Southwestern College of Maritime, Business and Technology, Inc.

Quezon Drive, Calero, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

SUBJECT: Science, Technology, and Society MODULE #: 3

SECTION: TEACHER: Ms. Princes Jhoy G. Batanes

I. TOPIC: Science, Technology, and Nation-Building

 Colonial Period

 Post-Colonial Period

II. TARGET OUTCOMES

I. MATERIALS NEEDED
To accomplish exercises and activities, you need the following: black pen, pencil and/or other writing
materials and other available references

IV. GEAR UP YOUR MIND

The development of science and technology in the Philippines has already come a long way. Many
significant inventions and discoveries have been accomplished by or attributed to Filipinos. This chapter
tackles how the development of science and technology affect the development of the Philippines as a
nation.

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

 Scientific and technological development in the Philippines began in the pre-colonial period
 Early Filipino settlers were already using certain plants and herbs as medicines

 Systems of farming and animal-raising were also implemented

 Early Filipinos had also developed different modes of transportation, weather terrestrial or maritime

 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

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  A complicated engineering feat was achieved by the natives of the Cordilleras when they built rice
terraces

Rice Terraces
 Built by hand by the natives of the Cordilleras
 Through these terraces, the people were able to cultivate crops on the
mountainsides in cold temperatures
 They incorporated an irrigation system that uses water from the forests
and mountain tops to achieve an elaborate farming system.
 The rice terraces of the Cordilleras, which are still functional, show the innovative and

indigenous way of the natives to survive in an otherwise unfriendly environment

COLONIAL PERIOD

SPANISH ERA
 When the Spaniards colonized the country, they brought with them their own culture and practices.

 The Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific institution (they established this
school for boys and girls and introduced the concept of subjects and disciplines) (Education
systems that were enjoyed by the principalia class.
 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.
 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 were taught to the natives. Later the Spanish
established colleges and universities in the archipelago including the oldest existing university in
Asia, the University of Santo Tomas.
 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.
 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 are able to study in Europe also contributed to the advancement of
medicine, engineering, arts, music, and literature in the country.

 The Philippines, being one of the centers of global trade in Southeast Asia during that time, was
considered to be one of the most developed places in the religion. Although the country is blessed

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 with these developments, the superstitious beliefs of the people and the Catholic doctrines and
practices during the Spanish era halted the growth of science in the country.

AMERICAN ERA
 The Americans have more influence in the development of science and technology in the
Philippines compared to the Spaniards.
 They established the public education system, improved the engineering works and the health
conditions of the people.
 They established a modern research university, the University of the Philippines, and created more
public hospitals than the former colonial master.
 The mineral resources of the country were also explored and exploited during the American times.
 Transportation and communication systems were improved, though not accessible throughout the
country.
 The Americans did everything to “Americanize” the Philippines.
 They recognized the learning of science and introduced it in public and private schools. In basic
education, science education focuses on nature studies and science and sanitation, until it became
a subject formally known as “Science”. The teaching of science in higher education has also
greatly improved and modernized. Researches were done to control malaria, cholera, and
tuberculosis and other tropical diseases.
 The desire of the Americans to develop the human resources of the Philippines to serve their own
interests is, somehow, beneficial in the country. These allowed American scholars to introduce new
knowledge and technology in the country. The Protestant church missions in different places in the
country also brought hospitals and schools to far-flung areas. Little by little, these efforts built a
stronger foundation for science and technology in the country.
 However, 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 may be strong but the capacity of the country to bring back what
was destroyed was limited. The reparation funds focused on building some institutions and public
facilities like schools, hospitals and transportation systems. The reparation money from Japan was
also concentrated on building highways and in providing technological training and human
resource development in the country.

POST-COLONIAL PERIOD
After achieving independence from the colonizers, the Philippines, under administrations,
continued to pursue programs in science and technology. Each leadership had its own science and
technology agenda. However, it is important
to note that some Philippine presidents posted more developments in the field than others.

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MARCOS ERA
 One of the presidents who ushered in advancements in science and technology
 the importance given to science grew
 In the amended 1973 Philippine Constiturion, Article XV, Section 9 (1), he declared that the
“advancement of science and technology shall have priority in the national development”.
 “In his two terms of presidency and during Martial Law, he enacted laws promoting science and
technology.
 In his 2nd State of the Nation Address on January 23, 1967, he declared that science was
necessary for the development programs, and thus, directed the DepEd to revitalize the science
courses in public high schools.
 The DepEd, with the National Science Development Board (NSDB), have organized a project to
provide selected high schools with science teaching equipment over a four-year period.
 In his 3rd State of the Nation Address on January 22, 1968, he recognized that technology was
the leading factor in economic development, and channeled additional funds to support projects in
applied sciences and science education
 In his 4th State of the Nation Address on January 27, 1969, he gave a big part of the war
damage fund to private universities to encourage them to create courses in science and technology
and to research. He stated that he planned a project to have medical interns do a tour of duty in
provincial hospitals to arouse their social consciousness and reduce the “brain drain”.
 On April 6, 1968, he proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal as the site of the Philippine
Science Community.
 The government also conducted seminars for public and private high school and college
science teachers, training programs and scholarships for graduate and undergraduate science
scholars, and workshops on fisheries and oceanography.
 In his 5th State of the Nation Address on January 26, 2970, he emphasized that the upgrading of
science curricula and teaching equipment is crucial to the science development program.
 He added the Philippine Coconut Research Institute to the NSDB to modernize the coconut
industry.
 The NSDB also established the Philippine Textile Research Institute.
 The Philippine Atomic Energy Commission of the NSDB explored the uses of atomic energy for
economic development.
 Marcos assisted 107 institutions in undertaking nuclear energy work by sending scientists to
study nuclear science and technology abroad, and providing basic training to 482 scientists,
doctors, engineers, and technicians.
 In his 7th State of the Nation Address on January 24, 1972, he spoke about his major
development projects in reforming sectors of education.
 Such projects included research and development schools, technical institutes, science education
centers, and agricultural colleges and vocational high schools.

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  In 1972 , he created the National Grains Authority to provide for the development of the rice and
corn industry to fully harness it for the economy of the country. (Presidential Decree No. 4, s.1972)
 He established the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research to support the progressive
development of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries for the nation. It was attached to the
Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for administrative purposes.
 He provided further support for the promotion of scientific research and invention with Presidential
Decree No. 4, s.1972. This decree contains details on the protection of intellectual property for the
creator or publisher of the work.
 He established the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical ad Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) under the Department of National Defense to provide environmental
protection and to utilize scientific knowledge to ensure the safety of the people (Presidential
Decree No. 78, s. 1972).
 In 1973, he created the Philippine National Oil Company to promote industrial and economic
development through effective and efficient use of energy sources. (Presidential Decree No. 334,
s. 1973).
 In 1976, he enacted a law under Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s. 1976, to established the
National Academy of Science and Technology, which is composed of scientists with “innovative
achievement in the basic and applied sciences” to serve as a reservoir of scientific and
technological expertise for the country.
 In 1978, he created a Task Force on the formulation of a national action program on science and
technology to assess policies and programs of science and technology. (Executive Order No. 512,
s. 1978)
 In his 14th State of the Nation Address on July 23, 1079, he said that the government invested
funds and time in organizations for scientific research, such as the NSDB, the Philippine Council
for Agricultural Research and Resources, the Plant Breeding Institute, the International Rice
Research Institute, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and the Bureau of Forest Products.
 In 1979, he constituted the Health Science Center created by R.A. No. 5163 as an autonomous
member within the University of the Philippines System to improve the internal organization and
unity of leadership within its units. (Executive Order No. 519, s. 1979).
 In 1980, he created the National Committee on Geological Sciences to advise government and
private entities on matters concerning development in geological sciences. (Executive Order No.
625, s. 1980).
 In 1982, he reorganized the National Science and Technology Authority to provide central
direction and coordination of scientific and technological research and development. (Executive
Order No. 625, s. 1980).
 He granted salary increases to the people with teaching positions in the Philippines Science High
School due to their necessity in the advancement of national science. (Executive Order No. 810, s.
1982)
 He enacted a law on the completion of the National agriculture and Life Sciences Research
Complex at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños . (Executive Order No. 840, s. 1982)

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  In 1986, he established the Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the Philippine Science High
School to encourage careers in science and technology and to be more accessible to the talented
students in the Mindanao and Visayas areas (Executive Order No. 1090, s. 1986)
 Among others, Marcos saw that the key to nation-building is the continued development of science
and technology.
 The progress in science and technology continued even after his dictatorial rule and the presidents
after him left their own legacies in the field.

REFERENCE Daniel Joseph McNamara, SJ, Vida Mia Valverde, Ramon Beleno III,
Science, Technology and Society, 2018, C & E Publishing, Inc., 839 EDSA,
South Triangle, Quezon City, pp. 46-50

Ilagan, Yolanda A., Balinado, Lloyd O., Digma, Jonathan R., Taglinao,
Liwayway P., Bono,Michelle T., Peñaflorida [Link] P., Science,
Technology and Society, 2018, Panday-Lahi Publishing House, Inc., Blk.26
Lot 9, Sampaguita Street Doña Rosario Bayview Subdivision Sucat,
Muntinlupa City,

STUDENT’S NAME: DATE SUBMITTED:

SECTION: TEACHER: Ms. Princes Jhoy G. Batanes

V. BOOST UP YOUR LEARNING

Activity #1
Each group will be assigned to a president after Marcos. Identify some achievements in the field of
science and technology under the assigned administration and trace how they helped shape the Philippines
as a nation.

Criteria:

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 Content-40%
Collaboration- 25%
Presentation- 35 %

TOTAL- 100%

VI. LEVEL UP YOUR LEARNING

Reflect!

Directions: Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Trace the development of science and technology from the pre-colonial times up to the present. What
have you observed? (10 pts.)
2. What do you think are the major contributions of science and technology to Philippine nation-building?
(10 pts.)
3. What specific government policy do you like the most in terms of contributing to the development of
science and technology in the Philippines? (10 pts.)
4. What do you think are the major contributions of the Philippines to the field at present? (10 pts.)
5. What policies do you want the government to implement in the near future? (10 pts.)

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