The Philippines is undeniably culturally and historically rich. Traditional games in the Philippines are one of the most important components of the country's culture and traditions. It is particularly popular among youngsters because they are the games or sports that they are most familiar with, and no Filipino grows up without having played these traditional games.
Piko, patintero, taguan, tumbang preso, siato, sipa, and luksong tinik are some of the Philippines' most well-known and popular traditional games. To play these Pinoy games, kids congregate in the streets or at the local playground. For many Filipinos, especially those of prior generations, these are popular and well-liked pastimes.
Traditional Filipino Sports are sports played by Filipino children using indigenous materials and instruments. Despite having a restricted supply of toys, Filipinos retain their love of childhood because to the games created by their forefathers. It demonstrates how resourceful and inventive they were in establishing the notion of "Larong Pinoy," which is still alive and well in this generation, despite the fact that new and modern kinds of entertainment, such as computer and foreign games, have taken over the young's interests. The majority of Filipino youngsters continue to play Filipino street games in both urban and rural locations across the country.
Children still play games like Patintero, Tumbang Preso, Piko, Sipa, Turumpo, and many others in their neighborhoods after school, on weekends, and in their free time.
Filipinos should protect and respect the essence of Philippine culture and traditions, passing them down from generation to generation.
GAMES FROM THE PHILIPPINES
Tumbang Preso
Tumbang preso, also known as presohan (tumba-patis in most Visayan regions), is a famous Filipino street game that appears in many Filipino films and television shows.
Members follow the same rules as in other Filipino traditional games: one is the "taya," who follows the rule of a-player-at-stake and is in charge of the Lata (tin can), and the other two are the players striking. The game is played by each player striking the tin that is held near the taya with a "pamato" (which is their own slipper).
In order for the game to continue, the taya must catch another player to take up his position of chasing after the tin, which is kept from being thrown away by the players' blows. Nonetheless, the taya is only allowed to do so if the player is carrying a pamato and the tin is upright. As a result, chasing after another player means keeping a watch on the tin can's location. The players, on the other hand, spend their time striking the tin can and fleeing from the taya while protecting themselves with their pamato because making the tin fall down aids another player in recovering.
Mechanics, on the other hand, provide each side advantages. The taya takes its place on one side of the roadway or streets, holding its tin centered on the ground, while on the other end is confined by a line that limits the player when throwing. Players breaking rules, such as stepping on or outside the boundary line when throwing, kicking the tin, striking the tin without reaching the line, or even touching it, allow the taya to have his overturn.
The component of the taya in other forms, particularly those in Visayan regions and Southern Luzon, is intricate. The latter is responsible for making the tin stand upright, complete with its own "pamato" on top, which adds to the game's dynamics. Even though the taya has already made everything stand up, if the slipper falls from the tin, he is not allowed to catch anyone unless he quickly returns it to its original position.
Luksong-Baka
Luksong-Baka (literally, "leap over the cow") is a popular Luksong Tinik variation. While one player crouches, the other players leap over him. As the game goes, the crouched player gradually gets up, making it more difficult for the other players to leap over him. If he dangled the baka, he will be the taya. It will repeat until one of the players declares the winner or the players opt to end the game. It is the Filipino version of the game of leap frog.
Luksong-Tinik
Two players serve as the base of the tinik (thorn) in Luksong-tinik (lit. jump over the thorns) by putting their right or left feet together (soles touching gradually building the tinik). All of the players agree on a starting point, allowing adequate runway for the players to reach a higher jump without hitting the tinik. Players from the opposing team begin jumping over the tinik, followed by the rest of the team.
Piko
Piko is a Philippine spin-off of the popular hopscotch game. The players should each throw their cue ball from behind the edge of a box. The order in which the players participate is set by their agreement (e.g. nearest to the moon, wings or chest). Whoever succeeds in throwing the cue ball closest to the agreed-upon location will be the first to play. The next closest person comes in second, and so on.
Agawan Base
There are two bases for each of the two teams. The number of players on each squad is determined by the participants. Each team has two bases that they claim as their own. The goal is to tag the base of the other team without being tagged. If you are tagged, you will be moved to the opposing team and will need to be saved. There are various varieties in which the rules are altered; for example, in some, other items on the base can be connected so that you can easily touch it.
Typically, there are defined points, such as the first team to tag the opposing team five times wins. You can tag other players on the opposing team who have touched their base before you. They can tag you if they touch their base after you've touched yours.
Patay patayan
Killer Eye is another name for it. At least four players are required. Cut paper into pieces based on the number of players. There should be one judge, at least one killer, at least one cop, and the rest should be ordinary folks. The goal of the game is for the cops to discover and apprehend the killers by stating "I caught you" and revealing the killer's identity before the killer kindats (winks at) the judge. By winking at the person he wishes to kill, the killer is able to kill them. If he murders a regular person, that person exclaims, "I'm dead!" If he kills a judge without being discovered, the judge exclaims, "I'm dead, but I'm the judge!" and repeats.
Sekqu Base
Sekqu Base is a similar game to Agawan Base, however there are no score limits. The game continues even if a team scores five points. The players can ambush the opponent base by hiding in other things near it.
Agawang Sulok
The it or tagger, agawang sulok (lit. catch and own a corner), stands in the middle of the ground. The players in the corners will attempt to swap places by sprinting from one base to the next. It should next attempt to seize a corner or base by rushing to one when it is empty. In some variations, this is referred to as "agawan basis," whereas in others, it is referred to as "bilaran."
Araw-Lilim
The it or tagger tries to tag or touch any of the players who is in direct contact with the light.
Bahay-Bahayan
A role-playing game in which youngsters act out various household settings such as supper, going to mass, and so on as members of an imaginary family, sometimes to the point that one of them becomes the family's "pet." It should have between 4 and 5 players.
Games involving hand clapping
Four persons are usually involved in a hand-clapping game. They are divided into two pairs, each with two persons facing each other, and both pairs facing the center (the two pairs being perpendicular to each other). Each pair then conducts a hand clapping "routine" while singing the "bahay kubo" or "Leron-leron Sinta" in the middle of the song.
Bati-Cobra
Bati-Cobra is a game of catching and hitting. There are two bamboo sticks needed: one long and one short. The batter uses the longer stick to strike the shorter stick. Other players will try to catch the shorter stick as it flies through the air. If no one catches the stick, it can be picked up by any player.
Holen
Hold the holen ball in your hand and toss it to knock the opposing player's ball out of the game. In the United States, Holen is known as marble. The marble is tucked with the third finger, the thumb is under the marble, and the fourth finger is utilized to stabilize the marble. You aim at a circle of grouped marbles and flick the marble from your fingers; whatever you strike outside of the circle is yours. The game is won by whoever has the most marbles. You can also win the game by striking your opponent's marble with your marble. To be a winner, you must be a good shooter.
Jack and Poy
Rock-paper-scissors is the local form of the game. Despite the American spelling, the game (janken) is actually Japanese in origin, with the lyrics in the Japanese version sounding very similar to the "gibberish" performed in the Philippines.
"Jack and Poy, hale hale hoy, sinong matalo syang unggoy!" say the lyrics.”
The children here in the Philippines surely have their funny and most unforgettable childhood memories because of these games. Thank you for all the people behind the discoveries of all of these games.
