INDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES

BENETTE EMMANUEL D. ESTRADA

1 AB - POLITICAL SCIENCE
 AGENDA:
01 INTRODUCTION
02
QUESTIONNAIRES (1-5)
03
04 ANSWERS (1-5)
SOURCES
INTRODUCTION
This lesson focuses on indigenous science and technology in the Philippines.
Filipinos, especially during the early times, 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 is embedded in the daily life experiences of young children
as they grow up. They live and grow in a society where the young members of the
community prominently practice indigenous knowledge. Parents and other older folks
served as first teachers and their methods of teaching are very effective in transmitting
cultural knowledge in minds.
1. WHAT IS YOUR From the term itself ’Indigenous’, meaning It refers to the
notion of a place-based human ethic culture that has not
UNDERSTANDING OF migrated from its homeland, and is not settler or colonial
INDIGENOUS population; Basically, this pertains to the branch of
knowledge that is already a “long-resident” or Science of
SCIENCE? cultural people, who first discovered their ways and
perception towards Science.
It also refers to the knowledge, understandings, skills,
and scientific philosophies developed by societies with long
histories of interaction with the natural surroundings.

Moreover, Indigenous Science belief system concerns

values that are relevant or consistent to scientific attitudes.
Thus, it helped the modern scientist to cope in every phases
of science and to its continuity to develop. Because Indigenous
knowledge is rooted in the daily lives of ever individuals,
starting from they were young, until they grow and develop
to be part of the society where the members remarkably
practices the same kind of knowledge or the same kind
Indigenous practices.
2. WHAT ARE THE Below are the examples of Indegenous Knowledges that can be found in the
EXAMPLES OF Philippines. These Indigenous Science practice has been vital and that it
helped the people towards understanding the natural environment, be able to
INDIGENOUS SCIENCE produce kinds of livelihoods in order to cope with their everyday lives.

PRACTICES? • IFUGAOS OF THE CORDILLERA

Their ways of “Farming” has seen from a wider perspective, their
system of farming consist of the payoh or the “Rice Terraces”; muyong or “Wood
lot” and the uma or “Swidden”; and to their ways of “Fishing”, sl fishes like
million fish (tampipi) and yoyo are being caught by the Ifugaos by means of
woven bamboo traps that are called “bobo.”

• ATIS OF PANAY
The Atis’s farming were known to be the first in the country to practice
“slash and burn” (Barrato, 1978). Those living in upland areas, such as Atis, are
more engage in land agriculture. On the other hand, Fishing in Atis is done by
men. Antiques uses the most simple method such as hook and line (bonite),
lagtang vines and other fishing nets.

• The Badjaos of TAWI - TAWI

A very promising livelihood of the Badjaos is the “Seaweeds farming”;
Farmers in some coastal areas like in Sitangkai, Tawi-tawi are engaged in this
livelihood.
 3. WHY DO SOME
PEOPLE BELIEVE IN
INDIGENOUS
Despite the modernity of the society, and
establishment of new ways to consider in order to improve, SCIENCE?
and develop the livelihood. People still stand with the
Indigenous practices due to their respect to that “traditional
ecological” knowledge cultural people knew, and believes
to unlock opportunities to learn from these people who
come to live close to these landscapes, and that these could
also be an opportunity for every individual to boost their
knowledge of what is really happening with our planet.
 4. DO YOU THINK
INDIGENOUS SCIENCE
Indeed, every individual shall be able to acknowledge the contribution of SHOULD BE
the cultural people, as they have been the “cultural scientist” back then, CONSIDERED SCIENCE?
by attaining knowledge that comes through being in one place for a long
time, is considered to be different than when somebody comes in and
studies same branch of knowledge for a minimal years. Thus, by
considering Indigenous Science as Science, is to preserve this scientific
knowledge for the benefit of the future generation, for them to know how
Science occurred and has naturally originated in the minds of people.
Moreover, protecting these knowledge, is to protect all the environment,
and therefore to protect the future of all the generations who will be
living this world.
 5. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS SCIENCE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY?
As it was established that Indigenous knowledge are attained by cultural people by living in one place
for a long time, or being in the environment, and different ecosystem for a long time. Hence, it is
imaginable how vital the role of these indigenouse practices in order to discover new profound
ways, and to develop technologies to preserve the environment and every ecosystem.

Moreover, the role of the Indigenous Science has been inextricably intertwined with the
advancement of Science and Technology per se. Mainly, by the contribution of the cultural people,
by introducing their cultural knowledges to the modern science, in terms of understanding the
ecosystems and its ecological relationships, and towards the management of the natural
resources. In conclusion, cultural people and their innate ’Indigenous Science’ knowledges, has been
a vital contributor in the continuously increasing of wisdoms, being passed from generations, in
order to improve ways to develop the preservation and usage of every natural resources, which
makes up every nation.
THANK YOU AND MORE POWER!

Does anyone have any

questions? Feel free to reach
me out on these platforms :))

estradabenette@gmail.com
@BenetteEstrada
SOURCES:
The importance of indigenous rights and knowledge in conservation. (2017,
April 21). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agQDKkueT-c
What Can We Learn from Indigenous Knowledge? (2019, December 9). [Video].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUQH8dikr-A&t=53s
EXAMPLES OF THE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IN THE PHILIPPINES. (2020,
October 16). [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie8CYm8mOCE
Malli, P. (Director). (2018, February 22). The role of indigenous knowledge in
advancing science and technology [Video file]. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from
https://medium.com/anth374s18/the-role-of-indigenous-knowledge-in-advanci
ng-science-and-technology-c1327bc5641c#:~:text=The%20Role%20of%20Indigen
ous%20Knowledge%20in%20Advancing%20Science%20and%20Technology,-Pav
ani%20Malli&text=In%20particular%2C%20when%20it%20comes,on%20fro
m%20generation%20to%20generation.