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February 23, 2022 – To promote an active lifestyle among Filipinos, the Department of Education (DepEd) has launched the Galaw Pilipinas, the Department’s National Calisthenics Exercise Program that will be part of the daily exercise routine in schools and community learning centers.

Galaw Pilipinas is a four-minute calisthenics routine that shall contribute to the 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity prescribed daily for children of 5-17 years of age.

“The Department developed Galaw Pilipinas as a response to the impact of the pandemic to our learners’ reduced physical activities that affected their overall health. Our role in promoting physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle among our learners has become even more relevant and essential. One avenue of promoting physical fitness among learners is by doing calisthenics,” Education Chief Leonor Magtolis Briones noted.

The Office of the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, through the Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD), developed Galaw Pilipinas through a series of workshops attended by PE supervisors and Special Program in Sports implementers.

“Galaw Pilipinas stresses the value and the need of our learners, teachers, and school officials to pay attention not only to our cognitive and affective pursuits, but also to make sure that our bodily-kinesthetic capacities are strengthened,” Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said.

The routine was inspired by simple steps inspired by Philippine folk dances, festival movements, and arnis stances in recognition as the national martial art and sport.

During limited face-to-face learning, the routine can be performed by learners and the entire school community in every flag-raising ceremony, flag retreat, before the start of the class, or any school-initiated activity. Meanwhile, under the distance learning modality, this shall be performed by all learners as stipulated in the weekly home learning plan provided by teachers.

To ensure inclusivity, the intensity of the execution of Galaw Pilipinas shall vary according to the type of learners and their essential stages. The steps and movements may be modified according to the needs and contexts of learners with disabilities (LWDs).

DepEd field offices, teachers, learners, and other stakeholders may access the promotional and tutorial videos through this link: https://tinyurl.com/DepED-Galaw-Pilipinas. It will also be available through other DepEd platforms such as the DepEd Philippines on Facebook, DepEd TV, and the DepEd Learning Management System.

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