How drama is often taught in Philippine secondary schools:

Integration, not Isolation:

 Unlike some countries, the Philippines doesn't have a dedicated drama class in most secondary
schools.
 Instead, drama is integrated into other subjects like English, Filipino (the national language), Social
Studies, or even MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health) [2].
Activities and Play-Based Learning:
 Teachers use drama techniques to make learning in these subjects more engaging.
 This can involve role-playing historical events in Social Studies, acting out scenes from plays in
English or Filipino, or using movement exercises to explore concepts in MAPEH [1, 3].
Challenges and Opportunities:
 There's a lack of dedicated resources for drama education, including textbooks, trained teachers,
and proper funding [2].
 However, Filipino culture has a strong tradition of performance and storytelling, which can be a
springboard for creative drama activities in schools [2].
Teacher Plays a Key Role:
 The success of drama integration hinges on the teacher's enthusiasm and ability to create a safe
and encouraging environment for students to express themselves [3].
Overall, drama education in Philippine secondary schools emphasizes using drama
techniques to enhance learning in other subjects, fostering creativity and communication
skills in students.

Here are some additional points to consider:

 There might be some schools that offer drama as an elective or through after-school programs.
 The push for a more holistic education in the Philippines might lead to a stronger emphasis on arts
education, including drama, in the future.

et's delve deeper into how drama might be integrated into different subjects in Philippine
secondary schools, with some specific examples:

 English/Filipino Class:
o Students might be tasked with creating and performing short skits based on a story
they've read. This helps them grasp character motivations, plot development, and
even public speaking.
o Teachers could use improvisation exercises to encourage creative dialogue and
vocabulary use. For example, students could be given random situations and have
to act them out using only pre-determined words.
  Social Studies Class:
o To understand a historical event like the Philippine revolution, students could role-
play a debate between revolutionaries and loyalists. This allows them to analyze
different perspectives and engage with historical figures in a more interactive way.
o Drama can also be used to explore social issues. Students could create a forum
theatre piece (a form of interactive theatre) on a topic like bullying, where the
audience can intervene and suggest solutions.
 MAPEH Class (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health):
o In Music class, students could learn about different cultures through movement and
drama. For instance, they could research and perform a traditional Filipino dance
while exploring the music's rhythm and cultural significance.
o Drama can also be used in Health classes to explore sensitive topics. Students
could create short scenes about peer pressure or making healthy choices, allowing
them to understand the social dynamics and consequences involved.

These are just a few examples, and creative teachers can come up with many more ways to
integrate drama into their lessons. The key is to find activities that are engaging, age-appropriate,
and aligned with the learning objectives of the subject.