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Awesome Filipino History Drop #4: Gregorio Y. Zara

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Awesome Filipino History Drop #3: Lea Salonga

Meet the genius of gizmos, the master of mechanics, Gregorio Zara, born on March 8, 1902, in Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines. He wasn't just any engineer; he was the kind of guy who got a kick out of earning degrees in his sleep. He scored a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, aced his master's in aeronautical engineering at the University of Michigan (summa cum laude, no less), and then hopped over to Sorbonne University in Paris, where he snagged a doctorate in physics (summa cum laude with Tres Honorable, because "extraordinary" just wasn't impressive enough).


Returning to the Philippines, Zara became a real-life superhero, splitting his time between government gigs and academia. He was like the Tony Stark of his day, working with the Department of Public Works and Communications, and the Department of National Defense, all while teaching aeronautics at various universities and penning more books and research papers on flying machines than you could shake a stick at.


In the love department, Zara wasn't one to settle for anything less than Miss Philippines, marrying Engracia Arcinas Laconico in 1934. They went on to have four kids: Antonio, Pacita, Josefina, and Lourdes—clearly, the man was as skilled at building a family as he was at crafting inventions.


Speaking of inventions, Zara had more tricks up his sleeve than a magician. In 1930, he unleashed the Zara Effect on the world, a phenomenon that's all about electrical kinetic resistance. Then, he dropped the earth induction compass, still cherished by pilots, and in 1954, he sent an airplane powered by alcohol soaring through the skies. It's like he took "on the rocks" to a whole new level!


But what really sets Zara apart in the hall of fame of innovators is his foray into the world of videophones. Before Zoom and FaceTime were even a glimmer in our screens, he was there, inventing the first videophone in the 1950s. It was so ahead of its time that even Marty McFly wouldn't know what to do with it. AT&T gave it a whirl in the 1960s, calling it a "picturephone," but folks thought it was too impractical. Fast forward to the late '90s, and the digital age decided to catch up with Zara's visionary invention. Suddenly, videophones were all the rage, making long-distance learning, video conferencing, and late-night cat videos possible.


But Zara didn't stop there. He was the MacGyver of his era, with an array of other inventions, from solar-powered gadgets to wooden aircraft propellers, a nifty microscope, and even a robot that could walk and talk. He's like the Willy Wonka of the science world, sprinkling innovation everywhere he went.


Alas, every superhero has an origin story and an ending. Zara met his match in the form of heart failure and left this world at the age of 76 in 1978. His legacy, however, lives on. The man collected 30 patents in his lifetime and was awarded the National Scientist Award in his final year, the most prestigious honor a Filipino scientist can get. His shelf of accolades also included the Presidential Diploma of Merit, the Distinguished Service Medal, and enough gold medals to make an Olympian jealous. So, remember, the next time you video call a friend or marvel at a solar-powered gizmo, tip your hat to Gregorio Zara, the man who knew that the future was just a brilliant idea away.



References

Here's a reference list for the sources mentioned:


"Meet Gregorio Zara, the Filipino Engineer Who Created the World’s First Video Phone." Gineersnow.com.


"Today in Philippine History, March 8, 1902, Gregorio Y. Zara was born in Lipa City, Batangas." The Kahimyang Project.


"Role Models in Science & Engineering Achievement: Gregorio Zara." Scienceblogs.com.


"Miss Philippines of the Manila Carnival, Engracia Arcinas Laconico." Manila Carnivals 1908-39.


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