Episode 2: The Manila Block by Engr. William Chua

“𝘕𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘸𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘨-𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨-𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘵.”
Engr. William Chua describes how he challenged himself to innovate the concrete hollow block, drawing on his experiences while living in Mozambique.
𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁
A graduate of Civil Engineering from Catanduanes State University in Virac, Catanduanes, Engr. William Chua has 22 years of experience as a telecommunications professional, specializing in cellsite construction and upgrades both domestically and internationally, including work as an OFW in Iran and Mozambique. Currently, Engr. William serves on the Board of Directors for the Filipino Inventors Society (FIS). ⁣ 
 
He has been recognized for his invention, ManilaBlock, with several prestigious awards. In October 2017, he secured 2nd runner-up at the TAPI RICE invention contest. This was followed by winning 1st Prize at the National Inventors Week in November 2022, a Silver award at Thailand Inventors Day in February 2023, and a Gold award at Thailand Inventors Day in February 2024, represented by students of Nolasco High School in Tondo, Manila. ⁣ 
 
Additionally, Engr. William Chua has received accolades for his patent-pending invention, FoldaBed. 
𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁
"What drives invention and innovation? Imbento Lang! is an audio podcast series in interview form. Listen to the experiences of inventors and glimpse Filipino creativity and innovation at work. Join the host Steve Chaves as he interrogates the creative processes that underlie invention. Each podcast presents the background context of an inventor, the process undertaken, and the challenges encountered in the development of their inventions.
Meet the inventors and get to know their creative process and approaches to problem solving. Discover how creativity requires a spirit of adventure, a willingness to play, and the courage to work through disappointments and setbacks.
A collaboration between the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office, the Eugenio Lopez Jr. Center for Multimedia Communication, and Areté, Imbento Lang! invites listeners to relate what they hear to their own creative process, and encourages them to innovate something in their milieu."