Exploring Transfer Science Literacy from Nanay to Mga Bata: An Ethnopedagogy Research

Barangay Dagbasan is located in a mountainous area in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, Philippines. The people here typically have land surrounding their homes, where they grow a variety of utan (vegetables) like alugbati, malunggay, sayote, sili, avocado, guava, papaya, mango, star apple, and cilantro, as well as tambal (medicinal plants) such as gabon, tigre-tigre, mayana, ginger, turmeric, and yellow ginger. This phenomenology qualitative research explored the transfer of scientific knowledge through ethnobotany. The people belong to the Aeta and Bukidnon tribes and speak Cebuano. In-depth interviews as the research method was conducted to ten key participants (90% female) revealed the result that mothers (nanay) transfer scientific knowledge about planting and herbal medicine to their children (mga bata) through folk songs (e.g., the Bahay Kubo song), hands-on activities, storytelling, and direct experiences with tambal to treat illnesses. Filipinos embrace the philosophy of “laging handa” (always prepared), with nanay exemplifying resilience in the face of adversity. In conclusion, women in the Philippines are empowered, occupy essential societal roles, and enjoy relatively equal status to men. The country has strong laws and policies supporting women’s work, wages, and entrepreneurship, with no legal barriers to equal pay or job opportunities. Many women are the backbone of their families. In Filipino households, nanay is vital in guiding children to learn basic science, such as botany, through real-life, hands-on experiences in their everyday lives in the barangay.