Unit 3

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
& NATION BUILDING
In the previous lesson, we discussed about the intellectual revolution of science and the
developments of early science and technology throughout civilizations, right? The Philippines,
with its neighboring countries, has been influenced by science and technology as well.
However, early Filipinos have their own concept of indigenous science.

In this lesson, we will discuss the influence of science and technology in the development
of the Philippine society. We will identify government programs, projects, and policies geared
toward boasting the science and technological capacity of the country. This lesson will also
help us understand about Philippines’ indigenous science and technology.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. discuss the role of science and technology in 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.
 Before we proceed to our discussion, can you think of an indigenous Filipino concept and
how it used by Filipinos before?
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BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

IN THE PHILIPPINES
Science and technology started before the country gained its independence from the
American colonizers. Before the coming of Spanish colonizers, Filipinos had their own culture
and traditions, belief system and indigenous knowledge system.
Scientific knowledge is observed through:
• way of planting crops;
• taking care of animals;
• food production;
• way of observing and interpreting heavenly bodies;
• preparing the soil for agricultural purposes; and,
• discovery of the medicinal uses of plants.

Technology is used by people for:

• building houses;
• irrigations;
• developing tools for planting, hunting, cooking, and fishing;
• fighting their enemies during war or tribal conflicts;
• transportation; and,
• musical instruments.

The different archeological artifacts discovered in different parts of the country also
proved that the Metal Age 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. Trading with China,
Indonesia, Japan and other nearby countries have influenced their lives by providing different
opportunities for cultural and technological exchange.

When Spaniards colonized the country, they established schools for boys and girls and
introduced the concept of subjects and disciplines. It was the beginning of formal science
and technology in the country, known now as school of science and technology.

While technology focuses on using and developing house tools, learning of science focuses
on understanding different concepts related to: human body; plants; animals, and heavenly
bodies.

Life during the Spanish era slowly became modernized. Filipinos developed ways to
replicate the technology brought by Spaniards using indigenous materials. Medicine and
advanced science were introduced in formal colleges and universities by Catholic orders. The
galleon trade has brought additional technology and development in the Philippines. These
trades allowed ideas, crops, tools, cultural practices, technology and western practices to
reach the country.
 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 during the Spanish era halted the growth of science in the country.

The Americans have more influence in the development of science and technology in the
Philippines compared to the Spaniards. The following are influences of Americans:

• established the public education system;

• improved the engineering works and the health conditions of the people;
• established a research university, the University of 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.
• in Basic Education, science education focuses on nature studies and science and
sanitation, until it become a subject formally known as “science;” and,
• researches were done to control malaria, cholera, and tuberculosis and other tropical
diseases.

The desire of the Americans to develop the human resources of the Philippines to serve
their own interest is, somehow, beneficial in the country.

• these allowed American scholars to introduce new knowledge and technology to the
country; and,
• protestant church missions in different places in the country also brought hospitals
and schools to far-flung areas.

However, 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.

Since the establishment of the new republic, the whole nation has been focusing on using
its limited sources in improving its science and technological capabilities. 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 focused on producing more engineers, scientists, technology experts, doctors,
and other professional in the country.

Science and technology may have a significant impact in the development of the Philippine
society, improving the quality of science education still remains as a big challenge in the
country. The table on the next page shows the development of science and technology in the
Philippines shaped by several factors and influences.
 Figure 6. Influences in the
Development of Science and
Technology in the Philippines

ACTIVITY 3.1: How both the internal and external influences contributed to the development
of Science and Technology in the Philippines? Refer to the figure above.
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GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Philippine government introduced and implemented several programs, projects, and
policies to boost the area of science and technology. The goal is to 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 Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), sought the expertise of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).

Here are the recommended policies and programs that will improve the competitiveness
of the Philippines in the ASEAN region. The NRCP clustered these policies into four, namely:

1. Social Science, 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
• Legislating a law supporting human genome projects

4. Biological Science, 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

Other existing programs supported by the Philippine government through the DOST.
Some of these projects are the following:

• Providing funds for basic research related to science and technology

• Providing scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies of students in the
field of science and technology
• Establishing more branches of the Philippine science high school system
• Creating science and technology parks
• Balik-Scientist program
• Developing science and technology parks in academic campuses
• The establishment of the national science complex and national engineering
complex within the university of the Philippines campus in Diliman

The Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (Paase, 2008) identified

several capacity-building programs such as:

• Establishment of national centers of excellence

• Manpower and institutional development programs, such as the engineering and
science educational programs (ESEP)
• Establishment of regional centers to support specific industries
• Establishment of science and technology business centers
• Strengthen science education at an early stage

In the field of education, several science-related programs and projects were created to
develop scientific literacy of the country.

• Special Science class were organized

• Special Science Schools were established
• Science and Mathematics in basic education were improved
 • K-12 Education included STEM
• CHED launched its Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes
(PICARI) project to work on projects related to science, agriculture, engineering,
health, and technology.

There are many other areas and fields that the country is looking forward to embark
various research and projects. The following are some of them:

1. Use Of Alternative And Safe Energy

2. Harnessing Mineral Resources
3. Finding Cure For Various Diseases And Illness
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

The Philippine Congress has also created laws which serve as a legal framework for
science and technology. These laws vary according to different themes such as:

• Conservation
• Health-Related
• Technology-Building
• Supporting Basic Research

Some laws and policies are in lined with international treaties such as:

• United Nations (UN)

• United Nations Educational
• Scientific And Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• Association Of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• Other International Agencies

Figure 12. Development of Science and

Technology in the Philippines

As shown above, the development of policies in science and technology is shaped or

influences by several variables: policies needed to be aligned to national goals, consider
international commitments based on legal frameworks, and respond to various social needs,
issues, and problems. Science and technology policies ensure that the whole country and all
people will experience the progress that science can bring. Policies are guides to direct all
efforts to a goal of developing a scientifically advanced country.
 ACTIVITY 3.2:
1. Identify several issues in the Philippines. What science and technology-related policies
could be developed and implemented to solve these issues?
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2. What can you say about the implementation of some science and technology policies
and projects in our country?
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Don’t walk out on me right now – this is a bit of mental work but look at this as a
challenge – and work through it. 😉
FAMOUS FILIPINOS IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE
Lee Chua (2000) identified ten (10) outstanding Filipino scientist who have made
significant contributions in Philippine science.

These Filipino scientists are:

1. Ramon C. Barba

• Best known for inventing a way to induce more flowers in mango trees using ethrel and
potassium nitrate
• Proclaimed a national scientist of the Philippines in June 2014
• Outstanding research on tissue culture in Philippine mangoes
• Born August 31, 1939, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
• Filipino inventor and horticulturist

2. Josefino Comiso

• Known for his works on observing the characteristics of Antarctica by using satellite
images
• A senior research scientist at the cryospheric sciences laboratory of the Goddard Space
Flight Center
• Received his bachelor of science degree in Physics from the University of the Philippines,
Master’s degree in Physics from Florida State University and Philippines

3. Jose B. Cruz, Jr.

• Known internationally in the field of electrical engineering

 • A noted control theorist
• A distinguished professor of engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, Ohio State University.

4. Lourdes J. Cruz

• Notable for her research on sea snail venom

• She 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 M. Dayrit

• Known for his research on herbal medicine

6. Rafael d. Guerrero III

• Known for his research on tilapia culture

• Spearheaded the commercialization of the artificial sex reversal technology for tilapia
which is considered a “milestone” in world aquaculture, he was awarded the Presidential
Rizal Pro Patria (1976)
• One of the ten outstanding young men of the Philippines (1978), outstanding young
scientist (1981), IBM Science and Technology (1986)
• Heine memorial award of the international tilapia foundation (1996).
• He was conferred the presidential Lingkod Bayan award in 1994 by the civil service
commission.
• In 2008, he was recognized as one of the outstanding Filipino for his pioneering work on
vermiculture in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

7. Enrique M. Ostrea, Jr.

• Known for inventing the meconium drug testing

8. Lilian F. Patena

• Known for doing research on plant biotechnology walang buto (seedless)

• Discovered micropropagation
• Inventor of leaf-bud cutting in growing cassava
• One of the outstanding women in the nation's service (towns) in 1998
• Women of distinction for science and technology in 1995
• Outstanding young scientist in 1990

9. Mari-Jo P. Ruiz

• Outstanding educator and graph theorist

10. Gregory L. Tangonan

• Known for his research in the field of communications technology

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

1. Ceasar A. Paloma

• An internationally renowned physicist technology

2. Edgardo Gomez

• Famous scientist in marine science

• A Filipino biologist who was conferred the rank of National Scientist of the Philippines
in 2014.
• A Professor Emeritus for marine biology at the University of the Philippines Marine
Science Institute Technology

3. William Padolina

• Chemistry and President of the national Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)-
Philippines

4. Angel Alcala

• As a marine biologist, he contributed to his country’s marine development and ecology

concerns
• Also involved in other biological science fields such as herpetology, marine biogeography,
and marine conservation biology.

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.

University of the Philippines – Los Baños

• a science paradise for agriculture, forestry, plant and animal science, and veterinary
science
• produces numerous scientists and various research in the fields mentioned

University of the Philippines – Visayas

• a national center for marine science, fisheries, and other related sciences

University of the Philippines – Manila

• center of excellence
• produced many researchers, doctors, health professionals, and scientists in the area
of medical and public health

University of the Philippines – Diliman

• established a national science and engineering complex to develop more research and
produce more scientist and engineers in the country
 In the below figure below, it shows that Filipino scientists are products of good school
science. 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 laboratories where they
studied and worked nurtured them.

Figure 8. Factors that Influence the

Development of Filipino Scientists

ACTIVITY 3.3: The mentioned Filipino scientists made great contributions to our today’s
society. Among the noted names, which of the Filipino scientists and their works/discovery
PERSONALLY impressed you the most? Give at least two names, and explain your reason
behind your choice.
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Remember!

This lesson discussed the influence of science and technology in the development of the Philippines
as a country. Even before the time of Spanish colonization in the Philippines, various people and
communities already practiced science. They invented tools and built structures, studied the
medicinal uses of plants, observed heavenly bodies to predict seasons and weather, and used
indigenous science in agriculture. These are considered indigenous science in agriculture, which is
one of the foundations of modern science.

The growth of science and its development as a field in the country is 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. To further strengthen the
science program in the Philippines, the government establishes various science programs, policies,
and projects.

Through the years, many Filipinos were able to establish themselves as scientists and science
educators in various scientific areas and fields. Invention and innovations were done by these Filipino
scientists. Finally, the demands of globalization, especially the ASEAN economic agenda, prompted
the Philippines to invest in science and technology programs and projects.
References

• Conception, G.P. (Editor). (2012). Science Philippines: Essays on Science by Filipinos. Volume
1-3, Diliman, Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.
• Conception, G.P., PAdlan, E.A. & Salona, C.A. (Editors). (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. (2015). 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, Technology for Securing a Better
Philippines. 1. 6-9.
• Serafina, Janice Patria Javier, et. al., “Science, Technolgy and Society,” First Edition. Rex
Publishing Co., pp. 21-34.

“If you work on something a little bit every day,

you end up with something that is massive.”
– Kenneth Goldsmith