What is the historical background of science and technology in the Philippines?

Answer 1

Science and Technology in the Philippines: A Historical Perspective Before Spain colonized the country, some indigenous technology existed with regards to wet rice and dry rice agriculture. The use of technology was also evident in the handicrafts, pottery, weaving, metal ware and boats used by ancient Filipinos. When the Spaniards colonized the country, they forever changed the lives of the native peoples. History shows us that the primary reason for such colonization was for Spain to obtain a source of raw materials which it shall then use for international trade. The entire colonial government in the Philippines then was set up for easy extraction of raw materials and faster production of goods that shall be traded by the mother country. Socio-political systems were created and designed to divide the country's land, resources and people in order for the colonial masters to readily extract from the country any valuable resource it finds (e.g. the encomienda system, hacienda system). After three hundred years under Spain, the country had evolved into a colony largely exporting it raw materials and importing those which it cannot produce. Any local technological innovation was by far and large stifled by the importation of foreign manufactured goods. During the American colonial rule, the feudal systems established by the Spanish were maintained but this time, a farce "trading" system between the colony and its colonial master was established. Philippine raw materials of low technological input were traded for foreign finished products of high technological input. As the value of the country's export products are less than that of foreign finished products, trade between the Philippines and more advanced countries is basically unequal. This trade imbalance has caused for lesser-developed countries to incur loans to pay for this trade deficit. Such foreign loans grew steadily, as the balance of trade became more unequal. In order for the colonial powers to maintain their dominance in the world market, it was essential that other countries, including their colonies, do not develop its own system of manufacturing goods and services that shall compete with the goods produced by the mother country. For the Philippines, this would mean that no genuine program for scientific and technological advancement would ever be drawn up. After World War II and fifty years under American rule, the Philippines had slid down from being the second country next to Japan in terms of technological development to being next to the bottom of the barrel in terms of technological development in South East Asia. Even after 100 years of "independence", our country has yet to rid itself of the systems first created by the colonial masters and later on adopted by the succeeding Philippine governments. Until now, science and technology agencies created by the Philippine government still do not serve the needs of the Filipino masses. There has been little or no contribution to agriculture, our country's main mode production of which 75% of our population are engaged in. It has done nothing to spur rural industrialization, that which is very much needed by 85% of our population who reside in the countryside. To this day, we have yet to establish our basic industries--paper, cement and steel. We have yet to efficiently develop our infrastructure, energy generation, transportation, communication, information technology, and basic services (utilities, healthcare, etc.) The little science and technological innovation that can be made in the present situation is still in service of the old system of exporting raw materials in exchange for importing high-input finished products. This system is expected to continue should there be no sincere efforts to address the state of the country's S&T, and to seriously root out the problems of technological backwardness. Thus, until the viscous cycle of poor science education, backward science and technology, trade imbalance and economic subservience is stopped, the Philippines may well become the technological laggard of the 21st century. Check this source for more information: http://www.geocities.com/agham_uplb/about.html