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Science and Technology and Nation Building

This document provides an overview of the history of science and technology in the Philippines from the pre-colonial period through modern times. It discusses how Filipinos had basic scientific knowledge related to medicine, agriculture, and engineering before colonization. During the Spanish colonial period, formal education was established and scientific institutions were founded to teach subjects like astronomy, medicine, and engineering. Under American rule, the focus was more on agriculture, food processing, and medicine. President Marcos prioritized science and technology development through new laws and institutions in the 1960s-1970s.

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Rolando E. Caser
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580 views3 pages

Science and Technology and Nation Building

This document provides an overview of the history of science and technology in the Philippines from the pre-colonial period through modern times. It discusses how Filipinos had basic scientific knowledge related to medicine, agriculture, and engineering before colonization. During the Spanish colonial period, formal education was established and scientific institutions were founded to teach subjects like astronomy, medicine, and engineering. Under American rule, the focus was more on agriculture, food processing, and medicine. President Marcos prioritized science and technology development through new laws and institutions in the 1960s-1970s.

Uploaded by

Rolando E. Caser
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Module 2: Science, Technology and Nation Building

Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify the contributions of Filipino scientists in science and technology
2. Enumerate critical points in the history of science and technology in the Philippines and how
these developments affected society and the environment
3. Explain the role of ST in nation building

This topic situates science, technology and society in the context of Philippine nation building. It
initially surveys contributions of Filipino scientists to ST. It then traces the historical development and
impact pf ST on the various segments of Philippine society.

● Science is the study of knowledge which can be made into a system and which depends on
evaluative facts.
● Technology is the practical application of scientific knowledge.
● Nation building is the creation or development of a nation, especially one that has recently become
independent.

Science and technology in the Philippines describes scientific and technological progress made by the
Philippines and analyses related policy issues. The main agency responsible for managing science and
technology is the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). There are also sectorial councils for
Forestry, Agriculture and Aquaculture, the Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition, Health,
Meteorology, Volcanology and Seismology.

Science and Technology in the Philippines


Pre-Colonial Period
Even before the colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine islands, the natives of the
archipelago already had practices linked to science and technology. Filipinos were already
aware of the medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting
medicine from herbs. They already had an alphabet, number system, a weighing and
measuring system and a calendar. Filipinos were already engaged in farming, shipbuilding,
mining and weaving.

A standard system of weights and measures is demonstrated by the use of precise


measurement for gold, and familiarity with rudimentary astronomy is shown by fixing the
precise day within the month in relation to the phases in the moon.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre - Spanish era
Filipinos.
Colonial Period
The colonization of the Philippines contributed to growth of science and technology in the archipelago.
The Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific institution. During the early years of
Spanish rule in the Philippines. Parish schools were established where religion, reading, writing,
arithmetic and music was taught. Sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture was taught to the
natives. Later the Spanish established colleges and universities in the archipelago including the University
of Santo Tomas.

Accounts by Spanish friars in the 1580s showed that astronomy was already known and practiced.

The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the Spanish era, especially in the later
years. The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering in the islands by constructing government
buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts. Biology is given focus.

The Galleon Trade have accounted in the Philippine colonial economy. Trade was given more focus by
the Spaniard colonial authorities due to the prospects of big profits. Agriculture and industrial
development on the other hand were relatively neglected. The opening of the Suez Canal saw the influx of
European visitors to the Spanish colony and some Filipinos were able to study in Europe who were
probably influenced by the rapid development of scientific ideals brought by the Age of Enlightenment.

Post Colonial Period


The progress of science and technology in the Philippines continued under American rule. On July 1,
1901 The Philippine Commission established the Bureau of Government Laboratories which was placed
under the Department of Interior. The Bureau replaced the Laboratorio Municipal, which was established
under the Spanish colonial era. It dealt with the study of tropical diseases and laboratory projects. On
October 26, 1905, the Bureau of Government Laboratories was replaced by the Bureau of Science and on
December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the Philippines was established. The Bureau of
Science became the primary research center of the Philippines until World War II.

Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing, medicine and
pharmacy. Not much focus was given on the development of industrial technology due to free trade
policy with the United States which nurtured an economy geared towards agriculture and trade.

In a report by the US Economic Survey to the Philippines in 1950, there is a lack of basic information
which were necessities to the country's industries, lack of support of experimental work and minimal
budget for scientific research and low salaries of scientists employed by the government.

Marcos Era and Martial Law


During Ferdinand Marcos' presidency, the importance given to science grew. In the amended 1973
Philippine Constitution, he declared that the "advancement of science and technology shall have priority
in the national development." In his two terms of presidency and during Martial Law, he enacted many
laws promoting science and technology.

In his Second State of the Nation Address on January 23, 1967, he declared that science was necessary for
the development programs, and thus, directed the Department of Education to revitalize the science
courses in public high schools. The Department of Education, with the National Science Development
Board (NSDB), is organizing a project to provide selected high schools with science teaching equipment
over a four-year period.
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