, ngunit kakaunti naman ang tunay na nakakaunawa ng tunay na kahulugan nito. Ang disiplina’y hindi lamang sa pamamagitan ng simpleng pagsunod sa tinig ng ating budhi, kundi sa pagiging marangal at paggawa ng tamang bagay, sa tamang panahon, tamang lugar, tamang paraan, at may tamang layunin, nang hindi nakasasakit ng damdamin ng iba. Bagkus, nakagaganda pa ito ng ugnayan ng isang tao sa kanyang kapwa, pamilya, pamayanan at daigdig.

“Madaling magpakatao, mahirap magpakatao.” Ang disiplina ay di lang nakikita sa ganda ng porma, pagiging mayaman at tanyag sa lipunan, bagkus mas higit na dapat bigyang pansin ang paggawa ng kabutihan at kaayusan para sa kapakanan, hindi lang ng sarili, kuni ng iba pang tao.

Ikaw kaya, kaibigan, masasabi mo bang disiplinado ang isang tao kung siya’y laging maganda ang bihis, mayaman at kilala sa lipunan samantalang pinababayaan naman niya ang kalikasan at kalagayan ng ibang tao? Ang isang mayaman na nagbibigay ng malaking donasyon sa simbahan ngunit sa masamang paraan niya kinukuha ang kanyang kayamanan ay masasabi nating hindi isang disiplinadong tao dahil siya’y hindi marangal. Mas higit pang marangal sa kanya ang isang pulubing namamalimos sa lansangan. Kung isa kang lingkod ng bayan ngunit nangungurakot ka naman, matatawag ka bang disiplinado at marangal? Hindi pala dapat ihiwalay ang disiplina sa karangalan, kaibigan.

Ang isang estudyante ay masasabing disiplinado kung pumapasok siya sa klase sa tamang oras, nagsisikap matuto at matiyaga sa kanyang pag-aaral. Ang pamamasyal at pagliliwaliw ay hindi masama basta’t hindi naaapektuhan ang iyong pag-aaral at iba mo pang gawain dahil bahagi ito ng ating pag-unlad bilang tao. Mahirap naman kung parati kang seryoso sa pag-aaral ngunit hindi mo naman nabibigyan ng panahon ang makapag-relaks, magliwaliw at makihalubilo sa lipunan. Maling konsepto ng disiplina ang nalalaman mo kung hindi mo naman nabibigyan ng kasiyahan ang buhay mo. Basta ba wala kang ginagawang masama at hindi mo pinababayaan ang mga gawain mo. May panahon ka sa pag-aaral kaya gamitin mo nang wasto ang oras na ito para marami ka pang matutunan. Huwag sayangin ang panahon at perang ginagasta para lang makapag-aral ka.

Paano tayo magiging disiplinado, kaibigan? May ilang akong maipapayo. Gawin mo ang mabuti ayon sa kakayahan mo at gampanan mo nang mahusay kung ano ang papel mo sa pamayanan. Halimbawa, isa kang working student. Pag oras ng trabaho, magtrabaho ka. Kung oras naman ng pag-aaral, mag-aral kang mabuti. Hindi dapat maging dahilan ang pagiging working student mo para ipasa ka ng iyong guro.

Ngunit may mga bagay din minsan na nakalilito tungkol sa disiplina. Halimbawa, isa kang trabahador sa isang pribadong kampanya, at limang minuto na lang, late ka na. Mahigpit pa naman ang amo mo. Eh, patawid ka ngayon ng kalsada ngunit pula ang ilaw sa takdang tawiran. Tumawid ka dahil kailangan mong magmadali. Isa pa’y bihira naman ang dumadaang sasakyan. Disiplinado ka ba o hindi? Kung dadaanin sa batas, mali ka dahil tumawid ka na pula ang ilaw. Ngunit sa praktikal na pananaw, tama pa ring tumawid dahil wala namang dumaraang sasakyan, bukod sa makakahabol ka sa oras, hindi ka pa mapapagalitan ng boss mo. Medyo kumplikado ang disiplinang tinutukoy, ano po? Marahil kaya kumplikado dahil iniisip natin na ang patakaran ay patakaran, ang batas ay batas na hindi maaaring suwayin. At may dalawang patakarang masasabi nating nagbabanggaan sa isang partikular na sitwasyon. Batas sa trapiko (huwag tumawid kapag pula ang ilaw) laban sa batas ng kumpanya (huwag ma-late at baka matanggal sa trabaho).

Gayunman, kailangan nating maging disiplinado at sumunod sa mga patakaran lalo na kung ito ang hinihingi ng sitwasyon, at nais nating maging maayos ang lugar na ating ginagalawan, pati na rin ang mga taong ating nakakasalamuha.

Kung disiplinado ka, magpakatao ka. At kung nagpapakatao ka, disiplinado ka. Gagawin mo ang tama at marangal. Ipagpatuloy mo ito lalo na kung alam mo namang ikahuhusay ito ng mas nakararaming tao. Tiyak na susuportahan ka ng iba sa mga wasto mong gawain.

Makakamit natin ang pinakamarangal na dignidad kung tayo ay may disiplina lalo na kung nauunawaan natin at isinasagawa ang tunay na kahulugan nito. Ang gawaing may malinis, marangal at mabuting hangarin ay nagbibigay-dangal sa isang tao.

Higit sa lahat, sa ugali mo masasalamin ang tunay na disiplina, kaibigan at hindi sa panlabas na kaanyuan ng isang tao at ang disiplinang ito ay karangalan, na siyang tanging kayamanan na ng tao, kayamanang hindi nabibili, hindi mananakaw, at ito’y mananatili kailanman! Karangalang higit na kailangan sa katuparan ng hinahangad na kaunlaran. Karangalang higit pa sa kayamanan.

- The Featinean, June 1994, pahina 32

Pagsubok at Tagumpay

PAGSUBOK AT TAGUMPAY
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
The Featinean publication

Bawat isa sa atin ay may kakayahang magtagumpay sa bawat larangang ating papasukin. Magtatagumpay ka, ano man ang pangarap mo, maging sino ka man, mayaman ka man o mahirap. Basta't ang mahalaga ay sinusubukan mo ang bawat larangang nais mong mapagtagumpayan. Dahil sa pagsubok, tumitibay ang isang tao. At magtatagumpay ka kung positibo ang iyong pananaw sa buhay.

Napakahalaga ng positibong pananaw kung nais mong makamit ang tagumpay. Isipin mong kung nakaya ng iba, kaya mo rin. Talo ka kapag inisip mong talo ka. Pero kung lugmok ka na dahil sa mga problemang dumarating sa iyong buhay ngunit inisip mong hindi pa tapos ang laban, pinagpatuloy mo at pinagsikapan mong makamit ang gusto mo, magtatagumpay ka. talo ka kung gumamit ka ng karahasan para makamtan ang iyong nais. Talo ka kung hindi ka lumingon sa iyong pinanggalingan. Hindi ka magtatagumpay kapag huminto kang sumubok, kapag huminto kang magtangka. Hindi ka magtatagumpay pag hindi ka sumali sa kumpetisyon. Talo ka kapag hindi ka lumaban. Talo ka kapag ayaw mong matalo.

Ang matagumpay na tao ay laging sumusubok. Ang pagkabigo o pagkasawi ay hindi makahahadlang sa kanya. Ang pagkabigo ay nagsisilbing hamon sa kanya upang ipagpatuloy niya ang kanyang pagsisikap. Ang matagumpay na tao ay mahinahon at matiyaga. Naniniwala siya na marami ang daan at pamamaraan para makamit ang tagumpay.

Ang ating buhay ay maihahalintulad sa paglalaro. Halimbawang tayo ay naglalaro ng bowling, minsan ay nakaka-strike tayo. Pag tayo naman ay naglalaro ng dart, minsan ay napatatamaan natin ang "bull's eye". Ang buhay ay paris din ng marathon, sapagkat sa marathon, hindi laging unahan at pabilisan ng pagtakbo. Ang mahalaga rito ay ang lakas ng resistensya at makarating tayo sa finish line.

Paminsan-minsan, mabibigo tayo pero darating ang panahon, makakaraos din tayo, makaka-strike din tayo. Huwag mo lang kalilimutang sumubok at baka sa sinubukan mong iyon, doon ka magtagumpay. Maging positibo ka lang lagi at iwasan ang negatibo. Tandaan lang, kaibigan, sa mga taong nagtitiyaga at nagsusumikap, sa mga taong hindi natatakot sumubok, nakakamit nila ang tagumpay. At sa mga taong bigo, hindi ka dapat mawalan ng pag-asa sapagkat magtatagumpay ka rin.

Kaibigan, kung halimbawang sa unang pagsubok ay pumalpak ka, analisahin mo kung saan ka nagkamali at huwag mo nang ulitin pa. Huwag mo laging iisipin na talo ka. Isipin mo, kagaya ng larong dart, makaka-bull's eye ka rin. Pero kung sa tingin mo ay hindi para sa iyo ang tagumpay na iyon, hanapin mo kung saan ka naaangkop at baka doon ay magtagumpay ka. Alalahanin mo ang mga kasabihan sa wikang Ingles, "The winner always believe that failure never makes him quit" at "If there's a will, there's a way".

Ang Tunay na Kaibigan

ANG TUNAY NA KAIBIGAN
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
The Featinean publication



"A friend in need is a friend in deed."

Isa itong kasabihan sa wikang Ingles na nagsasabing ang isang kaibigang dumadamay sa oras ng kagipitan o pangangailangan ay tunay na kaibigan.

Tama. Kaya lamang, maraming pangyayari sa buhay ng tao na kapag nangangailangan siya ng tulong sa oras ng kagipitan, at may tumutulong naman sa kanya, at ang mga tumutulong sa kanya ay maaaring ituring na tunay na kaibigan, ngunit sa tunay na kahulugan, sila ay pangkaraniwang kaibigan lamang.

Halimbawa, nadukutan ka o kaya nama'y naipatalo mo sa sugal ang lahat ng pera mo at may nagpautang sa iyo, maaaring nasunugan kayo o kaya'y napasama sa mga nagsilikas ang inyong bayan dahil sa pagputok ng bulkan, paglindol o di kaya'y giyera. Marami ang tumulong sa oras ng kagipitan. Maituturing mo ba silang tunay na kaibigan? Maaaring sila ay mga volunteer ng isang kilalang organisasyon na may tungkuling tumulong sa mga nangangailangan.

Ang tunay na kaibigan ay hindi lamang nakikilla sa oras ng kagipitan. Sila iyong mga taong gusto nating kausap, kasama, kagalit, o kaargumento palagi. Okey lang sa atin ang kanilang kalokohan, kahinaan at mga negatibong pananaw sa buhay. Dahil ganoon din tayo.

Sa tagal ng panahong ipinagsama ay natanggap natin sila kagaya ng ating mga kapatid, pinsan o kamyembro ng pamilya. Kailangan natin sila sa maliit na mundong ating ginagalawan, tanggap natin kung sino at ano sila, gayon din sila sa atin.

Kailangan natin ng mga kaibigan hindi dahil sila ang pinakamalapit sa atin, kundi sila iyong mga taong hindi pangkaraniwang tulong lang ang naibibigay kundi mismong sila, mismong sarili nila.

Lagi silang may panahon sa atin. Hindi sila masaya pag wala tayo. Nami-miss nila tayo gayong kainuman lang natin sila sa kanto, kasama sa eskwela o trabaho, o di kaya'y kalaro-kalaro lang natin sila ng chess sa barberya.

Sila'y hindi mga kaibigan mo lamang sa oras ng pangangailangan. Maski hindi mo sila kailangan ay nandyan sila at may oras para sa iyo. At ganuon ka rin naman sa kanila. Sa madaling salita, sila mismo ang kailangan mo, at ikaw ang kailangan nila, hindi ang itutulong nila o ang itutulong mo sa kanila.

Former FEATI woodpusher beats 10 GMs in US

FORMER FEATI WOODPUSHER BEATS 10 GMs IN THE US
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
The Featinean publication
March 1997

I was in the Rubberworld Factory in Quezon City preparing for the SLAM-APEC caravan going to Subic when I read the sports section of TODAY broadsheet dated November 24, 1996 about a former FEATI chess varsity player winning the Marshall Open chess tournament in the US. The column “Chess with Manny Benitez” discussed it with a very impressive subtitle “IM Young beats 10 GMs in the US”.

I was surprised and delighted by learning that Young defeated ten highly rated grandmasters in the US and won the Marshall Open in New York. His name is so familiar so I kept that article for clipping.

When I went back to FEATI a week later, I researched old copies of the Featinean if Angelo Young is a former player of FEATI. In the Featinean issue dated July 31, 1989, page 12, it read: “In FEATI, we have produced national prides in the likes of Angelo Young and Ferdie Donguines, who tied Torre for the top spot in the recent National Open to qualify for the RP team that would play in international tournaments representing the country.”

According to Benitez, Young sent him a letter from Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey discussing about his victories. Young was in the US to campaign for a grandmasters title. The ten grandmasters who suffered humiliating defeat in the hands of Young were former US champions Michael Rhodes, whom he defeated twice, and Joel Benjamin in Brooklyn; Roman Dzindzichasvili and Alex Fishbein in the World Open; Pavel Blatny, Alex Shabalov and Alexander Ivanov in Chicago; L. Sokolin and John Fedorowicz, also an ex-champion, in two separate tournaments.

In the early part of 1996, Young produces one of his finest games against Fedorowicz. Let’s witness Young’s upset win.


Fedorowicz-Young
Semi-Slav Defense (D43)
New York 1996

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 a6 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Be2 Bb7 12. 0-0 f5! 13. Rfd1 Qb6 14. Ne1 Rc8 15. a3 c5!? 16. d5 c4!? 17. dxe6 fxe6 18. e4! Bc5! 19. Bh5+ Ke7 20. exf5 Rcf8 21 Bg4 Ne5 22. Bh3 Rhg8 23. Qe2 Qc7 24 Kh1 Ba7 25. f4? Qb6 26. Nc2? Nd3! 27. Rf1 Rxf5! 28. Bxf5 Rxg2!! 29. Qxg2 Qg1!!!

White resigned. After 30. Rxg1 Nf2++! A smothered mate.

Now, who among the present crop of FEATI chess varsity players can surpass or equal this giant of chess? The question still hangs.

Anyway, solve this simple quiz: W: Ka6, Bh4, Nb8, c2, d2; B: Kd5, a3, d4. White to play and win.

Answering this composed problems are intended for both entertainment and deep thinking. If you wish to answer this quiz honestly, please refrain from looking at the answer. For lack of space, the answers are published here. Here it is: 1. Nc6 Kxc6 2. Bf6 Kd5 3. d3 a2 4. c4+ Kc5 5. Kb7 a1-Q 6. Be7 mate.

- March 1997

Three Inventors from FEATI

THREE INVENTORS FROM FEATI
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
The Featinean publication
March 1997

The legacy continues. More and more graduates from FEATI University reap success after success in the field of science and technology. This made our school a great producer of top caliber professionals who made wave in the international arena. Their inventions were so famous that they have great contributions to science and technology the world over. In this issue, we will present three of these inventors.

SERAFIN ORIJUELA, inventor of the BEES
The Body Energy Electromagnetic Synchronizer or BEES with Philippine Patent No. 26540 was invented by Orijuela. It can cure the simplest to the most dreaded diseases such as asthma, liver diseases, epilepsy, anemia, leukemia, diabetes, tumor and others.

The BEES can electromagnetically change the body with negative ions and realign disorganized human body energy directions by electromagnetic field inductions.

It has the capability to detect and correct electrical imbalances in the human body that leads to ailments.

Engr. Orijuela, born at Lumban, Laguna on July 23, 1952, graduated Cum Laude at FEATI with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (1969-1974). He won the most coveted award “Most Outstanding Invention of the World”, given by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on November 23, 1993.

He was offered ten million US dollars ($10M) by a Japanese firm based in Okinawa, Japan, but he refused because he could not accept the idea that this invention will be universally acclaimed through foreign investors.

He believes that the little support of the government towards Filipino inventions should not be a deterrent factor to earn worldwide recognition.


JUANITO A. SIMON, inventor of a patented scientific breakthrough in metal to metal friction nullification
Simon, a mechanical engineering graduate of FEATI University, invented a lubricant which is capable of reducing oil consumption up to 40% and increases engine life after a series of difficult test. He gained a worldwide patent for the said invention after it past the tests in the US. His invention was locally known as Per’tua oil and metal treatment and internationally known as Tribotech. It made waves in America, Japan, Korea and Saudi Arabia during their celebration of National Inventors Week in 1993. Engr. Simon qualified to be a member of the Society Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers in Chicago.


ROBERTO V. CELIS, inventor of unsinkable boat
Engr. Celis was listed in the book “History of Science and Technology” by Vicente, et. al. together with other local and foreign inventors. Born on August 15, 1921 at Iloilo City, he graduated in FEATI University with the degree in mechanical engineering. According to the book, “He had so many inventions, but those were locked-up with himself because nobody supported him, not even the government which should be sponsoring worldwide undertakings. He disclosed that accounts of sea accidents and unnecessary deaths motivated him to undertake the unsinkable boat project.”

A real case of Filipino ingenuity, he made a scale of a five-feet-long model and installed a remote control engine. Atty. Eduardo Tan of the Filipinas Foundation, Inc. (FFI) tested it at Covelandia and it worked. The FFI approved the project a year later and called it Dama Filipina, the first unsinkable boat.

The unsinkable boat offers a smooth, pleasant ride without any of its passengers getting seasickness. It also travels with less resistance. When it speeds up, the bottom curvature gives a planning effect, which is like the effect of the speeding hydrofoil. It minimizes gas costs as less energy is spent.

Inventor Celis is now an owner of a modest engineering company that specialized in tools and dyes for export.

- March 1997