RETROSPECT AND

SPEAR 201PROSPECT
Historical and Philosophical
Background of Physical Education
Prepared by: Noralie B. Morales
Physical activities of the Filipinos before the
arrival of the Spaniards were concerned
mainly with the search for food, self-
protection, and religious ritual. Thus the
people were experts in the use of the bow
and arrow, spears, and knives. They were
also skilled in swimming, diving, fishing,
rowing, and dancing.
 During the Spanish Era, religion influenced
every thought and action of the Filipinos.
Physical education received no
encouragement and was nowhere in the
school curriculum. The only physical
activities allowed the people were those
connected in some way with the affairs of
the church like marching gesticulations, and
dancing in the churchyard during church
holidays. However, Filipinos performed their
native games and dances in their private
gatherings.
 With the coming of the Americans in 1898,
the philosophy of education and of living
emphasized democracy. The development of
a sound body was considered essential to
successful living and physical education
received a great boost in the Philippines. For
the first time, Filipinos participated in
organized athletics as the American soldiers
and teachers introduced baseball, track and
field sports, soccer, basketball, volleyball,
boxing, and tennis.
 There were also folk dances, calisthenics,
and group games. Physical education was
soon made a regular part of the school
program. The Philippines made such great
progress in physical training during the
American regime that she was soon able to
compete in international contests where her
athletes made creditable performance. The
American regime thus became the golden
age of Philippine physical education.
 During the Japanese occupation, physical
training in the Philippines took on a
militaristic form. The Nippon conquerors
believed in the effectiveness of physical
education as a means of developing
hardiness and discipline. Mass calisthenics
called radio taisho was made compulsory for
all students and employees at certain
required hours. Filipinos, however, did not
engage in sports because it was not allowed
by the military officials; besides, they were
too busy in the fight for survival to think of
 From 1946 to the present, the Philippines
has tried to continue the policies initiated by
America in the country specially with regard
to physical education which now occupies a
prominent place in the school curriculum.
There is a definite increased interest in
physical training with a greater number of
students participating in the various
activities. Even as Philippine dancers win
acclaim abroad, there is a trend at home to
return to native games and recreational
activities of old.
 Filipino athletes are being sent abroad to
participate in international meets while
outstanding foreign athletes are being
invited to perform locally. Teacher training in
physical education is being widely
developed in both public and private
institutions of learning. More and more
physical educators seek further
specialization by going to the United States
for graduate studies.
 With the lessons learned from pioneering
physical educators like Jose Rizal, William
Cameron Forbes, Elwood Brown, Regino
Ylanan, Jorge B. Vargas, Candido C.
Bartolome, and Francisca R. Aquino, down to
the present group of young mentors who
have specialized abroad and have come
back with new and better ideas, the
Philippines looks ahead to brighter years for
physical education.
 It anticipates producing more winners and
champions in international sports festivals.
Hope is pinned on the contribution of
activities truly Philippine to the world of
sports and games. Envisioned are more
research studies that will pave the way
towards concrete improvements in the field
of physical training. With the accent on
specialization, it is hoped that recreation
will soon assume a major role in this age of
increased leisure.
 Certainly the Philippines proposes to play
an active part in international
deliberations affecting physical training.
Slowly but surely, the physical education
program is developing into that activity for
all that promotes the virtues of living in
democratic Republic of the Philippines.
HISTORY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE
PHILIPPINES

BY: CECILIA BOCOBO-OLIVAR