Somewhere back in the throes of time an ancient Filipino craftsman who was perhaps carving a toy or some other implement discovered that if a tight piston is rapidly plunged into a cylinder the air temperature goes up so high that it will set fire to small wood shavings. This invention, called the fire piston, became the fire making technology of the Philippine archipelago centuries before the Spanish set foot on the islands. In 1595 the first Catholic University was established in Cebu. While this wonderful instution brought the culture and wisdom of the west to the Islands, the Church’s cultural bias restricted the study of the science behind this great invention. This base science was not uncovered till 1659 and it was not until 1745 that any mention of the invention appears in western writings, and then credit for its invention is taken by a European Franciscan priest. This is the same group of priests who established the first several Catholic Universities in the Philippines. The study of this invention eventually led to the development of all heat engines and all refrigeration systems in use today. Want to help us continue Filipino technical leadership go to www.dunville.vze.com and help us start a new revolution. Thanks!
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