Blog No.1 [Blog-A, No.1]
Our Blog ALL ABOUT THE INVENTSCHOOL in general
Brief History, Milestones and Chronology of the InventSchool | PART ONE
by Rafael Nelson M. Aboganda | January 28, 2021
Brief History
The beginnings of the InventSchool: 1967-1972. The germ of the idea of the InventSchool was initiated in 1967 by a small group of young college graduates and students who published the ART NewsMag and organized the Samahang Maharlika (Samahar), an association dedicated to the promotion of creativity in arts-and-literature and innovation in science-and-technology. Samahar launched the Samahar Roving School (SRS), a mobile school that ‘moves’ around the “university belt” in Manila, Philippines conducting short courses on creativity in arts and design, photography, journalism and tourism for college students. The SRS, the precursor of The InventSchool, is a travelling (mobile) school for creativity in arts and literature, and science and technology.
The fundamental concept of the InventSchool, as we know it today, was started on May 11, 1970 when the Philippine Inventors Commission (PIC) and Filipino Inventors Society (FIS) agreed to implement a creativity training program for inventors and young inventive talents, and organize “creative societies” (student inventors’ associations). On June 24, 1970, PIC-FIS launched the Creativeness and Inventiveness Development Program (CIDP) to promote technological creativity among students, teachers and professionals. The program enlisted the organizers and principal lecturers of Samahar-SRS.
Establishment of the InventSchool: 1973. February, Rafael Nelson M. Aboganda and Ricardo S. Cortez (Samahar organizers) with Jose Marte Torres (CIDP lecturer on patenting), Cesar C. Villariba, Jr. (creativity trainer in Lateral Thinking) and Fernando Ubaldo, Jr., (creative researcher, inventor of Ovulonics Watch) organized a small business organization called Likhaan Institute for Creative Studies and Technological Innovations, later renamed and registered on June 15 as Imbensyon Pilipino (IP), to provide creativity training, promote innovation, encourage inventive activities and develop local inventions, their manufacture and marketing as new products. On July 7, IP formally organized the InventSchool as a creativity training unit with Villariba as managing director. The first orientation seminar under the InventSchool entitled “Creative Dynamics” was held on August 5, 12, 19 and 26, 1973 (four Saturdays) in a makeshift classroom at the residence of Ubaldo in Quezon City.
Early years of the InventSchool: 1974-1989. Since 1971, seminars on “creative thinking, problem- solvingxxxxx
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INVENTSCHOOLTM BLOG-1 | Brief History, Milestones and Chronology of the INVENTSCHOOLTM Part One | Page 2 solving and invention development” under the PIC creativeness program were conducted in major cities in the Philippines by Basilio V. Espiritu (FIS president, CIDP team leader), Rizal C. Alejaga (CIDP coor- dinator lecturer), Aboganda, Cortez, and Torres. Aboganda left PIC in 1974 and continued the InventSchool seminar-workshops.
In 1975, Imbensyon Pilipino was transformed into the Creativity Re- search and Development Foundation, Inc. (CRADFI) and carried out the seminars on creativity and invention development under the InventSchool program. In 1980, Aboganda with Ernesto A. Forcadilla, Mario P. Pantoja, Renato A. Forcadilla and Alexander A. Azucena, organized a private foundation called Likhaan Institute Foundation, Inc. to fully implement the InventSchool educational program.
In 1981-84, the InventSchool program was implemented by Likhaan in partnership with the Philippine Inventors Commission (PIC), later renamed Philippine Invention Development Institute (PIDI). Research studies on Creatology as a new science of creativity was set in motion. In December 1981, “Seminar- Workshop on Creativity & Invention Development (SWCID)” for students and faculty members were held in Manila. SWCID participants were organized into InventGroup, later to be called InventClub. Subsequently, in early 1982, seminar-workshops were continued in different schools in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. During the February 1982 Inventors’ Week, the 1st National Conference on Technological Creativity & Invention Development featuring the 1st National Congress of InventClubs was held. February 25, the InventOrganization of the Philippines (IOP) was organized. By November, school-based InventSchools and InventClubs have been organized in 25 colleges and universities in Metro-Manila. The Asia-Pacific InventSchool was launched in 1983 through an audio-visual presentation during the celebration of the 17th National Inventors Week, dubbed as Philippine Inventions Expo ’83, held on February 20-26. The 2nd National Conference on Technological Creativity & Invention Development Invention Development highlighted by the 2nd National Congress of IOP (InventClubs) was held on February 21-23. In August, at the instance of PIDI, the Philippine Invention Development Foundation, Inc. (PIDFI) was established and took over LIFI’s role in the InventSchool. Training courses continued to be conducted in different schools, colleges and universities throughout the country. By mid- 1984, PIDI started offering basic and primary creativity and invention development courses to business and industry sector with Budget/Finance Secretary Salvador M. Enriquez, Jr., Dr. Serafin D. Talisayon and RNM Aboganda as principal lecturers.
From 1985 to 1987, LIFI formulated the general institutional scheme of The InventSchool International. Meanwhile, PIDI published an InventSchool textbook on Technological Creativity and Invention Development (TCID) combining basic and primary courses. The Regional Workshop on Invention Development and Innovation was held on November 25 to December 6, 1985 in Manila under the sponsorship of PIDI and PIDFI, with financial assistance from WIPO-UNDP. In 1986, Likhaan prepared lecture-workshop guide on TCID Intermediate course. August 18-20, the first and only TCID Intermediate course of The InventSchool was conducted by RNM Aboganda at the training school of Telestar Industries in Davao City. January 30, 1987, PIDI was abolished. TCID training, however, continued up tomiddleoxxx
INVENTSCHOOLTM BLOG-1 | Brief History, Milestones and Chronology of the INVENTSCHOOLTM Part One | Page 3 to middle of the year. Likhaan Institute took over The InventSchool during the second semester. ICF was divided into two associations, the InventClub Federation (ICF) composed of student InventClubs, and the InventSchool Faculty Organization (ISFO) composed of faculty members involved in the InventSchoolTM program. Scientific & Technological Creativity (SciTeC) course replaced TCID training courses.
Early 1988, Likhaan called for the revival of the celebration of Philippine Inventors’ Week and pro- posed the holding of a Festival of Filipino Inven- tions. September 21, The InventSchool Interna- tional, Inc. (TISI) was re- positioned as a corporate institution of Likhaan and registered with SEC, Reg. No. 155808 issued on September 29. February 19-26, 1989, LIFI in asso- ciation with FIS, support- ed by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the World Intellectual Proper- ty Organization (WIPO), the “3rd Festival of Filipino Inventions” was celebrated at the Ninoy Aquino Nature’s Park in Quezon City. A half-day conference on The In- ventClub and The Invent- School Program was organized by LIFI and WIPO with Mr. Farag Mousa, head of WIPO’s section for relations with international organizations and promotion of innovation in developing countries, as special guest speaker. May 11- 13, the “1st Summer Institute on Scientific & Technological Creativity” for teachers was held at the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) [now Mapua University], Manila. In September, social invention was included in the educational programs of The InventSchool.
Middle years of the InventSchool: 1990-2005. The InventSchool continued conducting SciTeC course program―basic and primary courses―at irregular intervals. TISI continued developing the intermediate and advanced SciTeC course designs and training materials.
In 1991, LIFI-InventSchool continued developing Intermediate SciTeC course design, training materials and SciTeC textbooks. In 1992, the intermediate course was divided into two: Intermediate and Advanced courses. August 1993, “1st Orientation Seminar Workshop on Thinking, Creativity and Creativexxx
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Creative Teaching for Teachers & Educators” was held at Lourdes School of Quezon City. The InventSchool continued holding SciTeC courses―basic and primary―for students on limited scale at MIT and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). In 1994, with the recommendation of then Budget Secretary Salvador M. Enriquez, Jr., InventSchool sought financial support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and endorsement from the Department of Education, Culture & Sports (DECS) for the organization of InventClubs, but inspite of continuous follow-up, DOST and all its agencies disregarded the InventSchool program. In August 1995, the Institute for Social Invention (ISI) in London, UK cited The InventSchool in its publication, Best Ideas - A Compendium of Social Innovations and the ‘Global Ideas Bank’ on the Internet. In 1996, continued literature research and educational studies on creativity and invention, and updated the training materials on creativity, technological innovations and social inventions.
In 1997-99, continued preparation of SciTeC course program training manuals and teachers’ guide. The InventSchool developed a new educational program parallel to SciTeC courses called the “Creativity in Social Inventions and Community Innovations Course” or SinCom Course Program. Accordingly, the educational program of TISI was reorganized into two (2) major course programs: 1) Technological Inventions Division (TID) and 2) Social Inventions Division (SID). Developed two SinCom training courses adopting SciTeC 1 and SciTeC 2 course design. Started preparation of other SinCom courses and training materials. Started upgrading and standardization of SciTeC and SinCom course programs instructional materials, training manuals and teaching guides. Continuing courses and special courses added to The InventSchool educational program.
2000-2005 – On May 17-19, 2000, The InventSchool conducted the “2nd Summer Institute on Scientific & Technological Creativity” at Quezon City Academy (QCA), Quezon City. Developed additional SciTeC and SinCom continuing and special courses. On November 28-29, 2001, “2nd Orientation Seminar Workshop on Thinking, Creativity and Creative Teaching for Teachers & Educators (OSW)” at Quezon City Academy, Quezon City. Completed The InventSchool comprehensive regular educational program with set of courses, program of studies, curricular content (outline), and creative learning set- up. In April 2002, developed course design on “Stimulating Creativity and Inventiveness of Students” and worked on course materials for SinCom (social inventions) courses. New training courses added to the comprehensive educational program such as: Entrepreneurial Creativity & Venture Management (EnCVM), New Products & Innovation Management (NuPIM), Social Invention Workshops (SIW), and Social Entrepreneurship & Community Management (SECM). In 2003, fully developed lateral training courses and content outline under the comprehensive educational program, curricular structure and course outline. In 2004, started reactivating the local InventSchool at MIT in Manila and in 2005, developed annual institute programs, conferences and invention workshops under The InventSchool comprehensive educational program.
Recent years of the InventSchool: 2006-2016. In June 2006, course manual on “Creative Problem- Solving and Decision-Making (CPSDM)” was revised in coordination with Likhaan Institute. Prepared training guide on the “Operational Mechanism of Creativity and Thinking (OMCaT),” a specialized 16- week course (one semester) for college students. On July 7, 2006 Likhaan was reorganized and re- incorporated as The Likhaan Group, Inc. (TLG) on December 18 with SEC Reg. No. CN200619363. The InventSchool, aside from conducting seminar-workshops on creativity-and-innovation, was assigned to coordinate the human creativity, social productivity, and technological innovation programs and projects for TLG. Year 2007 was limited to continual preparation and improvement of The InventSchool’s SciTeC and SinCom course program designs, course materials, textbooks and workbooks, including the preparation of post-baccalaureate certificate-diploma courses.
First quarter of 2008 was dedicated to the evaluation of The InventSchool plans/programs and updating of institutional development plans for incorporation in the new TLG Strategic Development Plan (SDP)xxx
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(SDP). On March 23, TLG reorganized its Children and Youth Action Network (CYAN) by splitting it into two groups: Likhaan Children’s Action Network (LCAN) and Likhaan Youth Action Network (LYAN). LYAN, a community-based youth organization was organized in Barangay Escopa III in Project 4, Quezon City —the InventSchool provided creativity training to its members. In 2009, The InventSchool continued its creativity and innovation training courses in several schools and colleges in Quezon City. On October 27 and 29, 2010, Wheldon Curzon-Hobson, a freelance author from New Zealand, visited and held meetings with LYAN- Escopa; its members presented a waste management project which they developed with the support of The InventSchool. From February to March 2011, Likhaan, through the InventSchool, conducted the training of trainers of the Invent School Program of the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), held in three regional clusters, Metro-Manila (Taguig City), Visayas (Cebu City) and Mindanao (Davao City).
First quarter of 2012, the InventSchool reviewed and evaluated its on-going plans/programs and updated the institutional development plans in preparation for the celebration of Likhaan's 40th anniversary. TLG Board of Directors decided to dissolve and replace it with the new Likhaan proposed to be called “Likhaan Institute for Creativity and Innovation” later to become Likhaan Institute of Creatology and Innovation, or LICI for short, in line with evolving global trends. The InventSchoolTM continued its creativity and innovation training courses in several schools and colleges in Quezon City. January-February 2013, meetings with National Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA) on joint promotion of creativity and innovations in colleges and universities in Metro Manila in line with the national industrialization campaign. From 2014 to 2016, the reorganization meetings of Likhaan and The InventSchool formulated new organizational framework, programs and projects as an education, research and community development institute. Updated its education programs/courses, preparation of new courses and course manuals for trainers. The InventSchool continued its creativity and innovation training courses in several schools and colleges in Metro Manila. In January 2016, Aboganda and EA Forcadilla discussed the setting-up of InventSchool in Canada.
Contemporary years of the InventSchool: 2017-2020. In early 2017, EA Forcadilla and Aboganda considered the setting up of the InventSchool in Canada for its international operations under the auspices of Creatology Corporation. In 2018, the founders of the InventSchool decided to organize the InventSchool in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The InventSchool started developing post-graduate certificate and diploma courses as well as a one-year post-graduate bachelor’s degree course in creativity and innovation in cooperation with the QCPU [renamed Quezon City University (QCU)]. It also assisted QCU in developing three (3) new courses, these are: 1) Lifemanship (Philosophy of Life), 2) Fundamentals of Creativity and Innovation, and 3) Creative Practice: Thinking Tools, Methods and Techniques – Uses and Applications―the three courses are now offered to all first/second year college students. In September 2018, final design of the logo of the InventSchool Canada was completed and in April 2019, the InventSchool Canada website (inventschool.ca) went online. In 2020, the InventSchool Philippines continued to operate under the auspices of Likhaan Institute in coordination with The InventSchoolCanada
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InventSchool Philippines continued to operate under the auspices of Likhaan Institute in coordination with The InventSchool Canada; however, its activities were limited to the preparation of course designs, training materials and textbooks due to Covid-19 pandemic.
This year 2021. A new chapter in the history of the InventSchool is taking place. The InventSchool Philippines is making a new start by reviewing, evaluating and improving its training programs, and seeks to reactivate its 25 learning centers in different schools, colleges and universities in Metro Manila. Meanwhile, InventSchool Canada is currently preparing the setting up of its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as well as planning its international operations―together with the full activation of its website which will have the following component sections: internet-based Creativity Training Hub, “How- To’s” information desk, “Inventors, Patents & Inventions” exchange and retrieval box, networking tool, and inspirational guide to aspiring inventors. Arrangements for establishing a Regional InventSchool for the Middle East either in the Sultanate of Oman in cooperation with Oman’s patent office and the chamber of commerce and industry or in the United Arab Emirates. In Metro-Manila, re-establishing the InventSchool for Asia as an initial step towards the setting up of regional InventSchool centers.
Epilogue. Short courses and seminar-workshops on creativity and innovation, scientific and technological creativity, and social invention and community innovation, and creative arts and literature have been conducted by the InventSchool and the Samahar Roving School, its forerunner, for more than 50 years. A short episodic chronicle of the InventSchool with some details is presented in the “milestones and chronology,” see Part Two of this Blog.