90's Filipino Games

90's Filipino Games

The traditional games are presented in a new light that could give the youth a renewed outlook on Philippine culture and environment consequently helps in preserving this important facet of Filipino daily lives. Traditional games are seen as the best platform for promoting peace, harmony, goodwill, and camaraderie.

This place was so memorable for me. This is the place where my friends and I often play. I remember, when I was in my elementary days, when we came home from school, we would go straight to the road to play, and all of our friends would agree on what we would do. There were times when we couldn't be apart for most of the day because we were so happy that we were doing simple things. Until now, I still think and look back on the moments when we were just playing because now we are focusing on our own lives.

TRADITIONAL GAMES IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. Tumbang Preso

Filipino kids love the native game Tumbang-Preso, which originated in the Philippines. To play Tumbang-Preso, you'll need an empty lata (can), which will serve as the game's central focus, and tsinelas (slippers or flip-flops), which you'll use to strike the can. Five to ten kids participate in play, with one designated as "it", or taya. The goal of the game is to get the can to tip over so that you can get the slipper that was thrown before "it" stands the can back up. The game also requires a lot of physical effort, including running. The most important part of all is that, in part to escape being tagged, Tumbang-Preso also requires strategic planning and agility skills. Tumbang-Preso promotes improved socializing and creativity in children. Additionaly, it can help to create a connection between kids and their elders.  

Reference: discover.hubpages.com

2. Ten-Twenty (10-20)

There is a Chinese game called "10-20". It is a game in which there must be three players. The majority of the time, girls play this game, however, boys can also participate. You will require a thin garter that is about two yards long to play this game. Two players must stand apart from one another and stretch the garter around them to form parallel lengths of garter between them in order to play this game. One player will perform the jumping action over the garter while saying the numbers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100! With each level, the game's difficulty increases. The garter must be in the ankle on the first level, or bukong-bukong in Tagalog. Second, the garter must be on the players' likod-tuhod or in their knees. Third, the garter must be inserted below the butt. The armpit comes in fourth. Some of the game stages include close feet, side view, magic, le-eg, around the world, tinikling, and apak. The height of the garter increases with the level. The winner is the person who can complete the jumping exercises despite the level progression.

Reference: filipinoculture643599086.wordpress.com

3. Luksong Baka

Luksong Baka is a traditional Filipino game that originated in Bulacan. It involves a minimum of three players and a maximum of ten players, and involves them jumping over the person called the baka, or "cow". The main goal of the players is to successfully jump over the "baka" without touching or falling over him/her. That means the player should jump very high which will test his power. Playing this traditional game is an important part in the learning process of an individual. This game is intellectually stimulating since it develops the mind and broadens one's imagination and creativity.

Reference: filipinoculture643599086

4. Tagu-Taguan 

The Filipino version of hide and seek is called taguan. A player will be designated as the "taya", and it will be his responsibility to find the other players in the game. Setting the boundaries of the area where you can only hide is the first rule. In the common children's game of hide and seek, two or more players must hide themselves in a predetermined setting in order to be located by one or more seekers. While the other players hide, one chosen player counts out loud while keeping their eyes closed to a predefined number. The play focuses on the importance of storytelling and literature in enhancing children's innate creativity.

Reference: colleenmaybe.wordpress.com

5. Langit Lupa

In Langit Lupa, which is a variation on the game of running around, being in an elevated position makes one taya, or untouchable. After that, the taya chants a rhyme, at the conclusion of which everyone must sprint to a new, elevated position without being tagged by the taya. It tries to tag the other players by pursuing them. Like in Habulan, whoever is tagged will take on the role of it. On the other hand, participants can ascend or descend an elevated surface, such as a set of stairs, a table, or simply dangle from a jungle gym. Players who accomplish this are untaggable. Different laws are used to control this restriction. Timing a player's immunity is one of them. The player is required to come down and become vulnerable once more after a specified number of counts. Some groups require that the team back away from high players so that they have an opportunity to flee. The players are sent home or the game ends when they are tired out.

Reference: alamy.com

6. Piko

The Philippine version of the game hopscotch is called piko. A common playground game called hopscotch requires participants to throw a small object known as a "lagger" into numbered triangles or a pattern of rectangles drawn on the ground, then hop or leap through the spaces to retrieve the lagger. A child can play this game by themselves or with other people. Piko is a game that brings all kids from all over the world together, no matter where they are from or when they were grow. Piko is absurdly ancient. Drawings resembling hopscotch lines were discovered on the stone flooring of old Roman cities when they were excavated. 

Reference: filipinoculture643599086.wordpress.com

7. Sungka

Sungka is a Philippine mancala game, which is now also played wherever Philippine migrants are living. The goal of the two player, turn-based board game Sungka, pronounced Soong-kah, is for one player to collect more stones than the other. A person's competitiveness is released by the game. The Sungka game appears to be a mental exercise in some way. Sungka is well-renowned for enhancing mathematical reasoning and for teaching patience and observational abilities.

Reference: larongpilipino1.wordpress.com

8. Bahay-Bahayan

Children participate in the pretend game of "bahay-bahayan", dressing up as members of an imaginary family from time to time to the point where one of them becomes the family "pet". Players must assume the roles of a father, mother, sister, brother, youngest child, or occasionally even a pet in order to replicate or reenact a genuine home with family members. Everyone should act as though they are in a real house and try their hardest to make it seem more authentic. If someone is directing or narrating the story, everyone should pay attention to him/her to make the experience more enjoyable. One of the most common games in the Philippines is this one.

Reference: nilaeslit.com

9. Pogs

The game is also known as Pogs, under which name it was sold commercially in the 1990's. The name originates from Pog, a brand of juice made from passionfruit, orange, and guava. Each player keeps any face-up caps and is to restack the face-down caps, repeating the process until none land face-down, at which point the player who collected the most caps wins the game of milk caps.

Reference: 90snation.com

10. Shatong (A Stick Game)

Shatong is a native Cebuano game. The game was so popular in the 70's and 80's. Played outside on the ground where you dig a small square hole where you put the small wood so it sticks out. Player A hits the wood with the stick so it catches air enough to be hit by the stick. Playing this game can improve interaction, communication and bond with your playmate.

Reference: davaotoday.com