The Covid-18 pandemic is absolutely a disaster, but it also inspired people to be creative as evidenced by many Filipinos who developed new viable businesses which have made them a lot more wealthy than when they routinely reported to their employment office jobs.
The same pandemic predicament has inspired a creative Filipino inventor, Gary Vasquez to develop a mist-dispensing machine which he has named “Misty Kool” that has now become very popular. It may well be one of his outstanding legacies to Filipinos.
Misty Kool, as its name suggests, is a misting machine that sprays ultra-fine microns of water to cool off the air in any area. The machine has an air-cooling effect and repels insects, dust, smoke, and pollen. The invention has now several lines including a humidifier.
Vasquez agrees that “Covid-19 is a disaster, but it also opened up opportunities.” He said so at the virtual launch of his book, Life of a Filipino Inventor, on Wednesday.
“I invented it (Misty Kool) for myself, just to satisfy my curiosity to solve a problem. Then my friends noticed the machine I was using. They inquired where I got it or what did I do and asked me to make one for them. Their friends asked them where did they get theirs, and they also ordered,” he said.
Vasquez said other clients, such as restaurants, warehouses, factories, private homes and other started coming in. He never expected it but his invention has now become a promising business.
“I now sanitize the Palace, villages, using misting canons,” he shared, obviously pleased, noting that his invention has indeed been very timely. “Because of the Covid (virus), you need to sanitize the air,” he pointed out.
Vasquez who is both an inventor and entrepreneur, noted that Filipinos are skillful. He is the man behind Vazbuilt, a company that builds low-cost modular houses.
“I want to teach people how to build their homes, and I supply them the materials. It is difficult to build a house in this country. There are many documents required before building one. If you want to buy a car, you only need to hand a down payment and you can take the car with you. Can we not make buying or building a house easier and more affordable,” he asked.
Vasquez expressed optimism that a brighter tomorrow awaits Filipinos after the pandemic. At the launch of his book, he thanked Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña for believing in him, and encouraging him to write a book to show the people what he has done.
He said de la Peña wanted him to share his story, but he told him in jest he is nor up to it since word spelling alone is already a torture for him. “How much more for writing a book?” The DOST chief, however, he said persisted that he writes a book and it happened. The book is now available at Central Books.
In his message during the book launch, de la Peña said people love listening to stories about inventors and innovators making wonders through their creations.
“Through Gary, I saw a man who can inspire others to work hard and give their best to achieve their goals. This is why I relentlessly convinced him to write this book, for I believe that it is important that lifeworks such as his must be documented so the current and future generations can have something to admire and look up to. For this, I am proud that through my simple contribution of convincing him, we now have this awesome book,” de la Peña said.
There are many innovators and inventors the country can always be proud of, and Vazquez is among them, he added.
De la Pena said Vasquez creation, Vazbuilt, has brought the standard of housing in the country he to another level. “Through sheer will and determination, he was able to realize his vision of providing affordable, durable, and aesthetically-pleasing housing for many Filipinos. He successfully utilized his knowledge in engineering, construction, and electronics to build some of the most commercially successful inventions in years,” he shared.