"Notes after Muñoz"

"Notes after Muñoz"

(Or "seeing inventions, meeting investors,

 and heeding their desire for a domestic-based development
through science and technology")

At first, this person is ought to say that if not for their efforts, the desire to modernise Philippine Agriculture using domestic-based science and technology will end in vain. 

For as he, in visiting the Bureau of Post-harvest Research and Extension in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, sought the chance of promoting and encouraging Filipinos to mechanise agriculture and to support local manufacturers, as well as inventors whose desire is to make Agriculture improve and Industrialisation be taken seriously as part of the government's development program.

Initially, the visit was a purely office matter, but with seeing prototypes displayed and of its inventors explaining, this person finds it interesting if not thinking that the visit itself was more than just work alone, nor even a leisure,  but of a desire to assert the need to take seriously the country's state of Science and Technology.

And with the pictures shown in this post, this person ought to say that there are chances of development if not for letting an economy be decontrolled no matter how the government afforded to make attention on their concepts, works, and discoveries.
For what this person realise is this: that it is too common to describe today's state of Science and Technology as a bunch of papers. Knowing that some, if not most of which were still in its conceptual stage, no matter how it was undergone editing or further elaboration just to get approved by its assessors; while other inventors were in dire need of support- especially those whose prototypes as being shown as well as tested by its creators.

And from there, this person, like others concerned, would say that if the government truly wanted to cultivate science and technology to improve the country, and at the same time seriously adheres in its neoliberal-globalist platform with its disdain for domestic based science and technology in favour of foreign-made ones, then what the heck are they talking about?

Anyway, the present order, although it tries to "make attention" on the country's state of science and technology is rather limited to just "giving crumbs" if not simply "moral support". Various bills been passed but few are taken seriously to address the matter, and numerous concepts such as "Filipinnovation" are marred by politics.

And other than the inventors themselves, other concerned ones includes groups who desired more than just promoting science and technology for the people with its inventions or discoveries meant to be promoted by the government for its "developmental goals". One of them is AGHAM, whom expressed concern regarding the country's state of S&T unlike those of its neighbours, as it said:

"Highly industrialized countries were able to develop technologies that benefit most of its population. Their products are enhanced by the latest scientific innovation. The ability to input technological innovation into the manufacturing sector and industry translates to the economic superiority of industrialized nations. It is therefore essential for the country to develop its science and technology." 

Truly indeed, knowing that from those countries they had to undergone industrialisation not just to improve agriculture or to utilise natural resources, but also to harness their knowledge skill so as not to depend on foreign imports and to save hard currency; and industrialists like Salvador Araneta wanted that way regardless of how multinationals oppose, if not threaten the Filipino's desire for one's own development.

But in spite all the bullshits that also affected the country's state of science and technology, what more of the economy in general, this person remains optimistic that the common man can convince that domestic-based development be seriously taken rather than depending on the policies of multi/-transnationals, in which making a country indebted, as well as to promote seriously the common good of future generations of Filipinos.

For knowing that despite today's administration's promises and "programs" to alleviate poverty and stimulate the economy, still, tens of millions of Filipinos continue to suffer crushing poverty while a handful of foreign investors and domestic oligarchs prosper. Sounds "usual" to hear this statement, if not to be described as radical by some, but with decades of obeisance to neoliberal globalisation policies, continuous exploitation of the country's natural resources and labour power remains a really concerning issue, therefore there will always be those who demand something better what more that they themselves can offer an alternative in which the existing order cannot provide with. With those inventions shown, one would say that the inventor's intentions are change-forming as it positively affects each and every sector such as those of the farmer who will gonna use and of the industrialist whom has to produce. 

But again, his visit there was all but work. Yet in seeing those and met the ones who afforded to create or discover, what more of their desire to change through science and technology lies something a country should or must not miss.

If not for the ones who actually hampers their growth, of restraining to take part in building a better future.