Traditional Filipino Games

Philippines is rich in traditional games. Filipino traditional games are often played by using native materials, things or insturments. Filipino kids are known for their skills up creating, inventing and coming up with new games without using anything but themeselves. This kind of games requires physical skills and flexibility. This makes traditional Philippine games interesting and lot more challenging.

Old but good Filipino games differs a lot in games nowadays. Today, online games are becoming more and more popular. Boys of this generation plays action games while girls plays girly games like dress up games. Almost all of today’s games are done or played online or via visual screens. Unlike before, kids used to gather in the streets, vacant lots or nearby playgrounds to play their favorite Pinoy games. These games has been the most entertaining and popular pastimes before even by teens and adults until new types and kinds of gaming entertainment has taken over the interests of this generation.

Below, you will read my own top 5 Filipino traditional games. As a Filipino blogger my self, I used to play them when I was young until my early teen years until computers and video games almost made these games dissappear.

Patintero
This game involes a grid drawn on the ground where one team will try to pass through while the opposing team tries to catch them without leaving or stepping off the grid’s lines at all times.

Tumbang Preso
A Filipino game wherein members take the following rules: one as the “taya”, someone who takes the rule of a-player-at-stake and holds the responsibility of the Lata(tin can), and; the two others as the players striking. The game is performed by having the players a “pamato” (which is ones own slipper) used for striking the tin that is held beside the taya.

Luksong-Tinik
Two players serve as the base of the tinik (thorn) by putting their right or left feet together (soles touching gradually building the tinik). A starting point is set by all the players, giving enough runway for the players to achieve a higher jump, so as not to hit the tinik. Players of the other team start jumping over the tinik, followed by the other team members.

Piko
The players stand behind the edge of a box, and each should throw their cue ball. The first to play is determined depending on the players’ agreement (e.g. nearest to the moon, wings or chest). Whoever succeeds in throwing the cue ball nearest to the place that they have agreed upon will play first. The next nearest is second, and so on.

Sipa
The object being used to play the game is also called sipa. It is made of a washer with colorful threads, usually plastic straw, attached to it. The sipa is then thrown upwards for the player toss using his/her foot. The player must not allow the sipa to touch the ground by hitting it several times with his/her foot, and sometimes the part just above the knee. The player must count the number of times he/she was able to kick the sipa. The one with most number of kicks wins the game.

I hope there are still Filipino kids out there who plays above said games. Health wise, they are absolutely better than video and computer games.

A guest post by:  Ron Leyba