Joseph Lobo
Introduction Culturally grounded physical education provides meaningful opportunities to connect movement, heritage, and student engagement. This study examined the association between individual interest and study engagement in Filipino recreational games-based physical education among university students in the Philippines. Filipino recreational games, locally known as laro ng lahi , are traditional movement-based activities commonly integrated into PE to promote cultural appreciation and active participation. Guided by the tripartite model, individual interest was conceptualized through three factors: positive affect and willingness to reengage (PAWR), stored-utility value (SUV), and stored attainment value and knowledge-seeking intentions (SAVKSI). Methods A total of 361 valid responses were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results Results indicated that individual interest was significantly associated with students' study engagement and accounted for a substantial proportion of its variance. All three components were significantly associated with study engagement, with SAVKSI demonstrating the strongest association, highlighting the role of internalized goals and knowledge-oriented motivations in sustaining engagement in physical education. Discussion These findings support the applicability of the tripartite model within culturally grounded PE contexts and emphasize the importance of designing meaningful and culturally relevant movement experiences. Implications for curriculum development, student motivation, and pedagogical design in movement-based education are discussed.