IN THE PHILIPPINES

CHAPTER II SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PRECOLONIAL PERIOD

 Refers to the span of time prior to the introduction of European colonialism in areas across
the world.
 Spaniards arrived in the Philippines in 1521. Information on its society, culture and
technology prior to this event were only based on archeological findings, accounts by early
traders.
 They already had an alphabet, number system, a weighing and measuring system and a
calendar. Filipinos were already engaged in farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving. The
Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-Spanish
era Filipinos.
 50,000 years ago were believed to be modern men(Homo sapiens)who came over from the
mainland Asia and had reached and lived in communities in other parts of the country
including Sulu, Negros, Samar, and regions in Luzon where they learned to make simple tools
by sawing, drilling and polishing hard stone.
 This early communities gradually learned to manufacture tools made of copper, Gold,
bronze, and iron as evidence by iron slag and other tools for excavated from numerous local
graves and work sites.
 By the 10th century A.D., Butuan and Mindoro inhabitants started trade relations with
Champas of Vietnam and locals and by archeological findings of Chinese porcelains
manufactured during Sung(1260-1368) Yuan (1260-1368) and Ming (1360-1644) dynasties.
 Coastal areas such as Manila had more sophisticated technology compared to other due to
their exposure to foreign trade and cultural influences.
 There were Filipinos who were also mining gold. People during this time lived in wood,
bamboo or nipa houses but wore colorful clothes, self-made jewelry and even teeth-
ornamented with gold.
 More remote areas such as settlements, many Filipinos were still hunter gatherers.
 They were trading with lowland and coastal locals for their gathered forest products and
even some of the small tools they were making.
 Pre-colonial Filipinos were believers of Superstitions.
 In terms of religious beliefs, pre-colonial Filipinos were believers of superstitions. There were
no worship areas discovered during this time.
 They did not develop written literary tradition.
 They may have their own system of written letters and messages.
 These characteristics of precolonial Filipino communities have led to the development of
science and technology through easier accumulation and dissemination of knowledge.
 Pre Spanish Period In Philippine history, the year 1521 marks the arrival of the first colonial
power, and the beginning of what is often called the Spanish period. This period is thus
described as the pre-colonial era or the pre-Spanish era.
SPANISH REGIME

The Spanish regime is considered to be a period of birth of modern science and technology in the
Philippines.

During this time, religious orders had great influence on its development as well.

REMARKABLE EVENTS AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING
SPANISH COLONIZATION.

 Reduccion system used in Latin America was adopted in response to initial shortage of
Spanish Missionaries in the country.
 This strategy grouped far-flung scattered Barangays into fewer but larger and more compact
towns within the hearing are of church bells.
 Tribute tax was imposed and collected.
 Compulsory labor services were enforced among native Filipino.

POLITICS

 BRIX RIPARIP
 The episcopal conference responsible in governing the faith is the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of the Philippines. Christianity was first brought to the Philippine islands by
Spanish missionaries and colonists, who arrived in waves beginning in the early 16th century
in Cebu.

RELIGION

 Philippine colonial educational system was established all over the country.
 Technological development and scientific researchers were promoted.

EDUCATION

 Jesuits - a member of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests founded by St.
Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, and others in 1534, to do missionary work. The order was
zealous in opposing the Reformation. Despite periodic persecution it has retained an
important influence in Catholic thought and education.

DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHED SCHOOLS OFFERING HIGHER EDUCATION

 Colegio de san Ildefonso, Cebu City (1959)

 Colegio de San Ignacio, Manila (1595)
 Ateneo de Manila (1859)
 Dominicans - a member of the Roman Catholic order of preaching friars founded by St.
Dominic, or of a religious order for women founded on similar principles.

DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHED SCHOOLS OFFERING HIGHER EDUCATION

 University of Santo Tomas, Manila (1611)

  Filipino students were able to go to Europe for professional advanced studies as prosperity
resulted from increased commerce between the Philippines and other countries some of
them were:
 Jose Rizal – Medicine and specialization in ophthalmology in Spain and Germany
 Jose Rizal
 Graciano Apacible – Medicine in Madrid
 Graciano Apacible
 Antonino Luna – Pharmacy in Madrid
 Antonino Luna
 Jose Alejandrino – Engineering in Belgium
 Jose Alejandrino

MEDICINE

 In 1887, the Laboratorio Municipal de Ciudad de Manila was established to perform

biochemical analyses for public health purposes.
 Several Spanish missionaries observed, catalogued and wrote about Philippine plants
especially those with medicinal plants.
 One of the most notable writings was by Father Fernando de sta. Maria in 1763.
 Schools in university of Santo Tomas.
 Among its first BS Pharmacy graduates was Leon Ma. Guerrero who is referred to as the
“Father of the Philippine pharmacy”
 Philippine exportation of agricultural products started to increase when manila was opened
in 1789 to Asian shipping.
 This was subsequently followed by the opening of other Philippine port.

AGRICULTURE

 In 1829, agricultural production accelerated and modernized when foreign capital was
allowed to operate in the country.
 The Manila School of Agriculture was established in 1987 and opened in 1889 to provide
theoretical and practical education to farmers and to promote agricultural development in
the country.
 There was a very little development in the country’s agricultural sector during the first two
centuries of Spanish regime.
 Spanish Colonizers largely depended on profits from the Galleon (or Manila-Acapulco) trade
(1565-1813).
 Manila emerged as the entrepot of the Orient.

ECONOMY

 Chinese traders profited most from this system by acting as packers, middleman, and
retailers.
 Domestic economy was deleteriously affected by the Galleon trade which caused negligence
of local agriculture, mining and handicraft industries.

Beginning of the 18th Century

 The dominance of the Bourbon Dynasty to the Spanish throne paved the way for
enterprising the Spaniards to exploit the country’s mineral wealth, to develop its agriculture
and to establish industries, thus promoted economic recovery.
  The economic development was unevenly distributed in the Philippines and most of the
areas outside Manila remained poor and underdeveloped.
 Local Industries that flourish in Manila includes the industries for weaving, embroidery, hat
making, carriage manufacture, rope making, cigar and cigarette making.

Second half of the 19th Century

 Modern facilities were introduced in Manila. Some of these were waterworks system, steam
tramways, electric lights, newspapers and banking system.