he history

STS and nation building

THE CONCEPT OF NATION BUILDING

Understanding the concept of nation building requires a prior

concept of the term nation. Early conceptions of nation defined it as a
group or race of people who shared history, traditions, and culture,

of science
sometimes religion, and usually language. Generally, people of a specific
nation share a common national identity. It may include identity based on
race or ethnicity, loyalty to a set of political ideas, and institutions, and the
linkage of citizenship to nationality.

Fagoyinbo (2013) explained that “the word nation is often used

and
synonymously with state, as in the United Nations. But a state is more
properly the governmental apparatus by which a nation rules itself” (p.411).
in approaching the question of nation-building, and its relationship to state-
building, it is important to keep in mind that this definition specifies the
“legitimate use of force”. (Stephenson, 2005)

technology
Many aspects shall be considered in achieving a strong nation.
As Prof. Gambari (2008) enumerated, these aspects include:

 building a political entity (territory, rules, norms, principles and

common citizenship);
 building institutions (symbolizes political entity – institutions

in the
such as a bureaucracy, an economy, the judiciary, universities, a
civil service, and civil society organizations); and
 building a common sense of purpose, a sense of shared density, a
collective imagination of belonging. (para.1)

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE

PHILIPPINES
Philippines ce from the
started way American
back before colonizers.
the country • Before
gained the coming
independen of the
Spanish had their
colonizers, own
the early culture,
inhabitants traditions,
of the belief
archipelago system and
indigenous sustained
knowledge their
system that lives and
keep them communiti
organized es for many
and years.
 The history of science and technology in the Philippines started way
back before the country gained independence from the American
colonizers.
  Before the coming of the Spanish colonizers, the early inhabitants of
the archipelago had their own culture, traditions, belief system and
indigenous knowledge system that keep them organized and
sustained their lives and communities for many years.
 Technology is used by the people in building houses, irrigations, and
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 transportation.
 The different archaeological artifacts discovered indifferent parts of
the country also prove that the Metal Age also had significant
influence on the lives of early Filipinos. The sophisticated designs of
gold and silver jewelry, ceramics, and metal tools have helped in the
development of different tools.
SPANISH COLOINIZATION
 When the Spaniards colonized the country, they brought with them
their own culture and practices. They established schools and
introduced the concepts of subjects and disciplines. It was the
beginning of formal science and technology in the country, known
now as school of science and technology.
 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.
 The Galleon Trade was a government monopoly. Only two galleons
were used: One sailed from Acapulco to Manila with some 500,000
pesos worth of goods, spending120 days at sea; the bother sailed
from Manila to Acapulco with some 250,000 pesos worth of goods
spending 90 days at sea.
 Although the country is blessed with these developments, the
superstitious beliefs and the Catholic doctrines and practices during
the Spanish era halted the growth of science in the country.
THE AMERICANS’ COLONIZATION
 They have more influence in the development of science and
technology than Spaniards.
 They established the public education system, improved the
engineering works and the health conditions of the people. They
reorganized the learning of science and introduced it in public and
private schools.
 Researches were done to control malaria, cholera, and tuberculosis
and other tropical diseases.
 They allowed American scholars to introduce new knowledge and
technology in the country.
 The Protestant church missions in different places in the country
also brought hospitals and schools to far-flung areas.
 Transportation and communication systems were improved, though
not accessible throughout the country.
 Mineral resources of the country were explored and exploited.
HOWEVER,
 World War II has destabilized the development of the country.
 Institutions and public facilities were burned and many lives were
destroyed.
 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 DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES,
BASED ON ITS BRIEF HISTORY, IS SHAPED BY SEVERAL FACTORS AND
INFLUENCES.
 -Review R.A. 9184 ( Government Procurement Reform Act)

GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY  the purpose of prescribing the necessary rules and
regulations for the modernization, standardization, and
 The Philippine government introduced and implemented several
regulation of the procurement activities of the Government
programs, projects, and policies to boost the area of science and
of the Philippines (GoP)
technology. The goal is to prepare the whole country and its people
to meet the demands of a technologically driven world and -Harnessing science and technology as an independent mover of
capacitate the people to live in a world driven by science. development
 The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) sought an
expertise of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP)
to consult various sectors in the society to study how the Philippines 3. Medical, chemical, and pharmaceutical sciences
can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN Goals.
-Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms ASEAN
 The NCRP is expected to recommend policies and programs that will
improve the competitiveness of the Philippines in the ASEAN region. -harmonized standards full implementation of the FDA

-Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of

pharmaceutical services and care
THE NCRP CLUSTERED THE POLICIES INTO FOUR, NAMELY
-Empowering food and drug agencies to conduct evidence
1. Social Sciences, humanities, education, international policies and
governance -based research as pool of information
- Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the -Allocating two percent of the GDP to research
curriculum
-Legislating a law supporting human genome projects
- Emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue

- Developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT

4. Biological sciences, agriculture, and forestry
-Local food security
-Protecting and conserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing
laws
2. Physics, engineering and industrial research, earth and space sciences, -Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries
mathematics.
-Promoting indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous people’s
-Emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employmentopportunities conservation
-Outright grants for peer monitoring -Formulation of common food and safety standards
-Outright grants for peer monitoring