Diosdado P. Banatao, the man with a name longer than most computer code, was born on May 23, 1946. He's not just your average Joe; he's a Filipino entrepreneur and engineer who tinkered his way into the high-tech industry with a really cool nickname.... "Dado!"
Now, what makes this guy a legend in the tech world? Well, he's the genius behind the "10-Mbit Ethernet CMOS with silicon coupler data-link control and transceiver chip." Yeah, try saying that five times fast! He also birthed the "system logic chip set" for IBM's PC-XT and PC-AT, and he's the brainiac who thought up the "local bus concept." But wait, there's more! He's the proud papa of the "first Windows Graphics accelerator chip" for personal computers. Phew, that's a mouthful!
But this isn't just about tech jargon; it's also a rags-to-riches tale. Dado used to walk barefoot on a dirt road just to get to school. From those humble beginnings, he went on to attend Ateneo de Tuguegarao, a Jesuit-run school, and graduated cum laude from the Mapúa Institute of Technology. Who knew a guy with no shoes could become a tech wizard?!
After college, Banatao had job offers flying at him faster than a computer virus. He even said "no thanks" to Meralco, the electric company. Instead, he embarked on a journey to become a pilot with Philippine Airlines. But he didn't stop there. He later hopped on board with Boeing, working on their ginormous planes. It's like going from playing with toy airplanes to building the real deal!
While in the United States, he decided to add some more letters to his name—literally. He pursued a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University, and in 1972, he finally had enough degrees to wallpaper his office.
Dado Banatao - don't you love how that just rolls off the tongue - was so tech-savvy that he joined the Homebrew Computer Club, where he likely rubbed shoulders with the likes of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Imagine discussing the latest computer tech while sipping on artisanal coffee brewed by Steve himself! (Wait... was that a fact or just my imagination running wild???)
After finishing his master's degree, like a pinball machine, Banatao bounced around different tech companies. He worked at National Semiconductor, Intersil, and Commodore International. He even designed the first single-chip, 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator!
In 1981, while working at Seeq Technology, Banatao had his "Eureka!" moment and created the world's first 10-Mbit Ethernet CMOS with silicon coupler data-link control and transceiver chip. Say that ten times fast, and you might just start sounding like a computer yourself!
But Banatao wasn't done yet. He earned his tech stripes by developing the first system logic chip set for IBM's PC-XT and PC-AT. He basically paved the way for the computer you're using right now!
Within the Philippines, Banatao, via his Dado Banatao Educational Foundation, now bestows five annual educational scholarships upon highly capable Filipino students with promising futures in the realms of engineering and technology.
So, there you have it, Diosdado P. Banatao, the tech wizard who went from walking barefoot on dirt roads to creating computer magic. It just goes to show, you never know where life will take you—even if you start with just a pair of bare feet!
Resource
Computer History Museum - "Oral History of Diosdado 'Dado' Banatao"
Source Link: https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102746746
Date Published: N/A
Gulf News - "Filipino Tech Billionaire Dado Banatao: From Farm Boy to Billionaire, a Rags-to-Riches Story in Silicon Valley"
Source Link: https://gulfnews.com/photos/business/filipino-tech-billionaire-dado-banatao-from-farm-boy-to-billionaire-a-rags-to-riches-story-in-silicon-valley-1.1623339047491
Author: Cleofe Maceda
Date Published: June 11, 2021
GineersNow - "Meet Diosdado 'Dado' Banatao: The Philippines' Bill Gates"
Source Link: https://gineersnow.com/engineering/meet-diosdado-dado-banatao-philippines-bill-gates
Date Published: N/A
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