SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATION-BUILDING

Introduction
• The development of science and technology in the Philippines has already come a long way.
• Many significant inventions and discoveries have been accomplished by or attributed to
Filipinos.
• The development in science and technology affect the development of the Philippines as a
nation.

The development of science and technology in the Philippines has already come a long
way. Many significant inventions and discoveries have been accomplished by or attributed to
Filipinos. This chapter tackles how the development of science and technology affect the
development of the Philippines as a nation.
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
• Scientific and technological development in the Philippines began in the pre-colonial period.
• Early Filipino setters were already using certain plants and herbs as medicines.
• Systems of farming and anima-raising were also implemented.
• Moreover, early Filipinos had also developed different modes of transportation, whether
terrestrial or maritime.
• A complicated engineering feat was achieved by the natives of the Cordilleras when they built
the rice terraces by hand.
• Through these terraces, the people were able to cultivate crops on the mountainsides in cold
temperatures.
• Irrigation systems were incorporated that uses water from the forests and mountain tops to
achieve elaborate farming.
• Rice terraces are still functional today which shows the innovative and ingenious way of the
natives for survival.

Scientific and technological development in the Philippines began in the pre-colonial

period. Even before the Spaniards came to the Philippine islands, early Filipino settlers were
already using certain plants and herbs as medicines. Systems of farming and animal-raising
were also implemented. Moreover, early Filipinos had also developed different modes of
transportation, whether terrestrial or maritime.
A complicated engineering feat was achieved by the natives of the Cordilleras when they
built rice terraces by hand. Through these terraces, the people were able to cultivate crops on
the mountainsides in cold temperatures. They incorporated an irrigation system that uses water
from the forests and mountain tops to achieve an elaborate farming system. The rice terraces of
the Cordilleras, which are still functional, show the innovative and ingenious way of the natives
to survive in an otherwise unfriendly environment.
COLONIAL PERIOD
• Colonization by the Spaniards provided the Philippines with modern means of construction.
• Wall, roads bridges, and other large infrastructures were built using some of the engineering
skills and tools brought by the Spaniards.
• Also, the Spanish government developed health and education systems which is mostly enjoyed
by the principalia class.
• American occupation modernized almost all aspects of life in the Philippines.
• They established a government agency, the Bureau of Science, for the sole purpose of nurturing
development in the field of science and technology.
• Mineral resources were explored and exploited.
• Filipinos learn the value of health and sanitation.
• Hospitals, clinics and health centers were established including public hospitals for lepers.

Colonization by the Spaniards provided the Philippines with modern means of

construction. Walls, roads, bridges, and other large infrastructures were built using some of the
engineering skills and tools brought by the Spaniards. In addition, the Spanish government
developed health and education systems that were enjoyed by the principalia class.
The American occupation modernized almost all aspects of life in the Philippines. They
established a government agency, the Bureau of Science, for the sole purpose of nurturing
development in the field of science and technology.
POST-COLONIAL PERIOD
• After achieving independence from the colonizers, the Philippines, under different
administrations, continued to pursue programs in science and technology.
• Each leadership had its own science and technology agenda. However, some Philippine
presidents posted more developments in the field than others.
• And the reconstituted National Science and Technology Authority (originally established in
1958 as the National Science and Development Board and now the Department of Science and
Technology), among others.
• Marcos saw the key to nation-building is the continued development of science and technology.
• The progress in science and technology continued even after his dictatorial rule and the
presidents after him left their own legacies in the field.

After achieving independence from the colonizers, the Philippines, under different
administrations, continued to pursue programs in science and technology. Each leadership had
its own science and technology agenda. However, it is important to note than some Philippine
presidents posted more developments in the field than others.
One of the presidents who ushered in advancements in science and technology was
former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Under his term, many agencies in science and
technology were established and strengthened, including the Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in place of the abolished
Weather Bureau; the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST); and the
reconstituted National Science and Technology Authority (originally established in 1958 as the
National Science and Development Board and now the Department of Science and Technology),
among others. Marcos saw that the key to nation-building is the continued development of
science and technology. The progress in science and technology continued even after his
dictatorial rule and the presidents after him left their own legacies in the field.