Sese, Kyle Vencent L.

BSME-1A

Science Technology and Society

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING

When the Philippines acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, the country
demonstrated its determination to face the challenges of globalization. Recognizing that globalization is
the buzzword of the 21st century and inevitably affects the growth and governance of many nation-states,
the Philippines bravely entered the WTO to prepare itself for global competitiveness and reap the benefits
that globalization may bring. Despite its great optimism about joining the WTO, the Philippines is still
lagging behind its Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of economic performance. Whereas Philippine
economic growth was second only to Japan’s in the 1960s, the Philippines at present is viewed as one of
the sick men of Asia.

The Premiere State

The Philippine state is premature because its claim to statehood is predominantly based on anti-
colonial sentiment rather than on the “natural” bonds formed through common historical experience,
consanguinity, and identification with a common language or a common religion. Another characteristic
of a premature state is that its legitimacy is challenged. The Philippine state is considered legitimate by
international recognition and “popular” support. However, as in other premature states in the world,
resistance groups such as local communists and Muslim secessionist groups are contesting the legitimacy
of the Philippine state.

The premature nature of the Philippine state may also be attributed to the fact that it derives its
legitimacy from the actions of its erstwhile colonial master, the United States. The Philippine state is a
colonial creation supported by a minority of people constituting the elite who, in turn, utilizes the
apparatus of a weak state to get the needed “legitimacy” from the people through a defective electoral
and party system.

Diversities and Tensions in the Philippine Society

The Philippines is a highly diverse society. With an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands, its
geographical setting has caused considerable ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic fragmentation.
Although some Filipino scholars argue that the waters connecting these islands unite Filipinos, they serve
merely as channels of transportation facilitating inter-island commerce and migration rather than
transmitters of national unity and propagators of national consciousness. These waters can even be the
source of inter-island conflict due to ambiguous coastal boundaries and ineffective government policies.
Aggravating the situation is the mountainous Philippine terrain, which makes intra-island interaction
similarly problematic. The Philippines’ physical geography has produced a highly diverse society, as shown
by the presence of at least five major languages spoken in the country with 80 distinct ethnic dialects.
Sese, Kyle Vencent L.
BSME-1A

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PERSONALITIES IN S&T IN THE PHILIPPINES

BALIK SCIENTIST PROGRAM

The program aims to encourage Filipino Scientists or Scientists of Filipino descent to return to the
Philippines and conduct research or scientific undertakings. As of December 2017, 497 scientists served
under the program.

Republic Act No. 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act was signed into law in 2018. The law will provide
incentives and assistance to returning Filipino experts, scientists, inventors, and engineers.

Its goal is to: “Improve the ability of the country to utilize advanced technology in addressing problems on
natural resource management, especially as related to climate and environmental changes”.

GRANTS-IN-AID PROGRAM

• The government funds scientific and technological undertakings to promote development in the
country.

• It also promotes technology transfer, innovation, human resources development, and

productivity improvements.

PCARI PROJECT

• The Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes (PCARI) Project aims to develop our
Science and Technology manpower through scholarships, training, and research collaborations
with top universities and institutions in California, USA

SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is trying its best to improve the state of science education in the country. One of
the strategies is to establish science schools that will encourage students to pursue their careers in science
and technology and to nurture their gifted potential in science.

Teaching science involves developing ways to effectively teach science. This means exploring
pedagogical theories and models in helping teachers teach scientific concepts and processes effectively.
Learning science includes both pedagogy and the most interesting aspect, which is helping students
understand and love science.

Science education is justified by the vast amount of scientific knowledge developed in this area that
prepares citizens in a scientifically and technologically driven world. Science education provides skills and
knowledge that are necessary for a person to live in what Knight (1986) describes as the age of science
and to develop a citizenry that will meet the goals of science in society (Tilghman, 2005).
Sese, Kyle Vencent L.
BSME-1A

Science in Basic to Tertiary Education

BASIC

• Science education helps students learn important concepts and facts that are related to everyday
life including important skills such as process skills, critical thinking skills, and life skills that are
needed in coping with daily life activities (Chaille & Britain, 2002).
• Science education also develops positive attitudes such as: a love for knowledge, passion for
innovative things, curiosity to study nature, and creativity (Lind, 1997).
• Science education will develop a strong foundation for studying science and for considering
science-related careers in the future. This is an investment for the country to develop a
scientifically cultured and literate citizenry.

TERTIARY

• Deals with developing students’ understanding and appreciation of scientific ideas and scientific
works. This is done by offering basic science courses in the General Education curriculum. It also
focuses on the preparation of science teachers, scientists, engineers, and other professionals in
various science-related fields such as engineering, agriculture, medicine and health sciences.
• The state also provides scholarships to encourage more students to pursue science courses.

SELECTED INDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGIES

Indigenous science – is a product of indigenous knowledge perfected by people through life experiences.
It is the use of science process skills guided by community culture and values composed of
traditional/indigenous knowledge.

Indigenous knowledge - is one that is embedded in the cultural traditions of regional, indigenous, or local
communities. This knowledge system is passed on orally and is evident in their stories, poems, and songs.
Note that this type of knowledge also includes superstitious beliefs and practices which may be the
product of human imagination.

Indigenous technologies - are processes or products that resulted from studying indigenous science. It is
designed and fabricated based on the culture, tradition, and needs of a people and is adopted for use in
the environment of those people.

Indigenous Science: Weather Observations

Ancient people incorporated animal behavior with weather conditions and seasons. In the slide, you will
see “if cows should choose to lay, the rain is on its way” and “if squirrels are nesting higher, your
winter will be dire.” We know that this has no scientific basis. This may be based on coincidence to the
point that they have associated it with weather conditions.
Sese, Kyle Vencent L.
BSME-1A

Indigenous Science: Food Preservation

Ages-old food preservation techniques include drying, smoking, cooling, freezing, fermenting, salting,
pickling, and canning. Drying and smoking are one of the most ancient methods of food preservation. It
works because it removes much of the food's water and therefore prevents microbial activity as we all
know now.

Indigenous Technology: Erythromycin

You might have come across Erythromycin before or might have actually taken some seven days before. It
is an antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections such as skin and upper respiratory tract
infections.

In one fateful day in 1949, a physician named Abelardo Aguilar collected soil samples in his backyard in
Iloilo to isolate microorganisms. Little did he know that one of his isolates would then lead to the
discovery of the potent antibiotic Erythromycin. Sadly, though, the patent was granted to his then
employer, a U.S. pharmaceutical company, and he was not given any royalty or share of sales even when
he was the one who took the samples that lead to the discovery of the drug.

Reference/s:

https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-perpetual-help-system-dalta/science-
technology-and-society/major-development-programs-and-personalities-notes-sts/29646886

https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/cavite-state-university/science-technology-and-
society/lecture-06-selected-indigenous-science-and-technologies/20917664

https://dkiapcss.edu/Publications/Edited%20Volumes/GrowthGovernance_files/Pub_Growth%20
Governance/Pub_GrowthGovernancech16.pdf

https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/don-honorio-ventura-technological-state-
university/science-technology-and-society/science-education-in-the-philippines/10459862