As a businessman-cum-entrepreneur, it is safe to say that Angelo Valenton literally saw the light. Not that he arrived at a certain epiphany of sorts with regards to his profession, it’s just that he truly did see a niche in the local economy by offering lamps—albeit solar charged ones—to the general public.
Perhaps, the one-two punch caused by such typhoons like “Milenyo” and “Ondoy” had something to do with his desire to uplift the Filipinos’ faith in seeking an alternative to what can only be called a very dire and “dark” situation. After all, the above-mentioned catastrophes did see the country and households in particular, reeling from days without electricity and in effect household illumination.
How he arrived at the idea of offering solar powered LED lamps one can only guess at though. It’s probably one of those “eureka” moments that can never be fully defined. Although already successful in the field of consumer electronics distribution, he nonetheless saw that the increasingly competitive field is now becoming very crowded and began to think of an entirely new field. “It has something to do with the needs fulfillment side of things. You have to have an eye out on what consumer needs are not being satisfied by what’s available,” he says simply.
Although solar-powered “off-the shelf” light fixtures are not exactly new, this field of consumer electronics eventually proved to be attractive to Angelo, who no doubt experienced first-hand what it felt like to be literally “power-less” during the onslaught of Ondoy last year. Suffice it to say, the experiences of friends and kin also made him thoughtful of the possibilities of offering a source of lighting that is “affordable and safe,” and environment friendly.
But first he had to do his homework. Although solar rechargeable lamps are not new, those in the market eventually proved to be wanting. For starters, most are hardly inexpensive and have unreliable batteries. Their bulbs are likewise dim. Moreover, they don’t last long, thereby proving to be expensive in the long run.
That’s when he saw the solar powered lighting fixtures made by d.light, a US company that manufactures solar LED lanterns. After meeting with the company’s representatives, he eventually signed a contract with them to be the exclusive distributors of the lanterns made by the company.
At present, his company (Asiaconnect) distributes three models the Nova S201 (which comes equipped with a mobile charger!); the Kiran S11(which is dubbed the world’s most affordable solar LED lantern); and the Solata S380 (which is a solar LED task lamp—ideal as a desk lamp). All the models are equipped with solar panels that readily charge the batteries.
According to Angelo, all are known for their durability and during the interview he proceeds to show this writer how tough the Kiran model is for example, by allowing it to fall on the floor. After bouncing a couple of times, there was nary a scratch or a crack on the lantern. “It is also splash proof,” he says, noting that it can withstand being splashed by water but not entirely submerged in it—hence, making it perfect for the stormy weather we’ve been having lately.
For those who are interested to know how inexpensive the lanterns are, let’s just say that with judicious use, they can last anywhere (depending on the model) from 10 years (for the LED bulbs) to 11 years (for the batteries). The Kiran, for example, retails for about 800 plus pesos, a bargain considering that some solar powered systems literally run into the thousands.
All in all, Angelo sees a really “bright future” for solar powered lighting systems in Filipino homes, considering that they are ideal for both urban (“It’s perfect for emergency lighting”) and most especially rural use (“Not all places have reliable electricity”). Of course, that doesn’t even include how environment-friendly solar LED lanterns are. But then, that’s another story.
(source: Manila Bulletin)
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This is impressive