San Jose Community College

San Jose, Malilipot, Albay

Subject: GE 7
Description: Science, Technology and Society
Instructor: Salvacion Magayanes Majadillas
School Year: 2020-2021
Term: First Semester
Target Learners: BSED II
Topic: Science, Technology, and Nation Building
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND NATION BUILDING

Learning Outcomes:
 Discuss the role of science and technology in nation-building.
 Identify the actual science and technology policies of the government and appraise
their impact on the development of the Filipino nation.

Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines

The history of science and technology in the Philippines started way back before
the country gained its independence from the American colonizers. Before the coming
of the Spanish colonizers, early inhabitants of the archipelago had their own culture and
traditions. They had their own belief system and indigenous knowledge system that
keeps them organized and sustained their lives and communities for many years.
Science, in pre-Spanish Philippines, is embedded in the way of life of the people.
Scientific knowledge is observed in the way they plant their crops that provide them
food, in taking care of animals to help them in their daily task, and for food production.
Science is observed in the way they interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to
predict seasons and climates in organizing days into months and years. They use
science in preparing soil for agricultural purposes and like any other ancient cultures,
they discovered the medical uses of plants.
Technology is used in building houses, irrigations, and in developing tools that ,
they can use in everyday life. They developed tools for planting, hunting, cooking and
fishing; for fighting their enemies during war or tribal conflicts; and for transportation,
both on land and waterways. They also developed technologies in creating musical
instruments.
The different archaeological artifacts discovered in different parts of the country
also prove that the Metal Age also had a significant influence on the lives of early
Filipinos. The sophisticated designs of gold and silver jewelry, ceramics, and metal tools
provide that their technological ideas helped in the development of different tools. Also,
trading with China, Indonesia, Japan and other nearby countries have influenced they
lives by providing different opportunities for cultural and technological exchange.
All these ancient practices in science and technology are considered now as
indigenous science or folk science.
When the Spaniards colonized the country, they brought with them their own culture
and practices. 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.
Learning of science in school focuses on understanding different concepts related to
the human body, plants, animals, and heavenly bodies. Technology focuses on using
and developing house tools used in everyday life.
Life during the Spanish era slowly became modernized, adapting some Western
technology and their ways of life. The Filipinos developed ways to replicate the
technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous materials. Medicine and
advanced science where introduced in formal colleges and universities established by
the Catholic orders.
The galleon trade has brought additional technology and development in the
Philippines. Although, it is only beneficial for the Spaniards, these trades allowed other
ideas, crops, tools, cultural practices, technology, and Western practices to reach the
country. Some Filipino students who were able to study in Europe also contributed to
the advancement of medicine, engineering, arts, music, and literature in the country.
The Americans have more influence in the development of science and
technology in the Philippines compared to the Spaniards. They established the public
education system, improved the engineering works and the health conditions of the
people. They established a modern research university, the University of the
Philippines, and created more public hospitals than the former colonial master. The
mineral resources of the country were also explored and exploited during the American
times. Transportation and communication systems were improved, though not
accessible throughout the country.
The Americans did everything to “Americanize” the Philippines. They 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 became a subject formally known as Science. The teaching of science in higher
education has also greatly improved and modernized. 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 interests is, somehow, beneficial in the country. These allowed
American scholars to introduce new knowledge and technology in the country.
 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. The country had a difficult time to rebuild itself from the
ruins of the war. The human spirit to survive and to rebuild the country may be strong
but the capacity of the country to bring back what was destroyed was limited. The
reparation funds focused on building some institutions and public facilities like schools,
hospitals, and transportation systems. The reparation money from Japan was also
concentrated on building highways and in providing technological training and human
resource development in the country.
The development of science and technology in the Philippines, based on itd brief
history, is shaped by several factors and influences. Like in the history of science in
other countries, it is always shaped by human and social activities, both internal and
external.
Science and technology may have significant impact on the lives of the people
and in the development of the Philippine society. However, improving the quality of
science education still remains as a big challenge in the country. School science from
basic education to graduate education is improving slowly, and there are only few
students enrolling in science and technology courses.

TASK:
1. What are the significant contributions of the Spaniards and Americans to the
development of science and technology in the Philippines?
2. What can you say about the state of science and technology during the Spanish and
American period?
3. How does school science shape science and technology in the country?

References:
1. Science, Technology and Society by Kathryn Idrisha K. Aldea et.al.
2. Science, Technology and Society by Janice Patria Javier Serafica et. al.
3.https://prezi.com/p/-ycfrdomgpnv/brief-history-of-science-and-technology-in-the-
philippines/