PASCUAL, MIGUEL CARLOS A.

STS - BGA
2020-0125457 AUG 30, 2020

Summary: A History of Science and Technology in the Philippines

The paper “A History of Science and Technology in the Philippines” by Olivia C.

Caoili emphasizes on how factors such as geography, colonial trade, economic and
educational policies and socio-cultural factors affect the development of science and
technology in the Philippines. It stated a chronological history of different eras in the
Philippines and demonstrated how each era’s conditions shaped the science and
technology landscape in the Philippines. The periods stated in the writing, in order were:
Pre-colonial era, Spanish Regime, First Republic, American Regime, Commonwealth
Period, and Post-independence.

There has been evidence that even before the Spanish came to the Philippines,
there was already a concept of community and technology in the Philippines. It was
discovered that Filipinos then worked in units called barangays, and were already using
ships to trade. Trade would happen inter-island between the Philippine islands, and also
internationally to China. Early Filipinos would usually trade raw materials such as
beeswax, cotton, pearls, and betelnuts in exchange for Chinese porcelains, pots, glass
beads, iron needles, and tin.

When the Spanish came for exploration, it would also be discovered that there is
uneven technological development in the Philippines. Places like Manila, Mindoro, and
Cebu would have already built thick walls and weapons such as cannons for defense.
The early Spaniards also noted that all over the Philippines, it is very common that there
would already be agriculture and mining – with just the exception of mountain people who
have remained to be hunters. There is no question that the Filipinos then can satisfy their
needs and can feed themselves – what’s lacking, however, is innovation and a system
that disseminates knowledge.

The Spanish then colonized the Filipinos. This era would focus on them building
schools, hospitals, and churches. The colonization is religious centered – both physically
and systematically. The Spaniards applied a tactic called “reduccion” where in they would
lessen the barangay systems and pack them up into towns within the hearing distance of
church bells. Schools and Universities would be started in this era. They would be headed
 PASCUAL, MIGUEL CARLOS A. STS - BGA
2020-0125457 AUG 30, 2020

by religious institutions – Dominicans would establish the University of Santo Tomas. UST
would focus on applied science like medicine and pharmacy – with no regard for natural
sciences. Education would only be accessible to powerful Filipinos – this would produce
the likes of Jose Rizal and Antonio Luna. With regards to economy, the early stages of
this colonization would focus on galleon trading – wherein Filipinos would be forced to
labor on forest and on ships. There would be little to no focus on agriculture and mining
at this point. Agriculture would be left on supervision of friars and the Chinese – to which
they would add no quality; they would just exploit native technology and use slaves for
personal services. Later on, there would be developments on agriculture as galleon
trading would fail due to shipwrecks and pirate attacks; Philippines would then begin
producing and exporting products such as rice, sugar, tobacco, hemp and indigo.

The American era would be a period wherein there would be huge advancements
in Science and Technology. This would be because of them giving importance and
support to public education system – granting scholarships in the field of science and
engineering.

The Americans would start reforming the educational system by creating a

department of public instruction in the Philippines. This would result to the establishment
of Philippine Normal School (for teachers) and Philippine Medical School – which would
then be later absorbed by the establishment of University of the Philippines in 1908.
Instructors and professors in the beginning would consist mostly of Americans – as there
is a vast shortage of qualified Filipinos. The number of Filipino professors would rise up
however after around 20 years in 1926. The American regime would be a start of
introducing vocational and industrial courses to Filipinos. This would be offered by non-
sectarian schools who are well equipped; unlike private schools who would be monitored
later on by the government for lack of quality. Aside from educational system reforms,
there would be also an establishment of different offices for growth of scientific research.
This would consist of Bureau of Science and Bureau of Health, later added on by more
specific areas such as: Weather Bureau, Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Forestry, Bureau
of Agriculture, Bureau of Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey, Bureau of Plant Industry,
 PASCUAL, MIGUEL CARLOS A. STS - BGA
2020-0125457 AUG 30, 2020

Bureau of Animal Industry, National Medical Research Council, and National Research
Council.

The Commonwealth era would focus on expanding the public-school system to

accommodate the children in need of basic education. Higher education, however, will
still be dominated by the private sector. To develop the economy, it created the National
Economic Council to prepare an economic program. Government organizations were
reorganized to use and develop natural resources; promote local industries; and promote
agriculture production and marketing. The goal of all these is economic self-reliance –
which was opposingly not achieved due to the fact that trade and tariff policies remained
under the control of the American government. Science and technology bureaus would
have increased budget allocations in the Commonwealth era – this however wouldn’t
work as technology advancements will be halted as the pacific war would break out in the
Pacific. Manila, which has been the center of educational and scientific activities would
be destroyed; and Governments efforts will be focused on reconstruction and restoration.

Post-war education system would be like that in Commonwealth era where funds
will be focused on elementary school level, and private colleges and universities still hold
the majority of the students in higher education. There be little government support for
science and technology which would cause it to greatly deteriorate, until the 1960s
wherein there would be increased funding on the creation and development of various
organizations and agencies such as Philippine Inventors Commission (1964), Philippine
Coconut Research Institute (1964), Philippine Textile Research Institute (1967), and
Forest Products Research and Industries Development Commission (1969). Additional
institutions would be created in 1983: The National Institutes of Physics, Geological
Sciences, Natural Sciences Research, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematical Sciences.

In conclusion, there is great influence by the shifts in colonies and leaders in the
Philippines. There have been great repercussions to economy, science, and technology
for the Philippines has depended its societal development to other countries. There is a
need for the Philippines to look back and improve what has been neglected in scientific,
technological, and economic policies in order to achieve its goal of being a strong and
self-reliant country.