- Pre-Hispanic Filipinos engaged in various forms of physical activities, including hunting, fishing, swimming, and combat sports.
- Indigenous Filipino martial arts, collectively known as "Arnis" or "Eskrima", were developed during this period and would become a national sport in the 20th century.
- The Indigenous Filipinos also held various sports festivals and competitions.
Spanish Colonial Period (1521-1898)
- The Spanish introduced organized physical education programs in the Philippines, mainly through religious institutions and military training.
- In 1863, the Spanish government issued a decree requiring primary and secondary schools to include physical education in their curriculum.
- One of the known indigenous forms of physical fitness from this period is "Sipa," a kicking sport that involves a small, woven ball made from rattan or other natural materials.
American Colonial Period (1898-1946)
- The American colonizers introduced a more structured and comprehensive approach to physical education in the Philippines.
- In 1901, the Philippine Normal School (now Philippine Normal University) established the Department of Physical Education, the first of its kind in the country.
- Physical education became a compulsory subject in all public schools, and athletic competitions were organized at various levels.
- American sports such as basketball and baseball gained popularity during this period.
Post-Independence (1946-Present)
- After gaining independence from the United States, the Philippines continued to prioritize physical education in its educational system.
- In 1947, the Philippine Physical Education Association (PPEA) was established to promote and develop physical education in the country.
- The Philippine government implemented various programs and policies to encourage sports participation and physical fitness among its citizens.
- The Philippines began sending delegations to international sports events, such as the Olympic Games and the Southeast Asian Games, achieving significant success in multiple sports.
Today, physical education remains an essential part of the curriculum in Philippine schools, and various sports and physical activities are widely enjoyed by people of all ages.