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Published: 11 June 2013

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When most graduates make seemingly endless rounds in business districts or endure long lines in job fairs in hopes of landing their dream jobs, Deogracias “Gary” P. Villame took the road less taken.

Fortunately, it led him to become Chief Executive Officer of a tech company.

A graduate of Electronics and Communications Engineering from University of the Philippines Diliman, Villame and his former classmates founded Itemhound, a tech start-up company that provides sports timing solutions to running and motor racing events through the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) hardware and applications.

Challenging headstart

Interestingly, the successful start-up company began as just a college thesis of Villame and his thesis mates John Paulo Adaoag, Roy Flores, Mark Gil Manalansang and Joe Cris Molina in 2006.

Seeing the study’s potential, their thesis adviser, Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. encouraged them to join Philippine Emerging Start-ups Open, a business plan competition organized by Ayala Foundation. They won the competition and saw the prospect of creating their very own company. However, even with the prize money of Php 100,000, they felt that they were not ready yet. “Parang di pa naming kayang pangatawanan (We were not ready to handle it yet),” Villame recalled.

Soon after graduation, Villame, Adaoag, Flores, and Manalansang pursued graduate studies in UP as scholars of Engineering Research and Development for Technology, a program of Department of Science and Technology. Molina, on the other hand, went abroad to work.

Meanwhile, the start-up plan took a backseat; but they never totally gave up on the idea.

Until the year 2009 when the four, who were still pursuing their graduate studies, were asked by UP to do a study for a big company on RFID applications. They took on the project and this made them realize that the time was ripe for their start-up company. Molina, then still working abroad, also welcomed the idea.

Soon, they pooled whatever they had saved from their stipends and other sources and made their first tough decision. In January 2010, Itemhound was formally incorporated.

“Hindi na drowing to, hindi na puro laway lang (This is reality, not just pure rhetoric),” Villame mused, referring to the competition they won a few years back.

Overcoming the hurdles

But like most ventures, starting up can be an uphill race.

Their biggest hurdle was penetrating the market. Villame revealed that even the company that commissioned them to do a study never became their client. Wooing a big company when they were just starting out did not come easy for them.

They also had to contend with being cash-strapped. “For the first nine months we practically did not have any revenue,” Villame recounted.

In the end, they figured that they needed to identify a market that is easier to penetrate. That period saw the growing popularity of fun runs, marathons, and other racing events. Villame and his team saw it as a big opportunity. They also found it easier to relate to the sporting community because of its less formal atmosphere.

In the last quarter of 2010, they had their first big break. Itemhound finally had its first client.

Racing towards success

Since then, the company has been on a dash in handling the timing of various running and motor racing events as it continued to develop its own timing products.

One of these is the Strider® system which can be used in both high volume races such as marathons and small fun runs alike. The company was also the first to introduce paper-based timing tags in 2010 which have made it possible to provide more affordable timing to larger races without sacrificing accuracy. Strider® has figured in big running events in the country such as NatGeo Earth Day Run 2013, Alaska Iron Kids Philippines, Columbia Eco Trail Run, Merrel Adventure Run among others.

For motor sports, Itemhound has developed Racer®, a race timing system designed for closed-circuit motor racing that uses economical reusable timing tags. Racer® has been the official timing system of the Yamaha MotoGP series for three consecutive years and was the official timing partner of the Yamaha ASEAN Cup 2012.

Lessons learned as local technopreneurs

The first lesson they learned: “You need to be flexible. Your original plan might not work out so you need to be agile, to adapt,” Villame said.

As the CEO, Villame also has to deal with a lot of stress to make sure the company is able to stand the pace. “Many people depend on you, not only in terms of money. I don’t only look after my own career development but also that of my colleagues. When things get hard I have to help boost their morale.”

In spite of the difficulty of establishing and keeping a start-up firm afloat, this self-made technopreneur is not giving up. “There’s something fulfilling in creating your own products, in creating your own business.”

He added, “Kagaya ng laging sinasabi ng DOST, kailangan natin ng entrepreneurs. Ang laki ng natutulong. Ang laki ng multiplyer effect. Malaking fulfillment din sa amin na nakakapagbigay kami ng trabaho (As what the Department of Science and Technology or DOST always says, we need entrepreneurs. They are very useful. They create a huge multiplier effect. The fact that we provide employment also makes us fulfilled),”

In retrospect, he never really found it attractive to work abroad or even in the local industry after hefinished his graduate studies. “I was very exposed to entrepreneurship because my father is an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship was my first choice for my career path; but, if I did not end up as an entrepreneur, I would probably teach or work in the government,” he said.

For those who are considering the technopreneurship track, here is his advice:

“Expect that you will do a lot of mistakes; but you don’t have to beat yourself over them. What is important is that you learn from them fast. For me, it is not a good sign if you’re not making mistakes anymore; because it means that you’re not trying hard enough.”

Deogracias “Gary” P. Villame, (3rd from right), with Itemhound co-founders. (From left) John Paulo J. Adaoag, Tyrone W. Tai, Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr., Roy R. Flores, and Mark Gil F. Manalangsang.

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Published: 10 June 2013

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<p style="text-align: justify;">Local technology in Philippine textiles takes the spotlight as the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) unveils the latest in textile innovation using indigenous or neo-ethnic materials at the 2013 Neo-Ethnic Philippine Textiles Conference on June 11, 2013 at the Heritage Hotel in Manila.<br /><br />The event, which aims to confront current issues relevant to local textile production such as sustainability and longevity, takes its cue from industry stakeholders and advocates of native fabrics who are giving the textile industry a second look, thereby giving it a much needed push to make a dent in the global market. <br /><br />Neo-ethnic textiles refer to clothing made of natural or indigenous materials that are used today and created using green scientific and technological approaches by spinners, dyers, weavers and artisans.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br />These innovative approaches to fabrics creation, a DOST-PTRI intervention under the DOST-TECHNICOM funded project on neo-ethnic textiles, integrate traditional patterns, designs and motifs that preserve Filipino art and cultural heritage. As a result, regular or traditional fabrics are transformed into world-class products bearing neo-ethnic materials and designs that are unique and a cut above the rest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br />At the same time, this will create additional livelihood opportunities for ethnic groups and communities in the countryside where the raw materials come from, thereby sustaining the growth of the local textile industry.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br />To be featured in the event are three conference sessions and a one-of-a-kind fashion show expected to ignite interest on our local fabrics and artistic designs among local and international buyers. The show, titled “Neo-Ethnic Wear,” will showcase wearable ensembles with an array of avant-garde designs executed by international fashion designer Anthony Cruz-Legarda and the Clothing, Textile and Interior Design Department of the College of Home Economics-University of the Philippines Diliman.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br />Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, executive director of DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) will be the keynote speaker for the event.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br />For people looking for ideas on what will stand out from the crowd and what could be the next best thing in local textiles, the Neo-Ethnic Philippine Textiles Conference and Fashion Show will surely help.</p>
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<td width="79%"><span style="text-align: justify;">One of the showcases at the Philippine Neo-Textile Conference: <em><strong>(Text by Julius L. Leaño Jr./ Photo courtesy of DOST-PTRI)</strong></em><br /> </span></td>
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<td><span style="text-align: justify;">Pineapple-silk  jacket dyed with talisay leaves embellished with talisay dyed lace made  of Philippine silk. An Anthony Cruz Legarda creation to be featured in  the Neo-ethnic Wear Fashion Show at the Heritage Hotel on 11 June 2013 <em><strong>(Text by Julius L. Leaño Jr./ Photo courtesy of DOST-PTRI)</strong></em></span></td>
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Published: 11 June 2013

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STARBOOKS, a digital science library developed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) made its touchdown in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Masbate, Negros Oriental, and Romblon last March and April 2013 when the cutting-edge units – the first of its kind digital library in the Philippines -- were installed for free in the four provinces.

STARBOOKS, or the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station, is a stand-alone research kiosk which may be accessed even in the absence of internet connection. DOST officials consider it as a “library in a box.”

With fresh and relevant S&T information in thousands of digitized materials in text, video, and audio formats, STARBOOKS is an excellent research medium for students, teachers, journalists, and other interested individuals. The collection includes such diverse topics and resources as food and nutrition, health and medicine, emerging technologies, energy, environment, livelihood technologies, investigatory projects and theses in different fields.

In DOST-CAR, Assistant Regional Dir. Maria Rowena Madarang turned over three STARBOOKS to the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao and Abra represented by their respective science and technology officers at the DOST –CAR Regional Office.

In Masbate, DOST Regional Director Tomas Briñas led the turn-over ceremonies for the groundbreaking research platform. The beneficiaries were the Masbate National Comprehensive High School, Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture, and the local government of Aroroy.

In Negros Oriental, the Dumaguete City Public Library as well as the local government units (LGUs) of Bayawan and Mabinay were added to the list of beneficiaries after DOST-Negros Oriental officials and LGU representatives signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Meanwhile, around 70 representatives from different educational institutions, government offices and the media attended the STARBOOKS launching at the Provincial Science and Technology Center in Romblon.

Each beneficiary received a server, uninterrupted power supply, and a pod.

With just a few clicks on the keyboard, STARBOOKS can aid students in their studies and research and thus increase their chances of availing scholarships in S&T schools. At the same time, the stand-alone kiosk is also seen to promote greater S&T interest and awareness in the country and encourage more students to take up S&T related courses. The digital library also contains materials useful for entrepreneurs, farmers and other players in the agricultural industry, as well as other S&T related sectors.

According to Annie Lyn Bacani, administrative coordinator of the project, STII chooses recipients from the top 20 poorest provinces in the country based on the survey of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB).

However, the DOST agency may also provide STARBOOKS kiosks to provinces with limited internet connections and those requesting for their installation. Local government units, non-government organizations, and educational institutions are qualified to avail of the technology.

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Published: 05 June 2013

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Farmers will have greater earning capacity while more engineers, chemists, and other professionals will be employed, if government and coconut industry players will focus more on cocochemicals, specifically oleochemicals, to prop up an industry currently experiencing a slowdown.

This was the major point raised during a recent Round Table Discussion (RTD) organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology, an advisory body of the Department of Science and Technology. Titled “RTD on the Philippine Coconut Industry’s Cocochemical Sector: Quo Vadis?”, the event was held last May 28, 2013 at the Hyatt Hotel Manila.

Cocochemicals are the highest-value products among coconut commodities and coconut-based oleochemicals, which come from plant and animal fats, are now experiencing an upsurge in terms of market interest. The fuel industry benefits most from oleochemicals production since these may be processed to produce biodiesel, additives, lubricants, greases and solvents.

Proposed solution: embrace the value chain

To tap the opportunities generated by oleochemicals and boost the local cocochemical sector, Dean Lao Jr., managing director of CHEMREZ Technologies and president of the Philippine Oleochemical Manufacturing Association, believes that producers should venture into the other components of the value chain. He mentioned that the Philippines, as of now, is confined to only one component, which is ingredient manufacturing, or simply oleochemical production. Meanwhile, the entire value chain is quite long, comprising feedstock production, ingredient manufacturing, compounding and formulation, branding and packaging, logistics and distribution, retail or direct marketing.

Lao stressed his point during the RTD by citing Pilipinas Kao, which has gone all the way to branding and packaging. “If you go all the way down the value chain, there are savings and profits. You harness value at every stage of the chain. You are less sensitive to feedstock prices, and have more options to market finished goods,” the CHEMREZ official disclosed.

The availability of highly skilled human resources does not appear to be a problem either as Lao noted many Filipino engineers and chemists who are experts in this field. Some are getting hired in Malaysian and Indonesian cocochemical companies and plants where they continue to excel, he said.

Challenges in the cocochemical sector

According to Carlos B. Carpio, deputy administrator for research, development and extension branch of the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Philippines was one of the first oleochemical producing countries in Asia.

In recent years however, the ballgame has changed.

During his presentation titled “The Raw Materials Supply Chain: The Quality of Oil Produced by the Coconut Tree,” Carpio said that Malaysia and Indonesia are now two of the world’s biggest oleochemical producers with the most dedicated research and development (R&D) facilities. Fact is, Indonesia is the world’s biggest producer of palm oil, which includes oleochemicals among its end-products.

Evelina L. Patiño, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of United Coconut Chemicals Inc., echoed the statement of Carpio.

In her talk on “Philippine Cocochemicals for the Local and Global Markets,” Patiño specified that both Malaysia and Indonesia are now supplying 42 percent of the market for oleochemicals. “The trend has now shifted from Europe to Asia. But, we hardly have anything to speak of where cocochemical production is concerned,” she lamented.

Pilipinas KAO and PIDI are the only operating basic oleochemical plants in the Philippines, apart from biodiesel producers. The others, like Cocochem, Pan-Century, IPI, and Lina Holdings, have either closed shop or are now on shutdown.

Patiño cited the following challenges faced by local cocochemical producers: limited foreign investments, difficulty competing with other producers, absence of an export tax support unlike in Malaysia and Indonesia where an export tax scheme makes domestic oil prices cheaper, and absence of a long-term plan for increasing coconut production.

Lao added other issues affecting the industry, such as inefficient feedstock production, cost of logistics and electricity, limited R&D, regulated/restricted access to Europe, and difficulty in finding end-users for the product.

A major challenge, said a member of the audience during the open forum, is how to make the benefits of cocochemical production cascade down to the farmers. “They sell their product to manufacturers and it’s the manufacturers who earn from their product, not the farmers,” he lamented.

Aside from the fuel industry, oleochemicals also have applications in the homecare, agriculture, plastic, and food industries. These may also be used to produce metal cutting fluids, cleaners, and resins.