University of Southern Philippines Foundation

Cebu City

College of Teachers Education, Arts and Sciences

GED 123 - Science, Technology and Society

Instructor: Cecilia B. Booc

MODULE NO. 2: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION-BUILDING

INTRODUCTION:
This module will discuss the influence of science and technology in the development of the
Philippine
society. It identifies government programs, project, and policies geared toward boasting the
science
and technology capacity of the country. This module will also include the discussion on
Philippine
indigenous science and technology.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, a student should be able to:

1. discuss the role of science and technology in the Philippine nation-building;

2. evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in terms of their
contributions
to nation-building; and
3. identify actual science and technology policies of the government and appraise their
impact on the development of the Filipino nation.

Learning Activities/Notes

Learning Notes/Discussion

 Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines

 Philippines then and now: Video Presentation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4-i7mYBH6c
  The early inhabitants of the archipelago had their own culture and traditions.
- Own belief system and indigenous knowledge
- Keeps them organized and sustained their lives and communities for many years.

SCIENCE
- Planting crops that provide them food
- Taking care of animals
- Food production
- Interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates
- Medical uses of plants
 - Established schools and introduced the concepts of subjects and disciplines
- Learning of science in school focuses on understanding different concepts related to
the
human body, plants, animals and bodies.
- Technology focuses on using and developing house tools.

 Life during the Spanish Era

- Became modernized

o Filipinos replicated technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous

materials.
o Medicine and advanced science were introduced I formal colleges and
universities
 The galleon trade was supplied by merchants largely from port areas of Fujian who
traveled to
Manila to sell the Spaniards spices, porcelain, ivory, processed silk cloth and other
valuable
commodities.
 From 1565 to 1815, the galleon trade contributed to the change of culture, language
and environment for both Philippines and Mexico.
 The Galleon Trade was a government monopy. Only two galleons were used: One sailed
from Acapulco to Manila with some 500,000 pesos worth of goods, spending 120 days
at sea; the other sailed from Manila to Acapulco with some 250,000 pesos worth of
goods spending 90 days at sea.
 The country became one of the centers of global trade in SEA
- One of the most developed places in the region.

 Superstitious beliefs and Catholic doctrines and practices halted the growth of science
in the country.
 Public education system
 Improved engineering works and health of the people
 Mineral resources were explored and exploited
 “Americanize” the Filipinos
- Reorganized the learning of science
- In basic education, science education focuses on the
nature studies and science and sanitation.
 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 maybe strong but
the capacity of the country to bring back what was destroyed was limited.

 NEW REPUBLIC
- Focusing on using its limited resources in improving S&T capability.
- Use of Overseas Development Allocation to improve scientific
productivity and technological capability.
- Human resource development
 Introduced and implement programs, projects and policies to boost
science and technology
 GOAL: 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, the government, particularly the DOST, has
sought the expertise of the NRCP to consult various sectors in the society to study how
the Philippines can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN 2015 Goals.
 The NRCP clustered these policies into four:
1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance
2. Physics, Engineering, and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and
Mathematics
3. Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry

1. SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES, EDUCATION, INTERNATIONAL POLICIES AND

GOVERNANCE
 Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the
curriculum
 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
 Harnessing science and technology as an independent mover of development
3. MEDICAL, CHEMICAL, and PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
 Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms with ASEAN-harmonized
standard by full implementation of the FDA
 Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical
services and care
 Empowering of food and drug agencies to conduct evidence-based research as
pool of information
 Allocating 2% 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 by ASEAN countries
 Promoting indigenous knowledge system and indigenous people’s conservation
 Formulation of common food and safety standards

ASSESSMENT:

Answer the following questions: Grouping depends on the class size.

1. Identify several issues in the Philippines. What science and technology –related policies
could be developed and implemented to solve this issues?
2. What can you say about the implementation of some science and technology policies
and projects in the country?
3. What are the laws related to science and technology in the Philippines from the year
2000?
4. How are these laws implemented?

Assignment: Grouping depends on the class size.

1. Identify several Filipino scientist with an attached picture.

2. Research on their contributions in the field of science.
3. Examine what made them pursue a career in science.
4. Present the result of your work in class.
REFERENCES:

Concepcion, G.P. (Editor). (2012). Science Philippines : Essays on Science by Filipinos

Volume 1-3. Diliman, Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.

Concepcion, G.P., Padlan, E.A. & Saloma, C.A. (Editor). (2008). Selected Essays on Science and
Technology for Securing a Better Philippines. Diliman, Quezon City: University of the
Philippines Press.

Lee- Chua, Q. (2000). 10 Outstanding Filipino Scientist. Quezon City: Anvil Publishing.

Padilla-Concepcion, G. (2018). Science Philippines: Essays on Science by Filipinos Volume III.

Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.

Philippine-American Association for Science and Engineering. (2008). “Science and Technology
in Economic Development.” In Selected Essays on Science and Technology for Securing a
Better Philippines. 1. 6-9.