Loading ...When Ricky Banaag got his first glimpses of the first “personal computers,” little did he know that it would signal the beginning of a promising journey in the world of IT.
Banaag’s interest in IT goes back to his college days and his fascination over what was the “then-leading technology” TRS-80s from Radio Shack. “I recall how impressed we were that such computing technology was possible on a machine sitting at the desks of our professors at the college of Engineering at UP. At that time, computers were gigantic machines housed in a building which needed punch cards as input devices. Seeing the first ‘personal computers’ left me in awe,” shares Banaag.
Now country manager of Intel Microelectronics Philippines Inc., Banaag shares his IT career began when a college friend of his encouraged him to apply at IBM Philippines; he never left the IT industry since then.
Throughout his entire working life, Banaag says he has only worked for IBM Philippines and Intel. He held several positions and worked his way up the corporate ladder during his 14- year career at IBM. He was country manager of the IBM PC Company before joining Intel.
Having been with Intel for 11 years now, Banaag shares the thought of being in another industry “never really crossed” his mind. The veteran further says that he gets “extreme pleasure and fulfillment” from seeing how technologies from Intel have managed to change people’s lives for the better. He acknowledges, however, that his job is not always easy; one challenging part of which is finding ways to increase the adoption of technology in the country, which includes communicating the benefits that new technology brings to all PC users and increasing awareness and usage of emerging models.
Asked what he regards as his biggest achievement over his tenure at Intel, Banaag cites, “being able to play a major role in the increase of PC adoption by making it more available, accessible and affordable. Just knowing that the number of PCs is growing double-digit every year for the last couple of years is also an achievement.”
While such major achievements continue to fuel his love for IT and the industry, Banaag attributes his successful career to his family, who constantly “provides encouragement and inspiration” and helps him maintain a healthy work-life balance. The official says he also finds inspiration from the sheer pace of technology innovations that Intel continues to deliver.
“Being in a state of ‘constant learning’ also keeps me on my toes. I would love to see the day that every home in the country has a PC,” Banaag says.
TIDBITS:
Favorite technology: Anything that is Intel-based
Favorite non-work pastime: Listening to CDs and vinyl records
Philosophy in a nutshell: There are 3 types of people in this world. Those who watch things happen, those who make things happen, and those who ask “what happened?” Never be the third one.
Something people don’t know about you: I, together with some friends, own a French Bistro called La Regalade
By Jenalyn Rubio
Published in the February 2009 print edition of Computerworld Philippines
March 09, 2009
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