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Physical Education in the Philippines can be traced back even before foreign invaders came into the country. It is considered a very important part of every native Filipino live since engaging into physical activities is used for survival. It is necessary for those adults to teach their children skills on how to deal with their hostile environment. That is why physical education is very significant to them.

The significant Event in the field of Physical Education:

• 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 events were introduced and taught to the young boys in school

• 1909 - Athletic program for schools was inaugurated and much emphasis was given to the playing of western sports and the coaching of tennis

• 1910 - Basketball was first introduced as a game for girls in the Carnival Meet held in Manila but discontinued in 1914

• 1911 - “Athletic Handbook” was published

• 1914 - Teachers Vacation Assembly in Manila- gave special training for Filipino 

teachers for training various physical education activities including physical 

education program

• 1919 - “Physical Education: A Manual for Teachers” was published- edited by 

Frederick O. England (Playground Director of the City of Manila

• 1920 - Physical Education was made a required subject in the curriculum of all public schools

➢75% grade rate is needed- grade four to the fourth-year high school

• 1928 - Summer school for coaching

THE PRE- SPANISH PERIOD:

 

The Negritos or Aetas before the Spaniards came in the country live a life that is similar to other living in the primitive society. They only motivation for physical activities is for survival. Their physical activities are: running, leaping, jumping, and climbing to keep them physical fit. There is a Negritos who is known by the name Marikudo because of his strength with his spectacular skills using bow and arrow, he became popular in his place. Negritos living in Bataan Zambales, and Tarlac were observe in different physical activities they are known to be found of music and dancing. Their musical instruments are made of bamboo. They have two popular dances; 

                    "JUNA CAMOTE"

A dance which describes a man going through a motion of stealing a camotes in the field.

                   "PINA PA-NI-lAN"

Also a dance performed by a man going through a motion of gathering honey from a tree.

PAGAN & CAÑAO"

 

 

Pagan people worshipped their gods and made offering to Anitors or Spirits. They performed dancing to pleased gods and also they dance for a victory from a tribal war which they called "cañao".

COCKFIGHTING:

 

A cockfight or Rooster fighting is a blood sport, held in a ring called a cockpit. The history of raising fowl for fighting goes back 6,000 years. The first documented use of the word gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a "GAME", a sport, pastime or entertainment, was recorded in 1634,[1] after the term "cock of the game" used by George Wilson, in the earliest known book on the sport of cockfighting in The Commendation of Cocks and Cock Fighting in 1607. But it was during Magellan's voyage of discovery of the Philippines in 1521 when modern cockfighting was first witnessed and documented for Westerners by the Italian Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's chronicler, in the Kingdom of Taytay.

Cockfighting became popular in different parts of the world. With the importance that Filipinos gave to this game which somehow, they considered it as sport, historians believed that this was the reason why cockfighting became a source of revenue for the royal treasury.

Even during the primitive time, physical education is considered and important aspect of life. It is believe that the start of engagement of people in physical activities can be traced and started from the pre-historic period.

"THE SPANISH REGIME"

 

Dancing is one of the major physical activities in every Filipino. Spanish dances is were introduce such as; Fandanggos, curachas, and jotas of Spain, polkas and mazurkas of central Europe, and Rigodon and Cancerous of France. This dance is only performed by the rich in their community. The ceremonial dance were performed too during the religious events or festivals. Santacruzan also known as "Flores de Mayo" was celebrated all through the month of May. This is consisting of praying for nine consecutive days and followed by a culmination in a procession into the hermano mayor's house.

 

Here are some of the games played by Filipinos; Hide and seek, Piko, Patintero, Sipa, Luksong tinik, Sungka, Tuegode Annilo, Palo Sebo.   

The native Filipino theater were inspired by plays performed by Spaniards during Civic and Religious gatherings.

During the Spanish regime, the schools were established for the formal training of Filipinos, However this is only for the higher class were given the chance to obtain education. But Ateneo de Manila, a school founded by Jesuit Fathers were physical education became part of the curriculum. Dr. Jose Rizal once mentioned about him attending gymnastics from the American period. There's a lot of Physical Education in the Philippines. Therefore in Philippines is have a large contribution and development of Physical Education in our country

Under Spanish rule, disparate barangays were deliberately consolidated into towns, where Catholic missionaries were more easily able to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. The missionaries converted most of the lowland inhabitants to Christianity. They also founded schools, a university, hospitals, and churches.