Cayetano Pushes for Holistic Education Through Sports, Arts and Culture

**** by: Edjun Mariposque

****

October 18, 2026

4–6 minutes

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for the inclusion of sports, arts and culture in the government’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet cluster, saying these are essential to shaping Filipino youth and creating economic opportunities for local talents in the global market.

Cayetano made the proposal during the Senate hearing on the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed 2027 budget on Friday, October 16, where he raised the importance of recognizing sports and the arts as integral components of education alongside traditional academic subjects.

“Let me lobby that sports and culture and art be included because it’s really as much a part of our education as anything else, as math and everything,” Cayetano told Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

The senator emphasized that sports and the arts teach valuable life skills, including teamwork, discipline, problem-solving and creativity, which cannot be fully developed through classroom instruction alone.

“In sports, tinuturo sa’yo na kahit lahat ng points sa’yo, kung madupang ka naman at talo naman y’ung team mo, bale wala… [In art and sports you also learn] problem-solving, creativity,” he said.

Established in August 2025, the Education and Workforce Development Group aims to coordinate government programs on education and employment. It is composed of eight agencies, including DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Migrant Workers.

Cayetano was among the key proponents of the Cabinet cluster and, as co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), helped push for its establishment in 2024. He also advocated for the inclusion of the labor and budget departments to ensure that education reforms respond to workforce needs and receive adequate funding.

Beyond education, Cayetano urged the government to recognize the creative sector’s potential to generate jobs and help Filipino artists gain international recognition. He proposed stronger collaboration among DepEd, the National Museum and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to promote Filipino artworks overseas.

He also called for the government to address administrative challenges faced by artists, including permits required to transport artworks abroad for exhibitions and bring them back to the Philippines.

“Ang dami nating aspiring artists, breakthrough lang (ang kailangan)… and then, really, someone to champion it,” Cayetano said, stressing the need for government support to help promising Filipino artists succeed internationally.

Cayetano has long advocated stronger support for the arts and their potential to serve as the country’s soft power. During his tenure as DFA secretary from 2017 to 2018, he pursued soft diplomacy initiatives aimed at identifying international opportunities for Filipino industries and talents.

As House Speaker, he also supported the establishment of the House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts in 2020 and proposed creating a Department of Arts and Culture to strengthen support for Filipino artists.

During the hearing, Cayetano said Filipino creativity could provide the country with a competitive advantage in the international market, particularly in industries where success depends on talent rather than manufacturing capacity.

“The beauty about art is you don’t need to manufacture anything here. You don’t need to import anything from there. It’s the talent of the artist,” he said.

Angara, for his part, said DepEd would consider Cayetano’s recommendations. He also noted that EDCOM had begun consultations with respected artists, including Patis Tesoro and Manny Garibay, to help improve the department’s arts curriculum.

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