PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
Pre-Spanish Period
• Physical activities were necessary for existence.
• Cockfighting, introduced by the Malays was popular.
• Dancing was a religious activity with several purposes.
• Bathing and swimming were important part in the lives of the natives.
Spanish Period
• Cockfighting continued to be a favorite “sport”, and found its way to the other places in the archipelago.
• Bathing and swimming were still popular, and some native dances were still performed.
• The Fandango, the Jota, the Curacha of Spain; the Polka, and Mazurka of Central Europe; and the Lanceros and Rigodon of France were introduced to the
“bourgeoisie” by the conquistadores to lure the Filipinos to be converted to Christianianity.
• Dancing became a major activity enjoyed by the people. Ceremonial dances were performed during religious activities.
• Recreational games were introduced.
Girls played sungka, siklot, piko, luksong tinik, and hide and seek.
Boys played patintero, sipa, and kite-flying. Older women played card games.
• Higher order recreational activities like horse races triggered the founding of Manila Jockey Club in 1867 to supervise the holding of races once a year, but were
closed down in 1880.
• In 1893, gymnastics was recorded to be a required subject for all candidates for the Elementary Teachers Certificate at the Superior Normal School for Men
Teachers.
American Period
• 1901 – Physical exercise was one of the subjects introduced in the public schools, and regular program of athletics was developed.
• 1905 – Baseball and track and field were introduced and taught to young boys.
• 1909 – Athletic program for the schools emphasized the playing of western sports and coaching of tennis.
• 1910 – Basketball was first introduced as a game for young girls at the Carnival Meet held in Manila but was later discontinued in 1914 because it was found very
strenuous for the girls. Later, indoor baseball, tennis, and volleyball were introduced.
• 1911 – The “Athletic Handbook” was published by the Bureau of Education prescribing few simple games and relays, rules for baseball, basketball for girls,
volleyball, indoor baseball, track and field, and lawn tennis.
• January, 1911 - The Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) was organized to control amateur sports in the Philippines
• 1914 – In cognizant to the implementation of the “play for everybody” policy of the Bureau of Education, the Teacher’s Vacation
Assembly started in Manila to give special training to Filipino teachers to be able to conduct various physical activities, and be able
to teach at the provincial normal schools
• March 5, 1919 – A syllabus entitled “Physical education: A Manual for Teachers” was published in 1918 for a definite course of study in Physical Education.
• 1920 – Physical Education was made a required subject in all public schools where a rating of 75% which was based on attendance in the required exercises is
necessary for promotion every year from grade four to fourth year high school. However, the grade was not included in the computation of the general average.
• 1928 – A Summer School for Coaching was opened by the Office of the National Physical Education Director in cooperation with the Bureau of Education to help
the public school teachers who are in-charged of athletics to improve their coaching methods.
• 1937 – Physical Education was made a curricular subject in the secondary schools where the grade was not only based on attendance but in proficiency in skills as
well. The grade was included in the computation of the general average.
• 1939 – Women’s track and field was added in the program of the National Inter- Scholastics.
Japanese Period
The Japanese Military Administration obliged all public schools to perform daily calisthenics on air called the Radio Taiso, where Japanese instructors were provided.
The demonstration of the exercise was held in Luneta.
Post-War to Present
1948 to 1952 – Under the joint sponsorship of the PAAF and Department of Education, The National College of Physical Education conducted a Summer school of
Physical Education held at the Rizal Memorial Field.
Several Orders and Memoranda for Physical Education were implemented.
• The Schools Physical education and Sports Act of 1969 provided
program of activities that included among others a program of health education and nutrition, a program of physical fitness for all pupils, a program of competitive
athletics, a program of intramural and inter-unit athletic competition within schools, districts, and provinces, and an annual competition within and among
regions.
• In the 70’s and early 80’s, physical education was incorporated in the subject Youth Development Training or YDT in the high school, along with
Scouting, Health, and Music.
• The Physical education Program in the Elementary was revised in 1971 to comprise the activities such as the Testing Program, rhythmic activities, games,
relays and athletic team games, swimming, and physical education for children needing attention.
• The Revised Secondary School Program is contained in the Department Order No. 20, s. 1973. Youth Development Training (YDT) for first year to third year
and Citizen Army Training (CAT) for fourth year high school.
• In MEC Order No. 6, s. 1982, the New Elementary School Curriculum (NESC) reflected directions for change based on the Program for Decentralized Educational
Development (PRODED). PE in Grades I and II is integrated with the subject Sibika at Kultura (Civics and Culture) No specific time block, but is taught as the need
arises. Grades III to VI PE is clustered with Art and Music in a subject entitled Music, Art and Physical Education (MAPE).
• The 1989 Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP) is a response to continue pupil development started by the Program for Decentralized Educational
Development in 1982. Based on DECS Order No. 11, s. 1989, the New Secondary Education Curriculum (NSEC) of SEDP is cognitive-affective-manipulative-based,
student-centered and community-oriented. One of the 8 subject areas in the NSEC is Physical Education, Health and Music (PEHM).
• In the elementary based on DECS Order No. 53, s. 1994, it states that Physical Education in Grades I and II shall be listed as a separate additional subject and
will be taught daily for 20 minutes beginning school year 1994 – 1995 in public elementary schools. It shall continue to be taught as a component of MAPE
in Grades III to VI.
National Sports Associations emerged.
• The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) was created through Republic Act No. 6847 in 1990 to serve as the “sole policy-making and coordinating body of all
amateur sports development programs and instructions in the Philippines”. Its objectives are: Increase participation in sports by Filipinos (Grassroots Sports);
excellence in sports performance by Filipinos (Elite Sports); and national unity and solidity through physical fitness and sports
• The Philippine Olympic Committee, the umbrella organization of all national sports associations (NSAs), is affiliated with the International Olympic
Committee (OIC) and is recognized in the PSC Charter as the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for the Philippines.
It is:
private organization and autonomous in character, similar to its accredited and affiliated sports organizations.
primarily responsible for activities pertaining to the country’s participation in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and other international
athletic competitions in accordance respectively with the rules of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, the Southeast Asian Games
Federation, and other international sports bodies.
• The National Sports Associations which are autonomous in character have exclusive technical control over the promotion and development of the particular
sport for which they are organized.
Philippine Participation in the Olympics (1924 – 2000)
The Philippines was represented for the first time in the World Olympics. It was a two-man delegation sent by the Philippine Amateur Athletic
Federation in the 1924 VIIIth Olympiad in Paris. David Nepomuceno, a Philippine scout competed in the 100 m. and 200 m. dash and was eliminated in the trial heats.
Dr. Regino R. Ylanan was the representative official and coach.
1928 (Amsterdam) - Teofilo Yldefonso, bronze, 200m backstroke
1932 (Los Angeles) - Teofilo Yldefonso, bronze, 200m backstroke
- Simeon Toribio, bronze, high jump
- Jose Villanueva, bronze, boxing bantamweight
1936 (Berlin) - Miguel White, bronze, 400m hurdles
- Philippine Basketball Team, 5th place among 23 nations
1964 (Tokyo) - Anthony Villanueva, silver, boxing featherweight
1988 (Seoul) - Leopoldo Serrantes, bronze ,boxing, flyweight
- Arianne Cerdeña, gold, bowling, demonstration sport
1992 (Barcelona) - Roel Velasco, bronze, boxing lightweight
- Bea Lucero and Stephen Fernandez, bronze medals, taekwondo, demonstration sport
1996 Atlanta) - Mansueto Velasco, silver, boxing lightweight
MEDALS and HONORS
EFREN “BATA” REYES was dubbed as “The magician” when he became the
1985 Red 9-Ball Open champion for his ability to execute brilliant shots.
ERIC BUHAIN – bronze medalist in swimming in the
1990 Beijing Asian Games.
EUGENE TORRE became Asia’s first grandmaster at the age of 22.
ELMA MUROS was the only track athlete who won in different
events in the Southeast Asian Games, and was hailed as the
Southeast Asian games heptathlon queen in 1997.
FRANCISCO PANCHO VILLA GUILLEDO was Asia’s first
world champion in boxing and dubbed as the greatest
flyweight of the century.
JENNIFER ROSALES was a five-time champion in golf in the ladies’
Amateur open (1994-1998) before she turned professional.
GERALD ROSALES was an Asian Games silver medalist
and Southeast Asian Games two-time champion in golf.
GABRIEL “FLASH” ELORDE was dubbed as the greatest Filipino boxer of all time.
LYDIA DE VEGA was Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s.
MANNY PACQUIAO won the International Boxing
Federation super bantamweight championship at the age
of 23.
MIKEE COJUANGCO-JAWORSKI is the accomplished equestrienne
who bagged the gold medal for the Individual Show jumping competition
in the 2002 Asian Games.
PAENG NEPOMUCENO is an all-time greatest international bowler with six world
championships to his credit; and made it to the Guinness Book of World Records.
ALVIN PATRIMONIO was a four-time Philippine
Basketball Association Most valuable Player, two
of which were won back-to-back in 1993 and 1994.
TONI LEVISTE was part of the Philippine Team that
won silver medal in the 2002 Asian Games show
jumping competition.
ROBERT JAWORSKI was one the Philippine
Basketball Association’s 25 greatest players of all time,
and was the oldest professional basketball player in the
world, at his time of retirement.
BONG COO made her mark in the bowling world
when she delivered nine consecutive strikes in 1979.
CARLOS LOYZAGA led the Philippine Team that won bronze medal in the 1954 World Basketball
Championship and four golds.
DOROTHY DELASIN is
the Filipina who has become the youngest Ladies’ Professional Golf Association Champion in the last 25
years.
RAMON FERNANDEZ
was the Philippine Basketball Association’s first four-time Most Valuable player and played in the league
for a record of 20 seasons.
