Feature report: Prof's wonder chair wins P.1M prize, fame

By Benjamin Moses M. Ebreo

Monday 20th of August 2012

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Aug 20 (PIA) –- For 52-year old Dr. Romulfo Sanchez, professor at the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) here, participating in numerous skills competition has its prizes and rewards.

First, he received P100,000 and recognition including earning a certificate of membership to the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) for garnering first place in the yearly national invention contest on industrial design category from July 10 to 14 in Metro Manila.

The contest was sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI).

Sanchez, an industrial education professor, who specializes in woodworking and cabinet making, attributed his success to his regular participation to the yearly skills competition of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority(Tesda) in the provincial, regional, and national levels.

“It has been a fruit of hard work and a product of my participation in skills contests offered by the Tesda since 1986 and it took me years to conceptualize it,” he said.

His invention, a three-in-one utility chair first won in the regional contest bringing him P25,000 prize, before earning the national award.

It was officially presented during the 100-day celebration of NVSU’s newly appointed President Dr. Florentina Dumlao inorder to highlight the best products and technologies of the only state-run university in the province.

His wonder chair can also be converted into an ironing stand and a ladder as well, using wood materials such as gemelina, mahogany or narra.

Sanchez said he is also pondering on adding new features for the three-in-one chair such as a possible high chair for children, a potty chair for the sick, and a massage chair.

At present, the wonder chair which can also be made with hard plastic and metal can also be used as a magazine, TV, newspaper and laptop rack.

Sanchez said his invention has already been registered as an official product of the NVSU where mass production is now underway based on orders from interested clients.

He said he sells his invention at P2,500 a piece using gemelina as material but it may be higher when mahogany or narra wood is used.

According to Sanchez, his invention has a Patent Numbers 3-2010-0064 as a utility chair, 3-2010-00644 as an ironing table and 3-201000645 as a ladder.

Born in Solano town, Sanchez has been in NVSU after graduating from his Bachelor of Schience in Industrial Education course in 1981.

He finished his Master of Arts in Teaching in 1989 from then Nueva Vizcaya State Polytechnic College now NVSU Bambang campus and his doctorate at the Technological University of the Philippines in Manila.

Sanchez is married to former Elvie Borja and they have three children; Lea a nursing student, Roel, a hotel and restaurant management student and Rowena a science high school student at the St. Mary’s University here. (BME-PIA 2, Nueva Vizcaya)