LESSON 1.

0 – HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF STS

(PART 2)

1.2 SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY in the PHILIPPINES

Science and technology have influenced the development of the Philippines as a country. Even before the time of Spanish
colonization, various people and communities already practiced science. And the continuous growth and development of science
came out as a hybrid of indigenous and foreign ideas. Spain and the United States, being the former colonial masters of the
country, played an important role in building the foundation of science in the Philippines. And with this start-up, we are now about
to discuss in diagrammatic form the Influences in the Development of Science and Technology in the Philippines …

Internal Influences
1. Survival
2. Culture
3. Economic Activities Development of
Science and
Technology in
External Influences the Philippines
1. Foreign Colonizers
2. Trades with Foreign
Countries
3. International Economic
Demands

Influences in the Development of Science and Technology in the Philippines

The development of science and technology in the Philippines, based on its history, is shaped by several factors and influences.
Like in the history of science in other countries, it is always shaped by human and social activities, both internal and external.
Internal factors include the need to survive, impact of its culture, and the economic activities of its people. On the other hand,
external influences come from foreign colonizers, trades with foreign countries, and international economic demands.

Now, let us focus our discussion on how science and technology developed in the Philippines throughout its history. The first period
of which is before the Spaniards came to the country ….

(a) The Pre-Spanish Period

The Philippines has few written information with regards to the society, culture, and technology on the past way before the Spanish
has arrived. We relied on archeological findings to trace the beginning of how the Filipinos lived with the use of Science and
Technology.

These archeological findings showed that modern man from Asian mainland first came over land on across narrow channels to
live in Batangas and Palawan about 48,000 BC. They settled in different areas across the country and made simple tools and
weapons of stone flakes and later developed new skills like sawing and polishing stones.

During 3,000 BC, they learned to produce adzes ornament of seashells and pottery that prosper for 2,000 years until competition
arrived with the Chinese porcelains. Eventually, they’ve learned how to use metal as their tools and the so-called Iron Age lasted
until the 3rd century BC to 11th century AD and during this time, Filipinos were involved in ore mining such as copper, gold, bronze
and iron.

Before the Spaniards had colonized the country, Spanish travelling chroniclers observed that early inhabitants of the archipelago
had their own culture and traditions.

They had their own belief system and indigenous knowledge system that keeps them organized and sustained their lives and
communities for many years. Furthermore, our forefathers in the pre-colonial Philippines already possessed a working judicial and
legislative system. Likewise, the pre-colonial Filipinos had already established trading and diplomatic relations with countries as
far away as the Middle East. And these contacts with the outside world not only improved science and technology of the
communities but also enriched the native culture and tradition of the inhabitants. Prominent from these influences were the pre-
colonial clothing.

Pre-Colonial Clothing

Historians have found out that the “Barong Tagalog” (dress of the Tagalog) already existed. The earliest “Baro” or “Baro ng Tagalog”
was worn by the natives of Ma-I which was what the Philippines was known before. The men wore a sleeve-doublet made of Canga
(rough cotton) that reached slightly below the waist. It is collarless with a front opening. Their loins were covered with a pane that
hung between the legs and mid-thigh. The women also wore a sleeve dress but shorter than the men. They also wear a pane
attached to the waist and reaching to the feet accented by a colorful belt. The materials used for their dress is of fine linen or Indian
Muslin.

The Visayan men wore a jacket with a Moorish style robe that was embroidered with beautiful colors. Tagalog and Visayan men
bound their temples and forehead with a “putong” (a narrow strip of cloth). They also wore gold jewelry and other accessories and
had tattoos to beautify their bodies.
Science, in pre-Spanish Philippines, is embedded in the way of life of the people. Scientific knowledge is observed in the way they
plant their crops that provide them food, in taking care of animals to help them in their daily tasks, and for food production. They
were already aware of the medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine from herbs. They
already had an alphabet, number system, a weighing and measuring system. Science is observed in the way they interpret the
movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates, and in organizing days into months and years. And from these,
they were able to develop calendars. Filipinos were already engaged in farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving. The Banaue
Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish era Filipinos.

During the early period almost everyone in the society – male or female knows how to read and write. They have their own method
of writing which they use sharp-pointed tools, leaves, bamboo and trunk’s skin. They write from top to bottom and read it from left
to right. Accordingly, they have their Alibata which script is different from China, Japan and India. This account was told by one of
the first Spanish missionaries who came in the Philippines, Fr. Pedro Chirino.

Early Spanish chroniclers also noted that early Filipinos built a refined plank-built warship called caracoa that is well-suited for
inter-island trade. With the use of caracoa, barter trades existed during the pre-colonial times with foreign traders as well with
different island inhabitants.

Technology is used by people in building houses, irrigations, and in developing tools that they can use in everyday life. Their
houses then were varied in shapes and sizes in different regions depending on the available construction materials and local
topography as well as the prevailing weather and climate of the localities.

They developed tools for planting, hunting, cooking, and fishing; for fighting their enemies during war or tribal conflicts; and for
transportation, both on land and on waterways. They also developed technologies in creating musical instruments.

The different archeological artifacts discovered in different parts of the country also prove that the Metal Age also had a significant
influence on the lives of early Filipinos. The sophisticated designs of gold and silver jewelry, ceramics, and metal tools proved that
their technological ideas helped in the development of different tools. Also, trading with China, Indonesia, Japan, and other nearby
countries have influenced their lives by providing different opportunities for cultural and technological exchange.

All these ancient practices in science and technology are considered now as indigenous science or folk science.

We are now about to discuss science development during the Spanish period…
(b) The Spanish Period

When the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, they brought with them their own culture and practices.

They introduced formal education in the country and founded scientific institution. The Friars themselves established parochial
schools linked with the churches to teach catechisms to the natives along with reading, writing, arithmetic and music. Instructions
were in local dialects. Sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture was taught to the natives.

Later on, they established colleges and universities around the country including the oldest university in Asia, the University of
Santo Tomas. The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the Spanish era, especially in the later years. They
introduced the concept of subjects and disciplines. Biology is given focus. Contributors to science in the archipelago during the
19th century were botanists, Fr. Ignacio Mercado., Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera and Dr. Leon Ma Guerrero; chemist Anaclento
del Rosario; and medicine scholars Dr. Manuel Guerrero, Dr, Jose Montes and Dr. Elrodario Mercado. Learning of science in
school focused on understanding different concepts related to the human body, plants, animals, and heavenly bodies. Technology
focused on using and developing house tools used in everyday life.

Life during the Spanish era slowly became modernized, adapting some Western technology and their ways of life. The Filipinos
developed ways to replicate the technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous materials. Medicine and advanced science
were introduced in formal colleges and universities established by the Catholic orders.

The Spaniards also contributed to the field of engineering by constructing government buildings, churches, roads, bridges and
forts.
The galleon trade has brought additional technology and development in the Philippines. Although it is only beneficial for the
Spaniards, these trades allowed other ideas, crops, tools, cultural practices, technology, and Western practices to reach the
country. Some Filipino students who were able to study in Europe also contributed to the advancement of medicine, engineering,
arts, music, and literature in the country.

Furthermore, the Galleon Trade made a big impact in the economic growth of the Philippines. Spaniards gave priority to the Galleon
Trade due to its potential to make huge profits. That is why agriculture and industrial development were not given focus and were
neglected during this time. When Suez Canal was built, visiting each other countries for Europeans and Filipinos was made possible
and was probably influenced by the rapid development of scientific ideals brought about by the Age of Enlightenment.

The Philippines, being one of the centers of global trade in Southeast Asia during that time, was considered to be one of the most
developed places in the region. Although the country is blessed with these developments, the superstitious beliefs of the people
and the Catholic doctrines and practices during the Spanish era halted the growth of science in the country.

(c) The American Period

The Americans replaced Spaniards after they ruled the country, and the progress of science and technology has continued under
their rule. The Americans have more influence in the development of science and technology in the Philippines compared to the
Spaniards.

As the new ruler, the Americans used education as a vehicle for its benevolent assimilation program.

In its early occupation, the American soldiers were the first teachers. They restored damaged schoolhouses and built new ones
and conducted classes. Later on, they trained Filipino teachers and replaced the soldiers in teaching. From the US mainland, came
the Thomasites and the Filipinos warmly received their new teachers. American teachers infused their students the spirit of
democracy and progress as well as fair play.
They established the public education system, improved the engineering works and the health conditions of the people. They
established a modern research university, the University of the Philippines, and created more public hospitals than the former
colonial master. The mineral resources of the country were also explored and exploited during the American times. Transportation
and communication systems were improved, though not accessible throughout the country.

They reorganized the learning of science and introduced it in public and private schools. In basic education, science education
focuses on nature studies and science and sanitation, until it became a subject formally known as “Science.” The teaching of
science in higher education has also greatly improved and modernized. Researches were done to control malaria, cholera, and
tuberculosis and other tropical diseases.

The Americans further strengthened scientific institutes founded by the Spaniards. 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 Americans did everything to “Americanize” the Philippines. The desire of the Americans to develop the human resources of
the Philippines to serve their own interests is, somehow, beneficial in the country. These allowed American scholars to introduce
new knowledge and technology in the country. The Protestant church missions in different places in the country also brought
hospitals and schools to far-flung areas. Little by little, these efforts built a stronger foundation for science and technology in the
country.

However, science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing, forestry, medicine and pharmacy.
Not much focus was given on the development of industrial technology due to free trade policy with the United States which
nurtured an economy geared towards agriculture and trade.
(d) The Philippine Republic

World War II has destabilized the development of the country in many ways. Institutions and public facilities were turned into ashes,
houses were burned, and many lives were destroyed. 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 reparation funds focused on building some institutions and public utilities like schools, hospitals, and transportation
systems. The reparation money from Japan was also concentrated on building highways and in providing technological training
and human resource development in the country.

Since the establishment of the new republic, the whole nation has been focusing on using its limited resources in improving its
science and technological capability. It has explored the use of ODA or Overseas Development Allocations from different countries
to help the country improve its scientific productivity and technological capability. Human resource development is at the heart of
these efforts focusing on producing more engineers, scientists, technology experts, doctors and other professional in the country.

In 1946 the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of Science. In a report by the US Economic Survey to the Philippines
in 1950, there was lack of basic information which were necessities to the country’s industries, lack of support of experimental work
and minimal budget for scientific research and low salaries of scientists employed by the government. In 1958, during the regime
of President Carlos P. Garcia, the Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of 1958 which established the National Science
Development Board (NSDB).

During Ferdinand Marcos’ presidency, the importance given to science grew. In the amended 1973 Philippine Constitution, Article
XV, Section 9 (1), he declared that the “advancement of science and technology shall have priority in the national development.”
In his two terms of presidency and during Martial Law, he enacted many laws promoting science and technology. Funding for
science was also increased. The National Science Development Board (NSDB) was replaced by the National Science and
Technology Authority (NSTA) under Executive Order No. 784.
In 1986, during Corazon Aquino’s presidency, the National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) was replaced by the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), giving science and technology a representation in the cabinet. Under the Medium-
Term Philippine Development Plan for the years 1987-1992, science and technology’s role in the economic recovery and sustained
economic growth was highlighted. During Corazon Aquino’s State of the Nation Address in 1990, she said that science and
technology development shall be one of the top three priorities of the government towards an economic recovery.

Now we have come down to the third and last part of lesson1 – Historical Antecedents of S&T …

1.3 FAMOUS FILIPINOS in the FIELD of SCIENCE

Individual
interests in
science SCHOOL SCIENCE
SCIENCE LABORATORIES
(TEACHERS and
Family
LEARNING (REAL-LIFE CONTEXT)
ENVIRONMENT)
Natural
environment

FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

Factors that influence the development of Filipino scientists

(a) Factors that Influence the Development of Filipino Scientists

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. The natural environment ignited their curiosity to learn
more about the natural and physical environment. Schools and the laboratories where they studied and worked nurtured this.

(b) Famous Filipino Scientists

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. The following are 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.
These Filipino scientists are:

1. Ramon Cabanos Barba – for his outstanding research on tissue culture in Philippine mangoes

He developed a process that caused the flowering and fruiting of mango trees three times a year, instead on once ayear, so
dramatically improving yields. In 2013, Ramon Barba became National Scientist in the Philippines for his “distinguished
achievements in the field of plant physiology, focusing on induction of flowering of mango and on micro-propagation of
important crop species.”

2. Josefino Cacas Comiso – for his works on observing the characteristics of Antarctica by using satellite images

Dr. Comiso's achievements with NASA include space-based assessments of surface temperature, tracking sea ice
distribution, and observation of phytoplankton blooms in the Earth's polar regions. These and other advances helped form his
work in 2010, titled "Polar Oceans from Space."

3. Jose Bejar Cruz Jr – known internationally in the field of electrical engineering; He was elected as officer of the famous
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

In research, he has made major contributions to the theory and practice of automatic control. His work in the 1970s and 1980s
on the control of leader-follower systems is still considered one of the major contributions of the half-century in the theory of
hierarchical control systems.

4. Lourdes Jansuy Cruz – notable for her research on sea snail venom

Lourdes J. Cruz is a Filipino biochemist whose research has contributed to the understanding of the biochemistry of toxic
peptides from the venom of fish-hunting Conus marine snails. The characterization of over 50 biologically active peptides from
the snail's venom had been made possible, in part, by her studies.

5. Fabian Millar Dayrit – for his research on herbal medicine

Dr. Fabian Dayrit is recognized for his outstanding scientific researches in the field of chemistry, spectroscopy and
environmental science which in various ways, have contributed in the growth of science and science education in the country.

6. Rafael Dineros Guerrero III – for his research on tilapia culture

He was recognized for his pioneering work on tilapia sex reversal technology that contributed significantly to world
aquaculture. Awarded by Heine and World Aquaculture Society President Kevin Fitzsimmons during the 6th International
Symposium on Tilapia in Aquaculture recently held in Manila.

7. Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr – for inventing the meconium drugs testing

Dr. Ostrea, a neonatologist, was elected as a corresponding member - given to those who live abroad but have significantly
impacted science and technology in the Philippines - for his contributions to the field of pediatrics, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
and neonatal drug addiction, including his pioneering work on the detection of fetal exposure to drugs, tobacco, alcohol and
environmental toxicants by analysis of meconium, a newborn's first stools.

8. Lilian Formalejo Patena – for doing research on plant biotechnology

Lilian Pateña is a Filipino scientist who discovered a breed of calamansi and seedless pomelo and discovered
micropropagation which established the banana industry in the Philippines. She is also an inventor of leaf-bud cutting in
cassava.
 9. Mari-Jo Panganiban Ruiz – for being an outstanding educator and graph theorist

Ruiz is a Filipina mathematician, currently a professor emeritus of mathematics at Ateneo de Manila University. Ruiz
specializes in graph theory and operations research.

10. Gregory Ligot Tangonan – for his research in the field of communications technology

Dr. Tangonan has pioneered integrated waveguide detectors, Bragg modulators in LiTaO3 and LiNbO3, and glass-based
couplers for wavelength multiplexing and coupling. He has been instrumental in developing applications of optoelectronics in
radar, optical networking, and analog systems.

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

1. Ceasar A. Saloma – an internationally renowned physicist

2. Edgardo Gomez – famous scientist in marine science
3. William Padolina – chemistry and president of National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) – Philippines
4. Angel Alcala – marine science

There are other outstanding Filipino scientists 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 Banos is a
science paradise for agriculture, forestry, plant and animal science, and veterinary science. It has produced numerous scientists
and various research in the fields mentioned. The University of the 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 researches, 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 to establish more research laboratories and research
institutes. There is also a need to find ways on how their researches are disseminated to the public.