Collaboration between siblings is not a rare thing, but it’s also not extremely common. However, it becomes extraordinary when the act produces a revolutionary new invention with potentially far-reaching benefits to humanity.
One such partnership exists between Aisa and Raphael Mijeno, the duo behind SALt, or Sustainable Alternative Lighting, a “sustainable and cost-effective ecologically designed lamp powered by tap water and table salt.” The concept is well-received in the international media and has gained recognition and won awards here at home, as well as in and around the region.
In fact, SALt is seen as such a groundbreaking development that Aisa was chosen as one of two panelists – the other being Alibaba founder Jack Ma – for a forum moderated by US President Barack Obama at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit.
Calling her an “innovator” and a “partner,” and the lamp a “brilliant idea,” Obama told the audience that “Aisa is a perfect example of what we’re seeing in a lot of countries – young entrepreneurs coming up with leapfrog technologies.”
SALt was conceived when Aisa, a computer engineer and member of Greenpeace Philippines, was living with the natives of the Butbut tribe and realized that they only had kerosene lamps in the remote Kalinga mountains to be able to see things at night. As kerosene is by no means affordable, safe or sustainable, she decided to come up with an alternative, enlisting her business management graduate brother to take care of the business and financial side of the venture. It soon became a partnership based on mutual respect and support.
“One of the greatest reasons why we made it through transforming SALt from idea to reality is my brother. When we were in the middle of our incubation program with Ideaspace Foundation, I was on the brink of giving up because of stress, deadlines and expectations to meet. He was the one who talked me through it. He understands me well,” Aisa shares.
“My brother is the creative artist of the family. He likes reading books and being a wide reader is an edge for him because it molded his behavior, characteristics and cognitive thinking, which is an essential aspect of being the business person of our startup,” she adds.
Talking about their relationship as siblings, the younger Mijeno has this to say: “Ate and I are quite close. Ever since we were kids we get along real well; there hasn’t been any major rift between the two of us. Yes, we do have our similarities but the way we’re different is quite apparent.”
He expounds, “Ate’s always been fond of tinkering, always curious, always trying to solicit an answer to her endless bombardment of questions – be it from our dad, mom and occasionally from me. I, on the other hand, have always been fascinated with art: visual arts. But I think having that sort of difference helped us develop skills that complement each other’s, and having a wide and different set of skills helps better our chances for success.”
Aisa obviously agrees, “We complement each other because what one lacks, the other is abundant of. We are like puzzle pieces that perfectly and nicely fit together, and hopefully this will get us through the journey of reaching our goal: making the SALt lamp a staple item of each household.”
Makeup by Herbert Coralde and hair by Ramon “Chito” Fabello, Jr. of Creations by Lourd Ramos Salon
