The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) proudly recognized four Filipino inventors for winning gold medals at the recently concluded 4th Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF), held from August 8-10, 2025 at Santa Clara Convention Center in California, USA.
These inventors came up with practical, life-changing ideas and creations that could help solve real-world problems our country is facing.
During a commendation ceremony, DOST honored four inventors for their outstanding contributions in advancing science, technology, and innovation in the country, paving the way for global recognition.
Ronald Pagsanghan’s “Unsinkable PortaBoat,” engineered for rapid deployment in urban rescue operations, is constructed from buoyant materials and a durable fiberglass flexi-polymer composite. Its impact-resistant design allows it to remain afloat even when compromised, and it can carry loads of up to approximately 6 to 10 people, depending on body size.
“Mayroon tayong highly buoyant materials na nilalagay doon [sa boat]… Kahit tumaob ‘yan, ‘di ‘yan lulubog, i-recover mo lang siya. Automatic na may gravity, made-drain yung tubig and then pwede na ulit sumakay. Sa ikli niya na 13 to 15-footer, nagkakarga po siya ng anim hanggang sampu… Akala mo maliit pero mataas ang kaniyang loading capacity,” said Pagsanghan.
Pagsanghan also took emphasis on his purpose in creating this boat—the urgent need for quick-response rescue boats in remote and vulnerable barangays.
“Iyon ang purpose natin, kasi malaki ang necessity, especially yung mga target naman talaga natin is yung vulnerable barangays na hindi kaagad nasasapul ng rescue, since wala naman silang kapasidad para bumili. Baka matulungan ng gobyerno na kahit isang barangay na nasa dulong bahagi na hindi agad naaabot [ng rescue], ay malagyan po sila ng ganoong klaseng pang-quick response rescue boat.”
(That’s really our purpose, because the need is great—especially in vulnerable barangays that aren’t immediately reached by rescue teams. Since they don’t have the capacity to purchase equipment, maybe the government can help—so even just one remote barangay that’s hard to reach can be provided with a quick-response rescue boat.)
According to Pagsanghan, this PortaBoat has already been deployed to specific areas in regions I, II, III and V of the country, making it easier to save lives during typhoons and floods.
Next is the father-and-son tandem of Dr. Richard Nixon Gomez and Rigel Gomez, who developed the “Sambacur Plus,” a food supplement made from local herbs like sambong, banaba, curcumin (extracted from turmeric), and piperine (extracted from piper longum or long pepper). It strengthens kidney function and has helped thousands of Filipinos manage their creatinine levels, lowering the need to undergo dialysis due to Chronic Kidney Disease.
“Sambacur Plus is made of four Philippine-grown herbs: Sambong, Banaba, and from Turmeric, we extracted itong Curcumin, and from Piper Longum o Long Pepper, nag extract tayo ng Piperine. When all of these active ingredients are combined, it can help strengthen the kidneys and the liver. Kapag na-strenghten ang Kidney, it can overcome problems like Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD), where the creatinine will eventually go up. Dapat nasa 100 lang ang creatinine but with CKD, creatinine will grow, pag umabot ng 500, for dialysis na. Sambacur Plus has been used by hundreds of thousands of Filipinos; naibababa ang creatinine, maraming hindi na nag dialysis with Sambacur Plus," Dr. Richard Nixon Gomez proudly shared.
(Sambacur Plus is made of four Philippine-grown herbs: Sambong, Banaba, and from Turmeric, we extracted Curcumin, and from Piper Longum or Long Pepper, we extracted Piperine. When all these active ingredients are combined, they can help strengthen the kidneys and the liver. When the kidneys are strengthened, they can overcome problems like Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), where creatinine levels eventually increase. Normally, creatinine should only be at 100, but with CKD, it rises—if it reaches 500, dialysis is needed. Sambacur Plus has been used by hundreds of thousands of Filipinos; it has lowered creatinine levels, and many no longer need dialysis after using Sambacur Plus).
Dr. Gomez added that Sambacur Plus can be consumed by anyone, but medical consultation must be done when the need arises. Sambacur Plus is available at 14 Kaibigan sa Kalusugan clinic branches for Php1,000 per bottle, each containing 30 capsules.
Also gaining recognition is Jefferson Chong, who invented the “Sultana Digital Rice Vendo Machine,” which lets people buy rice easily by just inserting coins or bills just like a soda vending machine. This makes rice more accessible and economical for consumers while reducing milling costs for farmers and helping lower market prices.
“One of the advantages po ng ating invention is to lower down the cost of the rice. ’Pag inilapit po natin yung atin pong mga machines sa ating community o farmer, yung presyo po ng bigas ay bababa. Why? Because ang mga farmer natin ibinibenta yung kanilang mga palay is costly, it’s Php 15 or Php 16 per kilo. But dahil dito sa machines natin, ang milling fee natin is only cost Php 4, based sa computation doon sa running machines, magiging Php 19,” said Chong.
He also added that the use of freshly milled rice can lower down sugar intake of Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Engr. Mark Kennedy Bantugon took home the first prize at the 3rd China-ASEAN Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition with his eco-friendly ‘Pili AdheSeal’—an adhesive sealant made from resin extracted from the native Pili tree.
In an interview, Engr. Bantugon said that his Pili AdheSeal can be used in various materials made up of metal, paper, glass, plastic, ceramics, bricks, tiles and composites. He also said that the sealant can be repurposed after use as a safe fertilizer as well.
“I think most of the problems po with industrial product is its disposal issue… but with us po, we try to convert it into safe fertilizer. Aside from that po, I think one of the noticeable qualities of traditional sealants is very toxic yung amoy po n’yan. Pili po kasi is very popular with essential oils, so kapag naamoy n’yo po yung Pili Seal, para pong essential oils po yung amoy n’ya,” he shared.
(I think most of the problems with industrial products are related to disposal issues… but in our case, we try to convert it into safe fertilizer. Aside from that, I think one of the noticeable qualities of traditional sealants is that they have a very toxic smell. Pili, on the other hand, is very popular for its essential oils, so when you smell Pili Seal, it actually smells like essential oils.)
As the ceremony concluded, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., emphasized that these awardees, and their families who stand behind them, are shining examples of how hard work, commitment, and creativity can bring pride to the nation and spark the imagination of future generations of innovators. The Department remains steadfast in its support, walking alongside each of them as partners in developing solutions that uplift the lives of Filipinos and prove that Filipino innovations can compete and thrive on the global stage.
“Kayo po ay isa sa mga sandigan ng aming pangako na sa Bagong Pilipinas ang Agham ay Ramdam. Kaya naman makakaasa kayo na kami ay patuloy na susuporta sa inyo sa pagtuklas at pagbuo ng mga inobasyon para sa ikabubuti ng mga Pilipino,” he concluded.
This is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions, Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph. (By Abigael S. Omaña, DOST-STII)
