Philippines Traditional Games starting to vanish in the way of technology

If Philippines rich in traditional folk music and ethnic songs, Philippines also have a traditional games that mark in the heart of the 90's kids.

Back when electronic devices weren't common, we as kids had made bounds and leaps to make past time - fun time. Back in the Philippines, during the late 80's and early 90's.

I remember when I'm the age of 8, I played lot of traditional games. Games that make your body sweat and exhaust in playing but its fun.

These are games played by the children or even the older. Philippines traditional games had 3 different type, Larong bahay (Home Games), the Street Games and the Festival Games. Some of the games need or usually use a materials or instrument to be played. Many of the Filipino, can't afford to buy a toys because of the creativity of the Filipino they create/inventing a games without the need of anything but the players themselves. 

The traditional games can be played outdoor or indoor. You can feel the excitement and thrill when the games started. 

Here the Philippines Traditional Games

Larong bahay (Home Games - Indoor Games) - Can played inside the house.

(Sungka - a traditional Filipino game wherein each player have set of cups/holes containing stones or shells. If the person set of cups/holes no stones or shells left he/she the winner of the game.)

(Dama (checkers) - another familiar game and familiar pastime that uses skill, usually played by males 10 years old and above, and played either indoors. This games need to wipe all the other player chips to win the game.)

(Jackstones - a common game in the Philippines. Girls love playing this! This games had a different level and exhibition you need to do. If you failed to do the level or exhibition, you friend will called you a "Baboy or a Pig".)

(Dampa - This games usually use a rubber band.)

(Bahay-Bahayan - a role-playing game, where children act like as a member of a family.)

Street Games (Outdoor Games) - can be played outside or in a bigger and spacious area.

(Luskong Tinik (jump over the thorns) - this games you need to jump over the tinik (thorns), ever levels you need to jump.)

(Luksong Baka (jump over the cow) -  A popular variation of Luksong Tinik, one player crouches while the other players jump over him/her.

(Patintero - game also known as tubigan. The object of the game is to block the other team's players from passing.)

(Piko (Hopscoth) - 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.)

(Tumbang preso - This games you need to hit the tin can using your slippers to help your friends to run to the base.)

(Sipa - a look like shuttlecock, wherein boys attempt to kick. They use their shoulder, knee or hand to play this games.)

(Holen - played using a marble, you need to hit the other players marble or shot the marble in the hole to gain points.)

(Trumpo or Kooti - game that manipulating a pieces of wood, shape like an egg and pointed in iron nail.)

(Tago - tagoan or Hide & Seek)

Festival Games - games in the fiesta.

(Palo Sebo - this game you need to climb and get the flag on the top of the bamboo.)

(Hit the Pot - you'll need to do is hit the pot while your in blind fold.)

(Tug of War)

(Pabitin - this is fun, you need to jump to get the hanging item.)

(Agawan ng Niyog - a  greased coconut , this games need the player to secure the greased coconut to the other player.)

(Hanapan Pera - a treasure hunting in the plate of flour, the player need to find the coins or money in the flour.)

(Face Coin - the player need to move down the coin using facial movement.)

Sadly, lot of the traditional games today starting to vanish, because of our growing technology. Some of children now, staying at home playing PSP, Xbox, cellphones, computer and watching TV, wasting there free time. The socio

 Magna Kultura, a Philippine based NGO that aims to implement educational, socio - cultural programs in order to strengthen the Filipino well being are responsibly vigilant with regards to the fact that Filipino children nowadays spend they childhood playtime on Internet cafes or with their handheld game consoles instead of socializing with other children playing the traditional street games that for years is a culture  and a norm for a typical Filipino child. Magna Kultura is seriously advocating such concern by holding tournaments and educating the children in their schools all focusing on traditional Filipino Games. But why do they need to go this far in promoting and encouraging young children to play the games? 

Filipino games must at least be seen played by many children if it won't be possible anymore that it would be back in the mainstream , at least that's what these writers are trying to tell. They believe (especially Magna Kultura) that these games should be preserved not only because they prefer Filipino children play these games as like they did when they were in their childhood but they insist and believe that these games help the children grow in mind, body and character and it also helps instill patriotism and nationality in a child's mind. Aside from significant sentimental reasons others believe that it should be preserved and thought to the Filipino children for they think that Filipino games like Tumbang Preso, Sipa, Patintero and others alike help improve a child's physical and motor skills as well as strategic logic and since most Filipino Games are team games, teamwork and sportsmanship as well as self confidence and leadership skills are being emphasized on a child while playing these games. 

 Filipino children nowadays are left with a choice, to keep up with the flow of modern times ,dwell on virtual games and completely leave behind traditional entertainment or try to learn the games and simply have fun with it. But they don't have to make this choice at all if we just lay out our concerns on this matter and find a better, drastic and creative solution to create the balance that is justly needed.

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Site References:

https://dickieaguado.wordpress.com/tag/larong-kalye/

http://larong-pinoy.weebly.com/all-traditional-filipino-gamescompilation.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_games_in_the_Philippines

http://team13boom.blogspot.com/2012/07/importance-of-preserving-traditional.html

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