Historical

Development in
Science Technology
and Society

Learning Packet 02

Historical Antecedents of STS in the Philippines

Associate Professor Kimberly C. Rivera
 Discuss the historical antecedents in science and
Discuss technology that leads to current scientific knowledge and
advance technological innovations in the Philippines.

Discuss how scientific and technological developments

Discuss affect society and the environment in our country.
Objectives

Exhibit the historical antecedents that revolutionized

Exhibit science and technology in the Philippines.
Pre-Colonial Science and
Technology
Periods in the
progress of Science
Pre-Colonial Science
and Technology
Pre-Colonial Science
and Technology

With indigenous means

of raising animals,
farming, and utilizing
plants and herbs for
medical purposes.
Pre-Colonial Science and
Technology
Invented tools and built structures, observed heavenly
bodies to predict seasons and weather
Pre-Colonial Science
and Technology

✓ Developed tools for planting, hunting,

cooking, fishing and fighting enemies
during tribal conflicts.

✓ The use of technology is very evident in

the handicrafts, pottery, weaving and
tools used by ancient Filipinos in their
everyday life
Pre-Colonial Science and Technology
The ancient practices in science and technology by our
ancestors are considered indigenous science or folk science
which is one of the foundations of modern science.

The growth of science and its development as a field in the

Philippines is a hybrid of indigenous and foreign ideas.
Spain and the United States of America, being former
colonizers, played an important role in building the
foundation of science in the country
Stone Ages
in the
Philippines
Stone Ages in the
Philippines
• Archaeological findings indicate that around 50,000 years ago,
modern men or Homo sapiens from the Asian mainland first
came over land and across narrow channels to live in Palawan
and Batangas.

• For about 40,000 years, they made simple tools or weapons of

stone flakes, but eventually developed techniques for sawing,
drilling and polishing hand stones. This very long period,
considered as the Philippine Stone Age, was when the Tabon
Man (c. 67,000 BC) and the Callao Man (c. 24,000-22,000 BCE)
were supposed to have lived.
Stone Ages in the
Philippines
• The Austronesians around 5,000-2,000 BC, ancestors of
most present- day Filipinos, arrived in the islands. It is still
unsure as to their exact direction of movement to what is
today the Philippines, and but southern Mainland China is
considered as their most plausible point of origin. These
ancestors not only brought most languages spoken by
Filipinos today; they were also said to have brought more
sophisticated and organized agricultural technologies and
methods. This is where rice cultivation also flourished with
the 2,000-year-old Banaue Rice Terraces of the Ifugao
people as prominent evidence.
Bronze and Iron Ages in the
Philippines
Bronze and Iron Ages
in the Philippines
• There is no distinct Bronze
Age in the Philippines.
• As early as 3,000 BC
people were producing a
range of materials from
seashell ornaments to
pottery of various designs.
The production of pottery
subsequently became well
developed and flourished for
about 2,000 years until it
came into competition with
imported Chinese ceramics.
Bronze and Iron Ages
in the Philippines
Fermentation in food
processing could have been
present earlier than this
period. Various types of
alcohol were produced from
coconuts (tuba, lambanog,
bahalina) and rice (pangasi).
This method was later
adopted to sugarcane (basi)
when Arab traders
presumably brought the crop
to Mindanao and then
spread northwards.
Bronze and Iron Ages
in the Philippines
Usage and small-scale production of iron is
estimated to have occurred around 500 to 200
BCE as iron manufacturing overlapped with
the arrival of limited bronze manufacturing.
People during this age engaged in the actual
iron extraction, smelting and refining.
Crude metalwork processes were already
adopted through the hardening of metal
through heat-induced carbon absorption or
carburization. Most materials found were
imported, which shows the existence of an
extensive trading network across Southeast
Asia, China and the Indian subcontinent as
early as this period. By 1st century CE, cotton
cultivation, textiles, mining, and jewelry
making were already practiced.
Bronze and Iron Ages
in the Philippines
• This period saw the appearance of various
clay and copper-based materials produced
by the Sa Huynh Culture which existed
around 1000 BCE to 200 CE. Found to be
concentrated in southern Vietnam, this
society is presumed to have had presence
around Central Philippines, and possibly all
the way to Mindanao. Some notable
archeological findings from this time are the
Sa Huyun-Kalanay Pottery Complex of
Masbate (c. 400 BCE-1500 CE), and the
Manunggul Jar of Palawan (c. 890-710 BCE),
which is depicted in the old design of the
₱1,000 bill.
Bronze and Iron Ages
in the Philippines

As descendants of seafaring
people who subsequently settled near
the sea, social structures in ancient
Philippines were also tied to seafaring.
An example would be ancient barangay
societies, which would later expand as
flourishing, powerful localities trading
with nearby states and territories up
until the 16th century. These social
organizations were derived from the
concept of the balangay, ancient boats
used by their predecessors to travel
across the Philippines and nearby
islands. The oldest to be discovered is
called the Butuan Boat One presumed
to be used around 300 CE.
Bronze and Iron
Ages in the
Philippines
There is also the karakoa, or large
outrigger ships used for both trade
and warfare mostly in the Visayas.

The lanong is a variant within the

Sulu area. These larger vessels
were said to be attached with at
least one bronze cannon called a
lantaka. Today this cannon
technology has evolved into the
typical bamboo cannons used as
noisemakers during fiestas and
New Year’s Eve.
Bronze and Iron Ages in the
Philippines
• The early form of medicine or pananambal is
associated with ancient systems of Animist beliefs
characterized by the anito, which comprise of
various nature spirits, diwatas, and ancestors. In
line with religion, early societies’ agricultural
activities were presumed to have been guided by
a Hindu-Buddhist influenced lunar calendar.
 Bronze and Iron Ages
in the Philippines
• Among the oldest writing systems
(Baybayin) found in the Philippines with
variations from Pampanga down to the
Visayas. This is presumed to have evolved
from the Kawi Script originally developed
somewhere in Java, Indonesia, and spread
all over what are now Malaysia and the
Philippines. Its most renowned evidence in
the Philippines is the Laguna Copperplate
Inscription, dated around 900 CE, which is
an Old Malay writing mixed with either Old
Javanese or Old Tagalog. Kawi itself evolved
from an older writing system originating in
Southern India. Many Baybayin writings did
not survive since most were carved on
leaves and bamboo, except for a very few
when the Spaniards brought the printing
press to the islands.
Thank You
End of Pre-Colonial Science and Technology
 Spanish
Colonization
Spanish
Colonization is
beginnings of
modern science and
technology in the
Philippines

While the Spaniards practiced some aspects of science (e.g.

agriculture, botany, medicine, meteorology), Filipinos rarely
had the opportunity to develop a serious competence to
these, due to racism and wealth inequality within the
colonies. Filipino farmers during Spanish
Regime
Small group of Filipinos particularly men
who are wealthy and landed (Ilustrados)
were eventually allowed to engage in
advanced studies in local schools or
abroad.

The aspects of scholarship that were

developed
ethnography, humanities theology,
science and technology were generally
neglected.
University of Santo Tomas

Access to adequate training,

was limited to the University
of Santo Tomas (La Pontificia
y Real Universidad de Santo
Tomás de Aquino Universidad
Católica de Filipinas).

The University of Santo Tomás Main

Building during the pre-war years. ©
Old Manila Nostalgia via Ram Roy
Formal • Higher institutions of learning were
education in established among which were:
• Colegio de Cebu (1597), now the University
science and of San Carlos
technology was • Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Rosario
introduced by (1611), now the
of Santo Tomas
University

the Spaniards • Colegio de San Juan de Letran (1706)

through • Ateneo Municipal de Manila (1859)
scientific • Escuela Nautica (1820)
• Manila School of Agriculture (1887)
institutions.
Science subjects were taught as parts of the
curriculum for college programs being offered.

ASTRONOMY PHYSICS CHEMISTRY NATURAL MATHEMATICS

HISTORY
 Important institutions
and development in the
Spanish era

• Observatorio
Meteorológico or the
Manila Observatory
(1865) at the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila
helped in studying
typhoons and climatology
within the colony and
across Asia.
Important institutions and development in
the Spanish era

• Hospitals were established

like San Lazaro Hospital
(1578), the oldest in East
Asia, the Hospital de Los
Baños (1590), and the
Hospital de Cebu (1850).
 Important institutions
and development in the
Spanish era

• Philippine National
Railway (PNR) in June
1875. The wood-burning
steam locomotive ran
through the first line from
Tutuban in Manila to
Dagupan and San
Fernando, La Union.
Important institutions
and development in
the Spanish era

• The tranvia owned by

the Compania de las
Tranvias de Manila of
1888 consisting of
German-made light
electric locomotives
which ran from Manila
to Malabon.
 Important institutions
and development in the
Spanish era

Telegraph was introduced in the

Philippines in 1876 with the first line
between Manila and Corregidor.
The first foreign- owned overseas
submarine telegraph cable was put
up in 1881. It linked Bolinao in
Pangasinan and Hong Kong. Manila
was also linked to Iloilo, Cebu and
Bacolod.
There were 65 telegraph stations
operating in the islands (49 in
Luzon, 16 in the Visayas during the
height of Philippine revolution.
Image References:
• http://rizaldiaries.livejournal.com/2004/05/28/

• (c) FERNANDO CUETO AMORSOLO (Filipino, 1892–

1972)
• The Harvesters, Painted in 1964

• http://arquitecturamanila.blogspot.com/2014/07/univ
ersity-of-santo-tomas-main-building.html
End of Spanish Colonization
American Colonization and WWII
American Colonization
and World War II
 Objectives
• To give a brief overview of
American Colonization in
the Philippines

• To analyze the impact of

American Rule in the
Philippines on Education,
Science, transportation,
trade and industry.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

How did the American
Colonization start?

On April 21, 1898, the

United states declared
war against Spain. It was
the first overseas conflict
fought by the U.S. it
involved major campaigns
in both Cuba and the
Philippine islands.
How did the American Colonization start?

America's involvement in the Philippines

started when the Spanish-
American War ended in December 1898,
Spain sold the entire Philippine archipelago
to the United States for $20 million. The
Philippines had acquired a new colonial ruler.
Education in the Philippines During the American Rule
• During the United States colonial period of the Philippines (1898-1946),
the United States government oversaw providing education in the
Philippines.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

Progress in
Education
The greatest contribution of the
United States to the Philippine
civilization is the system of public
education. Directly opposed to the
Spanish system which emphasized,
on the other hand, the study of
Catholic religion, and on the other,
the employment of Philippine
languages rather than the Spanish
as pedagogical aid, the American
educational system emphasized
democratic traditions and the
practical applications of laws and
principles.
Hierarchy PRIMARY EDUCATION
of
Educative
Process SECONDARY EDUCATION
that gone
through the
American
System of TERTIARY EDUCATION
Education
 • Education became a very important issue for the United States colonial government,
since it allowed it to spread their cultural values, particularly the English language, to
the Filipino people. Instruction in English language, and American history, lead to
Public system forming of a national identity and Filipino nationalism.
• Every child from age 7 was required to register in schools located in their own town
of education or province. The students were given free school materials. There were three levels of
education during the American period. The "elementary" level consisted of four
primary years and 3 intermediate years. The "secondary" or high school level
consisted of four years; and the third was the "college" or tertiary level. Religion was
not part of the curriculum of the schools. as it had been during the Spanish period.
Public Education
System
Public Education System
Many elementary and secondary schools from the Spanish era were recycled and
new ones were opened in cities and provinces, among which there were normal,
vocational, agricultural, and business schools. Among the most important colleges
during United States rule were: Philippine Normal School in 1901 ( Philippine
Normal University) and other normal schools throughout the country such as
Silliman University (1901), Central Philippine University (1905), Negros Oriental
High School (1902. Examples of vocational schools are the Philippine Nautical
School, Philippine School of Arts and Trades (1901, now Technological University of
the Philippines) and the Central Luzon Agriculture School. The University of the
Philippines was also founded in 1908. and Schools were also built-in remote areas
like Sulu, Mindanao, and the Mountain Provinces, where attention was given to
vocational and health practice.
Public Education System
The Americans did everything to Americanize the Philippines. They
reorganized the learning of science and introduced it in both private and
public schools.
Public Education
System

• In basic education,
science education
focuses on nature This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

studies and science and

sanitation, until it
became a single, formal
subject area.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Public Education
System
• The teaching of science in higher
education has also greatly
improved and modernized.
Publication of scientific journals
and organization of scientific
societies were brought. Among
these local scientific publications
focused on agriculture and plant
industries, water resources,
pharmaceuticals, and general
natural and applied sciences.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
 Learning and Education during
American Rule
Some of the first scientific societies in the Philippines were:
• Manila Medical Society (1901)
• Philippine Islands Medical Association (1908)
• Philippine Scientific Society (1923)
• Society for the Advancement of Research (1928)
• Philippine Society of Parasitologists (1930)
• Philippine Public Health Association (1932)
• Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (1933)
 Transportation and
Communication

New developments in transportation and communications

were also brought during the American period. Other than
acquiring ownership of PNR and extending its railroad
lines, the Commonwealth government also built other
steam locomotive railways in other parts of the country.
These are the Panay Railway, which ran from Iloilo City to
the town of Capiz (now Roxas City), and the Cebu Railway,
which ran from Danao through Cebu City until Argao. A
shorter line was built in Negros, but this primarily served
sugar plantations and mills, not commuters. The first
automobile in the Philippines arrived in Manila in 1900. By
1916 the ordinary car became a common feature of traffic.
As per aviation, the first airplane to land in the Philippines
is the Avierto Gallarsa in 1924. However, locally-owned
commercial air travel only became possible by 1941. This
was when Philippine Air Lines (now ‘Airlines’), the first
Asian commercial aviation company, was incorporated for
domestic and international flights.
Transportation and
Communication
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

The Americans expanded the telegraph and

telephone capacity and became available to the
Filipino public with the establishment of the Bureau
of Post. Before World War II, they were able to
operate 108 radio stations and 495 telegraph offices
interconnected by 14,607 kilometers of wires and
328 nautical miles of submarine cables throughout
the archipelago. In 1922, the first radio broadcasts
took place in Manila and Pasay.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Transportation and
Communication
The radio stations were initially owned by
Americans but were soon purchased by
Filipino businessmen who extended their
media investments from newspapers to
radio, and later to television. The radio
quickly became a staple so that even before
World War II, news programs were regularly
broadcast. After the war, the number of
radio stations increased rapidly, and
broadcasts soon became available
throughout the country. The radio became
the main source of entertainment and news
for millions of Filipinos until the 1970’s when
it was supplemented by the television.
Scientific
Development
The Americans likewise continued science
development from the Spanish regime.
Government departments, bureaus, and
boards were established to help the new
colonial administration, and among these
were the Bureau of Agriculture and the
Board of Health, which later became the
Bureau of Health. American efforts at the
beginning were geared towards the
promotion of public health. In 1901, the
Philippine Commission created the Bureau
of Government Laboratories under the
Department of Interior. This bureau was
established for the study of tropical
diseases and laboratory projects
effectively replacing the Laboratorio
Municipal.
 “No people ever accepted the blessings of
education more enthusiasm than the Filipinos”
- Governor-General Frank Murphy, 1935
Sources
• Agoncillo, Teodoro A. &
Alfonso, Oscar M. (1969).
History of the Filipino
people,. Quezon City :
Malaya Books
• https://scholarspace.manoa.
hawaii.edu/bitstream/1012
5/47216/EDPVol21%234_7-
14.pdf
End of American
Colonization and
WWII
ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
IN THE PHILIPPINES and INDIGENOUS
KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM
Issues in Science
and Technology in
the Philippines
Issues

Since the aftermath of World War II and independence, the

Philippines had struggled to maintain and expand its
science and technology capacity. Institutions and possibly
many physical documents of scientific and technological
knowledge were turned to ashes; many lives were
destroyed. While reparation funds from Japan were meant
for rebuilding much were focused on basic infrastructure
such as schools, hospitals, and transportation systems.
Resources are limited in improving science.
Issues

• The Philippine government has explored the

use of Overseas Development Allocations (ODA)
from different countries to help in improving its
scientific productivity and technological
capability.
• Human resource development is at the heart

of these efforts focusing on producing more

engineers, scientists, technologists, doctors, and
other professionals.
Issues

However, these are not enough for the Philippines to

provide quality science education to the population,
and much more catch up with developed nations in
terms of capacity and innovation.
Issues

The brief account of the acceptance of modern

technology in the Philippines indicates its ready absorption
into national and local life.
With the arrival of the steamboat in 1849, the telegraph in
1876, the railway in 1888, the telephone in 1890, the
automobile in 1900, and the electric tranvia in 1905, the
launching of modern communications and transportation
technologies in the country became apparent. Most of
these technologies were only recently invented in the
West, but their effects were quickly felt in the societies
that accepted them.
Issues

• Japan was among the most quickly transformed by

these technologies and were able to fully harness
them amidst their rapid industrialization after the
World War II.

• At a much recent period, South Korea was able to

accomplish this through their phenomenal economic
development in the 80’s up to the 90’s. They made this
possible by integrating internet technologies. These
two countries have not only taken advantage of
scientific and technological developments, but in some
cases became leaders and pioneer themselves.
Issues
Unfortunately, the Philippines failed to take advantage of these
opportunities as most of their benefits were confined to the
national capital region and were unable to stimulate the
development of the overall economy. In effect, they often
confirmed, widened, or solidified social divisions between rich and
poor, urban and rural.

The aforementioned technologies as they evolved in the

contemporary period in the form of smartphones and tablets,
overseas travel, car ownership, or affording car services like Grab,
became hallmarks of privilege rather than necessities of modern
living.
Indigenous Knowledge
System
Indigenous Knowledge System
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 members of the
community prominently practice indigenous knowledge
in their minds. The lessons they learned are intimately
interwoven with their culture and the environment.
These lessons comprised of good values and life stories
of people on their daily life struggles. Their views about
nature and their reflections on their experiences in daily
life are evident in their stories, poems, and songs.
Indigenous
Knowledge System
• Some examples of indigenous knowledge that
are taught and practiced by the indigenous
peoples are:

• Predicting weather conditions and seasons

using knowledge in observing animals’
behavior and celestial bodies;
• Using herbal medicine;
• Preserving foods
Indigenous
Knowledge System
1. Classifying plants and animals into families
and groups based on cultural properties;
2. Preserving and selecting good seeds for
planting;
3. Using indigenous technology in daily lives;

4. Building local irrigation systems;

5. Classifying different types of soil for

planting based on cultural properties;
6. Producing wines and juices from tropical
fruits; and
7. Keeping the custom of growing plants and
vegetables in the yard.
Indigenous Science
Indigenous Science
Indigenous science is part of the indigenous
knowledge system practiced by different
groups of people and early civilizations
(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 it is collectively
lived in and experienced by the people of a
given culture.
Indigenous Science
• 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.
Indigenous Science

• 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.
 Simple • Pawilen (2006) developed a simple
framework for framework for understanding
understanding indigenous science.
indigenous
Accordingly, indigenous science is
science •

composed of traditional knowledge

which uses science process skills and
guided by community values and
culture.
 Simple 1. Indigenous science uses
framework for science process skills such
understanding as observing, comparing,
indigenous classifying, measuring,
science problem solving, inferring,
communicating, and
predicting.
 2. Indigenous science is guided by culture
Simple and community values such as the following:
• The land is a source of life. It is a
framework for precious gift from the creator.
understanding • The Earth is revered as “Mother Earth”. It

is the origin of their identity as people.

indigenous • All living and non-living things are

science interconnected and interdependent with

each other.
• Human beings are stewards or trustee of

the land and other resources. They have

a responsibility to preserve it.
• Nature is a friend to human beings - it

needs respect and proper care.

 Simple 3. Indigenous science is
framework for composed of traditional
understanding knowledge practiced and
indigenous valued by people and
science communities such as ethno-
biology, ethno-medicine,
indigenous farming methods
and folk astronomy.
 Indigenous science is important in the
development of science and technology in the
Philippines. Like the ancient civilizations,
indigenous science gave birth to the development
of science and technology as a field and as a
discipline.
Indigenous
Science Indigenous science helped the people in
understanding the natural environment and in
coping with everyday life. 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.
PHILIPPINE
INVENTIONS
Graphical user interface
(GUI)
• Diosdado Banatao developed the first single-
chip graphical user interface (GUI) accelerator
that made computers work much faster. This
invention has allowed computer users to use
graphics for commands and not the usual typed
commands in older computers. It has allowed
data processing to be a little faster using very
little space, with small chips instead of large
boards.
Incubator
• In the Philippines, high infant mortality rates are a serious
problem. One reason for this difficulty in the twentieth
century was a shortage of incubators owing to a lack of
resources and energy, especially in rural regions.
• Dr. Fe del Mundo, a physician from the Philippines and the
first Asian woman admitted to Harvard Medical School,
created an electric-free medical incubator using locally
available materials.
• Dr. del Mundo constructed the incubator by encasing a local
laundry basket within a bigger one. Hot water bottles were
put between baskets and an improvised hood to allow
ventilation and enable oxygen circulation. Its major goal was
to keep a newborn, usually a premature infant, under safe
conditions.
Moon Buggy
• In 1971, the Apollo 12 mission to the moon
used the first "Moon Buggy" to explore the
moon's surface. Created by a team at NASA that
included Filipino mechanical engineer Eduardo
San Juan, the Lunar Rover was also used during
last three Apollo lunar missions, 15, 16 and 17,
which took place during 1971 and 1972.
Erythromycin
• Perhaps one of the most important medical
inventions is the Erythromycin. The Ilonggo
scientist Abelardo Aguilar invented this
antibiotic out of a strain of bacterium called
Streptomyces erythreus, from which this drug
derived its name. As with the case of several
other local scientists, however, Aguilar was not
credited for this discovery by Eli Lilli Co.,
Aguilar’s US employer, to whom he sent the
strain for separation. The US company
eventually owned the merits for this discovery.
Salamander: Amphibious
Tricycle
• Converting transportation vehicles into something
more useful. Adding a sidecar to a vehicle,
converting it into a tricycle with more people to
handle, is an example of conversion of American
military jeeps used in World War II to jeepneys.
During the rainy season, flooding is a common
occurrence in many regions of the world. The streets
are quite difficult for tricycles to navigate. Victor
Llave and his colleagues at H2O Technologies were
able to solve the problem by developing the
Salamander, as well as rivers and lakes. This may
also be used to go from island to island because the
Philippines an archipelago, the Salamander is a
practical invention.
Banana Ketchup
• Filipino food technologist, Maria Orosa, is credited
for the invention of banana ketchup, a variety of
ketchup. Her invention appeals particularly to
Filipinos who love using condiments to go along
with their food. Historical accounts post that Orosa
invented the banana ketchup at the backdrop of
World War ll when there was a huge shortage of
tomatoes. As a result, Orosa developed a variety of
ketchup that made use of mashed banana, sugar,
vinegar, and spices, which were all readily available.
Orosa’s banana ketchup is brownish-yellow in
natural color but is dyed red to resemble the color
of the most loved tomato ketchup.
Mole remover
• In 2000, a local invention that had ability to
easily remove moles and warts on the skin
without the need for any surgical procedure
shot to fame. Rolando dela Cruz is credited for
the invention of a local mole remover that
made use of extracts of cashew nuts
(Annacardium occidentale), which are very
common in the Philippines. The indigenous
formula easily caught on for its accessibility,
affordability, and painless and scarless
procedure. Dela Cruz won a gold medal for this
invention in the International Invention,
Innovation, Industrial Design, and Technology
Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Alternative chemical spray
• Ramon Barba is a Filipino inventor and
horticulturist best known for inventing a way to
induce more flowers in mango trees using
Ethrel and potassium nitrate. His discovery
helped launched Philippine mangoes in the
international market is one for the books. This
very same chemical also launched his career in
plant physiology, and ultimately, helped pave
the way for him to be called a National Scientist.
Two-way video
telephone
• Gregorio Y. Zara was a Filipino
engineer and physicist best
remembered for inventing the
first two-way video telephone.
Zara's video telephone invention
enabled the caller and recipient
to see each other while
conversing, laying the foundation
for video-conferencing.
Quick drying ink
• This is a quick drying ink was invented by
Filipino chemist, Francisco Quisumbing.
This innovative ink was further
developed to work with Parker Pens. It’s
not just quick drying but also water
resistant, doesn’t clog the pen opening,
doesn’t blot and won’t fade. This ink is
considered one of the best-selling inks
for fountain pens.
Alternative Fuel
• Julián Arca Banzón was a Filipino
biochemist and a National Scientist of
the Philippines credited for his research
in alternative fuel. He researched on the
production of ethyl ester fuels from
sugarcane and coconuts and devised a
method of extracting residual coconut oil
through chemical means. Banzon is a
native of Balanga, Bataan.
End of MODULE 01
Learning Packet 02
Historical Antecedents of STS in the Philippines