MODULE 3

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND NATION-BUILDING

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Explain how early Filipinos applied scientific principles in their daily living;
2. Present government policies on science and technology and explain their importance to the nation;
and
3. Discuss the role of science and technology in nation-building

This chapter is composed of these topics:

Lesson 1: Pre-Colonial Period
Lesson 2: Colonial Period
Lesson 3: Post-Colonial Period

The development of science and technology in the Philippines has already come a long way. Many
significant inventions and discoveries have been accomplished by or attributed to Filipinos. This chapter
tackles how the development of science and technology affect the development of the Philippines as a
nation.

LESSON 1
LET’S READ

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

Scientific and technological development in the Philippines

began in the pre-colonial period. Even before the Spaniards
came to the Philippine island, early Filipino settler were
already using certain plants and herbs as medicines. Systems of
farming and animal-raising were also implemented. Moreover,
early Filipinos had also developed different modes of
transportation, whether terrestrials or maritime.

A complicated engineering feat was achieved by the natives

of the Cordilleras when they built rice terraces by hand.
Through these terraces, people were able to cultivate crops on
the mountainsides in cold temperature. The rice terraces if the
Cordilleras, which are still functional, show the innovative and
ingenious way of the natives to survive in an otherwise
unfriendly environment.

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LESSON 2
COLONIAL PERIOD

Colonization by the Spaniards provided the

Philippines with modern means of construction.
Walls, roads, bridges, and other large infrastructures
like churches were built using some of the
engineering skills and tools brought by the
Spaniards. In addition, the Spanish government
developed health and education systems that were
enjoyed by the principalia class or noble class.

The American occupation modernized almost all

aspects of life in the Philippines. They established a
government agency, the Bureau of Science, for the
sole purpose of nurturing development in the field of
science and technology.

LESSON 3
POST-COLONIAL PERIOD

After achieving independence from the colonizers, the

Philippines, under different administration, continued to
pursue programs in science and technology. Why do you think
so? Perhaps the main reason is to ease the work and effort
done by the people and also for self defense in case if war.

One of the presidents who ushered in advancement in

science and technology was former president and dictator
Ferdinand Marcos. Under his term, man agencies in science
and technology were established and strengthened, including
the Philippines Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the
Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology, the Philippines Coconut
Research Institute (PHILCORIN) and many more. President Ferdinand Marcos was so brave that he even
attempted to use nuclear power plant in Bataan but many of his political enemy blocked him. On his time,
the Philippines is as powerful as Japan in terms of technology and governance. Many famous hospitals like
the kidney center, heart center and women and child center were built on his time because of our
advancement in science but sadly, many people were threatened by wisdom and bravery, so they kick him
out of this country.

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