Tech innovator Dado Banatao passes away at 79

Filipino engineer and tech entrepreneur Diosdado “Dado” Banatao passed away on Christmas Day, December 25, his family confirmed on Friday. He was 79. 

In a statement, the Banatao family said he "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 family said.

A son of a farmer, Banatao grew up in Iguig, Cagayan. Banatao earned his electrical engineering degree at the Mapua Institute of Technology (now Mapua University) and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University.

His innovations include the first 10-Mbit Ethernet CMOS with silicon coupler data-link control and transceiver chip and the first system logic chipset for IBM's PC-XT and the PC-AT, as well as one of the first GUI accelerator chips for personal computers. 

Banatao was the founder and managing partner of Tallwood Venture Capital. He also co-founded Mostron, Chips and Technologies, and S3 Graphics, and was the CEO of Ikanos Communications. 

"My success is a direct result of my beginnings. It is the same will and determination that every Filipino possesses," Banatao said in a video produced by the Philippine Development Foundation, which he set up in 2010 to provide scholarships, mentorship, and training programs to help young Filipinos succeed in science and technology.

"We know hardship. It's time we learn success," he added. "I am not so special, but I am determined."

In 2015, Banatao was recognized, along with 39 other people, by Forbes Asia for having compiled a long record of supporting worthy causes. —VBL, GMA Integrated News