Lesson 5: Indigenous Science and Technology in the Philippines

During the early times, Filipinos tried to invent tools that will help them in everyday
life. They also developed alternative ideas in explaining various phenomena and in
explaining the world around them. This system of knowledge is called indigenous
knowledge, which is the foundation of indigenous science.

Indigenous Knowledge System

 Indigenous knowledge is part of children's daily lives as they grow up.
 They live in a community where people regularly practice and pass down traditional
knowledge.
 Parents and elders are their first teachers, using effective methods to share cultural
knowledge.
 The lessons they learn are closely connected to their culture and environment.
 These lessons include good values, life stories, and the struggles people face every
day.
 Their thoughts about nature and daily experiences are reflected in their stories,
poems, and songs.
 Some of the examples of indigenous knowledge that are taught and practiced by the
indigenous people are:
• predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing
animals' behavior and celestial bodies;
• using herbal medicine;
• preserving foods;
• classifying plants and animals into families and groups based on cultural
properties;
• preserving and selecting good seeds for planting;
• using indigenous technology in dally lives;
• building local irrigation systems;
• classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties;
• producing wines and juices from tropical fruits; and
• keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables in the yard.

Philippine Traditional and Alternative Medicine

1. Hilot or Manghihilot - acts as midwife, chiropractor or massage therapist to promote
health and healing.
2. Tawas or mangtatawas - uses alum, candles, smoke, paper, eggs and other
mediums to diagnose the cause of illness associated by prayers and incantations.
3. Albularyo - a general practitioner who uses a combination of healing modalities that
may include prayers, incantations, mysticism and herbalism. Albularyos claim to draw
healing powers from supernatural source.
4. Faith healers - a practitioner who claims divine power bestowed by the Hoy Spirit or
God. A patient is required to have faith and believe in divine powers to effect healing.

Indigenous Science
Indigenous science is part of the indigenous knowledge system practiced by
different groups of people and early civilization (Gribbin, 2001; Mkapa, 2004; Sibisi,
2004). It includes complex arrays of knowledge, expertise, practices, and
representations that guide human societies in their enumerable interactions with the
natural milieu: agriculture, medicine, naming and explaining natural phenomena, and
strategies for coping with changing environments (Pawilen, 2005).

Ogawa (1995) claimed that is collectively lived in and experienced by the

people of a given culture.
 According to Cajete (2004), indigenous science includes everything, from
metaphysics to philosophy and various practical technologies practiced by
indigenous people both past and present.

Laccarino (2003). Elaborated this idea by explaining that science is a part of

culture and how science is done largely depends on the cultural practices of the
people.

Developmental stages of most sciences are characterized by continual

competition between a number of distinct views of nature, each partially competition
between roughly compatible with the dictates of scientific observation and method
(Kuhn, 1962)

Indigenous Science provides the basics of astronomy, pharmacology, food

technology or metallurgy, which were derived from traditional knowledge and practices.
Indigenous beliefs also develop desirable values that are relevant or consistent to scientific
attitudes identified by Johnston (2000), namely:
1. motivating attitudes;
2. cooperating attitudes;
3. practical attitudes;
4. and reflective attitudes

These cultural beliefs therefore can be good foundation for developing positive
values toward learning and doing science and in bringing science in a personal level.

Pawilen (2005) explained that indigenous science knowledge has developed diverse
structures and contents through the interplay between the society and the environment.

According to Kuhn (1962), developmental stages of most sciences are characterized

by continual competition between a number of distinct views of nature, each partially derived
from, and all roughly compatible with the dictates of scientific observation and method.

Sibisi (2004) also pointed out that indigenous science provides the basics of
astronomy, pharmacology, food technology, or metallurgy, which were derived from
traditional knowledge and practices.

Pawilen (2006) developed a simple framework for understanding indigenous science.

Accordingly, indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge that uses science
process skills and guided by community values and culture.

Indigenous Science

uses composed of
guided by

Science Process Skills Community, culture and values Traditional Knowledge

The Concept of Indigenous Science
 1. Indigenous science uses science process skills such as observing, comparing,
classifying, measuring, problem solving, inferring, communicating, and predicting.
2. Indigenous science is guided by culture and community values such as the
following:
• The land is a source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator.
• The Earth is revered as "Mother Earth." It is the origin of their identity as
people.
• All living and non-living things are interconnected and interdependent with
each other.
• Human beings are stewards or trustee of the land and other natural resources.
They have a responsibility to preserve it.
• Nature is a friend to human beings - it needs respect and proper care
3. Indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge practiced and valued by
people and communities such as ethno-biology, ethno-medicine, indigenous farming
methods, and folk astronomy.

Laws and Strategies in The Philippines in Conserving Indigenous Knowledge

The list of the Philippine laws that feature or have references to traditional knowledge
are as follows:
1. Executive Order No. 247 (1995)
 This law sets rules for collecting plants, animals, and genetic resources for
research or business. It says that no one can access these resources without
getting permission from the local or indigenous community first.
2. Republic Act No. 8371 (Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act)
 This law protects the rights of indigenous people, ensuring their culture,
traditions, and way of life are respected. It also guarantees that they are
treated fairly and equally.
3. Republic Act No. 8423 (Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997 or "TAMA")
 This law created the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health
Care to promote and improve traditional and alternative medicine in the
country.
4. Republic Act No. 9168 (Plant Variety Protection Act)
 This law protects new plant varieties and creates a National Plant Variety
Protection Board to regulate and support plant breeding.
5. Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act)
 This law protects wildlife and their habitats. It states that only people or
groups with the right skills, knowledge, and resources can take care of
wildlife.

Indigenous science is important in the growth of science and technology in the

Philippines. Like in early civilizations, it helped develop science as a subject. It also helped
people understand nature and solve daily problems. UNESCO's Declaration on Science and
the Use of Scientific Knowledge (1999) recognized indigenous science as a historical and
valuable contribution to science and technology.