Story of a remarkable Koronadaleño
Who would have thought that you can now cook 15 kilos of rice in just one sitting without crust? A feat once deemed impossible but now a reality thanks to this remarkable Koronadaleño – Mr. Francisco Hechanova Gecosala.
A resident of Barangay Paraiso is reshaping the way we cook rice with his invention, the Turbo Rice Steamer. It all started with a casual conversation among friends where each boasted their different mechanical skills. Mr. Gecosala, now 65, saw an opportunity to turn this friendly banter into something tangible. He envisioned a device that could cook large quantities of rice quickly and efficiently, without sacrificing quality – thus, the idea of the Turbo Rice Steamer. But this vision was no easy feat. He spent years refining his design and overcoming technical challenges. Add the fact that he lacks the capital to start building the device. But his perseverance paid off when, in 2011, the Turbo Rice Steamer finally came to life.
So, how does the Turbo Rice Steamer work? The process is surprisingly simple yet efficient. Start by adding 8 liters of water, preferably mineral water, into the steamer pot. After lighting the burner, allow it to warm up for 5 minutes. Once warmed, place washed rice onto each tray, ensuring 3 kilograms of rice per tray for optimal quality. The water-to-rice ratio is maintained at 1:1, meaning if 3 kilograms of rice are added to a tray, 3 liters of water are poured in as well. Close the steamer door and let it cook for 45 minutes. After cooking, drain the excess water from the steamer pot.
His invention became a staple in the commercial setting and found its way into the kitchens of different establishments across the region, including the Koronadal City Jail, various branches of City Fry, D&M Catering, AAA Cuisine in Maguindanao, Mama Bing Bulalo in Koronadal, and Blessed Pastil in General Santos City.
Mr. Gecosala is an entrepreneur at heart, driven not only by profit but by the desire to empower others. In addition to cooking rice for the abovementioned establishments, he also offers the Turbo Rice Steamer for sale, priced at Php8,000 and customizable to accommodate varying capacities of rice. Moreover, he has also developed other devices over the years. He invented a potato deep fryer for bulk frying, a chicken deep fryer, and turbo siopao steamer, all committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the kitchen. Undoubtedly, this would not have been possible without the help of his family and colleagues. He hired his close friends not just to help Mr. Gecosala but more so to assist his friends financially as well. He also employed the children of his friends who were interested, thereby providing them with opportunities for financial growth.
We are now in an era where convenience often trumps quality but Mr. Gecosala’s invention proves otherwise. Quantity can still go along with quality. Let us support this remarkable Koronadaleño. For his services, you may contact Mr. Gecosala via phone number (0916-576-6160) or through his Facebook account (www.facebook.com/GRHPP).