Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines

Group 3 Dayan, Herschel Delos Reyes, KristineDizon, Justin Enriquez, Renz Estrada, GemeeGarcia, ClarissaGenuino, Jill

Pre-colonialSimple technological development for early Filipinos’

practical needsLavishly surrounded by natural resources= they were not

pressured in inventingAccdg. To Spaniards(1565): disseminated and autonomous

communities had uneven technological development

Paleolithic Era Metal Age 500 A.D.: Double bellows technology

(300,000-10,000 years ago) (around 3095 B.C.-500 B.C) 10th century A.D

stone tools building boats

Neolithic Era for coastal trade-polished stone tools, highly developed technology

practiced pottery, anddeveloped science of agriculture

improvements in farming, hunting, fishing, house and boat building and production of food

new industries: tinsmithing, jewelry and ceramic making

Spanish Regime

No schools yet that can offer engineering =few people go to Europe to study.

January 1, 1820-1st nautical School established (for the profession pilot of merchant marine)

1887-1st school of Agriculture-provide theoretical and practical education

of skilled farmers and oversees and to promote agricultural development in the Philippines

Spanish Regime

University of Santo Tomas-highest institution of learning-run by the Dominicans-1611, established by Fray Miguel de Benavides-offered courses: theology, philosophy and humanities -but 18th century the jurisprudence and canon law established

Spanish Regime

1871-1886: UST granted the degree of Licenciado en Medicina to 82 graduates

for the doctorate degree in medicine at least and additional year of study was required at Universidad Cental de Madrid in Spain.

There were also 164 pharmacy graduates when the University first offered the bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, among them was Leon Ma. Guerrero referred to as the “Father of Philippine Pharmacy.

Spanish Regime

Higher education feared by colonial authorities-might encourage conspiracy and rebellion =only the more daring and persevering students -able to study

Spanish Regime

First RepublicUniversidad Literaria de Filipinas(secular

and state supported institution of higher learning)-established by Emilio Aguinaldo because of education deprivation during Spanish colonialism

Out of the eight-million Philippine population, only less than half a million knew how to speak, read or write.

“Importance of education in nation building”revolutionary leaders yearned to uphold an education system (Civil and Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy and studies pertaining to the Notarial Profession)

American period advanced  rapidly Americans support us in financial aspects -gave scholarships for higher education in science and engineering -established science based public services and research agencies January 21, 1901:Philippine Commission promulgated Act No. 74 -establishment of schools

that will give free education to all the Filipinos Introduced science  subjects  and industrial  and  vocational education Establishment of Philippine Normal School to train Filipino teachers. Most of the early instructors and professors-Americans and other foreigners. Some Filipinos(qualified)-sent abroad to enhance their knowledge and for advanced

training. Later on, foreign faculty-gradually replaced by Filipinos 1903:they sent 135 boys and girls of high school age to United States to be educated as

teachers, engineers, physicians and lawyersPENSIONADOS, they were to serve in the public service for 5 years after their studies

1905: Philippine Medical School- established, followed by other  professional  and  technical schools

1905:Bureau of Science, a valuable training ground for Filipino scientists-created June 18, 1908: University of the Philippines was created and the 1st colleges to be opened

were: the College of  Agriculture  in  Los Baños,  Laguna in 1909 - the Colleges of Liberal Arts,  Engineering and  Veterinary Medicine in 1910 - the College of Law  in  1911. 

In Field of Medicine- Philippine Commission provided as many scholarships for Filipinos to be engaged in this professionRecipients of scholarships-required to return to their provinces and serve there for as many years as his education was paid by the government

1935-Philippine Commonwealth Constitution acknowledged importance of promoting  scientific development for the economic development of the country

incorporated a  provision (Article XIII, Section 4):"The State shall promote scientific research and invention,  Arts and Letters shall be under its patronage..."

Commonwealth

Occupation of the Philippines by the Japanese during War educational and scientific activities stopped because citizens joined the resistance movement. 

Manila, the  center  of all educational and  scientific  activities,razed to the ground

Philippines became  an independent  stateGovernment had to contend with

economic reconstruction,  normalization of operations as well as the  task of planning the direction of economic development

Commonwealth

Commonwealth

Government worked towards the development of our economy to be independent

Several government corporations were created and reorganized Namely: National Power Corporation

National Development Company

National  Abaca  and  Other  Fibers 

Corporation

Bureau of Mines

Government encouraged and provided assistance to private Filipino businessmen in the establishment of industries and manufacturing enterprises.

increased  appropriations for  the  Bureaus  of Science, Plant  and  Animal  Industry,  and thus encouraged  more  scientific research for industrial purposes.

In spite of all these efforts, Commonwealth  government -unable  to achieve its goal of  economic  self-reliance primarily because foreign trade and tariff policies remained under the control of American  government.  

Commonwealth

Post-war period1946:number of state universities and

college has been increasingEven if the number of Graduates

increased, the proportion of those in agriculture, medical and natural sciences remained LOW.

Eventually, rise of organizations of scientists followed closely the higher education in the Philippines

The earliest organization were MEDICINE and PHARMACY.

Curriculum Innovation! Medicine/Science

PMA (Philippine Medical Association)

Limiting enrollment in medical colleges Adding courses required for the

medical degree More exposure to students to

community medicine Experimental curriculum to produce

doctors of rural areas

Curriculum InnovationTechnology

The Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineering

◦Initiation of series of conferences for the improvement of the curriculum.

◦DEC (Department of Education and Culture) convened meetings for educators to update

and adopt uniform core curricula for all universities and colleges to follow.

◦These developments took place in 1973-1974

Hindrances!

Government’s lack of support The neglect of experimental work and

meager appropriation in the national budget for scientific researches

low salaries of government scientists.Low morale of scientistsLack of public awareness of science

SOLUTIONCreation of NATIONAL SCIENCE

DEVELOPMENT BOARD (NSDB)To formulate policies for the development of

science and coordinate the work of science agencies.

Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC)

National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST)

Agencies CREATED!Philippine Inventors Commission Philippine Coconut Research Institute Philippine Textile Research Institute Forest Products Research and Industries

Development CommissionMetals Industry Research and

Development CenterPhilippine Council for Agriculture and

Resources Research

ReferencesGarcia, C. D.(n.d.). Philippine History and

Government. Mandaluyong City: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.

Viloria, E. M., Dela Cruz, N. R., and Legaspi, R. V.(Eds.).(n.d.).Philippines: History and Government. Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House, Inc. 

Caoili, O. C. (1986). A History of Science and Technology in the Philippines.