sPECIAL PROGRAM IN THE ARTS

The Special Program in the Arts (SPA) of the Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School is the first public secondary arts institution in the Division of Cebu City, established in 2013 in the Junior High School beginning with one section composed of 45 students from five arts specializations: Visual Arts, Dance, Music, Theater Arts, and Creative Writing. Later on beginning SY 2015-2016, Media Arts was offered.

The school provides skill training for students with artistic potentials and inclination to different culture-based art disciplines gearing towards their desired career in response to the ASEAN integration and globalization.

These pioneering 45 students have been supported mainly by their parents on their needs like art materials and others were provided by the school. Out of the resourcefulness of the teachers, the immediate needs for instructions were initiated by the collaboration of the parents and teachers and with the full support its first school principal, Dr. Eileen Irina O. Tayactac with the program coordinator, Jonathan T. Jimenez.

From that humble beginning, the efforts has flourished and enrolment in the SPA has increased and accomplishments were enormously overwhelming for just a newly implemented SPA. At present, the struggle for insufficiency of equipment and facilities continues yet the burning enthusiasm to support the young artists is undying and still hopeful for any support from the Department of Education, local government units, parents, and stakeholders. Due to the inadequacies of classrooms, some specializations hold classes in open areas like mini-gym, corridors, and library.

At present, the school continues to mobilize stakeholders and provided skill advancements up to the Senior High School Arts and Design Track. The arts program of the school have already produced top quality graduates in the field of arts who are now efficiently continuing to pursue their dreams for a better citizen.

JONATHAN T. JIMENEZ

SPA Coordinator