Filipino tech legend Dado Banatao dies at 79

The engineer made his mark in Silicon Valley.

Dado Banatao photo from his memorial website

Remembering the Filipino tech legend

Filipino tech giant Diosdado Banatao, one of the most influential engineers in Silicon Valley, has died on Christmas Day. He was 79.

According to a statement from his family, the engineer succumbed to complications from a neurological disorder that hit him late in his life.

We are mourning his loss, but take comfort from the time spent with him during this Christmas season, and that his fight with this disease is over. We thank everyone for all the messages of support and prayers during this time, the statement read.

Banatao was born in Iguig in Cagayan Valley. He was the son of a rice farmer and a housekeeper.

He earned his degree in electrical engineering from Mapua Institute of Technology and then completed graduate studies at Stanford University.

Banatao made his mark in Silicon Valley by inventing a computer chip set. He also worked in different technology firms, such as National Semiconductor, Intersil, and Commodore International, where he designed the first single-chip, 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator.

The Filipino engineer was a Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr. Awardee for Nation Building in 2018.

Our deepest condolences to the Banatao family.

Source: banatao.com, Via: PNA