Indigenous Science in The Philippines

Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
Hand-out#5 : Indigenous Science in the Philippines
Lesson Objectives
• Discuss the concepts of indigenous knowledge system and its example;
• Explain the concepts of indigenous science from indigenous knowledge system and its
contribution to the development of modern science and technology in the Philippines
Discussion
I. Indigenous Knowledge System
Indigenous knowledge is a local knowledge that developed over centuries through

experimentation of our ancestors and passed orally from generation to generation. It is embedded
in the daily life experience of young children as they grow up. They live and grow in a society
where the members of the community prominently practice indigenous knowledge. Their parents
and other elder folks served as their first teacher and their methods of teaching are very effective
in transmitting cultural knowledge in their minds. The lessons they learned are intimately
interwoven with their culture and the environment. These lessons comprised of good values and
life stories of people on their daily life experience. Their views about the nature and their
reflections on their experiences in daily life are evident in their stories, poems, and songs.
Some examples of indigenous knowledge that are taught and practiced by the indigenous
people are:
● Predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing animals’

behavior and celestial bodies;
● Using of herbal medicine
● Classifying plants and animals into families and groups based on cultural properties;
● Preserving food and selecting good seeds for planting;
● Using indigenous tools in daily lives;
● Building local irrigation systems;
● Classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties;
● Producing wines and juices from tropical fruits; and
● Keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables
II. Indigenous Science

Indigenous science is part of the indigenous knowledge system practiced by different
groups of people and early civilizations. It includes complex arrays of knowledge, expertise,
practices, and representations that guide human societies in their enumerable interactions with
the natural milieu: agriculture, medicine, naming, and explaining natural phenomena, and
strategies for coping with changing environments. It is collectively lived in and experienced by
the people of a given culture.
The indigenous science also includes everything, from metaphysics to philosophy and
various practical technologies practiced by indigenous peoples both past and present. Science is a
part of culture which is done largely depends on the cultural practices of the people.
Indigenous beliefs (also part of indigenous knowledge) also develop desirable values that
are relevant or consistent to scientific attitudes namely:
● Motivating attitudes;
● Cooperating attitudes;
● Practical attitudes; and
● Reflective attitudes.
It can also be explained that indigenous science has developed diverse structures and
contents through interplay between the society and the environment. Development stages of most
sciences are characterized by continual competition between a number of distinct views of
nature, each partially derived from, and all roughly compatible with the dictates of scientific
observation and method. It was also pointed out that the indigenous science provides the basics
of science; including the astronomy, pharmacology, food technology, or metallurgy, which are
derived from traditional knowledge and practices.
Indigenous science is important in the development of science and technology in the

Philippines. Like the ancient civilizations, indigenous science gave birth to the development of
science and technology as a field and as a discipline. Indigenous science helped the people in
understanding the natural environment and in coping with everyday life. UNESCO’s Declaration
on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge (1999) recognized indigenous science as a
historical and valuable contribution to science and technology.
Below is a simple framework for understanding indigenous science. Accordingly,

indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge that uses science process skills and
guided by community values and culture.
1. Indigenous science uses science process skills such as observing, comparing, classifying,
measuring, problem solving, inferring, communicating, and predicting.
2. Indigenous science is guided by culture and community values such as the following:
● The land is a source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator.

● The Earth is revered as “Mother Earth”. It is the origin of their identity as people.
● All living and non-living things are interconnected and interdependent with each other.
● Human beings are stewards or trustee of the land and other natural resources. They have a
responsibility to preserve it.
● Nature is a friend to human beings – it needs respect and proper care.
3. Indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge practiced and valued by people and
communities such as ethno-biology, ethno-medicine, indigenous farming methods, and folk
astronomy.
Summary
● Communities in the Philippines have maintained vast amounts of indigenous knowledge

that includes cultural practices, traditions, and beliefs. It served as the foundation for the
development of indigenous science.
● Indigenous science is part of the indigenous knowledge that guide the human societies in
coping with daily life activities. Indigenous science paved the way to the progress of
modern science and technology.
References
1. Serafica, J. et.al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society. Rex Printing Company, Inc.,
First Edition, 2018.
2. Quinto, E.J.M. & Nieva, A.D. Science, Technology, and Society. C&E Bookshop
Publishing.

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What are some examples of indigenous knowledge practices?

What does indigenous science include?

Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

Hand-out#5 : Indigenous Science in the Philippines

• Discuss the concepts of indigenous knowledge system and its example;

I. Indigenous Knowledge System

Indigenous knowledge is a local knowledge that developed over centuries through

● Predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing animals’

II. Indigenous Science

Indigenous science is important in the development of science and technology in the

Below is a simple framework for understanding indigenous science. Accordingly,

● The land is a source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator.

● Communities in the Philippines have maintained vast amounts of indigenous knowledge

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