Panday-Lahi Publishing House, Inc.

2018

Chapter 2

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

IN THE PHILIPPINES
 Learning Outcomes

1. Describe how science and technology in the

Philippines has evolved over time.

2. Identify the influence of colonization to the

science and technology of the country.

3. Describe the huge role of education in the

development of Philippine science and technology.
 Precolonial Period
(Before the arrival of Spaniards in 1521)

Information was based on:

• Archeological findings
• Accounts by early traders
• Narratives from Spanish missionaries

Technological advancements were simple, sufficient

enough to meet the needs of the people
Precolonial period, cont’d

Early settlers (about 50,000

years ago)
• Believed to be modern man
(Homo sapiens)
• Came from mainland Asia
lived in Palawan and Batangas;
spread to Sulu, Negros,
Samar and regions in Luzon
Precolonial period, cont’d

Early settlers:
• learned to make
simple tools by sawing,
drilling and polishing
hard stones.
• produced seashell ornaments and pottery but
were replaced by Chinese porcelain
Precolonial period, cont’d

• Tools gradually shifted to copper, gold, bronze

and iron.
• Filipinos used caracoa for coastal trade.
The expertise in building
caracoa was later on utilized
by Spaniards to fight against
pirates and to support their
galleons that sailed to Mexico
Precolonial period, cont’d

By the 10th century:

• Butuan and Mindoro inhabitants – trade
relations with Vietnam & China
• Mindanao inhabitants – traded with Borneo,
Malacca and Malay peninsula
• Cultural and technological influences reached
and diffused in the Phil
Precolonial period, cont’d

• Coastal areas (Manila, Mindoro, Cebu, Sulu

and Southern Mindanao) – had more
sophisticated technology because of their
exposure to foreign trade
• Farming, mining, producing wine, vinegar, salt
and bee products
• Shelters are made of woods, nipa
• They had writing and measuring systems
 SPANISH REGIME
• Considered to be the period of birth of
modern science and technology
• Religion had great influence on development
Spanish regime, cont’d

Politics:
• Reduccion system used in Latin America:
adopted in response to shortage of
Spanish missionaries in the Phil.

Datus and their hereditary successors

served as heads of cabezas de barangay,
the lowest level of local government
Spanish regime, Politics, cont’d

• Centralized political control was established all

over the country
o Tribute tax was imposed and collected
o Compulsory labor services were enforced among
natives.

• Compulsory sale of local products to

government was implemented
 SPANISH REGIME, Education
Educational system was established with the
help of religious orders.
• Jesuits
– Colegio de San Ildefonso, Cebu (1595)
– Colegio de San Ignacio, Manila (1595)
– Ateneo de Manila (1859)
SPANISH REGIME, Education, cont’d

• Dominicans
– University of Santo Tomas, Manila (1611)
– Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila (1640)

Technological development and scientific

researches were promoted
SPANISH REGIME, Education, cont’d

• Higher education: initially offered for

priesthood and clerical positions in the gov’t.
• Filipino students were able to go to Europe for
professional advanced studies
– Jose Rizal – Medicine (Spain and Germany)
– Graciano Apacible – Medicine (Madrid)
– Antonio Luna – Pharmacy (Madrid)
– Jose Alejandrino - Engineering (Belgium)
 SPANISH REGIME, Medicine
• Several Spanish missionaries observed,
catalogued and wrote about Philippine plants,
especially those with medicinal values.
• Schools of medicine and pharmacy were
opened in 1871 in UST
– Leon Ma. Guerrero – among the first Pharmacy
graduate, Father of the Philippine Pharmacy
SPANISH REGIME, Medicine, cont’d

• 1887: Laboratorio Municipal de Ciudad de

Manila was established to perform
biochemical analyses for public health
purposes and medico-legal cases

• Studies on infectious diseases such as cholera,

TB, leprosy and beriberi were conducted
 SPANISH REGIME, Agriculture
• 1789, Philippines exported agricultural
products. Philippine ports were opened
• 1829, agricultural production accelerated and
modernized
• 1889, Manila School of Agriculture opened

There was very little development in the

country’s agricultural sector
 SPANISH REGIME, Economy
• 1565 – 1813, Manila – Acapulco trade
(Galleon)
• Direct involvement in the Galleon trade was
limited to Spanish occupants of Manila
• Domestic economy was affected by the trade
which caused a negligence of local agriculture,
mining and handicraft industries
SPANISH REGIME, Economy, cont’d

• 18th century, ascendance of the Bourbon

dynasty to the Spanish throne paved the way
for enterprising Spaniards to exploit the
country’s mineral wealth, to develop its
agriculture and to establish industries
• Weaving, embroidery, hat making, carriage
manufacture, rope making, cigar and cigarette
making
SPANISH REGIME, Economy, cont’d

• 2nd half the 19th century, modern facilities

were introduced in Manila
• Waterworks system, steam tramways, electric lights,
newspapers, banking system

• Economic development was unevenly

distributed
 AMERICAN REGIME
• Marked the rapid advancement of science and
technology
Contributing factors:
• Encouragement and support of the gov’t for
extensive public education system
• Scholarship grants in science and engineering
• Science research agencies
• Science-based public services
American Regime, cont’d

Activities that paved way for the development of

science and technology:
• Secularized public education
• Department of Instruction was established:
free primary education with English as
medium of instruction
• Philippine Normal School was put up for the
education of Filipino teachers
American Regime, cont’d

• Secondary schools were opened in 1902,

followed by establishment of other professinal
and technical institution (later on became part
of multidisciplinary University of the Phil)

• Advanced training abroad was availed by

Filipinos leading to gradual replacement of
foreign faculty
American Regime, cont’d

• An act to financially support high school

students to take teaching, engineering, medical
and law courses in the US was passed by Phil
Commission in exchange of public service .
• The demand for education increased.
• Private School Act was enacted in 1917 to
recognize increasing number of private schools.
American Regime, cont’d

• The Office of Private education was

established
• The Bureau of Government Laboratories
(Bureau of Science) was created in 1901 by
the Phil Commission which served as the
primary research institution .
 American Regime, cont’d

Offices that contributed to the development of scientific

researches:
• Bureau of Health • Weather Bureau
• Bureau of Mines • Bureau of Coast and
• Bureau of Forestry Geodetic Survey
• Bureau of Agriculture • Bureau of Plant
Industry
• Bureau of Animal
Industry
 COMMONWEALTH PERIOD
(1935 – 1945)

• Continuous expansion of public school system

to address increasing number of children.
Grade VII is the terminal grade for grade school.
• Government-recognized private schools and
universities were opened.
Commonwealth Period, cont’d

• Establishment of National Economic Council

• Government Corporations were formed:

– National Power Corporation
– National Development Company
– National Abaca
Commonwealth Period, cont’d

• Despite efforts, the goal of Commonwealth

government of self-reliance was not attained
due to foreign trade policies.
• The Japanese occupation led to the
destruction of various institutions
 PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE
(1946 and beyond)
• Support for scientific research and
development was continued through
education
• Several state and private universities were
established resulting to increased number of
college graduates.
– Small proportion were into agriculture, science
and engineering because of low opportunities
PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE, cont’d

• Birth of various science agencies of the

government:
• Institute of Science (1947)
• Institute of Nutrition (1947)
• Science Foundation of the Phil (1952)
• Commission on Volcanology (1952)
PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE, cont’d

• Institute of Science and Technology (IST)

• National Science Development Board (NSDB)
– Philippine Inventors Commission (1964)
– Philippine Coconut Research Institute (1964)
– Philippine Textile Research Institute (1967)
– Forest Research and Industries Development
Commission (1969)
PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE, cont’d

NSDB:
– Metals Industry Research and Development
(MIRDC)
– Science Foundation of the Philippines (SFP)
– Philippine Science High School (PSHS)
– Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resource
Research (PCARR)
PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE, cont’d
NSDB was reorganized to become National Science and
Technology Authority (NSTA) with 4 research and
development councils
• Phil Council for Agriculture and Resources Research
and Development (PCARRD)
• Phil Council for Industry and Energy Research
Development (PCIERD)
• Phil Council for Health Research and Dev’t (PDHR)
• National Research Council of the Phil (NRCP)
PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE, cont’d

The increase in science institutions provided

opportunities for local science manpower to
conduct researches and to staff universities and
colleges
PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE, cont’d

6 new institutes were opened:

• National Institute of Physics
• National Institute of Geological Sciences
• National Institute of Natural Sciences Research
• National Institute of Chemistry
• National Institute of Biology
• National Institute of Mathematical Science
PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE, cont’d

• Civil Service Commission introduced the

Scientific Career System to encourage young
individuals to pursue science careers and
more scientists to work in the government
PERIOD SINCE INDEPENDENCE, cont’d

• 1987: NSTA was elevated to full Cabinet level

by virtue of EO 128
• Converted to Department of Science and
Technology (DOST)
– To meet the increasing demand for inventions of
science and technology