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 could
get 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 the
University 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 brought
along the test records with me not even sure why and what to do with them. The

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 freshman
students 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 one
responded 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 the
development 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 this
program, led by American Peace Corps experts in PE. In less than three years the

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 chiefs
and 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
potential athletesbut 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.

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