Lyceum of Tuao Inc.

Centro 2, Tuao, Cagayan,

lyceumoftuao_1965@yahoo.com.ph

SUBJECT COURSE: Science Technology and Society

NAME OF TEACHER: Rodalyn C. Malana

MODULE TITTLE: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND NATION BUILDING

MODULE NUMBER: 2

LESSON 2

Learning Outcomes:

- Discuss the role of science and technology in Philippine nation building;

- Evaluate government policies pertaining to S&T in terms of their contributions to nation-
building; and
- Identify actual S&T policies of the government and appraise their impact on the development of
the Filipino nation.
- Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines
- The early inhabitants of the archipelago had their own culture and traditions

This lesson will discuss the influence of science and technology in the development of the Philippine
society. It identifies government programs, projects, and policies geared toward boasting the science and
technological capacity of the country. This lesson will also include discussions on Philippine indigenous
science and technology.

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE

PHILIPPINES

 The early inhabitants of the archipelago had their own culture and traditions.
- Own belief system and indigenous knowledge
- Keeps them organized and sustained of their lives and communities for many years

 Pre-Spanish Philippines
- Embedded in the way of life.
- SCIENCE
 Planting crops that provide them food
 Taking care of animals
 Food production
 Interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and di mates
 Medicinal uses of plants
- TECHNOLOGY
 Building houses
 Irrigation
 Developing tools
  Musical Instruments

 Spanish Rule
 Brought their own culture and practices
 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,
 Technology focuses on using and developing house tools

 Life during the Spanish Era

 Became modernized
 Filipinos replicated technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous
materials.
 Medicine and advanced science where introduced in formal colleges and
universities
 Galleon trade
 The galleon trades was supplied by merchants largely from port areas Fujian
who travelled 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 monopoly. Only two galleon 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 center 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

 Metal Age Influence

 Gold and Silver Jewelry

 Trading with other countries

 American Period
 More influence in the development of S&T
 Public education system
 Improved engineering works and health of the people
 Mineral resources were explored and exploited
 “Americanize” the Filipinos
 
Recognized the learning of science

In basic education, science education focuses on nature studies, science and
sanitization
 Health and Sanitation

 Filipinos learned the value of cleanliness, proper hygiene, and healthy

practices
 Hospitals, clinics, and health centers were established including public
hospitals for lepers.
 Infrastructure
 American built roads, streets and bridges
 The new infrastructure helped make the movement of products and services
more efficient.
 Boulevards, zone districts, and centers of leisure were also established.

 World War II
 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 may be strong but the
capacity of the country to bring back what was destroyed was limited.

 The 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
 Influences in the Development of S&T in the Philippines

Internal Influences External Influences

Development
 Survival of S&T in the  Foreign Colonizers
 Culture Philippines  Traders with Foreign countries
 Economic activities  International Economic demands

 GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
 Itroduced and implemented 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 capacitated the people to live in a world driven by
science.

 DOST-NCRP STATEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNIZATION

o “we at the National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP) are alarmed that the controversy
involving the use of Dengvaxia as an anti-dengue vaccine was led to substantial decrease in
vaccination rates in other immunization program of the country. Scientific evidence has clearly
demonstrated that vaccines has dramatically eradicated small pox and polio and have greatly
reduced child mortality in the Philippines and in many other parts of the world. The NCRP stands
by the government efforts to sustain the immunization programs as we strongly urge the public
to pay attention to the knowledge claim of the scientists on the beneficial effects of
immunization.”
o In responsible to the ASEAN 2015 Agenda, the government particularly the DOST, has sought the
expertise of the NCRP to consult various sectors in the society to study how the Philippines can
prepare itself in in meeting the SEAN 2015 GOALS.
o The NCRP 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, licences, and employment opportunities
 Outright grants for peer monitoring
 Review of RA 9184
 Harnessing sciences and technology as an independent move of development
3. Medical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
 Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms with ASEAN- harmonized standards by
full implementation of the FDA.
 Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical services
and care
 Empowering 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 systems and indigenous people’s conservation
 Formulation of common food and safety standards

FAMOUS FILIPINOS IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE

School science is filled with names of foreign scientists: Einstein, Galileo Galilei, Newton, Faraday,
Darwin, and many other Western Scientists. We rarely hear of Filipino scientists being discussed in
science classes. Lee-Chua (2000) identified 10 outstanding Filipino scientists who have made significant
contributions in Philippine science. These scientists are also famous abroad especially in different
science disciplines: agriculture, mathematics, physics, medicine, marine science, chemistry, engineering,
and biology.

There are other outstanding Filipino scientist who are recognized here and abroad for their outstanding
contributions in science:

 Ceasar A. Saloma – An international renowned physicist

 Edgardo Gomez- Famous scientist in marine science
 William Padolina- chemistry and president in marine of National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST)- Philippines
 Angel Alcala- marine science

There are other scientists in the Philippines who were not identified in the list. Yet, the Philippines still
need more scientists and engineers, and there is a need to support scientific research in the country.
The University of the Philippines-Los Baños is a science paradise for agriculture, forestry, plant and
animal science and veterinary science.

Philippines-Visayas is also a national center for marine science, fisheries, and other related sciences. The
University of the Philippines-Manila is a center of excellence and has produced many researchers,
doctors, health professionals, and scientists in the area of medical and public health. The University of
the Philippines-Diliman also has established a national science and engineering complex to develop
more research and produce more scientists and engineers in the country. The Government must find
ways on how their researches are disseminated to the public.
Many of these Filipino scientists are products of good school science. It means they were taught and
inspired by great teachers. Their interests in science started to manifest during their childhood years.
Their natural environment ignited their curiosity to learn more about the natural and physical
environment. Schools and the laboratories where they studied and work nurtured this.
 SCHOOL SCIENCE

SCIENCE LABORATORIES

FAMILY

(REAL-LIFE CONTEXT)

(TEACHERS AND LEARNING

ENVIRONMENT)

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

FILIPINO SCIENTISTS
Many Filipino scientists, whether they are in the country or abroad, always excel in their job. The Filipino
spirit in their souls has never faded. They continue to bring honor to the country. They make ordinary
things in an extraordinary way. They are always at part with other scientists in spite of the limited
facilities we have here in the country.

EXERCISE:

1. What are the significant contributions of the Spaniards and Americans to the development of
science and technology in the Philippines?

2. How does school science shape science and technology in the country?

3. Identify several Filipino scientists and research on their contributions in the field of science.