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May 11, 2007 Vol. 77, no.
13S
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| DADO
BANATAO.
PEG SKORPINSKI PHOTO
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Silicon
Valley entrepreneur Dado Banatao to deliver Commencement address
Dado Banatao grew up the son of a farmer in a poor neighborhood in
the Philippines, where most of his friends never made it beyond grade
school.
Today, the electrical engineer runs his own Palo Alto firm, Tallwood
Venture Capital, and advises the Philippine government and industry
on technology and science issues. The seasoned startup veteran has
become a legend in semiconductor circles for his engineering and market
insight and is credited with creating the first PC chipset and the
first graphics accelerator for the PC, among other technologies.
Now, with his career well established, Banatao is focusing on how technology
can address global issues such as energy, a clean environment and basic
health care services. On May 19, he will share his thoughts with the
2007 graduating class as this year’s College of Engineering Commencement
keynote speaker.
“It’s important that we develop a passion for using technology
to solve society’s biggest problems,” he says. “I
believe technology can make an impact.”
Though not an alumnus of Cal (he received his master’s degree
in EE from rival Stanford), Banatao has long supported the College
in many ways, from serving as the current chair of its Advisory Board
to championing its efforts both personally and financially. Two major
College programs have been named for Banatao and his wife, Maria: the
Dado and Maria Banatao Institute at CITRIS Berkeley and the Dado and
Maria Banatao GLOBE Center. (GLOBE stands for Global Learning and Outreach
from Berkeley Engineering.) The Banataos have three children who graduated
from UC Berkeley.
“Create something that is tangible, such as a product or service,” Banatao
advises. “Whatever you do, do it passionately.”
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