On November 26, UPERDFI members Chicho Mantaring and Riza Mantaring were the featured presenters in the Fireside Chat organized by the Philippine American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE). Chicho, a retired R&D VP of IMI Philippines, an active member of the Electronic Industries Association of the Philippines, and a EEEI professorial lecturer, discussed the status of the Philippine Semiconductor Industry. Riza, the 2019 president of the Management Association of the Philippines, voiced the Innovation Challenge of industry to academe. The PAASE president is former UP VP for Research, Professor Emerita Dr. Gisela Concepcion, and has over 300 global members.
UPERDFI members Dr. Rey Vea discussed the Philippine STEM landscape on December 10. Dr. Dennis Quinto (President and CTO of Beta NanoCoating Phils.) and Patrick Ostrea (president of Eisenpatt Solutions) are slated to present in upcoming Fireside Chats.