FATIMA JOY L.

ANTIPALA
Instructor
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INTRODUCTION:
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.

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 colonizer. Before the coming of the Spanish colonizer
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. - FOOD PRODUCTION

Scientific Knowledge and Science is Observed in the way

they:
- INTERPRET THE MOVEMENT OF HEAVENLY BODIES
TO PREDICT SEASONS AND CLIMATES
- MEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS
They use science in preparing the soil for agriculture
purpose and like any other ancient cultures, they
discovered the medicinal uses of plants.

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Technology is used by people in
• Building houses,
• Irrigations,
• Developing tools that they can use in everyday life.
 tools for planting,
 hunting,
 cooking,
 fishing;
 for fighting their enemies during war or tribal conflicts; and  for transportation, both on
land and on waterways.

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 design of gold and silver
jewelry, ceramics, and metal tools proved that their technological ideas helped in the development of different
tools. Also, trading with China, Indonesia, Japan, and other nearby countries have influence their lives by
providing different opportunities for cultural and technological exchange.

Spanish Rule
(Spaniards Colonized the Country)  Brought with them their own culture and
practices
 Established schools and introduced the
concepts of subject and discipline.
 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

All these ancient practices in science and technology are considered now as indigenous science or folk science.

Life during Spanish Era:

 Become modernize
 Adapting some western technology
 Replicate the technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous materials
 Medicine and advancement in science were introduced in formal colleges and university
established by the Catholic orders.

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  The galleon trade has brought additional
technology and development in the
Galleon Trade Philippines.
 Trades allowed other ideas, crops, tools,
cultural practice, technology, and
western practices to reach the country.
 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.
 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 center of global trade in sea, one of the most developed places in the region.
Superstitious belief and Catholic doctrines and practices halted the growth of science in the country.

American Period
More Influence on Science and Technology

The American have more influence in the

development of science and technology in the
Philippines compared to the Spaniards:
 Established the public Education system
 Improved the engineering works and health
condition of the people
 Establish modern research university, the
University of the Philippines
 Created more public hospitals than the


These allowed American scholars to

introduce new knowledge and technology
in the country.

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 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 were
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 to bring back what was destroy was limited

The reparation funds focused on building some institutions and public facilities like schools, hospitals,
and transportation systems.
 Building highways and providing technological training and human resource development in the
country.
The development of science and technology in the Philippines based on its brief history, is shaped by several
Factors and influence. Like in the history of science and technology in the other countries, both internal and external.
Science and technology may have significant impact on the lives of the people and in the development of the
Philippine society. However, 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.

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 1. SOCIAL SCIENCE, 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 SCIENCE, AND
MATHEMATICS
• Emphasizing degrees, licences, and employment opportunities
• Outright grants for peer monitoring
• Review of R.A. 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 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 GDP to research
• Legislating a law supporting human genome projects

4. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE, AND FORESTRY

• Protecting and conserving biodiversity by fill implementation of existing laws
• Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries
• Promoting indigenous knowledge system and indigenous people’s conservation
• Formulation of common food and safety standards

There are also existing programs supported by the Philippine government through the DOST. Some of
these projects are the following:
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 • 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. These aimed to develop more science and technology
and engineering manpower resources needed by the country. They also aimed to produce more
researches in these fields.

In the field of education, several science-related programs and projects were created to developed the
scientific literacy of the country.
• Special science classes were organized and special science elementary schools were established in
different regions.
• Aside from these, science and mathematics in basic education were continuously improved.
• The current K to 12 education program included Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) as one of its major tracks in the senior high school program to encourage more students to
enroll in science-related fields in college.
• The Commission on Higher Education launched its Philippine-California Advanced Research Institute
(PICARI) Project to allow several higher education institutions in the Philippines and some US-based
laboratories, research institutes, and universities to work on research and projects related to science,
agriculture, engineering, health, and technology.
• This project is hoped to strengthen the STEM competitiveness of the country.

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

 School science is filled with names of foreign scientists: Einstein, Galileo Galilei, Newton, Faraday,
Darwin, and many other Western scientists.
 We rarely hear of Filipino scientists being discussed in science classes.
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  Lee- Chua (2000) identified 10 outstanding Filipino scientists who have made significant contributions
in Philippine science.
 These scientists are also famous abroad especially in different science disciplines: agriculture,
mathematics, physics, marine science, chemistry, engineering, and biology.

Filipino Scientist
1. Ramon Cabanos Barba- outstanding research on tissue culture in the Philippine mangoes
2. Josefino Cacas Comiso- works on observing the characteristics of Antarctica by using satellite images
3. Jose Bejar Cruz Jr.- known internationally in the field of electrical engineering; was elected as officer of
the famous Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
4. Lourdes Jansuy Cruz- notable for her research on sea snail venom
5. Fabian Millar Dayrit- research on herbal medicine
6. Rafael Dineros Guerrero III- research on tilapia culture
7. Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr.- inventing the meconium drugs testing
8. Lilian Formalejo Patena- doing research on plant biotechnology
9. Mari-Jo Panganiban Ruiz- outstanding educator and graph theorist
10. Gregory Ligot Tangonan- research in the field of communications technology

Other outstanding Filipino Scientist who are recognized here and abroad for their
outstanding contribution in Science

1. Caesar A. Saloma- an internationally renowned physicist

2. Edgardo Gomez- famous scientist in marine science
3. William Padolina- known in the field of chemistry and president of National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST)- Philippines
4. Angel Alcala- marine science

 There are other scientists in the Philippines who were not identified in the list. Yet, the Philippines still
need more scientists and engineers, and there is a need to support scientific research in the country.
 The University of the Philippines- Los Banos is a science paradise for agriculture, forestry, plant and
animal science, and veterinary science. It has produced numerous scientists and various research in the
field mentioned.
 The University of the Philippines- Visayas is also a national center for marine science, fisheries and
other related sciences.
 The University of the Philippines- Manila is a center of excellence and has produced many researchers,
doctors, health professionals, and scientists in the area of medical and public health.
 The University of the Philippines- Diliman also has established a national science and engineering
complex to develop more research and produce more scientists and engineers in the country.

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 SUMMARY

This lesson discussed the influence of science and technology in the development of the
Philippines as a country. Even before the time of Spanish colonization in the Philippines, various people
and communities already practiced science.
They invented tools and built structures, studied the medicinal uses of plants, observed heavenly bodies
to predict seasons and weather, and used indigenous science in agriculture. These are considered
indigenous science, which is one of the foundation of modern science.

The growth of science and its development as a field in the country is a hybrid of indigenous
and foreign ideas. Spain and United States, being the former colonial masters of the country, played an
important role in building the foundation of science in the Philippines. To further strengthen the science
program in the Philippines, the government establishes various science programs, policies, and projects.

Through the years, many Filipinos were able to establish themselves as scientists and science
educators in various scientific areas and fields. Invention and innovations were done by these Filipino
scientists. Finally, the demands of globalization, especially the ASEAN economic agenda, prompted the
Philippines to invest in science and technology programs and projects..

You have now reached the end of Module 1 Lesson 2.

Congratulations! Did you enjoy studying this module? Did you learn
a lot from it? 