The Department of Education is opening the door for another future world-class artist like Raymond Red who was the first Filipino to win the highly-coveted Palme d’Or award at the internationally-renowned Cannes Film Festival in France.

Red is an alumnus of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA).

The Department of Education is now accepting applications from graduating elementary students (Grade VI or Grade VII) to be among the young arts scholars who will have the privilege of full scholarship to a special education focused on the arts offered by PHSA in Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna.

“This scholarship privilege will enable budding artists to realize their full potential in various art disciplines and who will one day make the country proud,” said DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro, FSC.

PHSA is a government-run special secondary school for young artists. PHSA conducts screening of applicants annually to continuously search for artistically talented children who will be given special training in the field of dance (ballet and folk dance), creative writing, music, theater and visual arts. The school’s curriculum is intended to ensure continuing source of artists of excellence and leaders in the preservation and promotion of Filipino artistic and cultural traditions.

Successful applicants will be awarded free tuition, textbooks, board and lodging, a modest monthly stipend, individualized classes with master teachers, and a chance to represent the country in international competitions and exchange programs. The scholarship grant is renewable every year upon satisfaction of both academic and non-academic requirements.

Eligible applicants must be Filipino citizens with no pending application as immigrant to any foreign country. He/she should have outstanding ability in dance (folk dance or ballet), music (instrument or voice), theater, visual arts and creative writing; graduating Grade VI or VII pupils this SY 2010-2011; able to take up the scholarship in the school year for which the scholarship is granted; proficient in oral and written language (English and Filipino); good health condition; willing to study in a boarding school; and determined to pursue a college in fine arts or architecture, music, dance, theater, creative writing, journalism or any related courses upon graduation from PHSA. He/she should not be more than 15 years old.

Luistro also related that the specialized curriculum PHSA offers is what the department wishes to push through once the K+12 program is institutionalized.

 
“We should push for the kind of curriculum that will enhance the multi-intelligence of the students. It is also important that the curriculum is relevant to the needs of the industry and responds to the needs of our students,” explained Luistro. 

Interested applicants may send their accomplished form and other requirements by mail or by personally bringing them to the Annual Nationwide Search for Young Art Scholars Committee, Philippine High School for the Arts, national Arts Center, Mt. Makiling, College 4031, Laguna.

For creative writing applicants, additional requirements include a neatly presented portfolio of not less than ten (10) samples of writings (e.g. short story, poem, essay) in Filipino and/or English, typewritten, double-spaced on A4 white bond paper authenticated by the school principal or teacher-in-charge. For music, applicants are required to submit a video-taped performance on a CD or DVD format. For visual arts, applicants may also submit ten (10) images of artworks (jpeg format) in CD or DVD.

Downloadable application form and pertinent information about the school and the scholarship are available from the following websites - www.phsa.edu.ph; www.deped.gov.ph; and www.ncca.gov.ph.

Applicants who qualify in the preliminary evaluation will be notified by PHSA for further assessment and live audition at a specified Regional Test and Audition Center. The PHSA will announce the exact location of the audition centers by email.

Deadline for the submission of applications is on August 30, 2010.**DepEd Release