AGAPITO G. FLORES

INVENTOR OF FLUORESCENT LAMP

(1879-1943)
Guiginto, Bulacan



 

Some years ago, when Manuel L. Quezon was the president of the Philippines, a poor electrician visited him in Malacaņang Palace. He carried something that he wished to show to the president. He brought out a glass tube and told President Quezon it was a bulb. But this bulb was unlike any other bulb being used at that time. "It could be very much better than the bulbs we have now!" the President listened to the man. But he was not sure whether or not any American would be interested in it.

Mr. Flores was not discouraged. He talked further about his tube bulb. "Let me show you how it works" he asked the President. When he switched it on, the bulb gave-off a blue-white light.

The president did not know what to do about the man's discovery at that moment. The poor man walked out of the palace ver sad. But a guest in the palace heard about the poor man's discovery and invited him to his office.

The one who invited him was an official of the French Government who later sent the electrician to Paris. Mr. Flores was given a patent for his electric bulb.

Very soon, the General Electric company in USA bought Mr. Flores' bulb. This bulb, sold to millions all over the world, was well-known as the "Fluorescent Lamp."