Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
Hand-out#4 : Science and Technology and the Nation-Building
Lesson Objectives
• Trace and explain the historical timeline and developments of science and technology in
the Philippines
• Discuss the role of government and determine their established policies for science and
technology in the Philippines
• Identify the contributions of several Filipino scientists
Discussion
I. Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines
The development of science and technology in the Philippines can be divided into three
periods: pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial period.
A. Pre-Colonial Period
The emergence of the development of science and technology can be traced back as early as
before the colonizers came in the Philippines. Before the Spanish colonized our country, early
inhabitants of the archipelago had their own culture and traditions. They have their own belief
system and indigenous knowledge system that keeps them organized and sustained their lives
and communities for many years.
The Science during the pre-colonial period is embedded in the way of life of 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 and preservation. Science is
observed in the way they interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to predict season 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 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.
The development of science and technology was also influenced by nearby countries due to their
trading system. Sophisticated and precious metals from the trades have helped them to create
technological ideas in the development of different tools.
B. Colonial Period
i. Spanish Period
When Spaniards colonized the country, they brought their own culture and practices. They
established walls, roads, bridges, and other large infrastructures. Educational system was also
established which is the start of the formal science and technology in country. In terms of
science, the school focuses on understanding different concepts related to the human body,
plants, animals, and heavenly bodies. For technology, school focuses on using and developing
house tools used in everyday life. Medicine and advanced science were introduced in formal
colleges and universities established by the Catholic orders.
The galleon trade further developed the science and technology in the Philippines. Although it is
more beneficial to Spanish colonizers, it allowed the enter of new scientific ideas and
technological tools. Due to this reason, Philippine was considered as one of the centers of global
trade to Southern Asia that led to the Philippines to be one of the developed places in the region.
However, the Philippines is still restricted by superstitious beliefs and Catholic doctrines that
halted the growth of science and technology.
ii. American Period
The Americans have more influence in the development of science and technology in the
Philippines compared to the Spaniards. They established the Bureau of Science which is a
government agency that became the main research center of the Philippines. Americans also
reorganized the Laboratorio Municipal to Bureau of Government Laboratories under the United
States Department of Interior which has a purpose of studying tropical diseases and pursuing
other related research projects. The National Research Council of the Philippines that focuses on
agriculture, food processing, medicine, and pharmacy was also established. Researches during
this time are commonly for the control of malaria, cholera, and tuberculosis and other tropical
diseases.
One of the remarkable ways that the Americans did is the public educational system that offers
education for students who can’t afford. They also reorganized the learning of science. Aside
from this, they also improved the engineering works and health care in the Philippines.
However, the 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.
C. Post-Colonial Period
World War II 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 itself from the ruins of the war. The reparation funds were concentrated on
building important institutions and public facilities like schools, hospital, and transportation
systems.
Since the establishment of the new republic, the whole nation has been focusing on using its
limited resources in improving its science and technological capability. It has explored the use of
ODA (Overseas Development Allocations) from different countries to help the country to
improve its scientific productivity and technological capability.
II. Role of Government in Science and Technology and the Nation-building
The Philippine government introduced and implemented programs, projects, and policies to
boost the area of science and technology in the country. 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.
In response to the ASEAN 2015 Agenda, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
sought the expertise of National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).
The NRCP clustered these policies into four:
1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance
● Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education
● 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
3. Medical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
● Ensuring compliance of drug manufacturing firms with ASEAN harmonized
standards by full implementation of Food and Drug Administration
● Creating a council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical services and
care
● Empowering food and drug agencies to conduct evident based research as pool of
information
● Allocating 2% 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
● Promoting indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous people’s conservation
● Formulation of common food and safety standards
Existing programs supported by Philippine government
1. Providing funds for basic research and patents related to science and technology
2. Providing scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies of students in the field of
science and technology.
3. Providing trainings for young Filipinos in the field of science and technology
4. Creating and developing science and technology parks to encourage academe and industry
partnerships.
5. Balik Scientist Program to encourage Filipino scientists abroad to come home and work or
conduct researches and projects.
6. Establish infrastructures, like National Science Complex and National Engineering Complex,
that aim to developed more scientist, technologist, and engineers (manpower) resources needed
by the country.
7. Strengthen science education in Elementary and High school system.
Some of the various research and projects in the Philippines
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. Increase food production
6. Preservation of natural resources
7. Coping with natural disasters and calamities
8. Infrastructure development
III. Filipino Scientists
1. Ramon Cabanos Barba - is a Filipino inventor and horticulturist best known for inventing
a way to induce more flowers in mango trees using ethrel and potassium nitrate.
2. Josefino Casas 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 III - for his research on tilapia culture
7. Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr. - for inventing in the meconium drug testing
8. Lilian Formalejo Patena - for doing research on plant biotechnology
9. William Padolina - chemistry and president of National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST)-Philippines
10. Gregory Ligot Tangonan - for his research in the field of communications technology
Summary
1. The development of science and technology can be traced back to pre-colonial period. Still, its
development continued to grow and was influenced when the Spanish and American colonizers
came to our country. The WWII halted the development and funds were focused more about
rebuilding the country.
2. The role of the government in the development of Philippine science and technology is
provide programs, projects, and policies to prepare its people for the technologically-driven
world.
3. There are numerous Filipino scientists that contribute to the development of science and
technology in the Philippines. They are influence by many factors such as science schools and
science laboratories.
References
1. Serafica, J. et.al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society. Rex Printing Company, Inc.,
First Edition, 2018.
2. Quinto, E.J.M. & Nieva, A.D. Science, Technology, and Society. C&E Bookshop
Publishing.
