Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module, the student

will be able to:
1. trace the development of science and technology in the
Philippines;
2. discuss the role of science and technology in Philippine
nation building;
3. recognize the contributions of Filipino Scientists in
science and technology;
4. evaluate government policies pertaining to science and
technology in terms of their contribution to nation building.
Brief Historical Background of Science & Technology in the
Philippines

Science & Technology in Pre-Spanish Period:

Even before the colonization by the Spaniards in the
Philippine islands, the natives of the archipelago already
had practices linked to science and technology.

Filipinos were already aware of the medicinal and

therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of
extracting medicine from herbs.
- In discovering medicinal use of plants.
Brief Historical Background of Science & Technology in the
Philippines
Science & Technology in Pre-Spanish Period:
They already had an Alphabet and
the Number System:
Baybayin is a writing system native
to the Philippines, attested from before
Spanish colonization through to at
least the eighteenth century.
Brief Historical Background of Science & Technology in the Philippines

Science & Technology in Pre-Spanish Period:

They already had a weighing
and measuring system:
Brief Historical Background of Science & Technology in the Philippines

Science & Technology in Pre-Spanish Period:

They also have a calendar.

They have a way to interpret movement of heavenly bodies to predict

seasons and climates and in organizing days to months & years.
Brief Historical Background of Science & Technology in the Philippines
Pre-Spanish Period
Filipinos were already engaged in:
Farming,
In preparing soil for agricultural purposes;
The way they plant their crops that provide
them food;
In taking care of animals to help them in
daily tasks;
Brief Historical Background of Science & Technology in the Philippines
Pre-Spanish Period
Shipbuilding,
The Western Visayas was
prominent in the boat-building
industry in the Philippines
long before the coming of
the Spaniards. The
construction of wooden
boats was then a
flourishing activity in the
region due to the
archipelagic character of the
country and its varied
marine resources, and made possible by the abundant and execellent
timber on the islands.
 Brief Historical Background of Science & Technology in the Philippines
Pre-Spanish Era:
Filipinos were already engaged in mining and weaving.
 Brief Historical Background of Science & Technology in the
Philippines
Pre-Spanish Era:

The Banaue Rice

Terraces are among
the sophisticated
products of engineering
by pre-Spanish era
Filipinos.
 Pre-Spanish Technology is used by the people in:

• building houses
 Pre-Sparish Technology is used by the people in:
• irrigations
 Pre-Sparish Technology is used by the people in:
• developing tools:

for planting, for hunting,

 Pre-Sparish Technology is used by the people in:
• developing tools:

for cooking utensils,

 Pre-Sparish Technology is used by the people in:
• developing tools:

for fishing and for mining

 Pre-Sparish Technology is used by the people in:
• developing tools:

for fighting their enemies during tribal conflicts

 Pre-Spanish Era Technology is used by people in:
• transportation (land & water ways)
 Pre-Spanish Technology is used by people in:

creating musical instruments

 Science and Technology during
Spanish Colonization:
• When the Spaniards colonized the Philippines they brought their own
culture and practices.
 Science and Technology during
Spanish Colonization:
• They established schools for boys and girls.
 Science and Technology during
Spanish Colonization:
• It was the beginning of formal science and technology in the
Philippines known as School of Science and Technology.

The colonization of the Philippines contributed to growth of science and

technology in the archipelago. The Spanish introduced formal education
and founded scientific institution.
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 University of Santo Tomas.
 Science and Technology during
Spanish Colonization:
• They introduced the concept of subjects and disciplines.
 Science and Technology during
Spanish Colonization:
• Science in school focuses on understanding different concepts related
to human body, plants, animals and heavenly bodies.

• Technology focuses on using and developing house tools.

• Life slowly become modernized adapting some Western technology

and way of life.

• Medicine and advanced Science were introduced in Formal Colleges &

Universities established by Catholic Orders.

• In the last few decades of Spanish rule (1870) Medicine, Pharmacy and
Agriculture and Meteorology started to be offered in the universities
like UST and Ateneo.
 Science & Technology during the American Regime
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.
 Science & Technology during the American Regime
The Americans have more influence in the development of Science and
Technology in the Philippines compared to the Spaniards:
• Improved the engineering works and health conditions of the people.
 Science & Technology during the American Regime
The Americans have more influence in the development of Science and
Technology in the Philippines compared to the Spaniards:
Established modern research university (UP).

Created more public hospitals.

 Science & Technology during the American Regime
The Americans have more influence in the development of Science and
Technology in the Philippines compared to the Spaniards:

Mineral Resources of the

country were explored.

Transportation
and Communications
were improved.
 The Americans did everything to Americanize the
Philippines:
• They reorganized the learning of Science and introduced in public and
private schools.

• Education became a very important issue for the United States colonial
government, since it allowed it to spread their cultural values,
particularly the English language, to the Filipino people. Instruction in
English language, and American history, lead to forming of a national
identity and Filipino nationalism.

• Every child from age 7 was required to register in schools located in

their own town or province. The students were given free school
materials. There were three levels of education during the American
period. The "elementary" level consisted of four primary years and 3
intermediate years. The "secondary" or high school level consisted of
four years; and the third was the "college" or tertiary level. Religion
was not part of the curriculum of the schools as it had been during the
Spanish period.
 The Americans did everything to Americanize the
Philippines:
• They reorganized the learning of Science and introduced in public and
private schools.
• Universities that were built during the American Regime:
The Americans did everything to Americanize the
Philippines:
The Americans did everything to Americanize the
Philippines:
 The Americans did everything to Americanize the
Philippines:
• In Basic Education, Science focuses on nature studies & sanitation.

• In higher education, researches were done to control tropical diseases.

Higher education also promoted establishment of state universities
like UP.

• Scholarship was also made available to deserving graduate students

and faculty members.
In some cases those students who excelled academically were sent to
the U.S. to continue their studies and to become experts in their desired
fields or professions. They were called "scholars" and "pensionados"
because the government covered all their expenses. In return, they were
to teach or work in government offices after they finished their studies.
 The Americans organized the ff.
1. Bureau of Science – Trained Filipinos to be Scientists
The progress of science and technology in the Philippines continued
under American rule of the islands. On July 1, 1901 The Philippine
Commission established the Bureau of Government Laboratories
which was placed under the Department of Interior. The Bureau
replaced the Laboratorio Municipal, which was established under the
Spanish colonial era. The Bureau dealt with the study of tropical
diseases and laboratory projects.
On October 26, 1905, the Bureau of Government Laboratories was
replaced by the Bureau of Science and on December 8, 1933, the
National Research Council of the Philippines was established. The
Bureau of Science became the primary research center of the
Philippines until World War II.
 The Americans organized the ff.
2. Bureau of Health and the Philippine General Hospital
The American Era: 1898 – 1918
After the end of Spanish rule, the Filipino Revolutionary
Government was established, including a Bureau of Public
Health.
Under General Wesley Merritt, a Board of Health for
supervising public health was established on September
29, 1898. The Board of Health’s biggest challenge was
smallpox, which they battled by standardizing vaccine
production and campaigning for vaccination.
Despite American efforts, public sanitation was dismal,
and diseases were still spreading. Manila faced Bubonic
plague; smallpox still spread in provinces; lepers roamed
the streets.
 The Americans organized the ff.
3.Weather Bureau
On May 22, 1901, the Philippine Commission enacted Act No. 131,
reorganizing the Observatorio Meteorológico de Manila into the
Weather Bureau under the Department of Interior.
With the establishment of the Department of Agriculture and Natural
Resources (DANR) on January 1, 1917, the Weather Bureau was
transferred from the Department of Interior to DANR.
With the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the
DANR was reorganized into the Department of Agriculture and
Commerce.
For nearly 45 years, the Weather Bureau remained active and famous
in international expositions and scientific expeditions, and continued
to be well known for its accurate typhoon forecasts and scientific
works in the field of meteorology, geomagnetism, and astronomy.
 The Americans organized the ff.
4. Bureau of Mines, Forestry, Agriculture, Plant Industry &
National Research Council
When the Americans came, a reorganization was implemented
resulting in the emergence of the Mining Bureau by virtue of General
Order No. 31, dated March 10, 1900. As part of the reorganization, the
administration of mining grants and claims instituted prior to April 11,
1899 was transferred by Act No. 916 from the Mining Bureau to the
Public Lands.
In 1905, the Mining Bureau and the Bureau of Government
Laboratories were fused under the Bureau of Science, and the Mining
Bureau became the Division of Geology and Mines.
April 14, 1900 - The "Inspeccion" was renamed into Forestry Bureau
by the U.S. Military Governor in the Philippines with the issuance of
General Order No. 50.
September 6, 1901 - The Forestry Bureau was changed to Bureau of
Forestry and was placed under the newly created Department of
Interior by virtue of Act No. 222.
 The Americans organized the ff.
November 18, 1916 - The Department of Interior was abolished and
transferred all its functions and authority to the Department of
Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR).
Under Act, the DANR took "direct executive control, direction and
supervision of the Bureau of Agriculture, Bureau of Forestry, Bureau
of Lands, Bureau of Science and the Weather Bureau and all matters
concerning hunting, fisheries, sponges and other sea products and
such others as may be hereafter assigned to it by Act 2666.
The National Research Council of the Philippines was established and
the Bureau of Science was the primary research center of the
Philippines until World War II.
 Science and Technology in the Post American Era
After the country got its independence from the United States, the
policies and programs on education, science & technology remained.
• The Bureau of Science was reorganized and became National Science
and Development.
• In 1960’s more science agencies were created by the government
such as:
1. Phil. Investor Commission
2. Phil. Coconut Research Institute
3. Phil. Textile Research
4. Forest Product Research
In 1980’s the National Science & Technology Authority (NSTA) replaced
the National Science Development.
In 1987 – NSTA became the Department of Science & Technology
(DOST).
At present DOST has the ff. agencies:
• Sectoral Planning Councils
Phil. Council for health Research & Development
• Research & Development Institutes
Advanced Science & Technology Institute
Food & Nutrition Research Institute
Phil. Nuclear Research Institute
• Scientific & Technological Service Institutes
PAGASA
PHILVOLCS
Philippine Science High School System
• Advisory Bodies
National Academy of Science & Technology
National Research Council of the Philippines
 Government Policies on Science and Technology
The following policies & programs were recommended that will improve
the competitiveness of the Philippines in the ASEAN Region.
• The National Research Council 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 ICT broadband
• local food security
2. Physics, Engineering and Industrial Research, Earth and Space
Sciences and Mathematics
• emphasizing degrees, licenses and employment opportunities
• harnessing Science & Technology as an independent mover of
development
• grants for peer monitoring
3. Medical, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences
• ensuring compliance of drug manufacturing firms
• full implementation of the Food and Drug Administration
• standardization of Pharmaceutical services
• empowering Food and Drug Agencies.
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry
• protecting and conserving biodiversity
• promoting indigenous knowledge
• formulation of common food and safety standards.
 Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN Countries
Other existing programs supported by DOST:

• providing funds for basic research & patents;

• providing scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students;
• establishing more branches of Philippine Science High School system;
• creating Science and Technology Parks;
• Balik Scientist Program;
• establishment of National Science Complex & National Engineering
Complex within UP campus;
• establishment of National Centers for Excellence;
• Manpower & Institutional Development Programs;
• establishment regional centers;
• strengthen Science Education at an early stage through Philippine
Science High School system
 Famous Filipinos in the Field of Science
1. Fabian Millar Dayrit - research on herbal medicine
Some of the research projects undertaken include:

Quality parameters and processing of Virgin Coconut Oil

Analysis of natural products
Analysis of carrageenan
 Famous Filipinos in the Field of Science
Lilian Pateña - research on plant biotechnology. She
discovered a breed of calamansi and seedless pomelo and
discovered micropropagation which established the banana
industry in the Philippines.
 Famous Filipinos in the Field of Science
2. Rafael Doneros Guerrero III- research on tilapia culture
 Famous Filipinos in the Field of Science
Gregory Ligot Tangonan- research in communications
technology
Grergory is a Filipino inventor
of analog messaging in sending
messages using Fiber Optics
and Digitalization for its processing.
His patent is called Stress bimorph
mems switches and methods of
making same.
Thank You!