College of Teacher Education

Second Semester, A.Y. 2020-2021

MODULE 2
GENERAL CONCEPTS AND HISTORICAL EVENTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Science, Technology, and Nation-building

Course Title: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Course Code: GE 7

Name: _____________________________________
Course and Year: _____________________________________
Contact Number: _____________________________________
Date and Time Allotment: (MW & TTh) January 22-26, 2024
Instructor: Ms. Angelika Marie Bucia

Introduction

This module entitled General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology and Society is about Science,
Technology and Nation-building. This lesson will discuss the influence of science and technology in the development of the
Philippine society. It identifies government programs, projects, and policies geared toward boasting the science and
technological capacity of the country. This lesson will also include discussions on Philippine indigenous science and
technology.

I. Objectives

At the end of the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
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.

II. Lecture

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

- The history of science and technology in the Philippines started way back before the country gained its independence from the
American colonizers. Before the coming of the Spanish colonizers, the early inhabitants of the archipelago had their own
culture and traditions. They had their own belief system and indigenous knowledge system that keeps them organized and
sustained their lives and communities for many years.
- Science, in pre-Spanish Philippines, is embedded in the way of life of the people. Scientific knowledge is observed in the way
they plant their crops that provide them food, in taking care of animals to help them in their daily tasks, and for food
production. Science is observed in the way they interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates,
and in organizing days into months and years. They use science in preparing the soil for agricultural purposes and like any
other ancient cultures, they discovered the medicinal uses of plants.
- Technology is used by people in building houses, irrigations, and in developing tools that they can use in everyday life. They
developed tools for planting, hunting, cooking, and fishing; for fighting their enemies during war or tribal conflicts; and for
transportation, both on land and on waterways.
- They also developed technologies in creating musical instruments.
The different archeological artifacts discovered in different parts of the country also prove that the Metal Age also had a
significant influence on the lives of early Filipinos. The sophisticated designs of gold and silver jewelry, ceramics, and metal
tools proved that their technological ideas helped in the development of different tools.
- All these ancient practices in science and technology are considered now as indigenous science or folk science.
- When the Spaniards colonized the country, they brought with them their own culture and practices. They established schools
for boys and introduced the concept of subjects and disciplines. It was the beginning of formal science and technology in
country, known now as school of science and technology.

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 - The development of science and technology in the Philippines, based on its brief history, is shaped by several factors and
influences. Like in the history of science in other countries, it is always shaped by human and social activities, both internal
and external.

External Influences

Internal Influences 1. Foreign

Development Colonizers
1. Survival of Science and 2. Trades With
2. Culture Technology in Foreign
3. Economic Countries
the Philippines
3. International
Activities Economic
Demands

Influences in the Development of Science and Technology in the Philippines

Science and technology may have significant impact on the lives of the people and in the development of the
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 few students enrolling in science
and technology courses.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

o The Philippine government introduced and implemented several programs, projects, and policies to boost the area of
science and technology. The goal is to 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.
o As a result of the consultation, the NCRP is expected to recommend policies and programs that will improve the
competitiveness of the Philippines in the ASEAN Region.

o The NCRP clustered these policies into four, namely:

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 R.A. 9184 (Standardization)
• 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 Food and Drug Administration
• 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 two percent of the DP 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 indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous people's conservation
• Formulation of common food and safety standards
o There are also other existing programs supported by the Philippine government through the DOST. Some of these projects
are the following:
• Providing funds for basic research and patents related to science and technology.
• Providing scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies of students in the field of science and technology.
• Establishing more branches of the Philippine Science High School System for training young Filipinos in the field of
science and technology.
• Creating science and technology parks to encourage academe and industry partnerships.
• Balik Scientist Program to encourage Filipino scientists abroad to come home and work in the Philippines or conduct
research and projects in collaboration with Philippine-based scientists.
• Developing science and technology parks in academic campuses to encourage academe and industry partnerships.
• The establishment of the National Science Complex and National Engineering Complex within the University of the
Philippines campus in Diliman.
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 o The Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE, 2008) identified several capacity-building programs
such as:
• Establishment of national centers of excellence
• Manpower and institutional development programs, such as the Engineering and Science Education Program
(ESEP) to produce more PhD graduates in science and engineering
• Establishment of regional centers to support specific industries that will lead the country in different research and
development areas
• Establishment of science and technology business centers to assist, advise, and incubate technopreneurship
ventures
• Strengthen science education at. an early stage through the Philippine Science High School system

o There are many other areas and fields that the country is looking forward go embark various research and projects. The
following are some of them:
• Use of alternative and safe energy
• Harnessing mineral resources
• Finding cure for various diseases and illness
• Climate change and global warming
• Increasing food production
• Preservation of natural resources
• Coping with natural disasters and calamities
• Infrastructure development

FAMOUS FILIPINOS IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE

A. These Filipino scientists are: Contribution

Ramon Cabanos Barba for his outstanding research on tissue culture of
Philippine mangoes

Josefino Cacas Comiso for his works on observing the characteristics of

Antarctica by using satellite images
Jose Bejar Cruz Jr. known internationally in the field of electrical
engineering
Lourdes Jansuy Cruz notable for her research on sea snail venom
Fabian Millar Dayrit for his research on herbal medicine
Rafael Dineros Guerrero Ill for his research on tilapia culture
Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr for inventing the meconium drugs testing
Lilian Formalejo Patena for doing research on plant biotechnology
Mari-Jo Panganiban Ruiz for being an outstanding educator and graph theorist
Gregory Ligot Tangonan for his research in the field of communications
technology

B. There are other outstanding Filipino scientists who

are recognized here and abroad for their outstanding
contributions in science:

Caesar A. Saloma an internationally renowned physicist

Edgardo Gomez famous scientist in marine science
William Padolina chemistry and president of National Academy of
Science and Technology (NAST)—Philippines

Angel Alcala marine science

Many of these Filipino scientists are products of good school science. It means they were taught and inspired by
great teachers. Their interests in science started to manifest during their childhood years. Their natural environment ignited
their curiosity to learn more about the natural and physical environment. Schools and the laboratories where they studied and
worked nurtured this.
Many Filipino scientists, whether they are in the country or abroad, always excel in their job. The Filipino spirit in their souls
has never faded. They continue to bring honor to the country. They make ordinary things in an extraordinary way. They are
always at par with other scientists in spite of the limited facilities we have here in the country.

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Name: _____________________________________________
Course and Year: _____________________________________
Contact Number: _____________________________________
Date of Submission: _____________________________________
Instructor: _______Ms. Angelika Marie Bucia________

✓ Note/Reminder:
◼ Don’t hesitate to ask me if there are some difficulties.
◼ Always update me upon doing your activity/assessment.
◼ The deadline of your activities/assessment will be announced in our Group Chat.
◼ Keep calm and be motivated as always!
◼ Don’t push yourself to the limit. If you’re tired, then rest. After a while, make a move again.
◼ Put a smile on your face. ☺

III. Application/Activity
Directions: Answer the given question.

1. What do you think are the major contributions of the Philippines to the field at present?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What do you think are the major contributions of science and technology to Philippine nation-building?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What policies do you want the government to implement in the near future?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What specific government policy do you like the most in terms of contributing to the development of science and technology in the
Philippines?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IV. Assessment
Directions: Identify several Filipino scientist. Research on their contributions in the field of science. Write the result of you work.

Date Finished: _________________________ Signature: _________________________

V. Other References
• Padilla-Concepcion, G.(2015). Science Philippines: Essays on Science by Filipinos Volume III. Quezon City: University of the
Philippines Press.
• Padilla-Concepcion, G.P. (Editor). (2012). Science Philippines: Essays on Science by Filipinos Volume 1-3. Quezon City:
University of the Philippines Press.
• Philippine-American Association for Science and Engineering. (2008). “Science and Technology in Economic Development.”
In Selected Essays on Science and Technology for Securing a Better Philippines.

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