Conservation of Ethnomedicinal Practices and Beliefs in the Philippines Through Science Education

Abstract

The introduction of modernization and urbanization in the Philippines has imperiled ethnomedicinal practices and beliefs. It has drawn the carrier generation to the mainstream society, putting the transfer of this indigenous traditional knowledge at risk. Among studies documenting such knowledge, the relationship of the documentation of these practices and beliefs to science education has not yet been fully established. To fill in this gap, locally administered and decade-old published works were reviewed and thematically analyzed using an open coding procedure to identify the ethnomedicinal practices and beliefs in the main islands in the Philippines. The emerging themes for the ethnomedicinal practices are Mechanical, Thermal, and Chemical Preparations. Meanwhile, the derived themes for the ethnomedicinal beliefs are Psychological, Spiritual, and Ritual Beliefs. The educational brochure is titled “EthnoMediko" consists of curriculum alignment, activities, and guides to teachers to embed these practices and beliefs into their science instruction. Findings unveiled that the country's intangible heritage, such as these practices and beliefs, can be preserved by maximizing education as a propitious platform for the future generation.