FOCUS LESSON / IMPORTANT CONCEPT

1. History of Science and Technology in the Philippines

2. Spanish Colonial Period
3. American Period and Post-Commonwealth Era
4. Marcos Era and Martial Law
5. Fifth Republic
6. Philippine Government Science and Technology Agenda
7. Two major approaches
8. List of National Scientists of the Philippines
9. Selected Indigenous Science and Technologies
10. Roots of food and medicine
11. Technology to TEK
12. Indigenous education is essential

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The students will be able to:

1. discuss the role of Science and Technology in Philippine nation
building.
2. Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in
terms of their contributions to nation building.
3. Identify actual technology policies of the government and appraise the
impact on the development of the Filipino nation.

______________________________________________________________________________
Module 2
Science and Technology and Nation Building
_________________________________________

Even before the colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine

islands, the natives of the archipelago already had practices linked to
science and technology. Filipinos were already aware of the medicinal and
therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine
from herbs. They already had an alphabet, number system, a weighing and

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measuring system and a calendar. Filipinos were already engaged in
farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving.

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription shows the use of mathematics in

pre-colonial Philippine societies. A standard system of weights and measures
is demonstrated by the use of precise measurement for gold, and familiarity
with rudimentary astronomy is shown by fixing the precise day within the
month in relation to the phases of the moon.

Shipbuilding showed geometric thinking and mastery of convexity,

concavity, and the proper proportion between ship breadth and length to
ensure sailing efficiency. The practice of constructing as much as twelve
ships and boats to fit inside each other, not unlike matryoshka dolls
containing each other, can be interpreted as large three-dimensional
wooden demonstration of sets, subsets, volumes, and ordinality.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of

engineering by pre-Spanish era Filipinos.

Spanish Colonial Period

The colonization of the Philippines contributed to growth of science

and technology in the archipelago. The Spanish introduced formal education
and founded scientific institution. During the early years of Spanish rule in
the Philippines. Parish schools were established where religion, reading,
writing, arithmetic and music was taught. Sanitation and more advanced
methods of agriculture was taught to the natives. Later the Spanish
established colleges and universities in the archipelago including the
University of Santo Tomas.
Accounts by Spanish friars in the 1580s showed that astronomy was
already known and practiced. The accounts also give the local names of

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constellations, such as Moroporo for the Pleiades and Balatik for Ursa Major
among others.

In 1687, Isaac Newton included an explicit reference to the Philippines

in his classic Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by mentioning
Leuconia, the ancient Ptolemaic name for the Philippines.

The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the

Spanish era, especially in the later years. The Spanish also contributed to
the field of engineering in the islands by constructing government buildings,
churches, roads, bridges and forts. Biology is given focus. Contributors to
science in the archipelago during the 19th century were botanists, Fr.
Ignacio Mercado., Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera and Dr. Leon Ma Guerrero,
chemist Anaclento del Rosario, and medicine scholars Dr. Manuel Guerrero,
Dr, Jose Montes and Dr. Elrodario Mercado.

The Galleon Trade have accounted in the Philippine colonial economy.

Trade was given more focus by the Spaniard colonial authorities due to the
prospects of big profits. Agriculture and industrial development on the other
hand were relatively neglected. The opening of the Suez Canal saw the
influx of European visitors to the Spanish colony and some Filipinos were
able to study in Europe who were probably influenced by the rapid
development of scientific ideals brought by the Age of Enlightenment.

American Period and Post-Commonwealth era

The progress of science and technology in the Philippines continued

under American rule. On July 1, 1901 The Philippine Commission established
the Bureau of Government Laboratories which was placed under the
Department of Interior. The Bureau replaced the Laboratorio Municipal,
which was established under the Spanish colonial era. The Bureau dealt with
the study of tropical diseases and laboratory projects. On October 26, 1905,

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the Bureau of Government Laboratories was replaced by the Bureau of
Science and on December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the
Philippines was established.[3] The Bureau of Science became the primary
research center of the Philippines until World War II.

Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture,

food processing, medicine and pharmacy. Not much focus was given on the
development of industrial technology due to free trade policy with the
United States which nurtured an economy geared towards agriculture and
trade.

In 1946 the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of

Science. In a report by the US Economic Survey to the Philippines in 1950,
there is a lack of basic information which were necessities to the country's
industries, lack of support of experimental work and minimal budget for
scientific research and low salaries of scientists employed by the
government. In 1958, during the regime of President Carlos P. Garcia, the
Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of 1958 which established the
National Science Development Board.[5]

Marcos Era and Martial Law

During Ferdinand Marcos' presidency, the importance given to science

grew. In the amended 1973 Philippine Constitution, Article XV, Section 9 (1),
he declared that the "advancement of science and technology shall have
priority in the national development." In his two terms of presidency and
during Martial Law, he enacted many laws promoting science and
technology.

In his Second State of the Nation Address on January 23, 1967, he

declared that science was necessary for the development programs, and
thus, directed the Department of Education to revitalize the science courses

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in public high schools. The Department of Education, with the National
Science Development Board (NSDB), is organizing a project to provide
selected high schools with science teaching equipment over a four-year
period.

In his Third State of the Nation Address on January 22, 1968, he

recognized that technology was the leading factor in economic
development, and channeled additional funds to support projects in applied
sciences and science education.

In his Fourth State of the Nation Address on January 27, 1969, he gave
a big part of the war damage fund to private universities to encourage them
to create courses in science and technology and to research. He stated that
he planned a project to have medical interns do a tour of duty in provincial
hospitals to arouse their social conscious and reduce the "brain drain." On
April 6, 1968, he proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal as the site
of the Philippine Science Community. The government also conducted
seminars for public and private high school and college science teachers,
training programs and scholarships for graduate and undergraduate science
scholars, and workshops on fisheries and oceanography.

In his Fifth State of the Nation Address on January 26, 1970, he

emphasized that the upgrading of science curricula and teaching equipment
is crucial to the science development program. He added the Philippine
Coconut Research Institute to the NSDB to modernize the coconut industry.
The NSDB also established the Philippine Textile Research Institute. The
Philippine Atomic Energy Commission of the NSDB explored the uses of
atomic energy for economic development. Marcos assisted 107 institutions
in undertaking nuclear energy work by sending scientists to study nuclear
science and technology abroad, and providing basic training to 482
scientists, doctors, engineers, and technicians.

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 In his Seventh State of the Nation Address on January 24, 1972, he
spoke about his major development projects in reforming sectors of
education. Such projects included research and development schools,
technical institutes, science education centers, and agricultural colleges and
vocational high schools.

In 1972, he created the National Grains Authority to provide for the

development of the rice and corn industry to fully harness it for the economy
of the country. (Presidential Decree No. 4, s. 1972) He established the
Philippine Council for Agricultural Research to support the progressive
development of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries for the nation. It was
attached to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for
administrative purposes. He provided further support for the promotion of
scientific research and invention with Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972.
This decree contains details on the protection of intellectual property for the
creator or publisher of the work. He established the Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) under the
Department of National Defense to provide environmental protection and to
utilize scientific knowledge to ensure the safety of the people. (Presidential
Decree No. 78, s. 1972)

In 1973, he created the Philippine National Oil Company to promote

industrial and economic development through effective and efficient use of
energy sources. (Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973)

In 1976, he enacted a law under Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s.

1976 to establish the National Academy of Science and Technology, which is
composed of scientists with "innovative achievement in the basic and
applied sciences," to serve as a reservoir of scientific and technological
expertise for the country.

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 In 1978, he created a Task Force on the formulation of a national
action program on science and technology to assess policies and programs
of science and technology. (Executive Order No. 512, s. 1978) In his
Fourteenth State of the Nation Address on July 23, 1979, he said that the
government invested funds and time in organizations for scientific research,
such as the NSDB, the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and
Resources, the Plant Breeding Institute, the International Rice Research
Institute, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and the Bureau of Forest Products.
While these projects have had breakthroughs, the market machinery did not
adapt and invest in this technology due to the high-risk front-end costs.

In 1979, he constituted the Health Sciences Center created by R.A. No.

5163 as an autonomous member within the University of the Philippines
System to improve the internal organization and unity of leadership within
its units. (Executive Order No. 519, s. 1979)
In 1980, he created the National Committee on Geological Sciences to
advise government and private entities on matters concerning development
in geological sciences. (Executive Order No. 625, s. 1980)

In 1982, he reorganized the National Science Development Board and

its agencies into a National Science and Technology Authority to provide
central direction and coordination of scientific and technological research
and development. (Executive Order No. 784, s. 1982) He granted salary
increases to the people with teaching positions in the Philippine Science
High School due to their necessity in the advancement of national science.
(Executive Order No. 810, s. 1982). He enacted a law on the completion of
the National Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Complex at the
University of the Philippines at Los Baños. (Executive Order No. 840, s. 1982)

In 1986, he established the Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the

Philippine Science High School to encourage careers in science and

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technology and to be more accessible to the talented students in the
Mindanao and Visayas areas. (Executive Order No. 1090, s. 1986)

Fifth Republic

In 1986, during Corazon Aquino's presidency, the National Science and

Technology Authority was replaced by the Department of Science and
Technology, giving science and technology a representation in the cabinet.
Under the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan for the years 1987-
1992, science and technology's role in economic recovery and sustained
economic growth was highlighted. During Corazon Aquino's State of the
Nation Address in 1990, she said that science and technology development
shall be one of the top three priorities of the government towards an
economic recovery.

On August 8, 1988, Corazon Aquino created the Presidential Task

Force for Science and Technology which came up with the first Science and
Technology Master Plan or STMP. The goal of STMP was for the Philippines to
achieve newly industrialized country status by the year 2000. The Congress
did not put much priority in handling bills related to science and technology.
The Senate Committee on Science and Technology was one of the
committees that handles the fewest bills for deliberation.

Former DOST Secretary Ceferin Follosco reported that the budget

allocation for science and technology was increased to 1.054 billion pesos in
1989 from the previous year's 464 million pesos. However, due to the Asian
financial crisis, budget allocation for the years 1990 and 1991 were trimmed
down to 920 and 854 million pesos respectively. Budget allocation were
increased to 1.7 billion pesos in 1992.
During her term, President Corazon Aquino encouraged scientists and
inventors to bring the Philippines to its former position as second to only
Japan in the field of science and technology. One of the goals of her

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administration was to achieve the status as being an industrialized country
by 2000. She urged that the private research sector form a stronger bond
between public research to help jump-start the progress in the area of
Philippine Research and Development.

Ironically, it was during President Corazon Aquino's term and the

reorganization of Philippine bureaucracy that Executive Order No.128
abolished R.A. No. 3859, also known as the “Philippine Inventors Incentive
Act.” This Philippine Inventors Commission was under the Science
Development board. It gave assistance to Filipino inventors through giving
financial aid, patent application assistance, legal assistance, and to help
inventors market their products domestically and abroad. Despite the
abolishment of the Philippine Inventors Commission, her administration gave
rise to new avenues for the government to aid the progress of Science and
Technology in the country.

R.A. 6655 or the Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988 opened
doors to free education up to the secondary level, implemented in the
education system together with this was the “Science for the Masses
Program” which aimed at scientific and technological literacy among
Filipinos. The Aquino administration recognized the importance of science
and technology in the development of the Philippines into a newly
industrialized country. Funding for the science and technology sector was
tripled from 464 million in 1986 to 1.7 billion in 1992. The Science and
Technology Master Plan was formulated which aimed at the modernization
of the production sector, upgrading research activities, and development of
infrastructure for science and technological purposes. A Research and
Development Plan was also formulated to examine and determine which
areas of research needed attention and must be given priority. The criteria
for identifying the program to be pursued were, development of local
materials, probability of success, potential of product in the export market,

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and its strategic nature. The grants for the research and development
programs was included in the Omnibus Investment Law.

There were noticeable improvements regarding science and

technology as stated in President Fidel Ramos' State of the Nation Address.
In his third SONA, there was a significant increase in personnel specializing
in the science and technology field. At 1998, the Philippines was estimated
to have around 3,000 competent scientists and engineers. Adding to the
increase of scientists would be the result of the two newly built Philippine
Science High Schools in Visayas and Mindanao which promotes further
development of young kids through advance S&T curriculum. The
government provided 3,500 scholarships for students who were taking up
professions related to S&T. Schools were becoming more modernized and
updated with the addition of high-tech equipment for student improvement
and teachers were getting training programs to benefit themselves and their
students. Health care services were promoted through local programs such
as "Doctors to the Barrio Program." The health care programs were
innovative and effective as shown by the change in life expectancy from
67.5 years in 1992 to 69.1 years in 1995.

Priority for S&T personnel increased when Magna Carta for Science
and Technology Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439) was established. The
award was published in order to give incentives and rewards for people who
have been influential in the field of S&T. In the sixth SONA, education was
one of the primary story-lines wherein programs such as National Program
for Gifted Filipino Children in Science and Technology and enactment of a
law creating a nationwide system of high schools specializing in the field of
science and engineering.

Fidel V. Ramos believes that science and technology was one of the
means wherein the Philippines could attain the status of new industrialized
country (NIC). During his term, he was able to establish programs that were

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significant to the field of S&T. In 1993, Science and Technology Agenda for
National Development (STAND) was established. Among its priorities were:
(1) exporting winners identified by the DTI; (2) domestic needs identified by
the President's Council for Countryside Development; (3) support industries
and (4) coconut industry development. Congress, during his term, was able
to enact laws that were significant for the field. Among were: (1) Magna
Carta for Science and Technology Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439); (2)
Science and Technology Scholarship Law of 1994 (Republic Act No. 7687)
and (3) Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act (Republic Act No. 7459). The
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8293) was
enacted during Ramos' term. The law provides industrial property rights,
copyrights and related rights, and technology transfer arrangements.

In President Joseph Estrada's term, two major legislations that he

signed were Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749) which
was designed to protect and preserve the environment and ensure the
sustainable development of its natural resources, and Electronic Commerce
Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) which outlaws computer hacking and
provides opportunities for new businesses emerging from the Internet-driven
New Economy. Aside from these, in his first State of the Nation Address,
President Estrada launched a full-scale program based on cost-effective
irrigation technologies. He also announced that Dole-outs are out, which
meant basic health care, basic nutrition, and useful education for those who
want, but cannot afford it. Lastly, he said that they would speed up the
program to establish one science high school in every province. It was in his
second State of the Nation Address that President Estrada announced the
passage of the Clean Air Act, and the decision to pursue the 15-year
modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. His last State
of the Nation Address pushed for the advancement of industries and schools
into the Internet age, as well as the announcement of the passage of the e-
Commerce Act.

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 In the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, the science and
technology sector of the Philippines was dubbed as the "golden age" of
science and technology by then secretary Estrella Albastro. Numerous laws
and projects that concerns both the environment and science to push
technology as a tool to increase the country's economic level. This is to help
increase the productivity from Science, Technology and Innovations (STI)
and help benefit the poor people. Moreover, the term "Filipinnovation" was
the coined term used in helping the Philippines to be an innovation hub in
Asia.

The STI was developed further by strengthening the schools and

education system such as the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), which
focuses in science, technology and mathematics in their curriculum. This
helps schools produce get more involved in this sector. Private sectors were
also encouraged to participate in developing the schools through organizing
events and sponsorships. Future Filipino scientists and innovators can be
produced through this system

Helping the environment was one of the focus in developing

technology in the Philippines. One of the more known laws to be passed by
her administration was the R.A. 9367 or the "Biofuels" act. This act promotes
the development and usage of biofuels throughout the country. This
potentially enables a cheaper alternative to gasoline as a medium in
producing energy. Also, this benefits the environment since it boasts a
cleaner emission compared to regular fuel. Yet, setbacks such as lack of raw
materials is holding the full implementation of the laws since importing the
necessary materials are imported more. On one hand, drought-free rice was
also highly encouraged to use during her term. This enables farmers to
produce rice despite the environmental hazards that slows or stops the
production.

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 In an effort to improve the efficiency of both land and water, the
government imposes Republic Act 10601 which improves the Agriculture
and Fisheries Sector through Mechanization (AFMech). RA 10601 covers
research, development, and extension (RDE), promotion, distribution,
supply, assembling, manufacturing, regulation, use, operation, maintenance
and project implementation of agricultural and fisheries machinery and
equipment (Section 4)

In 2014, President Aquino conferred four new National Scientist for

their contribution in the Scientific field, Academicians Gavino C. Trono, Angel
C. Alcala, Ramon C. Barba, and Edgardo D. Gomez was honored in their
respective fields. Trono's contribution helped a lot of families in the coastal
populations through the extensive studies he made on seaweed species. On
the other hand, Alcala served as the pioneer scientist and advocate of coral
reefs aside from his contribution in the fields of systematics, secology and
herpetology. Barba's contribution changes the seasonal supply of fresh fruits
to an all year round availability of mangoes through his studies on the
induction of flowering of mango and micropropagation of important crop
species. Lastly, Gomez steered the national-scale assessment of damage
coral reefs which led a national conservation.

Philippine Government Science and Technology Agenda

The Department of Science and Technology in the Philippines is a

government agency tasked with overseeing and managing national
technology development and acquisition, undertaking technological and
scientific research and promoting public consciousness of science and
technology.
DOST is responsible for formulating and adopting a comprehensive
National Science and Technology Plan for the Philippines, and to
subsequently monitor and coordinate its funding and implementation.

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 The DOST undertakes policy research, technology assessment,
feasibility and technical studies and maintains a national information
system and databank on science and technology.

Science and technology help us understand nature and the world, and
enables us to lead full lives through new and innovative means. It therefore
requires that we as Filipinos, expand our science and technology base to
enable us to compete in an integrated ASEAN.

Two major approaches

1. Stronger Research and Development in the regions, not just Manila

 Expand research and development initiatives by providing more grant
support for R and D through the DOSTs sectoral planning councils such
as PCIERD, PCAARD and ASTI in cooperation with universities in the
regions. The science initiative must be distributed to the regions
especially those where food production needs to be improved, industry
needs to grow and where innovation needs to be developed. This is
critical in light of climate change and expensive electricity and the
need to disperse industry and economic activities.

2. Strategic projects in five areas:

 Renewable energy- we need new technologies to enable high
electricity yields in limited space with less dependence on natural
resources to enable us to meet our COP 21 commitments, while
lowering the price of electricity.
 S and T for industry development- we need stronger participation of
our scientists and engineers if we want to revitalize our basic
industries such as the steel industry.
 Faster and cheaper internet – we have Asias slowest internet, yet our
archipelago needs it bridge gaps and build networks.

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  Increased food production- given limited lands, technology is needed
to expand yields while increasing quality of output and being less
dependent on foreign inputs like fertilizers.
 Climate change adaptation- We need cutting edge technology to
enable our farmers to adapt to changing climates and the need to do
away with technologies that destroy the capacity for good healthful
yields.

Enabling mechanisms and specifics

1. More Research grants through the DOST and its sectoral planning councils
and institutes.

2. Strengthen the Balik Scientist Program and retention program for current
young scientists- our young scientists must be engaged through actual
research projects. Many of our scientists and engineers are OFWs who
support our candidacy. We need their help to uplift our country’s
technology and we hope they come back.

3. S and T cooperation within ASEAN- especially on the space program and

climate change adaptation.

4. Cooperation between industry and the science community by involving

them in the sectoral planning councils. DOSTs programs for SMEs (Such as
SET-UP) needs to be replicated further.

List of National Scientists of the Philippines

Scientists and technologists are essential in a developing world. They

are one of the key players in a country's quest for industrialization. They are
the lifeblood of research, innovation and have important roles in the industry
and the manufacturing sector. Together with their roles in nation-building,

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scientists, too, have a responsibility to advocate for the betterment of S&T in
their countries.

For the Philippines, in order to halt the vicious cycle of technological

backwardness and poverty, it is important that scientists and technologists
themselves be aware of the sad plight of S&T in the country and to advocate
for its improvement.

Year Field of
No Name
Conferred Specialization
Nutrition and Public
1. Juan S. Salcedo, Jr., M.D. (+) 1978
Health
2. Alfredo C. Santos, Dr.phil. (+) 1978 Physical Chemistry
Engineering and
3. Gregorio Y. Zara, D.Sc. (+) 1978
Inventions
4. Fe Del Mundo, M.D. (+) 1980 Pediatrics
Plant Taxonomy,
5. Eduardo A. Quisumbing, Ph.D. (+) 1980 Systematics, and
Morphology
6. Geminiano T. de Ocampo, Ph.D. (+) 1982 Ophthalmology
Physics, Astronomy,
7. Casimiro V. del Rosario, Ph.D (+) 1982
and Meteorology
8. Gregorio T. Velasquez, Ph.D. (+) 1982 Phycology
9. Francisco M. Fronda, Ph.D. (+) 1983 Animal Husbandry
Human Nutrition and
10. Francisco O. Santos, Ph.D. (++) 1983 Agricultural
Chemistry
11. Carmen C. Velasquez, Ph.D. (+) 1983 Parasitology
12. Teodoro A. Agoncillo, Litt.D. (++) 1985 Philippine History
13. Encarnacion A. Alzona, Ph.D. (+) 1985 Philippine History
14. Hilario D. G. Lara, M.D., Dr. P.H. (+) 1985 Public Health
15. Julian A. Banzon, Ph.D. (+) 1986 Chemistry
Agriculture and Rural
16. Dioscoro L. Umali, Ph.D. (+) 1986
Development
17. Luz Oliveros-Belardo, Ph.D. (+) 1987 Phytochemistry
18. Jose Encarnacion Jr., Ph.D. (+) 1987 Economics
Experimental
19. Alfredo V. Lagmay, Ph.D. (+) 1988
Psychology
20. Paolo C. Campos, M.D. (+) 1989 Nuclear Medicine

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 Genetics and Plant
21. Pedro B. Escuro, Ph.D. (+) 1994
Breeding
Biochemistry and
22. Clara Y. Lim-Sylianco, Ph.D. (+) 1994
Organic Chemistry
Biochemical Genetics
23. Dolores A. Ramirez, Ph.D. 1998
and Cytogenetics
24. Jose R. Velasco, Ph.D. (+) 1998 Plant Physiology
25. Gelia T. Castillo, Ph.D. 1999 Rural Sociology
26. Bienvenido O. Juliano, Ph.D. 2000 Organic Chemistry
27. Systematic
Clare R. Baltazar, Ph.D. 2001
Entomology
28. Benito S. Vergara, Ph.D. 2001 Plant Physiology
Political Economics
29. Onofre D. Corpuz, Ph.D. (+) 2004
and Government
30. Ricardo M. Lantican, Ph.D. 2005 Plant Breeding
31. Lourdes J. Cruz, Ph.D. 2006 Marine Biology
32. Teodulo M. Topacio 2008 Veterinary Medicine
33. Mercedes B. Concepcion 2010 Demography
34. Ernesto O. Domingo 2010 Infectious Diseases
35. Perla D. Santos-Ocampo (+) 2010 Pediatrics
36. Raul V. Fabella 2011 Economics
37. Bienvenido F. Nebres, S.J. 2011 Mathematics
38. Angel C. Alcala, Ph.D. 2014 Biological Sciences
39. Ramon C. Barba, Ph.D. 2014 Horticulture
40. Gavino C. Trono, PhD 2014 Marine Biology
41. Edgardo D. Gomez, PhD 2014 Marine Biology

Legend: (+) deceased; (++) posthumous conferment.

Majority of the Filipino scientist excel in their job whether local or

international. Their spirit to bring honor to the country have never faded.
These scientists are always at par with foreign scientist in spite of the
limited resources and facilities.

Selected Indigenous Science and Technologies

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 Throughout history, Indigenous peoples have been responsible for the
development of many technologies and have substantially contributed to
science.

Science is the pursuit of knowledge. Approaches to gathering that

knowledge are culturally relative. Indigenous science incorporates traditional
knowledge and Indigenous perspectives, while non-Indigenous scientific
approaches are commonly recognized as Western science. Together, they
contribute substantially to modern science.

Although the value of integrating Indigenous science with Western

science has been recognized, we have only begun to scratch the surface of
its benefits.

Indigenous perspectives are holistic and founded upon

interconnectedness, reciprocity and the utmost respect for nature. Both
Western and Indigenous science approaches and perspectives have their
strengths and can greatly complement one another.
As an Indigenous scientist who specializes in combining traditional
ecological knowledge with wildlife ecology research, I have come across
many examples where blending both approaches has resulted in excellent
contributions to modern science.

Roots of food and medicine

For centuries, Indigenous people’s lives depended on their knowledge

about the environment. Many plant species — including three-fifths of the
crops now in cultivation and enjoyed across the globe — were domesticated
by Indigenous peoples in North, Central and South America. Corn, squash,
beans, potatoes and peppers are just a few examples of foods that now
contribute vastly to global cuisine.

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 Indigenous knowledge about the medicinal properties of plants has
been instrumental in pharmacological development. For example, as settlers
arrived in North America, Indigenous people helped newcomers cure life-
threatening scurvy through conifer-needle tonics that were rich in vitamin C.

The active ingredient in the pain reliever Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid,

was first discovered by Indigenous people who utilized the bark of the willow
tree. Medicinal plant properties are still being recognized to this day —
especially in tropical ecosystems — as Indigenous people share their
knowledge.

Technology to TEK

Technological innovations such as the canoe, kayak, toboggan or

snowshoe aided in travel and transport and were quickly adapted by
European settlers.

Indigenous peoples, with their decades of personal experience

combined with that of their ancestors, harbor vast knowledge about the
environment and the ecological relationships within them. Tremendous
opportunities exist where such knowledge can contribute to modern science
and natural resource management.

Indigenous knowledge, also known as Traditional Ecological Knowledge

(TEK), is essentially the cumulative body of knowledge associated with
ecological relationships, which is handed down through generations by
Indigenous people.

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 TEK has already provided insight into environmental change, wildlife
population monitoring, sustainable harvesting practices, behavioral ecology,
ecological relationships and so much more.
Inuit observations have identified several important environmental
changes in the Arctic as a result of climate change, and their knowledge
about bowhead whale behavior helped researchers revise their survey
methods to improve population size estimates.

Elders of the Heiltsuk First Nation in B.C. recognized two types of

wolves coastal and inland — previously undocumented by Western scientific
methods. With such proven value in only a few examples, imagine how TEK
can further inform science.

TEK continues to complement Western science. In light of recent

moose population decline across North America, my own research aims to
incorporate Indigenous knowledge to help identify factors that may be
responsible for this decline.

Indigenous education is essential

Despite the recognized value of Indigenous perspectives and

knowledge, there are few Indigenous science scholars. Scholars with
specialization in Indigenous science can provide mentorship as well as
become role models for current and prospective Indigenous science
students.

By encouraging Indigenous science scholar recruitment, forthcoming

research incorporating Indigenous perspectives can pave the way to
promote culturally inclusive scientific approaches.

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 Many wildlife species are at risk across the planet, and engaging in co-
operative management initiatives that embrace Indigenous science are now
more important than ever. Collaborations are becoming more and more
common. For example, the Canadian government incorporates TEK in
assessing species at risk. The Worldwide Indigenous Science Network (WISN)
restores TEK dialogue to the world’s most pressing ecological issues.

Throughout history, Indigenous people, perspectives, and knowledge

have contributed substantially to the development of science and
technology and will surely continue to do so for generations to come.

ABSTRACTION

This message talked about the development of the Philippines as

influenced by science and technology. Before the Spanish Colonization
Filipinos already practiced science through invention of tools, structures
building, studied medicinal plants and their uses, predict seasons and
whether and used indigenous science.

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

a hybrid of indigenous and foreign ideas. Spain and the United States, being
the former colonial masters of the country, played an important role in
building the foundation of science in the Philippines. To further strengthen
the science program in the Philippines, the government establishes various
science programs, policies and projects (Serafica,J. et al ,2017).

As years goes by, many Filipinos became scientists and science

educators in different areas and field. These scientists did a lot of
innovations and inventions. Through globalization and ASEAN economic

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agenda the Philippines rapidly invested in science and technology programs
and projects.

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