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.

198 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

years, however, great changes have taken place and marked
progress in science and commerce has been attained. Nevertheless, considerable work remains yet to be accomplished to
insure solid economic development. The government is called
upon to work out an industrial program with a-view to acce-
lerating the economic development of the Islands. This is
fully justified by the fact that we are considerably handicapped
by the lack of an adequate number of aggressive and experienced
captains of industry who can develop to the full extent the
promising technical industries of the islands.
During the last one hundred years science has progressed by
leaps and bounds. This progress has been the result of the
common effort of scientific men in the leading nations of the
world. Science has been called "an organized knowledge of
the forces of nature for the service of men." In the present
high degree of civilization, science is inextricably bound with
progressive culture as well as with economic development. A
people that aspires for a national existence, or one enjoying
the full rights and privileges of a free nation, must look to
science as one of the fundamental instruments in building a
high level of civilization and attaining those elements which
go to make up national strength and power. Only a glimpse
of the various phases of science touching vital activities of the
country will be discussed here.
The technical branches of the government are contributing
their respective parts to the advancement of science for the
benefit of our industry and agriculture. As attested by common experience, the most progressive countries of the world
are highly industrialized and this would be impossible without
a high degree of scientific development. Wherever one finds a
progressive and highly developed country or nation, science will
invariably be found to be highly developed and to be receiving
the greatest attention on the part of the government, and the
people highly responsive in the adoption of scientific discoveries.
But in order to put the scientific work upon a sound basis it is
necessary that there be an adequate supply of men trained along
specialized lines and that proper support be given investigational
work. Scientific investigation requires men of ability with