Beyond Aesthetics: A Systematic Review of the Socio-cultural and Educational Impacts of Creative and Applied Arts in the Philippines

This study aims to analyze the socio-cultural and educational impacts of creative and applied arts in the Philippines, highlighting their role in building cultural identity and empowering communities. Guided by PRISMA standards, the review drew from five major databases: Google Scholar, ERIC, ResearchGate, Philippine E-Journals, and CHED/DepEd repositories. Search terms included “creative arts education Philippines,” “applied arts in education,” and “socio-cultural impact of arts.” A total of 70 studies were identified, with 18 meeting the inclusion criteria. The remaining 52 were excluded due to focus on commercial or industrial art unrelated to education (n = 32), publication before 2018 (n = 12), or lack of accessible or empirical data (n = 8). The findings of the study suggest that arts support cultural preservation, social expression, and community empowerment, but their integration in education is challenged by limited resources, insufficient teacher training, and gaps in policy. Strengthening teacher preparation, resource support, and policy alignment is recommended.