Of Heroism and Microchips

People in this country have a penchant for heroes. From the immortal Jose Rizal to the modern age hero Manny Pacquiao, Filipinos have been looking up to gallant figures to be inspired. “Hero” is such a big word. There are national heroes. There are superheroes. There are fictitious heroes.

And there are unsung heroes.

Manilatown was once a prominent district in California’s downtown San Francisco. Old-timer Filipinos known as the “Manongs” founded a bustling community where they could interact and thrive in a foreign land. Filipinos have made it their sanctuary in order to preserve the rich culture of their homeland. Today, it’s a mere memory for those who kept the fire of being a Filipino. The old commercial establishments and billiard halls were replaced by a modern building along San Francisco’s financial district.

In 1977, the revered Manongs were joined by young Filipino-American stalwarts to defy an order to depart from the International Hotel in the heart of Manilatown. These people were kicked out. The building was dusted. Eventually, a cabal of Filipino Americans rose to the occasion, and scored a victory by founding the Manilatown Heritage Center.

Dado Banatao is one of them.

Banatao is a Silicon Valley pioneer. He helped pave the way for a computer revolution. Hailing from Cagayan, Philippines, he co-founded computer firms such as Mostron, Intel’s Chips and Technologies, and SonicBlue or S3. It has been said that Banatao coined the term “S3″ which means “Start-up number 3.” Whenever you stare at those graphics on your monitor, bear in mind that Banatao came up with the first Windows Graphics Accelerator chip as well.

Dado Banatao’s journey to be one of Silicon Valley’s premier innovators wasn’t a walk in the park. The story might be cliche– he came from a poor barrio in Cagayan Valley– yet Banatao proved that through sheer hard work and perseverance anything can be achieved. He acquired a doctorate from Stanford University after graduating from the Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila. Before he knew it, he was already developing the technology that made the rise of personal computers a reality.

However, Dado Banatao is not only a purveyor of technology, he has also helped fellow Filipino-Americans to strive for the best and stand tall. He and his wife Maria Banatao have been a source of inspiration for many young scholars. Playing significant roles, they have done a lot for the Filipino-American community with the spirit of philanthropy.

The spirit of old Manilatown is still alive. Dado Banatao’s legacy continues. Filipinos are innately hardworking and versatile. The BPO industry is thriving here with them at the forefront. American firms have been making waves with a Filipino workforce in tow. It is surprising how the Filipino is still an unsung hero in the world.

I stare at the Philippine flag. I saw three stars.

I smiled.