MODULE 2

Science, Technology, and Nation – Building

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Learn in g Out com es:

1. Analyze the historical timeline and developments of Science and Technology in the Philippines;
2. Evaluate government policies pertaining to science technology in terms of their contributions to a nation
building;
3. Summarize the contribution of Filipino Scientist to the development of science and technology in the
country
 P resen tation o f les son :
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. Even before the time of Spanish colonization in the
Philippines, various people and communities already practiced science.

The Science and Technology in the Philippine Society

❖ 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.

❖ Early Filipinos already had their own culture and traditions before the coming of the colonizers. Their
own systems of belief and indigenous knowledge helped them to thrive and survive their lives and
communities for many years. The scientific knowledge of Filipino people before the pre-Spanish times
were incorporated already to their way of life such as in planting their crops that provide them food, in
taking care of animals to help them in their daily tasks, and in their food production.
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❖ Early and Indigenous sciences were used by Filipinos in preparing the soil for agricultural purposes,
interpreting movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons, documenting the uses of medical plants.

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❖ 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 instrument.

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❖ During Metal Age, artifacts were also found in different regions of the country which signify that
Early Filipino utilized these tools on their daily living.
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❖ The sophisticated designs 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 influenced their lives by providing different opportunities for
cultural and technological exchange.

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❖ 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 girls and introduced the concept of subjects and disciplines. It
was the beginning of formal science and technology in the country, known now as school of science
and technology.
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❖ Learning of science in school focuses on understanding different concepts related to the human body,
plants, animals, and heavenly bodies Technology focuses on using and developing house tools used in
everyday life.

❖ Life during the Spanish era slowly became modernized, adapting some Western technology and their
ways of life. The Filipinos developed ways to replicate the technology brought by the Spaniards using
indigenous materials. Medicine and advanced science were introduced in formal colleges and
universities established by the Catholic orders.

❖ The galleon trade has brought additional technology and development in the Philippines. Although it is
only beneficial for the Spaniards, these trades allowed other ideas, crops, tools, cultural practices,
technology, and Western practices to reach the country. Some Filipino students who were able to study
in Europe also contributed to the advancement of medicine, engineering, arts, music, and literature in
the country.

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 Science and technology may have a 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 basic education to graduate education is improving slowly, and
there are only few students enrolling in science and technology courses.

Government Policies on Science and Technology

• 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 be in a world driven by science.

• Padilla-Concepcion reported that in 2015, in response to the ASEAN 2015 Agenda, the government,
particularly the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), has sought the expertise of the National
Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP) to consult various sectors in the society to study how the Philippines
can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN 2015 Goals. 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.

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 in 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 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 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

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. The government
funds basic and applied researches. Funding of these research and projects are also from the Overseas
Development Aid (ODA) from different countries.

● Providing scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies of students in the field of science and
technology. Saloma (2015) pointed out that the country needs to produce more doctoral graduates in the field
of science and technology, and produce more research in these fields, including engineering.

● 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. 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 techno-

preneurship ventures.

● Strengthen science education at an early stage through the Philippine Science High School system.

In the field of education, several science-related programs and projects were created to develop the scientific
literacy of the country.

• Special science classes were organized and special science elementary established in different regions.
Aside from these, science and n basic education were continuously improved. The current K to 12 education
programs included Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as one of its major tracks in
the senior high program to encourage more students to enroll in science-related fields in college.
 • Lately, the Commission on Higher Education launched its Philippine-California Advanced Research
Institutes (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

• The Philippine Congress has also created various laws related to science and technology. These laws
serve as a legal framework for science and technology in the country. These laws vary according to
different themes such as: conservation, health-related, technology-building, and supporting basic
research, among others. Some laws and policies are in line with international treaties such as the United
Nations (UN). United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other international agencies.
 As shown in the diagram, the development of policies in science and technology is shaped or influenced
by several variables policies need to be aligned to national goals, consider international commitments based on
legal frameworks, and respond to various social needs, issues, and problems, Science and technology policies
ensure that the whole country and all people will experience the progress that science can bring. Policies are
guides to direct all alerts to a goal of developing a scientifically advanced country.

Famous Filipinos in the field of science

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. 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, medicine, marine science, chemistry, engineering and biology.

The Filipino scientists are:

1. Ramon Cabanos Barba - for his outstanding research on tissue culture in Philippine mangoes.
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2. Josefino Cacas Comiso - for his 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 - for his research on herbal medicine.

6. Rafael Dineros Guerrero Ill - for his research on tilapia culture.
7. Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr. - for inventing the meconium drugs testing.
8. Lilian Formalejo Patena - for doing research on plant biotechnology.

9. Mari Jo Panganiban Ruiz - for being an outstanding educator and graph theorist.
10. Gregory Ligot Tangonan - for his research in the field of communications technology.

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 the National Academy of Science and Technology
(NAST)-Philippines
❖ 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 Baños is a science paradise for agriculture, forestry, plant and animal science,
and veterinary science. It has produced numerous scientists and various research in the fields 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. The government must find ways to establish more
research laboratories and research institutes. There is also a need to find ways on how their researches are
disseminated to the public.

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 part with other scientists in spite of the

limited facilities we have here in the country.

 Con n ectin g act ivit ies:
ACTIVITY #1: WATCH AND LEARN! Watch the following video clips and answer the succeeding questions per
video clip. You can access the videos by clicking the provided link or by playing the downloaded videos in your
flash drive.

Clip 1: SMARTER PHILIPPINES DOST DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Link: [Link]

Guide Questions:

1. What are the main goals of this project, Smarter Philippines of Department of Science and Technology?
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2. What are the 6 components of this project and how will it help in promoting science and technology and
in the nation building agenda of the government?
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____________________________________________________________________________________________.

Activity no. 2: MY SCIENTIST!

1. Identify one Filipino scientist who was not mentioned above. Research on their contributions in the field of
science and be ready for an online presentation.
2. There will be a Facebook thread to be posted in your group which you will comment your chosen Filipino
Scientist. It means that no one will work on the same scientists in our class.
 In tegrat ion an d syn the sis
ACTIVITY: STUDENT’S REFLECTION: Answer the following questions.

STUDENT’S REFLECTION:

1. Identify several issues in the Philippines.

What science- and technology-related
policies could be developed and
implemented to solve these issues?
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____________.
2. What can you say about the
implementation of some science and
technology policies and projects in the
country?
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____________.
 Assessm en t:

N etw orks/ lin ks an d re feren c es:

Prieto, N. G., Vega, V. A., Felipe, E. F., & Meneses, J. L. (2019). Science, Technology and Society. LORIMAR
PUBLISHER, INC.

Serafica, J. J., Pawilen, G. T., Caslib, B. N., & Alata, E. P. (n.d.). Science, Technology and Society (1st ed.). REX
Bookstore.