Filipino Inventor: Camera on a Chip

"The camera on our cellular phones is already a technological wonder.  Now how about a marble-sized video camera?  This camera is so small it can fit into a wristwatch.  And it is packed with nifty features and can be used for PC videoconferencing and security cameras.

The inventor of this camera-on-a-chip technology is a Filipino who works at Lucent Technologies’ Bell Labs in the United States.  For this invention, Marc Loinaz received in 1999 an award given by the Tenth Annual Discover Magazine Awards for Technological Innovation.  His invention edged out the Rio PMP300 MP3 player (a portable player for MO3-encoded digital music) in the personal entertainment category.

Marc joined Bell Labs in 1995 and started working on a one-chip digital video camera in 1996.  His team came up with a demonstration unit in 1997 and introduced it to the public in 1998.

The camera-on-a-chip approach is based on the same CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology found in today’s computer chips.  It produced real-time video images that could equal the quality of images produced by camcorders, which rely on a handful of non-CMOS chips.

The camera works by focusing light through a lens on a chip containing 100,000 sensors, each one-fifth the diameter of a human hair.  Hardware on the chip processes the image, adjusts the color, and smoothes out imperfections.

Besides requiring less space, CMOS cameras use less power than traditional CCD (charge-coupled devices) cameras. – Bato Balani"

 Source: http://personalmemoir.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/marc-lonaiz-inventor-of-camera-on-a-chip/

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Who is the greatest Filipino Basketball Player?

Carlos Loyzaga 
Position: Center 
Nickname: The Great Difference 
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 
Weight: unknown 
Nationality: Philippines 
Born: August 29, 1930
Birth Place: San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines 
College: San Beda College Red Lions 
Pro career 1951 – 1964 
Former teams: Yco Painters (MICAA) 
Awards: FIBA World All-Star Mythical Five member (1954) 

CareerHe played college basketball for the San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA before leading the Yco Painters into 49 consecutive victories in the now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) on 1954-1956.

Loyzaga, a two-time Olympian, was a many time member of the Philippine national basketball team in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. He steered the national team into one of the best in the world, winning four consecutive Asian Games gold medal and two consecutive FIBA Asia Championships.

Loyzaga’s finest moment is the 1954 FIBA World Championship, when he led the Philippines to a third place finished, 67-63 victory over France, and captured the bronze medal. It was the best finished by an Asian country in the world championships and since then the Philippines remained as the only Asian medallists in the world championship.

Loyzaga finished as the tournament’s third best leading scorer and was named in the tournament All-Star mythical five selections. He retired in 1964 following a distinguished 15-year career.

Achievements

College
1951 NCAA Basketball Champions 
1952 NCAA Basketball Champions 

MICAA
1954 National Basketball Champions 
1955 National Basketball Champions 
1956 National Basketball Champions 
1957 National Basketball Champions 
1958 National Basketball Champions 
1959 National Basketball Champions 
1960 National Basketball Champions 
1954 MICAA Champions 

International career highlights

1951 Asian Games champions 
1952 Olympic Games, ninth place 
1954 Asian Games champions 
1954 FIBA World Championship bronze medallist 
FIBA World All-Star Mythical Five member (1954) 
1956 Olympic Games, seventh place 
1958 Asian Games champions 
1959 FIBA World Championship, eighth place 
1960 FIBA Asia Championship champions 
1962 Asian Games champions 
1963 FIBA Asia Championship champions 
1967 FIBA Asia Championship champions, head coach 
1968 Olympic Games, 13th place, head coach 
Other achievements
Philippine National Basketball Hall of Fame (1999) 
Philippine Sportswriter Association Athletes of the 20th Century award (2000)


Source: http://forums.interbasket.net/showthread.php?1351-Carlos-Loyzaga

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Philippine President with the most Children

José Paciano Laurel y García was born on March 9, 1891 in the town of Tanauan, Batangas. His parents were Sotero Laurel, Sr. and Jacoba García. His father had been an official in the revolutionary government of Emilio Aguinaldo and a signatory to the 1898 Malolos Constitution.

While a teen, Laurel was indicted for attempted murder when he almost killed a rival suitor of his girlfriend with a Batangas fan knife. While studying and finishing law school, he argued for and received an acquittal.^[1]

Laurel received his law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1915, where he studied under Dean George A. Malcolm, whom he would later succeed on the Supreme Court. He then obtained a Master of Laws degree from University of Santo Tomas in 1919. Laurel then attended Yale Law School, where he obtained a Doctorate of Law.

Laurel began his life in public service while a student, as a messenger in the Bureau of Forestry then as a clerk in the Code Committee tasked with the codification of Philippine laws. During his work for the Code Committee, he was introduced to its head, Thomas A. Street, a future Supreme Court Justice who would be a mentor to the young Laurel.

Upon his return from Yale, Laurel was appointed first as Undersecretary of the Interior Department, then promoted as Secretary of the Interior in 1922. In that post, he would frequently clash with the American Governor-General Leonard Wood, and eventually, in 1923, resign from his position together with other Cabinet members in protest of Wood's administration. His clashes with Wood solidified Laurel's nationalist credentials. (source: Wikipedia)

Interesting to note, that Jose Laurel is the only president with utmost children? He has 9 offspring. Their names listed below:

• Jose Laurel, Jr.
• Jose Laurel lll
• Natividad Laurel
• Sotero Laurel
• Mariano Antonio Laurel
• Rosenda Pacencia Laurel
• Potenciana Laurel Yupangco
• Salvador Laurel
• Arsenio Laurel

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The First Mass in the Philippines

Philippines is rich in culture as well as its religious historical origins. In history subjects, students were taught that it was Spaniards who established Catholicism in the Philippines and brought Christianity to every Filipino. Led by the Augustinian missionaries, their mission of evangelization was not easy. From Filipinos old ways of marriage and worshipping Gods, the missionaries held greater responsibility in transforming mind set and belief.

The symbol of many Filipinos conversion to Roman Catholicism was held in Limasawa, an island in Southern Leyte,  on March 31, 1521. The first mass held marks a significant event not only in Philippine history but also in the history of how Christianity spread in the nation. Filipinos are indebted to martyrs and missionaries who had spent their lives preaching and evangelizing and living in the word of God.

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A Rebel Turned Senator?

A native of Baguio City whose parents was a teacher and a military colonel. Meet Sen. Gringo Honasan, a rebel turned senator.

Honasan spent his elementary days at San Beda College from Kindergarten to Grade 6. After which, he went to Taiwan and studied at the Dominican School, Taipei, Taiwan. He then returned to the Philippines and finished his high school at Don Bosco Technical College.He attained his Bachelor of Science degree at the Philippine Military Academy, where he received the title of "Class Baron", the academy's highest leadership award.^[1]

After graduating in 1971, he joined the Philippine Army and went into combat duty against separatist and communist insurgents in Luzon and Mindanao. He was wounded in action at battles in Lebak and Jolo.^[1] Making his way up through the armed forces, he became aide-de-camp to Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile in 1974, and later became the department's Chief of Security.

Concurrent with his position as security chief, he was a board member of the Northern Mindanao Development Bank and president of the Beatriz Marketing Company.^{[2] (source wikipedia)}

Did you know that P5 million was the highest prize offered for the capture of then - rebel-now- turned- Senator?

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A Croc Bigger than Lolong?

Philippines has been known for its tranquil ambiance and magnificent green looking nature. A lot of tourist spots are widely known locally and internationally as well. Most of the tourist would route their ways to beaches and even to some historical spots in the country. One of the things that is very rare to see foreigners are those capturing images of wild in the Philippines like that of 'Lolong'. Last year, a 20.24 feet (6.17 meters) long, salt water crocodile also known as 'Lolong' was held in captive and made a history when it was awarded as the longest salt water crocodile ever lived.

Interesting to note though that it was not 'Lolong', though it really created a buzz around the web and the world, who badge the longest croc ever captured in the Philippines. Meet Lolong's great grandfather. 

"In 1823, a huge saltwater crocodile was killed near the town of Jalajala in Laguna de Bay. It measured 27 feet from the tip of its snout to the end of its tail.

Approximately weighing 2 tonnes, this giant croc was said to be as heavy as a bull hippo. Too big was its size that it actually required the help of 40 men to bring its body ashore. Upon dissecting, people were shocked to discover a body of a horse cut in 7 pieces."(source http://www.filipiknow.net)

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What to Know about August 22?

On August 22, 1977, President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he was lifting the nightly curfew and the travel ban as his first step towards relaxing the restrictions imposed under martial law.

When Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1081, it curtailed press freedom and other civil liberties, closed down Congress and media establishments, and effected the arrest of opposition leaders and militant activists.

The declaration of martial law was initially well received, given the social turmoil the Philippines was then experiencing, including the re-emergence of the communist movement.

Among its desirable results was the significant reduction of the crime rate after a nightly curfew was implemented nationwide.

Marcos eventually lifted martial law on January 17, 1981.

(source: http://kahimyang.info)

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Another Asia's Titanic?

Reports and News about the clash occured in Talisay, Cebu Philippines has been all over the media and even online.  Reports say that there are more than 30 people who have left their bodies buried at sea and some were no longer be found. A family who had been interviewed told that it was the most horrifying sound they ever heard. The clash was so deafening that even at the twilight, when people are asleep, the survivors are struggling to cope with the traumatic experience.

As families and victims are haunted by their experience of the recent event,the victims and survivors of the worst and devastating clash at sea known as "Asia's Titanic" felt what these survivors had felt. With no choice but to jump at sea, they found no other option but to cling on their belief that they will be able to survive. The 1987 tragedy, the Marine Vessel Dona Paz was about to duck at the port of Manila when an Oil Tanker Vessel Vector made a huge impact that left no less than 3000 bodies buried at sea. Watch this documentary by National Geographic to fully understand the story of of "Asia's Titanic"

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Looking Back August 21

August 21 is not just an ordinary day for Filipinos and a holiday. Dating back years ago, a man with a special heart who fights for equality and thus exposing Marcos' authoritarian rule has been shot to death by a hired killer. Who was behind the assassination and the master mind of it all remains unknown. Many believed that  Aquino's death was not just an eye opener for people to fight back but to be held responsible of what was going in and around the nation. Filipinos were shocked and felt down when the only hope, and the man who can outstand Marcos is dead.

Did you know that prior to his departure from Taipei, Aquino gave an interview from his hotel room in which he indicated that he would be wearing abulletproof vest. He advised the journalists that would be accompanying him on the flight, "You have to be ready with your hand camera because this action can become very fast. In a matter of 3 or 4 minutes it could be all over, and I may not be able to talk to you again after this."^[1] In Manila, a contingent of over 1,000 armed soldiers and police were assigned by the government to provide security for Aquino's arrival. Upon the airplane's arrival at the gate, soldiers boarded the airplane to arrest Aquino. The soldiers escorted him off the airplane onto the jet bridge; however, instead of following the jet bridge to the terminal, they exited the jet bridge down the service staircase onto the apron, where a military vehicle waited to transport him to prison.

Sometime between his egress from the aircraft and his boarding of the ground vehicle, several gunshots were heard, and when the firing stopped, Aquino and a man later identified as Rolando Galman lay dead on the apron, both from gunshot wounds. Aquino's body was quickly loaded into the vehicle, which sped away.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Benigno_Aquino,_Jr.)

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Doctrina Christiana

Doctrina Christiana was an early book of Roman Catholic Catechism, written by Fray Juan de Plasencia, and is believed to be one of the earliest books printed in the Philippines, in 1593.^[1]

The Doctrina Christiana is remarkable not only for having been printed at such an early age in an elaborated Gothic font of the Spanish language, but also for having copies made in Tagalog versions, both in Latin script and the commonly usedBaybayin script of the natives at the time, plus another translation made in traditional Chinese language.

In pre-Spanish language frontal text:

“

Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Espanola Y Tagala corregida Reglos por Los Religiosos de las Ordenes Impressa con Licencia en (San) Gabriel de las Orden de (Santo) Domingo. En Manila, 1593.

”

In English language:

“

Christian Doctrine in Spanish and Tagalog Language, with correct rules for the Religious Order. Printed with License (Imprimatur) in Saint Gabriel of the Holy Dominican Order. In Manila, 1593.

”

There is some controversy about which of the versions is the first book of the Spanish Philippines, with some scholars believing that the Chinese-language version titled Doctrina Christiana en letra y lengua China (Wuchi t’ien-chu cheng-chiao chen-chuan shih-lu) by Fray Miguel de Benavides, O.P was printed in 1590 to 1592 by the Chinese printer Keng Yong in Manila before the Spanish and Tagalog versions. (article Source Wikipedia)

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