1. Dr. Gregorio Y. Zara
Born: March 8, 1902
Died: October 15, 1978 (aged 76)
Dr. Gregorio Y. Zara was born on March 8, 1902 -
October 15, 1978 is a renowned Filipino engineer and
physicist. He was the inventor of the first videophone.
Contents
A native of Lipa, Batangas, Zara finished primary
schooling at Lipa Elementary School, where he graduated
as valedictorian in 1918. In 1922, he again graduated
valedictorian in Batangas High School, an accolade which
warranted him a grant to study abroad. However the
scholarship was given to another student upon the
intervention of a public official. With full support from his
parents he then enrolled at the University of the
Philippines. In the middle of his first semester, he finally
got the scholarship when his rival got sick and died
abroad. Dr. Zara then enrolled at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, and
graduated with a degree of BS in Mechanical Engineering
in 1926. After that he obtained a Master of Science in
Engineering (Aeronautical Engineering) at the University
of Michigan, USA, graduating summa cum laude. Zara
then sailed to France to take up advanced studies in
physics at the Sorbonne University in Paris. In 1930 he
again graduated summa cum laude with a degree of
Doctor of Science in Physics, with "Tres Honorable," the
highest honor conferred to graduate students. Zara was
the first Filipino given that honor. Madam Marie Curie
was given the same accolade for her discovery of radium.
Career
Dr. Zara was probably the most productive of Filipino
inventors, with 30 devices and equipment patented to
his name. Among these were the;
1. Earth induction compass used by pilots for direction.
2. The vapor chamber used to visualize radioactive
elements
3. The wooden microscope solar energy devices for areas
not reached by power lines.
4. A functional robot.
5. The photo-phone, which allowed audiovisual phone
conversations.
6. Afunctional alcohol-fueled plane. Wooden aircraft
propellers.
7. A corresponding propeller cutting machine.
The Zara Effect
He discovered the physical law of electrical kinetic
resistance called the Zara effect (around 1930)[1]
Invention of his life and His Theory.
View of a 1972-73 Mod II AT&T Picturephone
The Filipino scientist Gregorio Y. Zara (D.Sc. Physics)
invented, made improvements to, or discovered the
following:
a. He improved methods of producing solar energy
including creating new designs for a solar water
heater (SolarSorber);
b. A sun stove, and a solar battery (1960s);
c. Invented a propeller-cutting machine (1952);
d. He designed a microscope with a collapsible
stagehelped design the robot Marex X-10;
e. Invented the two-way television telephone or
videophone (1955) patented as a "photo phone
signal separator network";
f. Invented an airplane engine that ran on plain
alcohol as fuel (1952);
Contributions
He traveled extensively in the United States, the Far East,
Malaya, Asia, and Europe to conduct investigative
surveys. His research works and technical papers were
published not only in the Philippines but in Europe as
well.
1. His book, L’etude du compass, Magnitique e
induction, and his article, “L’etudeseismologique
de 1’0 de secondaire,” were published in Paris,
France in 1930.
2. His locally published research works were
“Development of Commercial Aviation in the
Philippines,” “Prediction of Airplane
Performance at a Glance,” “Commercial Aviation
in the Philippines”, “The Technical Aspect of the
Arais&Calvo Manila-Madrid Flight,” “Photo
elastic Stress Determination,” “The Propeller-
Cutting Machine,” and “Industrial Alcohol as
Aircraft Fuel.”
3. His magnetic and induction compass was
awarded the “Brevet d’ invention” by the
Ministre de Industrie of the Kingdom of
Belgium.
4. His invention of the semi-automatic propeller
making machine and the first aircraft engine
using industrial alcohol as fuel drew admiration
from aviation circles throughout the world.
5. The other products of his inventive genius
included the “solar-sorber,” which makes use of
solar power for ordinary household needs, and
the two-way “television-telephone,” a device
that permits a caller to see the picture of the
party being called, and vice-versa.

2. Local Awards
Zara was much honored by his countrymen.
a. He was presented diplomas of merit by the
Business Writers Association of the Philippines
(1951).
b. The Philippine International Fair (1952) and by
the Society of Filipino Inventors (1955).
c. He received meritorious citations as the
“Propeller Maker of the Year” (1952) and the
“Aeronautical Engineer of the Year” (1953) by
the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
d. A Presidential Diploma of Merit and
Distinguished Service Medal in 1959 for his
pioneering works and achievements in solar
energy, aeronautics and television; Presidential
Gold Medal and Diploma of Honor for Science
and Research in 1966; and Cultural Heritage
award for Science Education and Aero
Engineering, 1966.
e. In 1978 he was conferred the Order of National
Scientist by former President Ferdinand Marcos.
On October 15, 1978, at the age of 76, Dr. Zara died
of heart failure. He was survived by his wife, the former
Miss Philippines and Queen of the 1933 Philippine
Carnival, EngraciaLaconico, and four children: Antonio,
Pacita, Josefina, and Lourdes. The Philippine government
accorded him a state funeral at the Libingan ng mga
Bayani.
References
http://inventors.about.com/od/filipinoscientists/a/Grego
rio_Zara.htm
^ "The Order of National Scientists".gov.ph. Retrieved 17
February 2013.
http://filipinoachievers.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/vide
ophone-inventor-gregorio-y-zara/
National Scientists of the Philippines (1978–1998). Pasig
City, Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc. 2000. ISBN 978-
9712709326.
He also has written numerous papers and textbooks in
science and physics, with some even written in French.
While busy in government positions, Zara also was an
educator. He was an instructor of aeronautics at the
Valeriano Aviation School, at the American Far Eastern
School of Aviation (1933) and at the Far Eastern
University (1937–41). At FEATI University, he was
professor of aeronautics (1946), then head of the
Aeronautical Engineering Department (1962) and later
dean of Engineering and Technology and director of
research. He was elected executive vice-president of the
university from 1946 to 1962 and acting president in
1956. He retired from government service in 1946 and
joined the Far East Asian Technical Institute (FEATI) and
eventually became a member of its board of trustees. He
was also a Member of the board of directors of the
National Shipyards and Steel Corporation and of the Civil
Aeronautics Board.
FIRST VIDEOPHONE INVENTED BY GREGORIO Y. ZARA