Unit I: General Concept and Historical Accounts in Science, Technology, and

Society

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this unit, the students will be able to:

1. explain the impacts of science & technology in the society;

2. intellectually knowledgeable about the historical background of STS; and
3. articulately relate to the scientific and technological developments globally and
locally.

Chapter 1: Historical Background of Science & Technology

Science is defined as the systematic body of knowledge, an idea, an intellectual

activity, and as personal and social activity. It was originally called the “philosophy of the
natural world” as introduced by the ancient Greek philosophers with the ultimate desire
to know about nature. They sought to discover the truth behind material natural things
which led them to observe the world and beyond.It is believed that science is as old as
the world itself. There is no study that exactly identify when and where science began
however, biblical scholars accepted the notion that it started at the beginning of the
creation of the world. (Genesis 1: 1)

The term technology comes from the Greek word “tekhne” meaning the “art or
craft” and “logia”, meaning a “subject or interest”. The term “technology” became
popular in the 20th century during the 2nd Industrial Revolution. Thorstein Veblen a
German social scientist changed the concept of “technic” to “technology” Read Bain an
American sociologist expounded the meaning of technology which includes all tools,
machines, utensils, weapons, instruments, communication and transportation devices
including the skills produce, and the use of by these art or craft.The Webster
Dictionary defines technology as the use of science in industry, engineering, machines,
piece of equipment, methods, etc., to invent useful things to solve problems.Ursula
Franklin also defines the concept as a practicethe way things are done. Bernard
Stiegler defines technology as a pursuit of life or the means other than life,
andanorganized tools from inorganic matter.

A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a

large social group sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to
the same political authority and having the same dominant cultural expectations. It is
characterized by patterns of relationship between individuals who share a distinctive
culture and institution. It may also be described as the sum total of such relationships
among its constituents of members. In the social sciences, it is a larger society that
often exhibits stratification or dominant patterns in the subgroups.

Science and technology play a crucial role in everyday life and transform the
society of what it has become now. They make difficult tasks easier and allow people to
do more with little effort and time. They are the driving forces behind globalization, and
technological progress and advancement to improve the quality of life among the
people.

Human beings embarked in scientific endeavours and researches to know and

understand everything around them. They persistently observed and studied the natural
and physical world to find meanings and answers to many questions. They developed
philosophy and religion to provide possible explanations to the realities of life back to
antiquity.

A. Ancient Times

The ancient civilization started from the hunting and gathering societies that
relied primarily or exclusively on hunting wild animals, fishing, and gathering wild fruits,
berries, nuts, and vegetables to support human life. Presumably, it was the subsistence
strategy employed by human societies beginning sometime 1.8 million years ago by
“homo-sapiens” from its appearance sometime 0.2 million years ago. Sometime later
more than ten thousand years ago, they began to domesticate plants and animals
adopted indigenous tools and became agricultural societies following the invention of
agriculture, pastoralism, or horticulture. Domestication led to specialization of work that
involves the creation of specialized tools such as fishing nets, hooks, sharp or pointed
stones, and animal bones. As the number and size of agricultural societies increased,
they expanded, and they became mobile leading to the development of the communal-
tribal communities.

Sumerian Civilization

One of these communities is the Sumerian(ancient Mesopotamia) who developed

the first writing system known as “cuneiform”, a system that utilizes word pictures and
triangular symbols which are carved on clay using wedge instruments and left to dry.
Cuneiform allowed the Sumerians to keep records of the things with great historical
value. The Sumerians were also able to build the “The Great Ziggurat of Ur” called the
mountain of God and the City of Uruk using only mud or clay mixed with reeds,
producing sun-baked bricks. They also made houses out of bricks to protect them from
harsh weather conditions and built a wall around the city to prevent wild animals and
traders from entering. The Sumerians also created dikes and irrigation canals to bring
water to farmlands and at the same time control the flooding of the rivers. They also
invented the boats to carry large quantities of products transported to the nearest
places and sometime later inventedsailboats as a means of transportation and trading
to foster culture, information, and technology. In the latter part of their history, they
invented the wheel, plow, and roads.

Egyptian Civilization

Egyptian Civilization is famous for its legacy especially ininfrastructures and

engineering technology. The Egyptians contributed scientific-technological
monumental artifacts that became essential to this contemporary world. One of these is
the pyramids which werebuilt by pharaohs of the ancient times. Although, Egypt was
not the first to introduce a system of writing, it was the one who first invented the paper
or “papyrus” and the ink. Papyrus is a plant abundantly available along the Nile River in
Egypt. The Egyptians processed it long time ago to produce thin sheets to write down
letters, thus introducing correspondence all over the world. The ink was invented by
combining soot with chemicals. Eventually different colors of inks were produced.
 The Egyptians also developed a system of writing using symbols known as
“hieroglyphics”. They believed that this writing system was provided to them by the
gods. This writing is seen today, remains famous, and is found in the pyramids.
Hieroglyphics is the language that tells the present world of the history and culture of
the ancient Egyptian civilization. The records of the past are preserved because they
are carved at the walls of the pyramids and at all significant structures in Egypt. The
Egyptians also invented the use of cosmetics for both health and aesthetics reasons,
and wigs for health and wellness. Another invention is the water clock, a device that
utilizes gravity from one jar to another jar, and was used as timekeeping device during
the ancient times.

Greek Civilization

Greece is known as the birthplace of western philosophy and mathematics.

The Greek civilization contributed much to the present world especially in the fields of
science and technology. Greece is famous for its coliseums and the Olympics. The
Greeks invented the alarm clock to tell the person when to start and when to stop with
a whistling noise. They also invented the water mill which is commonly used till this
time in agricultural process like milling, and is considered better than mills powered by
farm animals.

Roman Civilization

The Roman Empire is so huge and other civilizations looked to them as a model
in terms of legislations and codified laws. In fact, it is considered the cradle of
politics and governanceat that time. There are numerous contributions and significant
inventions of the Roman Empire that are still relevant today such as;newspapers,
bound books, codes, Roman architecture, and Roman numerals.

When paper was invented, it became easier for the Romans to write, publish,
and record information needed by the citizens. Record keeping became easier for them.
Documents on historical events, politics, and literature were bound to become books
and codes. Roman architecture is one of the most visual contributions of the Roman
Empire to the world today. It includes cathedral and basilica churches, aqueducts,
amphitheatres, and Roman residential buildings. Today, these structures are
evidences of ancient Roman science and technology. Although, the Roman numeral
system is no longer widely used, it is still popular among Hindu-Arabic system due to its
aesthetic and historical value.

Chinese Civilization

The Chinese civilization is considered universally as the oldest living civilization

of the World. It was famous because of its silk trade, tea production, Great Wall of
China, and gunpowder. Silk is one of the things that connected China to the rest of the
World. Silk is naturally produced by silk worms. The Chinese were the first who
developed the technology to harvest the silk and process it to produce paper and
clothing. The silk trade opened China to the rest of the world, making a way for cultural,
economic, and philosophical exchanges. It bridged the gap between the western world
and China- the middle kingdom. Aside from silk the Chinese are producers and
exporters of tea. The tea production was believed discovered and developed by an
unknown Chinese inventor who created a machine that was able to shred tea leaves
into strips. Today, tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world.

The Great Wall of China is the only man made structure that can be seen from
the outer space. It is believed the greatest and the most extensive infrastructure built in
China to keep invaders and protect the borders of China. It displayed the extent of the
Chinese engineering technology at that time. The structure is so huge and resilient
that it separated China from the rest of the world. The Great Wall is the crowning glory
of Chinese civilization. Today, it is one of the wonders of the world and remains the
most visited tourist destination and attraction due to its historical significance and
architectural splendour.

The gunpowder is one of the deadliest and fascinating inventions in China. It is

widely used to propel bullets from guns and cannons which caused countless deaths.
Today, It is widely use in fireworks especially during significant occasions, and
celebrations.
 B. Middle Ages/Medieval Period

In the history of Europe, the middle or medieval period (5 th-15th Century) which is
between the fall of Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance is sometimes
referred to as the Dark Ages. During the High Middle Ages, the population of Europe
increased greatly as technological and agricultural innovation allowed trade to flourish,
and the climate change allowed crop yields to increase. The Late Middle Ages was
marked by difficulties, calamities, famine, and the plague. War significantly diminished
the population of Europe as one third of Europeans were killed. But sometime later,
there was a significant rise in population which led to the increase in trade and
commerce resulting to greater demands of transportation technology.

During this period there were innovations introduced which led to the invention of
the printing press, microscope, telescope, and war weapons. Out of the woodblock
printing developed by Chinese, Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press which
evolved and became the mechanical printing press. Zacharias Janssen was guided by
the principles used for the invention of eyeglasses developed the first compound
microscope to observe organisms that were normally unseen by the naked eye.

The Late Middle Ages was also known as the Age of Exploration, the invention
of the telescope an optical instrument along with the invention of compass, oars, and
rudders became useful tools for navigation. During the wartime, all kinds of weapons
wereinvented purposely for defence and offensive encounters. Among others invented
were the crow bows and long bows, iron body armors, and chainmail.

C. Modern Times

According to Chris Howell, modern times began from the Industrial Revolution
in 1900’s and continuous to the contemporary period. All forms of warfare during this
time are based on technological advances. Western civilization global expansion and
integration of regions positively advanced through sea, air, and land technologies
invented during the period.The rapid rate of change led to unprecedented access to
high technology weapons such as; biological weapons, rocketry, travel jets, nuclear
weapons-weapons of mass destruction, jet bombers, computers, radar, sonar, machine
guns, and Global Positioning System (GPS).

The population boom in the 19th Century demanded more consumption

goods to produce at a faster rate. People needed efficient means of transportation to
trade more goods locally and globally. Machines in production had to be upgraded to
increase production output. Faster and direct access to information, technology, and
communication were developed to establish interconnectedness among nations of the
world. Food processing, food security, health, and medical advancement faced a
complicated challenge of the modern times. The massive industrialization of the period
addressed the multi-faceted challenges through the inventions of pasteurization,
petroleum refinery, telephone, and calculator among many others. (Macalester College,
2010).

Louise Pasteur, a French biologist, microbiologist, and a chemist invented

pasteurization, the process of preserving dairy products by heating the products to kill
the harmful bacteria for milk and other dairy products to be stored much longer and
consumed later without being spoilt. Alongside with the invention of pasteurization, he
also invented molecular asymmetry, fermentation, and vaccination. Samuel M. Kier
invented kerosene referred to “illuminating oil” to refine petroleum to provide lighting
to homes, and later used for heating purposes. Currently, it is widely used in powering
automobiles, factories, manufacturing, and power plants among others. (Skrabec, 2010)

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, one of the exceptional

developments of the modern times. The interconnectedness needed for trading,
exploration, and communication became possible, fast, and easy due to the invention of
the telephone. The calculator was invented to compute more complicated equations. It
is a computing devise that is easy to carry which led to the development of computer.

D. Philippine Inventions

The Phillipines is a developing country, but has a remarkable contribution to the

global advancement of science and technology. Despite the lack of resources, the
Philippines is known for the discoveries and inventions of Filipinos produced from
indigenous materials such as: the salamander amphibious tricycle, salt lamp, medical
incubator, mosquito ovicidal/larvicidal trap system, and jeepney.

Victor Llave and his team at H2O Technologies invented the “salamander”, an
amphibious tricyles that can cross not only flooded streets but also rivers and lakes
suitable for the Philippine setting as an archipelago. AisaMijeno invented the
Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) lamp, a lighting system that utilizes material
abundant in the Philippines- the salt water. The salt lamp is safe to use, no risk of fire,
non-toxic, and environmental friendly.Dr. Fe delMundo, a Filipino paediatrician devised
a medical incubator made from indigenous materials to maintain conditions suitable
for new born babies usually premature one. Added to that, she also developed
immunization treatment for jaundice and the “brat diet” for curing diarrhea.

The Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology

Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) invented a mosquito trap system known as
Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap Sysytem or OL Trap for humans to be safe from
mosquito-borne viral illness which is endemic in tropical and subtropical climate like the
Philippines. The innovative skills and abilities of Filipinos converted the American
military jeeps used in WW II into something useful to accommodate more passengers
into jeepneys. The Filipino jeepney is the major means of public transportation in the
Philippines, a diesel powered jeepney that produces a large amount of carbon dioxide
from transportation emissions harmful for human health, contributory to noise pollution,
and global warming. The EJeepney was developed to address the pressing global
environmental problem. This new innovation is a modern type of transportation that
utilizes electricity is environmentally friendly, and does not discharge smoke and cause
noise.

Chapter 2: Intellectual Revolution that Defined Society

The idea of intellectual revolution is claimed to have started in Europe after the
Middle Ages in the early 16th -18th Century. The booming intellectual activities at that
time brought about by invention of printing machine led to massive flow of information
and communication among the scholars of various fields of study. It was a period of
enlightenment by the developments in the fields of philosophy, mathematics,
astronomy, biology, physics, and chemistry which transformed the views of society
about natural phenomenon. These developments resulted to the emergence of Modern
Science which enabled people to reflect, rethink, re-examine their beliefs, perceptions,
and way of life.

Intellectual revolution is believed to be the Golden Age characterized by people

dedicated to pursue a scholarly life in science. For introducing new ideas, many radical
individuals were condemned or sentenced to death for their faith, religious beliefs, and
theological views. There were many rulers and religious leaders who did not accept the
works of the scientists. But the new scientists persisted to satisfy their curiosity of the
natural and physical world.

Intellectual revolution is significantly indispensable in the development of human

beings, transformation of the society, and the articulation of scientific ideas. Such
development improved the conduct of scientific inquiry, experiments, research, and
observations. There are prominent scientists who are known of their revolutionary ideas,
and they are as follows: 1) Nicolaus Copernicus, 2) Charles Darwin, and 3) Sigmund
Freud.

A. Copernican Revolution

Back to the Ancient Times, humans questioned what created day and night. They
wanted to know and understand the heavenly bodies, the creation of the stars, the
moon, the sun, and the planets. Humans were more intrigued about the outer space.
The invention of the telescope eventually allowed people a glimpse of the heavenly
bodies.

Using the telescope, the Greek philosophers and intellectuals wrote more about
the planets as an attempt to explain the movements of the heavenly bodies and their
effects on humans and the world. Many philosophers agreed that the planet moved
around in a circular motion, and these movements created day and night. According to
Claudius Ptolemy, a famous philosopher and an astronomer, the planets, the moon,
and the sun moved in a circular motion around the Earth. Such revolution explained the
existence of day and night. He believed that the Earth is the center- a concept known as
“geocentrism”.However, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish mathematician and an
astronomer, challenged the Ptolemaic model. He introduced a new concept known as
“heliocentrism”, which suggested that the center of the Solar System was not the Earth
but the sun. This idea was rejected by the people and opposed by the church.
Copernicus was then declared a heretic because his teachings were contrary to what
was accepted by the people and religion. There were astronomers who studied further
and realized that the Copernican model simplified the orbits of the planets, and there
were issues that cannot be explained by the geocentric model. Latter, there were works
that supported the Copernican model and it was eventually accepted to be true, correct,
and valid. It was eventually accepted by people and was called the birth of modern
astronomy.

B. Darwinian Revolution

Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, a biologist, and a geologist, published his

book entitled, “On the Origin of the Species”. He introduced the Theory of Evolution
which postulated that man passes through a process of natural selection in which only
the fittest would survive. He stated that organisms have the ability to adapt with the
environment and would gradually change into something that would be more
competitive to survive, a process known as evolution. This theory is not accepted till this
time by biblical scholars. It is perceived contrary to what is written in the Bible,
contradictory to the teachings of the churches, and unacceptable to believers of God.
God is the creator of the Universe, and who created man in His likeness. This theory
created conflicts since atheists believe the theory of evolution as the origin of life while
the religious and the faithful strongly refute it till this day. The Theory of Evolution
posited by Darwin ignited a huge debate between science and religion. Such
debateshowever concluded that there is no conflict between science and religion
because God is the greatest scientist, everything started with God and everything ends
with God.

C. Freudian Revolution
 In the late 19th Century, Sigmund Freud changed the human perception of
psychology with his revolutionary Theory of Psychoanalysis, a study that explains
human behaviour. According to him, there are many conscious and unconscious factors
that influence behaviour and emotions, and that personality is a product of three
opposing elements such as; the id, ego, and superego. Scientists believed that
psychoanalysis was more of philosophical and supernatural not scientific because the
theory had no scientific basis, no empirical or experimental data to support it. However,
despite criticism Freud continued to refine his work and explained that psychoanalysis is
a method of treating mental disorders, and it is a study of human mind. Sometime later,
his method of psychoanalysis was proven to be effective means to understand some
neurological conditions that were not recognized in the field of medicine. The
psychoanalysis theory was accepted by the scientists, scholars, and became widely
accepted by the people, and it was then that psychology as a discipline was considered
a science.

These revolutionary theories are just among the many scientific ideas that
transformed and shaped societies, beliefs, and ideas. These transformations and
modifications brought to the varying perspectives and perceptionsof society are
evidences that science and technology are linked to humanity.

Chapter 3: Science, Technology, and Nation-building

The development of science & technology in the Philippines started from the time
it was inhabited by settlers who came from different parts of the world. It was believed
by Filipino historians that development of science and technology started even before
the 10th Century. During the early times, Filipinos used indigenous tools suitable for
agriculture, domesticating animals, and fishing. They were equipped with indigenous
knowledge and have adopted a system to survive. This is called, “indigenous science”
which is part of “indigenous knowledge system”. There are several examples of
indigenous knowledge that were taught and practiced by indigenous people, such as:
the use of herbal medicines, preserving foods, selecting seeds for planting, building
local irrigation system, classifying different types of soil for planting, producing
wines and juices, and backyard farming. These were significant inventions and
discoveries contributed by or attributed to Filipinosin the development of science and
technology.

Indigenous science is a part of the indigenous knowledge system practiced by

different groups of people during the ancient civilization. It includes multi-dimensional
processes to acquire knowledge and expertise that guide human societies in their
interactions with the natural phenomenon, practices in agriculture, medicine, and
strategies in coping with the changing environment. It is an important component that
gave birth to the development of science and technology not just only during the ancient
civilization but also to the modern age. In 1999, United Nations Educational Scientific &
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized indigenous science as a historical and
valuable contribution to science and technology.

A. Pre-Colonial Period

Even before the Spanish and other colonizers came to the Philippines, the early
settlers already invented tools, built structures, studied the medicinal uses of herbs,
observed natural phenomenon to predict seasons and weather, and adopted indigenous
science in domestication of plants and animals. In fact, they also developed different
means of transportation in the sea and land. Henry Funtecha a Filipino historian
wrotein his book entitled, “The Economic Development of Iloilo” that the Ilonggos started
trading with other countries during the 10th Century. The rice terraces built by hand by
the natives of Cordillera is considered the most complicated engineering feat achieved
by indigenous communities. The Sultanate of Sulu, the Rajah’s and the Datu’sall
throughout the Philippine archipelago existed before Ferdinand Magellan discovered
the Philippines in 1521. When Magellan and his men arrived in the Philippines, Filipinos
were already civilized people, the Philippines was already a home of a vibrant thriving
society of the native tribes. They had a system of governance, education, a prosperous
economy, diverse culture, and religious belief systems, The Pre-colonial Philippines has
been quoted by historians and scholars as one of the most progressive agricultural
societies ever existed and its innovations and empowerment beyond comparison.
 Science in pre-Spanish Philippines is embedded in the way of life of the Filipinos.
Technology is used in building houses, irrigations, and developing tools that they can
use in everyday life. The different archeologicalartifacts discovered in different parts of
the country proved that the Metal Age had a significant influence on the lives of early
Filipinos. The sophisticated designs of gold and silver jewelry, ceramics, and metal tools
proved their technological ideas helped in the development of different tools.

Here are some facts about Pre-colonial Philippines:

1. Empowerment of Filipino Women

There was gender equality between men and women in society in terms of family
hierarchy, societal placement, leadership, and professionalism. Filipino women had a lot
to say on how the family unit managed from making decision on how many children to
bear, their child bearing spacing, and the name of their child/children.
In certain instances, women were more revered by men because of power and
influence. It was common sign to see men walking behind women as a show of respect.
Just like men, women owned and inherited property, they had equal opportunities in
most of the professions and skills, and they both led their territories.

2. Good diplomatic relationships with foreign countries especially with China

Filipinos had very good relations with foreigners. They traded with the Arabs,
Indians, Japanese, Indonesians, Chinese, and Europeans. History revealed that the
trading expertise of native Filipinos however, not outstanding with the Chinese but they
were considered as buddies because of the level of trust between the two. The honest
lifestyle, friendliness, and hospitality of the Filipinos greatly surprised the
Chinese,improved their trade relations, and this made the Chinese the greatest trade
partners of the ancient Filipinos.

3. Tribal Communities: the Highlanders and Lowlanders

 According to archaeological evidence, the tribal communities/tribes have been
traced almost 50,000 years back. The indigenous Filipinos composed of 134 tribal
communities that existed before the coming of the modern Filipinos and 135 languages
still exist till now. “Tagalog” is the common language and is the national language. They
were either highlanders or lowlanders. During & after the colonization, the lowlanders
were influenced by their colonizers’ culture, but the highlanders were not influenced by
foreign cultures but maintained their “Igorot” (northern Philippines) and “Lumad”
(mainland Mindanao) indigenous cultures.

4. Several professions already existed

Being an agricultural society, Filipinos were self-sufficient in terms of food with a
vast tract of lands to domesticate plants and animals. They had many other professions
that created a well-rounded society. These professions included hunting, fishing,
mining, seafaring, weapon making, weaving, textile making, tin smithing, creating
musical instruments, and carpentry. They produced varied items for use and trading
which made the Philippines one of the richest and most skilled pre-colonial settlements.

5. Islam was the major religion

Islam is the oldest religion that existed in pre-colonial Philippines. This was the
cause for trade relations between the ancient Filipinos and Muslim traders from the
Persian Gulf and the surrounding areas to flourish. This happened around the
14thCentury wherein trade spread to the rest of the Philippines and concentrated the
Muslims in the southern region of Mindanao. The greatest warriors in terms of fighting
against evaders and colonizers were the Muslims such as the tribe of Rajah Sulayman
of Manila, and DatuLapulapu of Cebu. Filipino historians believe that the first group of
Filipinos who resisted against foreign invasion was the tribe of DatuLapulapu known
as“Tausug” Muslims. They are considered as the deadliest and most fearless warriors
of ancient Filipinos. Presently, Islam is currently practised by 6% of the Philippine
population and the rest of the majority are Christianity, others are Buddhism, and
Hinduism.
 B. Colonial Period

When the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, they brought forth the Roman
Catholic religion and their own culture and practices. The Spaniards provided the
Philippines the modern ways of construction of walls, roads, bridges, and infrastructures
using engineering skills and tools. They developed health care services and established
schools for boys and girls that introduced the concepts of subjects and disciplines which
the “principalia” class enjoyed. It was the beginning of formal introduction of science and
technology in the country. It was noted that the name Philippines was attributed to a
Dominican Priest and Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos who named the
Philippine Islands after the name of King Philip II in 1543.

During the Spanish era, Filipinos slowly became modernized and they adapted
some Western technology, as a result their way of life was changed. They started to
develop ways to replicate the technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous
materials. Western practices reached the country and Filipino students were able to
study in Europe which contributed to the advancement of medicine, arts, music,
literature, and engineering in the country. Medicine and advance science were
introduced in formal colleges and universities established by the Catholic orders.

The Galleon Trade although only beneficial to the Spaniards, has brought
additional technology and development to the Philippines. It allowed new ideas, tools,
crops, technology, and Western cultural practices to reach the country which made the
Philippines one of the centers of global trade in Southeast Asia. At that time, the
Philippines was considered one of the most developed places in the region. However,
the superstitious beliefs of the people along with the Catholic doctrines and practices
halted the growth of science in the country.

The American occupation modernized almost all aspects of Filipino lives in the
Philippines. They have more influence in the development of science and technology in
the country. They established the public educational system, improved the engineering
works, public health hospitals to improve the health conditions of the Filipinos. They
also established government agencies, created the Bureau of Science to
nurturedevelopments in the field of science and technology, modernized research in the
university, and established the University of the Philippines. Transportation and
communication systems were improved. However, despite the massive development of
science and technology the mineral resources of the country were explored and
exploited during the American occupation of the Philippines.

The Americans reorganized the learning of science and introduced it in public

and private educational institutions until it became a subject formally known as
“Science Subject”. They allowed American scholars to introduce new technological
knowledge in the country. The Protestant missionaries also brought hospitals and
schools that made a stronger foundation for science and technology in the country.

However, World War II brought a lot of damage to the Philippines and

destabilized the development of the country in countless ways. Not just buildings and
cities but Filipinos were badly affected. Many people died and Filipino women were
raped by Japanese soldiers (believed to be Koreans) because during that time, Korea
was under the Japanese rule. After WW II, the Philippines had a hard time developing
or rebuilding itself from the ruins of war.

C. Post-Colonial Period

The Philippines became an independent state in July 4, 1946 which has

established the new republic. The new nation-state focused on limited resources to
improve science and technological capability. The Philippines became dependent on
Overseas Development Allocation (ODA) from different countries especially the United
States for assistance to help its scientific productivity and technological capability using
its human resource development.

The Philippines under different leaderships continued to pursue programs in

science and technology. One of the presidents who ushered the advancement of
science and technology was the former president Ferdinand E. Marcos who believed
that the key to nation-building is the continued development of Science and Technology.
During his presidency, many agencies in science and technology were established and
strengthened. Among these are the Philippines Atmospheric Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The
advancement of science and technology continued after his dictatorial rule.

Today, the Science and Technology in the Philippines represents a wide-variety

of scientific and technological advances managed by the DOST with its consulting
agencies, like the Department of Forestry, Department of Agriculture, the Metal
Industry, Nuclear Research Center, Food and Nutrition Council, Department of Health,
PAGASA, and the Meteorological, Volcanology, and Seismology Centers.