Drama in schools in the Philippines
ABSTRACT Drama in the Philippines has been an integral part of the lives of Filipinos. Drama in schools came about with the establishment of the formal school system during the Spanish and American period of colonisation of the Philippines. With the establishment of the public schools system, the American teachers introduced drama in the schools, as part of their English and Literature classes. At present, neither elementary nor high school curriculum designates a specific subject or time exclusively for drama. Instead, drama in schools was integrated in other subjects such as English, Filipino, History or Social Studies or Music, Art, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH) There are many challenges confronting drama/arts education but despite all these, there is a strong and vibrant tradition of drama in the Philippines for many years now, not only in schools but also in many communities. Arts education in the Philippines should be further supported and strengthened as it can contribute to developing a strong and creative citizenry.