This is a compilation of inspiring stories of men and women and of their families on how their lives were touched by science and technology (S&T) interventions.

These narratives deviate from the usual documented S&T interventions, focus of which is often on the firm level. That is, how the intervention was introduced and adopted, how much was the increase in production, and how much sales, revenues, foreign exchange earnings, and employment generated. In short, how much profit did the enterprise make? The accounts in this compilation highlight the extent of S&T impacts, dwelling on how the lives of people from different walks of life compare before and after they learned, improved, embraced, and at times rejected specific technologies. They narrate the experiences of the technology adopters and how they were able to change or improve their lives and lifestyles and how hopes and dreams were fulfilled and aspirations met. They also describe how entrepreneurial men and women continue to persevere against the odds, not so much for themselves but because of their desire to help their neighbors find fulfillment in life.

The stories fittingly illustrate and affirm the role of technology as provided for and defined by Cecily Cannan Selby in her article Technologies: From Myths to Realities. According to Selby, “Technology is a product or process of human skill and ingenuity in designing and making things out of available resources to satisfy personal and societal needs and wants.”  Indeed, these are narratives that tell how man’s very basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and education and even some desires and longings of the heart blossomed with S&T, particularly textile-related ones developed by the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI). It is inspiring to note that the fulfilled needs even went beyond superficiality for these are stories that also tell how human dignities were regained through S&T interventions. However, experiences and incidents of technology transfer failures are likewise included in the compilation in order to give the whole picture of the S&T spectrum.

           Also involved are discussions on how PTRI proved its relevance, responded and adjusted to the various demands for its services and responsibilities through conduct of training courses and provision of technical assistance or consultancy. They tell how the institute stood to its commitment of continuously contributing toward the acceleration of economic and social development in the country, especially of the textile and allied industry sector, specifically the fiber-based industry. Glimpses of the little triumphs, joys, and frustrations experienced by the trainers in the course of technology transfer are also very subtly revealed.