Lessons Learned From Past Philippines Physical Fitness Testing Program

8/10/2019 Lessons Learned From Past Philippines Physical Fitness Testing Program

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LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST PHILIPPINE PHYSICAL

FITNESS TESTING PROGRAMS

APARICIO H. MEQUI, PhD.

Founding Dean

Institute of Youth Sports for Peace (IYSPeace)Foundation University

Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Rose had provided me the topic to talk to you about the importance of physical

fitness testing. However, I thought of sharing with you my past experiences in this

subject instead because in doing this, I think you will acquire valuable information

and possibly important knowledge and lessons on how to avoid potential pitfalls in

physical fitness testing as you go about implementing a new physical fitness testing

program, not only in the 17 SPS regional schools, but in all schools nationwide.

I became involved in actual physical fitness testing in 1964, thats some 54 years ago,when I became interested in implementing what is then the most popular

international test battery for fitness testing of American children and youth

worldwide. The test was called the AAHPER Youth Fitness Test. But before I describe

to you what I did in 1964, I would like to relate to you my very first insight into

fitness testing of children in public schools.

My mother was a retired district supervisor and I remember how she agonized about

a memorandum issued by the then Bureau of Public Schools requiring her to submit

reports of data obtained in the implementation of a prescribed fitness testing of

school children. I remember her asking herself over and over again how she couldget her teachers to administer what was then called the broad jump which

required a jumping pit for testingand her district had no access to a jumping pit.

So, the first lesson I learned about physical fitness testing was that test items

should not require as much as possible facilities/equipment which schools out

there in the boondocks, barangay and mountain schools with limited resources.

So, back to 1964. From a test manual I ordered from the AAHPER (American

Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation), my first real experience

in fitness testing was applying the test to entering freshman students at theUniversity of the Philippines. Following the instructions carefully, I administered the

test battery to my PE students, recorded the results on a recommended format, and

kept them in a cabinet not really knowing what to do with the test results. You see, I

was alone, and there was no one among my colleagues in the PE department who I

think had the vaguest idea what physical fitness testing was all about. And I think

neither was I. I just thought it would be an interesting activity to while away teaching

time in my PE classes.

Fortunately, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and around August of 1964, and I

was admitted to the University of Oregon in the Western United States. I broughtalong the test records with me not even sure why and what to do with them. The


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University of Oregon was one of the top universities and a Dr. H. Harrison Clarke, the

author of the book on Measurement on Health in Health, Physical Education and

Recreation that was used as a text book in many schools in the world, was a member

of the faculty, and likewise a member of the Presidents Council on Youth Physical

Fitness. Needless to say, the University was actively involved in youth fitness testing.

As an assistant instructor in physical education, I got so engrossed in fitness testing

because all entering freshman students were required to undergo fitness tests

developed by the University itselfnot the AAHPER Youth Fitness test.

As it turned out, when I took the course on Measurement and Evaluation in Physical

Education, the AAHPER Youth Fitness Test was one of the subject matters of the

course, and because of my experience in applying the AAHPER Youth Fitness test in

UP, I was considered the expert on the application of the test. I taught my

classmates how to administer the test battery.

To make the story short, the data on the performance of UP entering freshmanstudents that I brought along with me became part of my Masters thesis which bore

the title: Comparison of Physical Fitness Status of Entering University of the

Philippines Freshman Students and American and Japanese Youth. The data on

fitness testing of Japanese and American youth were published in a research journal

utilizing the AAPHER were available in a research journal and in the test manual itself.

Thus, armed with my masters degree and a burning desire to implement a national

physical fitness program, I came back to the Philippines, started writing the media

about the importance of youth fitness testing. My letters to the media merited a

small account in the column of the late sports editor, Tony Siddayao, but no oneresponded and my recommendation and it was ignored.

The lesson learned from this experience could be treated as an example of the line

from the Holy Book: Theres a time and season for everything under heaven. It

was not the time for youth physical fitness to be a part of PE in the Philippines.

I went back to the University of Oregon for my PhD, and when I came back in 1970,

the then PAAF or Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation, signed a contract with the

Peace Corps Volunteers Program for the launching of a national physical fitness

survey, and for the purpose of developing national norms as a bases for thedevelopment of curricular materials in PE and school sports. I was recruited to act ad

the trainor of the American volunteers whom I trained in Kenosha, Wisconsin and in

the Peace Corps Training Center in Zamboanga City. I trained the volunteers for

three months before they were fielded in different regions of the Philippines.

The results of this nationwide physical fitness testing utilizing the AAPPER were a

test manual with Philippine norms as well as a few recommended PE modules aimed

at upgrading the fitness statuses of Filipino Youth. Several national training seminars

and clinics were held for PE teachers, such training sessions similar to what you are

holding now, but in about a year or two, nothing substantial was realized from thisprogram, led by American Peace Corps experts in PE. In less than three years the


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whole program suffered the Mona Liza syndrome: The just lie there, and they die

there.

Lesson learned: Not even a national physical fitness program utilizing foreign

expertise or support proved successful in children and youth physical fitness

testing program in the Philippines.

The next phase of youth physical fitness testing was when I was appointed Director

of the BSD and BPESS. My main agenda was to implement a youth physical fitness

testing program that incorporates item supposedly to identify athletic talent. So,

such recommended sports talent items as arm span, trunk and leg length and

several items borrowed from talent identification test batteries popularly used in

Australia and European countries became part of what as known as the PPFT or

Philippine Physical Fitness Test.

I remember that we held several seminars and clinics to train regional PESS chiefsand supervisors who in turn would teach implementors down the bureaucracy of the

then DECS and subsequently the MECS. I need not proceed to tell you that the PPFT,

like its past counterparts, also didnt have any significant impact on upgrading the

physical fitness of Filipino youth. Like its counterpart in the past, I would rate it as a

failure. And I think you share the same assessment.

Now, the Bureau of Secondary Education, is in the process of developing the PFT and

the question I raise is what lessons have we learned from past similar projects in

order that this upcoming endeavor will not suffer the same fate as other fitness

testing in the past?

I ask you to consider the following:

1. Keep in mind to limit your expectations of significant results, especially down

the bureaucracy of the DepEd. Others will implement the test with

understanding, appreciation, and the hard work that insures success. Most, if

not all, will not understand why it is being required down the line. Most will

use it only as an activity to fill in the time devoted to PE classes. The program

requires constant follow-up and teaching the implementors how to use test

results properly.

2. It may be unwise to implement the program nationwide. I suggest that you

apply the test only to the 17 regional SPS schools. Use the experience in

these limited number of schools to fine-tune the testing protocols. Dont

waste efforts and resources by immediately going nationwide.

3. Keep in mind that the results of the test can provide information on

potentialathletesbut keeping in mind that talent testing has not been

proven to be effective in its purpose to identify potential athletes. There

will be the late bloomers and those who make up with motivation, desire

and character what they lack as shown by test results, that may prove to be

better athletes in the long run than those who perform well in the PFT.


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4. Find ways to motivate good participation. Remember, for physical fitness

testing to be useful, maximum effort must be expended by those tested.If

the children and youth will not give their all, the testing is useless. In doing

this, exercise caution for overexertion that may be harmful.

5. The American testing program has a modicum of success because of the

various forms of awards given to recognize performance. You might tie up

the program to awarding certificates in various levels: a) Secretary of

Education, and at the local government units, the b) Provincial Governor, c)

City or Town Mayor, d) Superintendent, and so on.

6. Keep in mind that awards are given for achievements in improvement in

various forms. Like those comments that teachers write at the back of Form

137.

In everything that you do, keep in mind that success depends on both hard work

and doing them as heart jobs.

May God bless your efforts. I wanted so much to be with you but my advance age

makes travelling to Baguio difficult for me to do. Maybe, sometime, if you have

affairs and events like this in Cebu, then maybe, I will have the happy and most

desired opportunity to be with you again.

doc perry mequi

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Lessons Learned From Past Philippines Physical Fitness Testing Program