SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES
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1. Discuss how science and technology was represented in the Philippine government then until now. (5
points)

 Even before the precolonial period, science and technology is already present here in the Philippines
as we were already using plants as medicines and using technology through agriculture. However, we
have been significantly influenced by the Spanish and American colonization. They were the ones who
introduced us to proper education, including medicine, pharmacy, and engineering, among other things.
Regardless, they were also the reason why it is underdeveloped. Because we were exploited through
agriculture, we were not properly exposed to industrialization. Now, how does this effect current
Science and Technology? Despite the fact that we were educated to be doctors, engineers, scientists,
etc. Our country has nothing to offer because it is still centered on agriculture economy. As a result,
many degree holders are unemployed or underemployed due to low compensation, while others prefer
to work overseas, causing Science and Technology to remain slow to develop.

2. Briefly describe how science and technology defined the various sectors of the Philippine government during
the different periods in history. Use the following table for your answers. (25 points)

Historical Government Sectors

Period
Education Health Agriculture Economy Politics

Filpinos already Filipinos had We were Trade and They already

had writing been using plants already industry are only have a
system called and herbs as cultivating viable on open community called
"Baybayin", medicine for crops, raising seas, so they a barangay that is
number system, a healing and livestock for used boats for led by a
weighing and prosperity in this food coastal trade Datu/Rajah
measuring era. and performing because remote during this time
system primarily rituals.  For our areas of the period. Only the
for length, mass, lowland country were "timawa," or free
Precolonial
volume and time. planting, unable to benefit men, pay taxes in
They also Filipinos utilize from commerce. the form of crops
numbered the d an irrigation And they had no or goods.
years by the lunar system. understanding of
phase as their money, instead
calendar. traded with gold.
They were also
importing
Chinese porcelain
at this period.

Spaniards The study of Spanish The galleon trade The Spaniards

established pharmacy has concentration hardly benefited attempted a
schools, and advanced, which with the Manila us. But the religious
colleges were has contributed in galleon trade exports of sugar, approach known
modernized. The the development neglected tobacco, rice, and as "reduccion,"
 study of the of infectious agriculture and other crops that the Filipinos
physiology, disease research. mining, the increased when tried to resist. The
botany, and Several charity native Manila was finally precolonial ruling
zoology is the hospitals were handicrafts open for trade. As class became the
emphasis of also established declined as the country's leaders of the
science during throughout the well. However, other ports lowest level of
this era. country to provide Cotton, opened, we were local government.
Spanish Furthermore, public services. pepper, and also able to Lastly, the tax
higher education Spanish other crops import was collected by
was first missionaries also were manufactured the government
encouraged. wrote about promoted, as goods. The local through tribute
medicinal plants was the industries and forced labor
found in the development prospered as services.
Philippines. of the silk well.
industry. This
resulted in
funds being
allocated to
agricultural
improvement
inventions.

The educational This was the time The The country We were ruled by
system prospered when the Philippines benefited from American military
as Americans government continued to international trade governors
introduced public began to support export crops but the Philippine throughout the
schools. The public health such as hemp, economy early years of the
Philippine services more. indigo, remained American regime.
Commission Dengue fever, sugar, rice, agricultural due to However, the
passed an Act to TB, malaria, and and tobacco to a lack of Americans later
fund students other diseases the United government agreed to allow
known as were studied by States, just as support for us to hold
"pensionados" to the Bureau of it did during industrial legislative
pursue higher Science. They the Spanish research during elections for
American education and also researched government, the American Philippine
serve in the at the nutritional and we regime, which is Assembly.
public as they benefits of foods  continued to why it still under-
return. and import developed.
Scholarships tropical products American
were also offered products.
for engineering,
agricultural, and
applied science
courses.

The public school The Department Abaca fiber, Unfortunately, the The
system was of Health and coconut oil, commonwealth's Commonwealth
expanded during Public Welfare sugar, copra, goal of economic period was
this time. The was established and other self-sufficiency viewed as a
Office of Private at this time. crops from the was not achieved transitional
 Education was Hospitals were Philippines as American government in
also re- improved, and have reached foreign trade and preparation for
established by health-care the American tariff policies the Philippines'
the government. services were market. The remain in place. independence,
Furthermore, expanded. The Bureau of Also, as free Filipinos had
Common- higher education sanitary divisions Mines, as well trade proceeded, finally taken
wealth was solely offered were also as the Bureau and the Filipinos control of the
by the private expanded, and of Plant and became administration.
sector. These specific facilities Animal increasingly
schools provided for leprosy, Industry, were reliant on This was also the
the country with mental disorders, also establishe American era when women
engineers and and other d during this markets, ignoring were given their
scientists who diseases were period. foreign markets. suffrage.
trained.  built.

There were no During this time, Several The economy did During the
significant the Philippines agricultural not prosper at this American regime,
changes in were able to research period because Philippine science
education after obtain funds from institutes, such scientific work deteriorated, and
independence the World Health as the was disregarded. continued after
as it remained the Organization Philippine There was a lack the country's
same as it had (WHO) to support Coconut of information for independence
been under the health Research business  due to the
American period. care programs. Institute, the government's lack
After industries, a
However, the An Act for Rural Philippine of support. This
Independence neglection
number of state Health was also Textile was the era that
universities, on passed at this Research of experimental prompted
the other hand, time to administer Institute, and work, low pay for Congress to pass
has been rising. basic health the Forest government the Science Act,
Moreover, the services, dental Products scientists, and a that establish
rise of scientific treatment, health Research lack of funding for policies for
and engineering education, Institute, were scientific research scientific progress
professional medical care, and formed during in the national and coordination.
organizations and communicable this time.  budget. As a result,
institutions has disease various
helped the management. Contributing to institutions for the
country's higher the growth of advancement of
education growth. science and science and
Technology in technology were
the Philippines stablished.