 Pre-Spanish

 Stone age

- At first, the natives were able to create basic weapons or tools from the chips of stones until they
eventually acquired methods for polishing hard stone as well as sawing and drilling it. Around 3,000
B.C., individuals began manufacturing adzes decorated with sea shells and other kinds of ornaments
including pottery in various designs that lasted for about two millennia.

- The actual extraction of iron from ore was always a task undertaken by Filipinos, who also engaged
in smelting and refining processes. However, due to stiff competition posed by imported goods from
China and Sarawak, especially in terms of pottery technology that includes iron production itself,
these techniques could not withstand time within the Philippines.

 1st century AD

People in the Philippines did use to smelt iron, weave cotton,would make potters and glass ornaments
as well as those working in farming which cultivated lowland rice on diked fields while terraced fields
used for it were present in the Cordillera or interior mountain regions that utilized spring water.

 10th century AD

The Spaniards took notice of a refined plank-built warship dubbed as 'caracoa' which too is an
excellent illustration of the well developed technology that Filipinos possess to date in building boats
for coastal trade. Trading between China and Philippines dates back from tenth century until fifteenth
century.

 1565

When Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, they discovered distinct village communities referred to as
‘barangays’, which were crucial in providing for the people’s needs via exchange of goods.

 1570

Worldwide improvements were indeed observed. In Manila, Filipinos learned how to make and use
modern artillery. Moreover it has been discovered by Spaniards that Filipinos were cultivating rice,
vegetables and cotton; breeding pigs, goats and poultry; producing wine, vinegar and salt; weaving
cloth and making beeswax and honey. Some areas also had gold mining activity where they crafted
their own jewelry pieces as well as filled their own teeth with gold. In addition, their homes were
made of timber or bamboo and nipa palm leaves while weight systems and measurement techniques
were set up.

 Spanish regime

The dawn of contemporary science and technology in the Philippines was ignited by this. The
Spaniards opened educational institutions, hospitals, and engaged in scientific research that gave
birth to various professions within the country. Under the reduccion (a religious strategy used by
Spaniards), towns were formed leading to the current local government establishment which
designated cabezas de barangay as heads of every town establishing thereby a centralized political
authority over the archipelago. However, such activities were met with stiff opposition from native
Filipinos since they deprived them of their rice fields, rivers and woods. In the end, it was during the
first century of Spanish rule that serious economic dislocation occurred and agricultural production as
well as traditional crafts declined in various places. The colonial educational system in the Philippines
was primarily initiated by religious orders.

 1871-1886
Schools of pharmacy and medicine got opened. 62 graduates were awarded with the title of
Licenciado en Medicina at University of Santo Tomas.

 1887
Access to the Manila School of Agriculture has been made available to support agriculture growth in
the country of Philippines.

 1863
A royal decree was issued by the colonial authorities aimed at reforming the currently existing
educational system with a view to government supervision of such schools before Americans came in
1898. This meant that only a few brave and determined students could go for advanced studies while
Spanish friars were even more discouraging towards science studies and medicine.

 1869
The arrival of liberal ideas and scientific knowledge from the West in the Philippines coincided with
the opening of the Suez Canal and subsequent easy movement and contact. For example, Filipino
students went to Europe for higher studies in the professional fields including a group of students
who started an advocacy group called Propaganda Movement in Europe which ignited revolution
against Spain in the Philippines. The majority of teachers and educational institutions were run by
religious orders. Thus, members of religious orders were at the forefront of technological
advancement and scientific research too.

That is why they used to import builders and artisans from China due to shortage in skilled craftsmen
among the locals choose from. Through forced labor, Filipinos were also made to work on this
projects which included walls of Manila, churches, convents, schools, hospitals etc. In that way by the
17th century construction of walls of Manila, churches, convents hospitals etc were done.

 End of 16th century

 2nd half of 19th century

 1887
A decree created the Laboratorio Municipal de Ciudad de Manila with a goal of performing
biochemical analyses related to public health and examining specimens for clinical and medico-legal
purposes. The journal that documented all scientific research conducted at that time and in this
institution was Cronica de Ciencias Medicas de Filipinas.

 18th Century
The Bourbon dynasty emerged victorious over the Spanish throne, bringing with them political and
economic thoughts of the French Enlightenment. As a result, the Spaniards made use of the natural
resources from Philippine Islands, promoted agriculture and opened up different businesses that
contributed to overall economic growth of the country.

 1789
Asian shipments were opened by Manila leading to an increase in the export of rice,hemp, sugar,
tobacco, indigo and other items from the country while manufactured goods imports also expanded.

 1814
World trade and commerce were officially opened in Manila; other ports followed in the Philippines.

 1829
Operating equally with Spanish traders was indulged by foreign capital which significantly fast-tracked
and advanced agricultural output particularly in sugar and helped. In the Philippines, local industries
gained a fast foothold as weaving, embroidery, hat making, carriage-manufacturing, rope
manufacturing, cigar and cigarette manufacturing together with other related enterprises came into
existence.

 19th century
Manila as a cosmopolitan center developed rapidly because of the world trade center and commerce
which is developing.

 1865
By observing typhoons and climate changes, the Jesuits established the Manila Observatory, which
also encouraged meteorological studies.

 1879
The very first public warning of a typhoon was publicly declared by Fr. Federico Faura..

 1884
An official institution operated by the Jesuits, the Observatory built a network of meteorological
stations under its command as ordered by a royal decree.

 1901
The observatory emerged as the main station of the Philippine meteorology. By the conclusion of
Spain’s rule over our country, it transformed into an agricultural-based economy chiefly exporting
crops. On account of disinterest and lack of government backing for local industries such as textiles,
they simply couldn’t stand up against foreign goods. Because of its necessity and social standing it
had, university education led to medicine and pharmacy remaining the most advanced scientific
vocations during this period.

 American regime

 1898
the Board (later Bureau) of Health

 1900
Bureau of Mines & Bureau of Forestry

 1901-1907
The Philippine Commission established the public institutions department in the country which
offered free education in English language. In addition, this period saw the initiation of training for
Filipino educators at the Philippine Normal School. Moreover, it paved way for the accessibility of
secondary schools that were later succeeded by the establishment of the Medical School in the
Philippines.

 1901-1905
The Bureau of Science was the chief government research institution and helped develop scientists in
the Philippines. In addition, it conducted chemical and biological investigations into illnesses.

 1905
Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey

 1906
Philippines Journal of Science was published by the Bureau of Science and it included all scientific
developments that might assist in resolving the country’s issues.

 1908-1918
There were various colleges that could be found at the University of the Philippines such as the
College of Agriculture located in Los Baños, Colleges of Liberal Arts, Engineering and Veterinary
Medicine, Berney Harris Law School, School for Forest Resources and College of Music Conservatory
among others. In response to this growing problem in terms of student population, a pharmacy school
was created while a graduate school for tropical medicine and public health was also established.

 1917
Private universities were acknowledged as academic bodies in accordance with the context of Act No.
2076 by the Philippine Legislature instead of being viewed as business enterprises.

 1920
Filipinos had been sent abroad for education but came back shortly. Filipino graduates of U.S.
Universities began to head the Department of Agriculture in the College of Agriculture. After some
time, 463 faculty members were majority Filipinos while 44 were Americans in contention

 1925
Americans encouraged Filipinos to pursue further studies in engineering until the Bureau of Public
Works had up to 190 Filipino engineers. The Monroe Survey conducted by Paul Monroe showed that
private education was not enough. Thus, government increased its oversight mechanisms on private
schools thereby increasing their quality levels.

 1929
Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry

 1933
The National Research Council of the Philippine Islands (NRCP) was established in 1934 together with
on-going collaborations with deliberative bodies concerning scientific and industrial regulations, as
well as scientific investigations.

 1935
The Constitution acknowledged the importance of promoting scientific
development for the economic development of the country by
incorporating Article XIII, Section 4.

 1936
The government recognized 425 private schools, 64 of which were at the college level, while only 7
were universities. Furthermore, the Commonwealth government established the National Economic
Council in order to prepare an economic program and give advice to government on matters
pertaining to economics and finance. It also created the Bureau of Mines and increased funding for
Bureaus dealing with Science Plants and Animal Industry.

 1941
The Pacific War broke out and the Philippines was occupied by Japanese troops which halted
educational and scientific activities for the resistance.

 1946
With the rise in the number of both state universities and colleges, including private ones, it is evident
that there has been a significant increase in the number of students enrolled in colleges and also a
substantial increase in the numbers of graduates from public and private universities and colleges.
However, it should be noted that this increment is not mirrored by the number of students taking
agriculture medicine or natural sciences as well as engineering courses.
 1973-1974
For the purpose of raising educational quality, the PMA restricted admission into medical schools and
incorporated other subjects needed for a basic degree in medicine. Similarly, the Philippine Institute
of Chemical Engineers proposed curriculum changes before the Department of Education and Culture
(DEC).

 1947
The Bureau of Science was reorganized into an Institute of Science. An Instituter of Nutrition was
created.

 1950
The U.S. Economic Survey Mission to the Philippines noted a report of fearth, neglect, and low
salaries. The Bell Mission recommended the systematic exploration of the country's natural resources
to determine their potentialities for economic development.

 1951
Following the Bell Mission's Report, the Institute of Science was reorganized and
renamed Institure of Science and Technology. It acquired the status of a government-owned
corporation and was placed under the office of Economic Coordination.

 1952
The Science Foudnation of the Philippines was created along with the Instituter of
Nutrition under the Office of the President to perform research, advisory, and extension functions
while the Science Foundation was to stimulate research in the sciences and engineering and promote
science consciousness among the people. The Commission on Vulcanology was also created and
placed under the National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP).

 1957
A report was submitted to the President pointing out the deterioration of
Philippine science since American regime. Consequently, the Congress enacted the Science act of
1958, which created the NSDB, PAEC, and NIST, all placed under NSDP along with the NRCP.

 1960s
Aditional science agencies were created by law

 1982
NDSB was further reorganized into a National Science and
Technology Authority (NSTA).

 19 July 1983
The Scientific Career System in the Civil Service by was established by Presidential Decree o. 901 to
attract more qualified scientists to work in government and encourage young people to pursue
science degrees and careers.

 First republic
The government made the Literary University of the Philippines as a state-sponsored secular
university offering courses in law, medicine,surgery,pharmacy, and notary.