Eco Florante

                             Column                                     Cataloguing the very historical narrative of science and technology in the Philippine archipelago would recall dates back to pre-colonization period. Regrettably not, foreign colonizers involving new Mestizo migrants vouched at least to scientific concepts (i.e. collegiate medicine, ophthalmological research) in the enlightenment amongst Filipinos. The Manila Galleon Trade, along with ship docks to and from the Suez Canal widened the sharing of technological advancements and inventions between the Philippines and abroad. Likely the prevalence of western liberal concepts remained a replica of the said nation imbued with America's railway and Dominicans' universities.       The University of Santo Tomas (UST) homed to 62 Licenciado en Medicina graduates since 1886 foremost accelerated the indoctrination of science to selected elite Filipino students. Nonetheless, the Fifth Republic of the Philippines garnered

San Miguel’s President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang, looks forward willingly to accommodate local government units (LGUs) putting up cyclist’s bike lanes with this latest technology on making cement without dependence on fossil fuels. Reference:  San Miguel Corporation. (2020, November 10). SMC to partner with LGUS to build recycled plastics bike lanes . https://www.sanmiguel.com.ph/stories/reliable-and-resilient-infrastructure/smc-to-partner-with-lgus-to-build-recycled-plastics-bike-lanes

Sarao Motors joins the modernization program of the Duterte admin "...whether we like it or not,  the automotive industry is leading towards electrification program”  - Ed Sarao,  son of Leonardo Sarao, true  founder of Sarao Motors References: Durian, M. (2019, September 25).  Sarao Motors here to stay . C! Magazine. https://www.c-magazine.com/features/sarao-motors-here-to-stay/ GMA News. (2014, August 19). SONA: Makabagong jeep, binubuo ng Sarao Motors [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5wXuMFVMnE Ramirez, R. (2018, January 31). Sarao won’t stop making jeepneys . Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/02/01/1783450/sarao-wont-stop-making-jeepneys Snow, J. (2018, January 3).  Sarao Motors Wants To Partner With Local e-Jeepney Manufacturer . Good News Pilipinas. https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/sarao-motors-wants-to-partner-with-local-e-jeepney-manufacturer/ When In Manila. (2017). The Electric Jeepney Is Designed To Give The Old King Of The Road A

Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11293 , or the Philippine Innovation Act ,  authorizing the government to adopt innovation policies pursuant to Section 10, Article XIV of the Constitution recognizes science and technology as “ essential for national development and progress ” prioritizing “ research and development, invention, innovation, and their utilization .” The center of the State’s development policies engaged the business sector,  scientific community,  academe,  and research institutions in innovative efforts for economic growth. RA 11293  created the National Innovation Council (NIC), responsible for developing the country’s innovation goals, priorities, and long-term national strategy. Philippines' 16th Executive President (2016-2022) || Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/02/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/two-years-rodrigo-duterte-mixed-picture-drug-war-economic-boom/ Past Presidential Spokesperson Salvador

UP-DOST Microsatellite Diwata 1 landscapes the first space technology of the Philippines References: GMA News. (2016). Kauna-unahang micro-satellite ng Pilipinas na Diwata-1, pinakawalan sa kalawakan [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HJ_Je7bwEY Mina, R. (2020).  Philippines bids farewell to satellite that launched enviro policy into the space age . Mongabay Environmental News. https://news.mongabay.com/2020/05/philippines-bids-farewell-to-satellite-that-launched-enviro-policy-into-the-space-age/ PHL-Microsat. (2021). Diwata-1 re-enters atmosphere, ends mission - PHL-Microsat . Medium. https://blog.phl-microsat.upd.edu.ph/diwata-1-re-enters-atmosphere-ends-mission-3c4fb986cc07 Sadongdong, M. A. (2017). Diwata-1 microsatellite circles Earth over 4,000 times . Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). https://pcieerd.dost.gov.ph/news/pcieerd-in-the-news/251-diwata-1-microsatellite-circles-earth-over-4-000-ti

On a global scale, Philippine's Del Monte Pacific Limited  (DMPL) harvest 1 million  fruits each day, calculating 20% of  the global pineapple supply chain.  References: ABS-CBN News. (2013). Del Monte Pacific debuts at PSE [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRxdPd6e4Y Del Monte Pacific Limited. (2020). Growers of Good: Annual Report FY2020 . Del Monte Pacific. https://www.delmontepacific.com/hubfs/pdf /Del%20Monte%20Pacific%20Ltd%20FY2020%20Annual%20Report_FINAL.pdf Eagle, J. (2017). Del Monte turns pineapple waste into renewable energy . Beverage Daily. https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2017/01/04/Del-Monte-turns-pineapple-waste-into-energy Inquirer. (2020). History of harvest, Heritage of health . INQUIRER.net. https://business.inquirer.net/308075/history-of-harvest-heritage-of-health Loyola, J. A. (2022). Del Monte Pacific profits continue to rise . Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/11/del-monte-pacific-profits-continue-to-rise/

President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (2014) conferred four (4) new National Scientists for their contribution in the scientific field: Academicians Gavino C. Trono 's extensive study on seaweed species;   Angel C. Alcala 's artificial coral reefs and contributions on herpetology;   Ramon C. Barba 's micropropagation on an all-year round availability of mangoes;  and Edgardo D. Gomez 's national-scale assessment upon damaged reefs  were honored. The way President Aquino thanked the scientists paves the development for national conservation, safeguarding the interests of coastal residents. Philippines' 15th Executive President (2010-2016) || Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/world/asia/benigno-aquino-III-dead.html During his term, an observable and desirable increase in the number of workers certified for the Technical-Vocation (TechVoc) training heed to the country's potential on the field of technology. The then- Department of Science and Tech

 Science & Technology's Golden Age  The then- Department of Science and Technology (DOST) S ecretary Estrella Albastro dubbed the  Gloria Macaraeg  Macapagal-Arroyo administration, as the Philippine's “Golden age” whilst the legislation of  Republic Act  9367 or the Biofuels Act , promoting the consumption  of biofuels throughout the country  potentially pushing forth a cheaper alternative to gasoline as a medium in producing energy. President Arroyo had also, considered benefits towards the environment due from cleaner biofuel emission compared to regular fuel.  Philippines' 14th Executive President (2001-2010) || Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Gloria_Macapagal_Arroyo Reasonably, with Arroyo's will to improving the efficiency of land and water resources too, the Republic Act 10601 aligns  research, development, and extension (RDE), promotion, distribution, supply, assembling, manufacturing, regulation, use, operation, maintenance and project

Corresponding to Former President  Joseph Ejercito Estrada’s  1st State of the Nation Address, launching a full-scale program based on cost-effective irrigation technologies enhance the agricultural sector. The Estrada Administration, through its inspiring slogan " Erap Para Sa Mahirap ", announced that Dole-outs shall end, succeeding basic health care, basic nutrition, and education freely accessible for those who desire, but cannot afford. One of Estrada's promise, also, was to speed up the establishment of one (1) science high school in every province.  Philippines' 13th Executive President (1998-2001) || Source: http://metronewscentral.net/manila/lgu-spotlight/joseph-marcelo-ldquoeraprdquo-ejercito-estrada On his presidential term,  he signed  two major legislations that were the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 ( Republic Act No. 8749 ) designed to protect and preserve the environment ensuring sustainable development of its natural resources, and the Electronic C

“Doctors to the Barrio" Former President  Fidel V. Ramos commissioned this  program under the sectoral health fostering medical care services on remote provinces. During this time, the focal point of science easily spread, and were shared.  Rural Health Doctors || Source:  https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1144382/health-services-still-beyond-reach-of-remote-communities-tribal-villages Precisely the change in Filipino's record on   life expectancy from 67.5 years in 1992 improved to 69.1 years in 1995, proving this health care program effective. According to President Ramos' 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA),  significantly t here was an increase in personnel specializing more into science and technology fields. Launching Ceremony || Source: http://docjimmygalveztan.com/the-trustworthy-leader-policy-maker/  At 1998,  around 3,000 competent scientists and engineers were estimated as products from  the Philippines resulting of two (2) newly built Philippine Science High Sch

Under Aquino's Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (1987-1992), science and technology gained its role towards economic recovery and sustained economic growth. On August 8, 1988, Former President Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino created the  Presidential Task Force for Science and Technology  which initiated the first Science and Technology Master Plan or STMP. Its goal envisioned the Philippines as a newly industrialized country achieving status by the year 2000.  Philippine's 11th Executive President (1986 to 1992) || Source: https://liberal-international.org/people/corazon-aquino/ Former DOST Secretary Ceferin Follosco, of the Aquino administration, reported that the budget allocation for science and technology increased to  ₱ 1.054 billion in 1989 compared from its previous year,  ₱ 464 million. The Eight Congress approved the  Republic Act 6655 or the  Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988  offering free education up to the secondary level, impl

RAILROADS ARE POWERED WITH AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY REDUCING THE IMPACT FOR HUMAN ERROR. PHILIPPINE'S LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) EMBODIED TECHNOLOGIES LIKE THE  SMART CROWD CONTROL  TO ENCOURAGE MORE PASSENGERS. Reference: Goh, M. L., & Goh, J. E. (2019).  Smart Crowd Control Management System For Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 | Semantic Scholar . International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Knowledge Economy (ICCIKE). https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Smart-Crowd-Control-Management-System-For-Light-1-Goh-Goh/fe1d822c9e26854e643930b00c64c3537f727d98 Satre, G. L. (1998). The Metro Manila LRT System— A Historical Perspective.  Japan Railway & Transport Review ,  16 , 33–37. https://www.ejrcf.or.jp/jrtr/jrtr16/f33_satre.html Shalom, R. (2022).  Why Traveling By Train Is Environmentally Friendly . Save a Train. https://www.saveatrain.com/blog/why-choosing-to-travel-by-train-is-environmentally-friendly/ The Philippine Star. (2013).  Timeline: LRT, MRT construction . Ph

Filipino engineer Daniel Dingel ran his dark red 16-valve Toyota Corolla on 40.41% water [as tested by the Philippine's Department of Energy] for 30 years. “The electricity from the battery splits the water into its hydrogen and oxygen components, and this hydrogen can then be used to power the car engine. Normally it takes temperatures of about 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit to generate hydrogen from water – and lots of electricity, but here I am just using an ordinary 12-volt battery,” Dingel claimed. DINGEL'S 1969 HYDROGEN REACTOR: A Niche in Motoring History References: Aldred, P. (2015). Daniel Dingel, 1968 – ** Fuel Efficient Vehicles ** . Fuel-efficient-vehicles.org. https://fuel-efficient-vehicles.org/energy-news/?page_id=928 GMA Public Affairs. (2017, December 4). Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho: Water fuel, sagot sa mahal na gasolina? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7zcPs-qbE8 TFT, T. (2016, July 7). Pinoy invents ‘water gasoline,’ receives Outstanding Inventor

Former President Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr., planned scholarships for graduate and undergraduate of fisheries and oceanography. He strived onto reforming technical institutes, agricultural colleges and vocational high schools. In the amended 1973 Philippine Constitution, Article XV, Section 9 (1), he asserted that the “advancement of science and technology shall have priority in the national development.”   Philippines' 10th Executive President (1965-1986) ||  Source:  https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/the-marcos-era-the-years-of-president-marcos On April 6, 1968, Marcos proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan,  Rizal,  Taguig as sites of the Philippine Science Community. I n his two terms of presidency and during Martial Law, several branching institutes were created in behalf of the Philippine government boosting the research integration in science. The  National Grains Authority of  1972, substantiated the development of the rice and corn industry as fully harnessed for t

The American Civil Government granted scholarships  for higher education in science and engineering; and organized  science research agencies for science-based public services  geared towards agriculture . During this era, there has n ot been much focus  leeway  on the development of industrial technology due because of the free trade policy with the United States.   References: Ybiernas, V. A. & Ateneo de Manila University. (2003). The Philippine Commonwealth Government: In Search of a Budgetary Surplus. Philippine Studies , 51 (1), 96–124. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42633638 Malcolm, G. A. (2013). The Commonwealth of the Philippines. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/commonwealth-of-the-philippines-by-george-a-malcolm-new-york-d-appletoncentury-company-1936-pp-xviii-511/716F2573B021A7FAABD8FD21B54B8477 Guiang, F. J. & University of the Philippines. (2022). Science for National Development: The

Suez Canal opens in 1869; whereas western liberal ideas and scientific knowledge started to flourish because of the consequent ease in travel and communications. Linking to the prosperity that resulted from increased Philippine commerce between parts of the world, Filipino students were able to arrived  Europe for professional advanced studies secreting up a Propaganda Movement. This eventually led to the Philippine revolution against Spain. Jose Rizal was able to proceed for Spain and Germany to study medicine specializing in Ophthalmology; Graciano Apacible who studied medicine in Madrid; Antonio Luna who obtained Ph.D. in Pharmacy and later worked with renowned scientists in Ghent and Paris; Jose Alejandrina took up engineering in Belgium. These Filipino scholars have received a reputable status which could match the "powerful" Spanish colonizing government. Source: https://aprilmaynjune.weebly.com/lit-1/the-period-of-enlightenment-1872-1898#:~:text=After%20300%20years%20o

During the early years, parish schools taught basic arithmetic, reading, writing, and so far, religion. Filipino natives assimilated advanced methods on agriculture, learning also about sanitation. Without denial, Spanish colonizers indoctrinated formal education in the Philippine archipelago and established scientific institutions, colleges, and universities such as the University of Santo Tomas (UST)  –  at least for the growth of science and technology.  The Halls of UST institutionalized by  Miguel de Benavides, Manila's third Archbishop.  ||  Source: http://arquitecturamanila.blogspot.com/2014/07/university-of-santo-tomas-main-building.html On the other aisle, Jesuits have founded  the Colegio de San Ildefonso (1595)  in Cebu City and in Manila, both  the Colegio de San Ignacio (1595)  and Ateneo de Manila (1859) . The Dominicans endowed the Colegio de San Juan de Letran (1640) in Manila. Although the opportunities of learning quality science, access to these schools are limit

Despite limitations of reliable historical accounts of the Philippines on this period, archaeological findings from early Chinese traders and first Spanish missionaries sufficed that deficiency. Relative to Asian mainland homo sapiens who migrated and landed in Palawan and Batangas around 50,000 years ago, the earliest signs of science showed Filipino expertise for sawing, drilling, pottery, adzes ornaments from seashells and glass, smelting of iron, and weaving cotton. Herbal medicines were also invented. By the first century A.D., agricultural technology improved. Lowland rice were cultivated in diked fields and along mountain regions, one example would be the Cordilleran Banaue Rice Terraces where these fields are grown in spring water. By the tenth century A.D., the Sung and Ming (1360-1644) dynasties noted Filipino missions in Peking [presently: Beijing]. On record, the people of Ma-i (Mindoro) traded beeswax, tortoise shell, medicinal betelnuts,  and coconut heart mats in replace

     Caoili (1986) conferred past archaeological findings in 48,000 BC  –  materially of fragmented skull found amongst Asian Mainland Borne Homo Sapiens who migrated across narrow channels settling in Palawan, including Batangas. Sawing, drilling techniques and polishing hard stone flakes for weaponry in war are alike any other Austronesian cultures today; this formally introduces the earliest form of engineering in the Philippines, aside from pottery that have flourished over 2,000 years later.                                                                             Figure 1.0  Primate men moulding stones and rocks                                                                                             Source: The Kahimyang Project        FUN FACT:   Griffith University's archaeologist Adam Brumm, in collaboration with Alistair Pike, a British archaeological dating expert, and their team, wrote about Sino H. erectus bones in Luzon beside a 75% left fossilized rhino skeleto