Module 2

By: Prof. Josephine B. Jamero

OBJECTIVES
1. Discuss the role of science and technology in Philippine nation-building.
2. Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in
terms of their contributions to nation-building.
3. Identify actual science and technology policies of the government and
appraise their impact on the development of the Filipino nation.

INTRODUCTION

This module will discuss the concept of science education and will identify
some strategies to promote science education in the country.

CONTENT

Science and technology in the Philippines describes scientific and techno-

logical progress made by the Philippines and analyses related policy issues. The main
agency responsible for managing science and technology (S&T) is the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST). There are also sectoral councils for Forestry, Agri-
culture and Aquaculture, the Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition,
Health, Meteorology, Volcanology and Seismology.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines is a
government agency tasked with overseeing and managing national technology
development and acquisition, undertaking technological and scientific research and
promoting public consciousness of science and technology.
 The major contributions of science and technology to Philippine nation-
building are linked to its socio-economic progress and its industrialization. Today, the
current state of our country is very low in its capacity to produce local goods for
domestic needs as well as in international scientific research publications. Jun 28, 2018

Click to watch the videos below.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines

Videos to watch about Philippines Then and Now

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."

Shipbuilding showed geometric thinking and mastery of convexity, concavity, and

the proper proportion between ship breadth and length to ensure sailing efficiency. The
practice of constructing as much as twelve ships and boats to fit inside each other, not
unlike matryoshka dolls containing each other, can be interpreted as large three-
dimensional wooden demonstration of sets, subsets, volumes, and ordinality."
(Source: Science and technology in the Philippines - https://en.wikipedia.org)

(Source: File:Banaue Rice Terrace Close Up (2).JPG - https://en.wikipedia.org)

 "The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of
engineering by pre-Spanish era Filipinos.

The early inhabitants of the

had their own culture and
traditions. They
had their own belief system
and indigenous knowledge
Kept them organized and
sustained their lives and
communities for many
years.

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."
The Laguna Copperplate
Inscription (key) is inscribed
with small writing hammered
into its surface. It shows
heavy Indian cultural
influence (by way of Srivijaya) present in the Philippines prior to European colonization in
the 16th century.

PRE-SPANISH
PHILIPPINES
 "The Laguna Copperplate Inscription shows the use of mathematics in precolonial
Philippine societies. 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 of the moon.
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (Filipino: Inskripsyon sa Binatbat na Tanso
ng Laguna, Malay: Prasasti keping tembaga Laguna; often shortened into the
acronym LCI), a legal document inscribed on a copper plate in 900 CE, is the earliest
known calendar-dated document found in the Philippines. The date of the inscription
would make it contemporary to the Balitung kingdom of Central Java, although it did not
necessarily originate from that area.
The plate was found in 1989 by a laborer near the mouth of the Lumbang River in
Wawa, Lumban, Laguna in the Philippines. The inscription, written in a mix of the Old
Malay language using the Old Kawi script, was first deciphered by Dutch anthropologist
and Hanunó'o script expert Antoon Postma in 1992.
The LCI documents the existence of several early Philippine polities as early as
AD 900, most notably the Pasig River delta polity of Tondo. Scholars believe that it also
indicates trade, cultural, and possibly political ties between these polities and at least one
contemporaneous Asian civilization the Medang Kingdom of the island of Java.
The inscription was written in Kawi script a writing system developed in Java
using a mixture of languages including Sanskrit, Old Javanese, and Old Malay. This was
a rare trace of Javanese influence, which suggests the extent of inter insular exchanges of
that time.

SCIENCE

Planting crops that provide them food Pre-colonial farming tools

Planting crops that provide them food

Taking care of animals to help in their daily tasks
Food production
Interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates
and organizing months and years
Medicinal uses of plants
TECHNOLOGY

Building houses

Irrigation systems

Developing tools

Musical instruments

METAL AGE INFLUENCE

Sophisticated designs of
gold and silver jewelry,
ceramics and metal tools.

Trading with other

countries like China,
Indonesia and Japan.

All these practices in S & T

are known as Indigenous
or Folk Science
Spanish 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."

Spanish Rule

Spaniards brought their own culture and practices

Established schools and introduced the concepts of subjects and disciplines
 Learning of science in school focuses on understanding different concepts
related to the human body, plants, animals and bodies.
Technology focuses on using and developing house tools in everyday life.

Life during the Spanish era

Life became modernized, adapting some western technology and ways of life.

Filipinos replicated technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous

materials.

Medicine and advanced science were introduced in formal colleges and

universities

GALLEON TRADE

The galleon trade was supplied by merchants largely from port areas of Fujian who
traveled to Manila to sell the Spaniards spices, porcelain, ivory, processed silk cloth
and other valuable commodities.

From 1565 to 1815, the galleon trade contributed to the change of culture, language
and environment for both Philippines and Mexico.

The Galleon Trade was a government monopoly. Only two galleons were used: One
sailed from Acapulco to Manila with some 500,000 pesos worth of goods, spending
120 days at sea; the other sailed from Manila to Acapulco with some 250,000 pesos
worth of goods spending 90 days at sea.

The country became one of the centers of global trade in SEA and was considered
one of the most developed places in the region.
 Superstitious beliefs and Catholic doctrines and practices halted the growth of
science in the country.

AMERICAN PERIOD
The Americans have more influence in the Development of S&T compared to the
Spaniards. They established the public education system, improved engineering works
and health conditions of the people. They established a modern research university, the
University of the Philippines and also created more public hospitals. The mineral
resources were explored and exploited, transportation and communication systems were
improved, though not accessible throughout the country.

The Americans did

the Filipinos. They

reorganized the learning of
Science and introduced it in
public and private schools.

In basic education, science

education focused on nature
studies and science and
sanitation. The teaching of
science in higher education
has greatly improved and
modernized.
WORLD WAR II

World War II has destabilized the development of the country in many ways.
Institutions and public facilities were turned into ashes, houses were burned, and many
lives destroyed. The country had a difficult time to rebuild itself from the ruins of the
war. The human spirit to survive and to rebuild the country may be strong but the
capacity of the country to bring back what was destroyed was limited.

Establishment of the New Republic

The new nation started focusing on using its limited resources in improving S&T
capability.

Use of Overseas Development Allocation to improve scientific productivity and

technological capability.

Human resource development focused on producing more engineers, scientists,

technology experts, doctors, and other professionals.

INFLUENCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF S & T IN THE PHILIPPINES

Science and technology may have significant impact on the lives of the people
and in the development of Philippine society. However, improving the quality of
science education still remains as a big challenge in the country. School science from
basic education to graduate education is improving slowly, and there are only a few
students enrolling in science and technology courses.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Introduced and implemented programs,

projects and policies to boost science and
technology.

GOAL: prepare the whole country and its

people to meet the demands of a
technologically driven world and
capacitate the people to live in a world driven
by science.

In response to the ASEAN 2015 Agenda, the

government, particularly the DOST, has
sought the expertise of the NCRP to consult
various sectors in the society to study how
the Philippines can prepare itself in meeting
the ASEAN 2015 goals.

The NRCP clustered these policies into four:

1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and

Governance
Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the
curriculum
Emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue
Developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT broadband
Local food security
 2. Physics, Engineering, and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences,
and Mathematics

Emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employment opportunities

Outright grants for peer monitoring
Review of RA 9184
Harnessing science and technology as an independent mover of development
3. Medical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms with ASEAN-harmonized

standards by full implementation of the FDA

Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical

services and care

Empowering food and drug agencies to conduct evidence-based research as

pool of information

Allocating 2% of the GDP to research

Legislating a law supporting human genome projects
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry

Protecting and conserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing laws

Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries

Promoting indi
conservation

Formulation of common food and safety standards

DOST