PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG PASIG

Alkalde Jose St., Kapasigan, Pasig City

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

CHAPTER 1
General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology and Society

LESSON 5
SELECTED INDIGENOUS SCIENCE and
TECHNOLOGY in the PHILIPPINES
LESSON SELECTED INDIGENOUS
5 SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY
in the PHILIPPINES
OVERVIEW:
The Pre-Colonial Philippines practiced Indigenous Science, a time wherein people’s
lives depended on their knowledge about the environment. This fact is true and the same all
over the world communities, Ogawa (1995) proposes that every culture has its own science
and refers to the science of a given culture as its “indigenous science”. The history and
culture of people in the community reveal rich and profound survival knowledge, wisdom
and practices that are nature based and time tested useful for the everyday life of people.
This lesson acknowledged the achievement of our Filipino indigenous people, our forefathers
and our race on how can we learn from what we already know, experienced and applied
techniques before we embraced the Western Science and come up with an understanding
why we need to integrate one from the other towards attainment of a good life.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
➢ Module: Chapter 1 Lesson 5 Internet Connectivity (Optional)
➢ Professor/Instructor PPT Laptop/ Desktop
➢ Tablet/ Mobile Phone Recycled Materials

CONTENT OUTLINE:
• Indigenous Knowledge
• Indigenous Science, Western Science and Modern Science
• Filipino Indigenous Science and Practices
• Examples of Indigenous Knowledge System
• Characteristics That Are Distinct To Indigenous Technology

OBJECTIVES:
1. Use the KEY TERMS to help you understand and complete these objectives

At the end of the lesson the student should be able to:

2. Identify Filipino Indigenous Science
3. Explore on the relationship of Indigenous Knowledge and Practices to S and T
4. Appreciate Indigenous Science for Assimilation in Science Education
5. Understand How We Benefit From Indigenous Science Directly and Indirectly
DIAGNOSTIC
If I Were Game

Sustain each phrase to complete the sentence:

1. If I were a local song, I would be……

2. If I were to live in the past, I would be in……
3. If I were a native flower, I would be……
4. If I were a native musical instrument, I would be……
5. If I were a native drink, I would be……
6. If I were a country, I would be……
7. If I were a character in Philippine history, I would be……
8. If I were a Filipino leader, I would be…...
9. If I were a Philippine province, I would be……
10. If I were a native Filipino dessert, I would be……
11. If I were a season, I would be……
12. If I were a Philippine tree, I would be…….
13. If I were a Filipino food, I would be……
14. If I were a view in the Philippines, I would be……
15. If I were a Filipino music icon, I would be……
16. If I were to love a person in history, I would be……
17. If I were a hero, I would be……
18. If I were a character in Rizal’s novel, I would be……
19. If I were a President of the Philippines, I would be……
20. If I were somebody else, I would be…….
PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY: “ Wealth of the Nation”

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in 2010 put the New Generation Currency Series, or what
we know as the “new” Philippine bills and coins into circulation featuring tourist attractions
and wildlife in the country.

Checkout:

1) Which bill features in the fauna. Place your answer in the blank
2) Provide the correct label/ name in Filipino word of each illustration.

1) Php______________ 2) Php_____________ 3) Php______________

4) Php______________ 5)Php________________ 6) Php_________________

Reference: https://www.flipscience.ph/plants-and-animals/wildlife-wealth-philippine-peso-bills/

Recommended link:

https://www.facebook.com/nationalmuseumofthephilippines
DISCUSSION:
KEY TERMS

Indigenous Knowledge Traditional Wisdom Western Science

Indigenous Science Indigenous System of Knowledge Modern
Science

I. INDIGENOUS SCIENCE

Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

Indigenous Science is important in the development of science and technology

in the Philippines. Like the ancient civilizations, indigenous science give birth to the
development of science and technology as a field and as a discipline. UNESCO’s
Declaration in Science and the use of Scientific knowledge recognized indigenous
science as a historical and valuable contribution to science and technology. (Serafica,
JP. et. Al., 2018).

Our culture maybe a mix of East and the West, of Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and
American influences, but we can claim to have our own indigenous system and ways
that is authentic Filipino.

According to Snively, G. and Corsiglia, J. in these days of worldwide social,

political, and environmental stress, we are all affected by problems associated with
resource depletion, increasing human population, climate change, and environmental
disaster. Only recently have Western scientists begun to wrestle with approaches that
promise to improve our ability to mitigate the impact of human society upon the planet. The
world’s educators must recognize the paramount importance of the ecological crisis. Our
challenge is not so much to seek ever more sophisticated technological solutions to
environmental problems, as it is to re-establish a moral, emotional, and perhaps sacred,
relationship with the biosphere.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Traditional Wisdom - focuses on balancing human needs with environmental requirements.

Begins with an understanding that spiritual essence infuses and
defines all forms, and that all life forms must be respected as
conscious, intrinsically invaluable, and interdependent

Indigenous Belief- native attitude and proposition in embracing ideas in almost all
Momentous phases of life, from birth, marriage to death, from
building houses to planting crops or maybe curing the sick

Indigenous Knowledge- the system of knowledge from the earliest time which is the
foundation of Indigenous Science. This includes the following:
a) developed ideas in explaining various phenomena and explaining
the world
b) tools invented to help the people in early times in their everyday
life

Indigenous Science- part of indigenous knowledge system practiced by different group

of people and early civilizations. Includes complex array of:
a) knowledge
b) expertise
c) practices
d) and representations

that guides human societies in their enumerable interactions with the

natural milieu:
1) agriculture
2) medicine
3) naming
4) explaining natural phenomena
5) strategies for coping with changing environments

Indigenous Technologies - emerge from the implicate order to reflect the art of skillful living

Western Science- The standard account of science can be called “Western,”

given its historic origins in ancient Greek and European cultures.
 Terms such as “Western Science,” “Modern Western Science,” “Standard Science,”
and “Official Science” have been in use only since the beginning of the 20th century.
Western scientific theorizing began toward the end of the 19th century, when scientists
began to grapple with abstract theoretical propositions—for example, evolution, natural
selection, and the kinetic-molecular theory.

There is a commonly held assumption that Western Science is supra-cultural.

Actually science emerges from culture (Rose Thater Braan-Imai, 2018)

II. INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

In his research Pawilen (2013) mentioned that there are categories where these
traditional or indigenous knowledge are parallel to some areas of science in the curriculum
like:
A. Classification – understanding of specific elements of factors in the environment, such as
plants, animals, soil, water, air, weather, and other environmental phenomena;
B. Technology and Management of Resource – the development and use of traditional
technology in daily lives, and management of resources for the present and future
generations;
C. Ecology, Evolution, and Systems– the understanding and awareness of the life processes
this includes origins, interrelatedness of living and non- living things in the environment.
 This makes it easy to integrate some indigenous knowledge of the people to the
science curriculum. As part of the indigenous knowledge, the communities also maintain
some cultural beliefs that are useful and sacred to them. Some of the cultural beliefs are as
follows:

1. The land is a source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator.

2. The earth is revered as “Mother Earth”. It is the origin of their identity as people.
3. All living and non- living things are interconnected and interdependent with each
other.
4. Human beings are stewards or trustee of the land and other natural resources.
They have a responsibility to preserve it.
5. Nature is a friend to human beings– it needs respect and proper care.
 III. EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM
The community is a host to all forms of indigenous knowledge. The local folks serve
as guardians of this indigenous knowledge. (Pawilen, 2013)

PREDICTING WEATHER
CONDITIONS AND SEASONS
USING KNOWLEDGE IN OBSERVING
ANIMAL’S BEHAVIOR AND
USING INDIGENOUS
CELESTIAL BODIES
TECHNOLOGY IN DAILY LIVES

USING CLASSIFYING DIFFERENT TYPES

HERBAL MEDICINE OF SOIL FOR PLANTING BASED ON
CULTURAL PROPERTIES

PLANTS AND ANIMALS

PRESERVING FOOD INTO FAMILIES AND GROUPS BASED
ON CULTURAL PROPERTIES

ENGINEERING,
PRODUCING WINESAND
ARCHITECTURES AND THE
ARTS JUICES FROM TROPICAL FRUITS
PRESERVING AND SELECTING GOOD
SEEDS FOR PLANTING ANDTHE HUNTING AND FISHING
CUSTOM OF GROWING PLANTS AND
VEGETABLES IN THE YARD

NOMENCLATURE Indigenous methods of counting,

OF PLANETS, COLORS, FLORA AND calculating or estimating, classifying,
FAUNA, AND RELATED SCIENTIFIC measuring, and organizing things
PHENOMENA

IV. CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE DISTINCT TO INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY

Rose Thater Braan-Imai (2018):

1) First Indigenous technologies are recognized as animate, imbued with the breath of
life, they live in form and function having emerged from the realms of the invisible.
2) Indigenous technologies emerge from the implicate order to reflect the art of skillful
living. Indigenous technology is pragmatic. It is responsive and responsible to the
ecology in which it lives.
3) Indigenous technologies attract the learning spirit(s) they provide a learning ecology
that supports the revitalization and transformation of awareness and knowledge.
4) Indigenous technology is intended to enhance the ability to maintain and renew
balance
and harmony within a multi-dimensional environment.
5) Indigenous technology is created within a sensory environment that builds on our
sense of relationship, meaning, balance, feeling, memory and place as well as sight,
sound, smell, taste and touch.
6) Through meaningful interactions Indigenous technology seeks to engage and evoke
significant knowledge and experiences reflective of the Indigenous world.
7) Indigenous technologies have the obligation to come into existence, to be used and
to transform within an ethical space that is responsible to life in all its forms.
8) The ability or capacity to make something does not constitute a valid reason for its
existence. Indigenous technology is coherent with the
natural order
9) Indigenous technology has a different life trajectory than a fax machine.
It’s efficacy has not diminished over thousands of years of use
 10) Indigenous technologies have intrinsic value because we know their ancestry
where they came from, what their place is in our world. We know they will transform
and pass from this place to return to the realms of energies.
The stories and testimonies of Indigenous peoples provide educators with
important information about Indigenous knowledge, wisdom and accomplishments
that can be used to develop new innovative curriculum resources for science
education. (Snively , G. and Corsiglia, 1997)

POST ACTIVITY
Pamphlet Activity
GOAL You will show an understanding of Indigenous Science and
Technology in the Philippines through a selected topic.
ROLE You are an exhibitor in Science and Technology and will be
promoting through a 3-5 minute video on selected topics about
Indigenous Science and Technology in the Philippines presented
based on the discussion and the topic presented below.
AUDIENCE STS college students (Students in class)
SITUATION You are invited in the celebration of the Science Week of the
school as Exhibitor to share expertise and promote your chosen
topic of a specific Indigenous Science and Technology in the
Philippines through a pamphlet/brochure
PRODUCT/ PERFORMANCE A Three (3) Fold Pamphlet /Brochure ( Recycled Material or
Digitally Made of a selected topic on the Indigenous Science and
Technology in the Philippines. Choice of topic may include:
1) Knowledge and Technology that is related or useful to your
course and can yield promising research or application i
your practice

2) Science and technology specific to a certain region,

province or place in the Philippines.

3) Evolution or development of a specific science and

technology indigenous in the country

4) Student’s interest of indigenous study

5) Any of the given example in the discussion of Indigenous

Science in Technology highlighting specific subtopic or
material (Ex. Different Indigenous wines in the Philippines
Indigenous Technology utilized or applied in cooking (can
be utensils) , or tools and ways in farming, fishing, hunting
healing of diseases, architecture, native wardrobe etc.

STANDARDS Your product will be assessed based on the following criteria:

1. Accuracy of content
2. Presentation of output
3. Creativity
EVALUATION
Questions:
1. Identify and enumerate roles of Indigenous Knowledge in the development of the
Indigenous Science in the Philippines.
2. What are the ways to enrich our Indigenous Science and harness its benefits for us?
3. How does culture and society influence the growth of science and technology?

REFERENCES:

1. Katutubo, Profiles of Philippine Cultural Communities (2009),National Commission for Culture and the Arts
2. Serafica, Janice Patria J. et al (2017). Science, Technology and Society. Philippines. Rex Bookstore Inc..
3. Pawilen, TG, (June 2013) http://www.harris.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Tabios-2013.pdf (viewed
November 27, 2020)
4. Braan-Imai RT ( 2018)Indigenous Science and Technology ehttps://watershedsentinel.ca/articles/indigenous-
science-technology/ (viewed Sept . 02, 2020)
5. Snivel, G. and Corsiglia, J. Knowing Home: Braiding Indigenous Science with Western Science, Book 1
https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/knowinghome/chapter/chapter-6/ (viewed Sept . 02, 2020)
6. https://www.google.com/search?q=wikipedia+photos&oq (viewed Sept . 02, 2020)