CHAPTER 3

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

It started before the Philippines gained its independence from the American colonizers.

I. SCIENCE IN PRE-SPANISH TIME

 Embedded in the way of life of the people.
 Scientific knowledge is observed in the way plant their crops, taking care of
animals, and food production.
 Science is observed in the way they interpreted the movement of heavenly
bodies.
 They use science in preparing the soil for agricultural purposes and discovered
the medicinal uses of plants.
II. TECHNOLOGY IN PRE-SPANISH TIME
 Building houses, irrigations, and in developing tools.
 Developed tools for planting, hunting, cooking, and fishing
 Fighting enemies during war or tribal conflicts, transportation (both land and
waterways).
 Musical instruments
III. METAL AGE

Different archeological artifacts discovered in the different parts of the country proved
that the metal age had a significant influence on the lives of early Filipinos.

 Sophisticated designs of gold and silver, jewelry ceramics, and metal tools.
 Trading with China, Indonesia, Japan, and other nearby countries.

Note * All these ancient Practices in Science and Technology are considered now as
INDEGENOUS SCENCE OR FOLK SCIENCE.

SPANIARDS established schools for boys and girls and introduced the concept of subjects
and disciplines and was the beginning of FORMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY in the
Philippines known as SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

LEARNING SCIENCE IN SCHOOLS

 Focused on understanding concepts elated to human body, plants, animals and

heavenly bodies.

LEARNING TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS

 Focused on using and developing house tools used in everyday life.

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 CHAPTER 3

MODERNIZATION

 Adopted western technology.

 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 GALLEON TRADE

 Brought additional technology and development in the Philippines.

 It allowed ideas, cops, tools, cultural practices, technology and western practices to
reach the country.

FILIPINOS WHO STUDIED IN EUROPE

 Contributed to the advancement of medicine, engineering, arts, music, and literature.

AMERICAN INFLUENCES

 Established the public education system

 Improved the engineering works and health conditions of the people.
 Established a modern research university (University of the Philippines)
 Created more public hospitals
 Mineral resources were explored and exploited.
 Transportation and communication systems were improved.
 Reorganized the learning of science and introduced it in public and private schools.

Figure I. Influences in the development of Science and Technology in the Philippines

INTERNAL INFLUENCES

 SURVIVAL
 CULTURE
 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Development of
Science and
Technology in the
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES Philippines
 FOREIGN COLONIZERS
 TRADES WITH FREIGN
COUNTRIES
 INTERNATIONAL
ECONOMIC DEMANDS

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 CHAPTER 3

GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The (DOST) Department of Science and Technology has sought the expertise of the NRCP
(National Research Council of the Philippines) to consult various sectors in the society to
study how the Philippines can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN 2015 goals.

The ASEAN Objectives are as follows:

1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to
strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast
Asian nations.
2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the
rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the
principles of the United Nations Charter. In 1995, the ASEAN Heads of State and
Government re-affirmed that “Cooperative peace and shared prosperity shall be the
fundamental goals of ASEAN.”

THE NRCP clustered policies

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 R.A 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
standards by full implementation of the Food and Drug Administration
 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 two percent of the GDP to research
 Legislation a law supporting human genome projects

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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.

OTHER EXISTING PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE DOST

1. Providing funds for basic research and patents related to science and technology.
2. Providing scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies of students in the field
of science and technology.
3. Establishing more branches of the Philippine Science High School System.
4. Creating Science and Technology Parks.
5. Balik Scientist Pogram.
6. Developing Scientific Parks in the academic campuses.
7. Establishment of the National Science Complex and National Engineering Complex
within the University of the Philippines campus Diliman.

THE PHILIPPINE- AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CAPACITY- BUILDING

PROGRAMS

1. Establishment of national centers of excellence.

2. Manpower and institutional development programs (ESEP- Engineering and Science
Education Program)
3. Establishment of regional centers
4. Establishment of science and technology business centers.
5. Strengthen science education at an early stage through the Philippine Science High
School system.

OTHER AREAS AND FIELDS FOR RESEARCH AND PROJECTS

1. Use of Alternative and safe energy

2. Harnessing mineral resources
3. Finding cure for various diseases and Illnesses
4. Climate change and global warming
5. Increasing food production
6. Preservation of natural resources
7. Coping with natural disasters and calamities
8. Infrastructure development

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 CHAPTER 3

Figure 2. Development of Science and Technology Policies in the Philippines

NATIONAL GOALS

INTERNATIONAL
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
TREATY
 Policies
 Programs
 Projects

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

SOCIAL NEEDS,
ISSUES, and
PROBLEMS

FAMOUS FILIPINOS IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE

ANGEL C. ALCALA: Alcala was named a National Scientist of
the Philippines in 2014 for his research into Philippine
amphibians and reptiles, as well as the conservation of marine-
protected areas.

RAMON CABANOS BARBA: Barba was named a National

Scientist of the Philippines in 2014 for inventing a way to induce
flowering in mango trees regardless of season, boosting the
local mango industry.

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 CHAPTER 3

TETCHI CRUZ-CAPELLAN: Cruz-Capellan, the CEO of

Philippine renewable energy provider SunAsia Energy
Inc. and founder of the Philippine Solar Power Alliance,
hopes to grow the solar power industry in the
Philippines. She first became acquainted with solar
power as the country director of a rural electrification
project funded by the USAID.

EDGARDO D. GOMEZ: Gomez led the world’s first

national-scale assessment of damage to coral reefs,
work which led to him being conferred the title of
National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014.

ALFREDO MAHAR LAGMAY: Lagmay, a professor at the

National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of
the Philippines Diliman, received the 2015 Plinius Medal
from the European Geosciences Union for his research
into natural hazards and disasters in the Philippines, in
particular volcanic hazards, earthquakes, typhoons,
landslides and floods. He is also executive director of
the Department of Science and Technology
Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards
(NOAH).

AISA MIJENO: Mijeno is a professor of engineering at De

La Salle University—Lipa in the Philippines. Together with
her brother Ralph, she co-founded Sustainable
Alternative Lighting (SALt), a social enterprise that is
developing an LED lamp that runs on just table salt and
water.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY. AND SOCIETY


OTHER FILIPINO SCIENTSTS
SCIENTIST
Josefino Cacas Comiso
Jose Bejar Cruz Jr.
Lourdes Jansuy Cruz
Fabian Millar Dyrit
Rafael Dineros Guerrero III
Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr.
Lilian Formalejo Patena
Mari- Jo Panganiban Ruiz
Gregory Ligot Tangonan
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CHAPTER 3
REINA REYES
Reyes has been called “The Filipina who proved Einstein
right” after her work confirming Albert Einstein’s Theory of
Relativity on a cosmic scale in 2010 during her Ph.D.
studies in the United States. Reyes currently works as an
independent data scientist consulting for private
companies.
GAVINO CAJULAO TRONO JR.
Trono was conferred the honor of National Scientist of
the Philippines in 2014 for his research into tropical
marine phycology with a focus on seaweed biodiversity.
ACHIEVEMENT
observed the characteristics of Antarctica by using satellite
imaging
Known internationally in the field of electrical engineering:
was elected as officer of the famous Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineering.
researched on sea snail venom
researched on herbal medicine
researched on tilapia culture
invented the meconium drugs testing
researched on plant biotechnology
Outstanding educator and graph theorist.
for his research in the field of communications technology.
 CHAPTER 3

SCHOOLS IN THE PHILIPPINES OF DIFERENT FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

1. The University of the Philippines- Los Baños: agriculture, forestry plant and animal
science, and veterinary medicine.
2. The University of the Philippines- Visayas- Marine Science, fisheries, and other related
sciences.
3. The University of the Philippines- Manila- center of excellence and has produced
many researchers, doctors, health professionals, and scientists in the area of medical
and public health.
4. The University of the Philippines- Diliman- established a national science and
engineering complex to develop more research and produce more scientists and
engineers in the country.

Figure 3. Factors that Influence the Development of Filipino Scientists

INDIVIDUALINTEREST
IN SCIENCE

SCHOOL SCIENCE
SCIENCE LABORATORIES

FAMILY

(TEACHERS AND LEARNING

REAL LIFE CONTEXT
ENVIRONMENT)

NATURL
ENVIRONMENT

FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY. AND SOCIETY