Philippine Rondalla Training Program Act

S921 " Effice with TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 AUG -4 P1:42 SENATE RECEIVED 8 S. NO. 827 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING RONDALLA TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR MUSIC TEACHERS EXPLANATORY NOTE Music education aids in developing mental faculties, concentration, and patience while promoting cultural and aesthetic awareness. Instrumental instruction, particularly ensemble playing, contributes to physical growth, coordination, and the fine-tuning of the brain's auditory system.! Living heritage, including performing arts, oral expressions, social practices, rituals, festive events, and traditional knowledge, is an integral part of human life. Handed down from parents to children, from masters to apprentices, from teachers to pupils, it is safeguarded through transmission.? The Philippine rondalla, a composite string ensemble introduced in the 15th century and enriched by both indigenous and Hispanic influences, remains a vibrant symbol of our nation's cultural identity.3 While the Department of Education has initiated efforts in select regions, fewer than 2% of divisions have offered structured, 1 Hipona, M. T. (2023). Assessment of the music performance skills of third-year BCAED students at North Luzon Philippines State College. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 12(9), 1-10. Retrieved https://consortiacademia.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/v12i09/23070_ijrse_final.pdf 2 UNESCO. (2020). Basic Texts of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2020 Foreword, UNESCO. https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/2003_Convention_Basic_Texts-_2020_version-EN.pdf 3 Kim Rockell. (2013). The Philippine Rondalla: A Gift of Musical Heritage in a Migrant Context [Abstract]. International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies, 91). Retrieved from: https://eprints.usm.my/40651/1/Art4-Rockell.pdf

DepEd-facilitated rondalla training to date. Although the rondalla enjoys an enduring legacy, many Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPE) teachers lack access to formal rondalla pedagogy, resulting in uneven instruction and limiting students' exposure to this living heritage. This Bill seeks to institutionalize rondalla training by establishing a National Rondalla Training Center under the Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), integrating certified rondalla modules into pre-service and in-service teacher development, with funding to be provided through the General Appropriations Act for curriculum design, instructor certification, instrument procurement, and regional workshops. By formalizing rondalla pedagogy and performance ensembles, we empower educators, enrich cultural learning, and ensure that future generations inherit and advance a cornerstone of Filipino musical tradition. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. - LOREN LEGARDA

Senato TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG - 4 P1:42 SENATE RECEIVED 3' S. No. 827 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING RONDALLA TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR MUSIC TEACHERS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Rondalla

Training Program Act"

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy, - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:

a. Recognize the important role of the arts in fostering patriotism and nationalism and promoting human liberation and development; b. Recognize the vital role of culture and the arts in democratic, pluralistic and inclusive nation-building; c. Nurture, promote and sustain Filipino cultural and artistic diversity that mirrors and shapes Philippine economic, social and political life; d. Advance art as a form of expression and understanding and a force for achieving creative breakthroughs; and e. Safeguard and transmit traditional Filipino art forms, such as the rondalla, through education, community participation, and institutional support.

Sec. 3. Implementing Agency. The Department of Education (DepEd) shall be

the lead agency responsible for the full implementation of this Act. In that capacity, DepEd shall develop and promulgate all necessary rules and regulations, coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education, the National Commission for Culture and

1 the Arts, accredited Schools of Living Traditions, local government units, and other 2 stakeholders, manage and oversee the release and proper utilization of appropriations, 3 monitor and evaluate program performance and outcomes, and submit an annual 4 report to both Houses of Congress on the status and impact of the rondalla training 5 initiatives.

Sec. 4. Appropriations. The Department of Education (DepEd) is hereby

7 mandated to include allocation for programs and activities related to rondalla, including but not limited to: training, instruction, pedagogy, and performance 9 ensemble, in its annual budget. The implementation of this Act shall be funded through 10 the appropriations of the DepEd. Thereafter, funding shall be provided for in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DepEd shall promulgate the

necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, issuances, executive orders, rules,

or regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,