Filipino tech pioneer Dado Banatao dies at 79ALBAY, Philippines — Diosdado “Dado” Banatao, one of the most influential Filipino engineers in Silicon Valley and a pioneer in microchip and computer technology, passed away on December 25 in Stanford, California. Banatao’s family confirmed that he died due to "complications from a neurological disorder that developed later in his life." Born in Iguig, Cagayan, Banatao rose from humble beginnings as the son of a rice farmer and a housekeeper. He established the Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev), a non-profit organization that provides scholarships, mentorship and training programs to young Filipinos pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). He also received numerous honors, including the Pamana ng Filipino Award in 1997, the Asian Leadership Award in 1993 and the Ramon V. del Rosario Award in 2018.

Source: Philippine Star December 27, 2025 09:07 UTC