Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

EDUCATIONAL SECTION

Second Session
The second session of the Educational Section was
held at 9:30 A. M. on February 25, 1930, with President Gavino Tabufiar, of the National University, as
Chairman. There were three speakers. The first
speaker was Director Angel Argiuelles, of the Bureau of Science. He read the following paper:
THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN AN INDEPENDENT
PHILIPPINES.
By ANGEL ARGUELLES,
Assistant Director, Bureau of Science
The recent world war has brought to the front the great
importance which science plays in the life of a nation both in
time of peace and in time of war. The present period of world
development is bound to bring about conditions that will compel nations to struggle with great intensity for commercial and
industrial supremacy. In this, science plays a dominant role.
It is admitted by all students of Far Eastern affairs that the
countries bordering on the Pacific Ocean are destined to undergo marvelous changes in the near future. This will make
the Orient one of the busiest centers of industrial and commercial activities. The Philippines is in the vortex of this
impending development and it would be of highest importance
to marshal the forces of the nation in such away as to meet
adequately the new conditions.
The Philippines was under the Spanish regime for some
300 years and during this period very little emphasis was placed
on industrial and commercial development. In the last thirty
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