Philippine Traditional Game: It’s Shatong time!!
Blog No: 29//Date Published: April 3, 2022//Time: 4:25PM//Autor:princeyahwe
In my previous article, I featured one of the childhood games I played. Now, this is one of the hyperactivity that we played that has involved all your strategy, skills, and teamwork.
I just started introducing one of my favorite childhood games. Let us continue exploring the rich culture of Philippine traditional games that are almost forgotten by future generations.
It’s Shatong time!!
Do you believe that this was a native Cebuano game? This is one of the characteristics that I am proud of being a Cebuano.
Well, I don’t know when this game exactly started but this is so popular between the ’70s and 80’s kids belong to the Gen x category. Due to its popularity, it traveled from Mindanao and Luzon region as this game traveled, it is also evolving in different variations.
like syatong, chato/chatong, shatung, or pitiw. In the Visayan island of Siquijor, kids call it pirigtiw.
Google.com source
But As I research this game, I find it a similar game in the Middle East, especially in Bahrain, that is closely similar to shatong. They call it Gutalaguti. Based on my research;
“Gutalaguti shares some similarities with games you may be familiar with, like baseball. In this game, two teams alternate between the team hitting and running and the catching team. The only equipment needed is a stick about 2-feet long, a stick about 6-inches long, and a rock. Traditionally, both sticks were made from dried and shaped palm leaves.”
It is really similar to shatong “Philippine traditional game”
Due to the advent of technology, computer games became so interesting and the youth, and these traditional games are rarely played by those kids. Or you cannot see this anymore in this day. Now, by introducing this game on this platform. I hope that every Pilipino who can read this article could be served as their basis to play or teach this game to the young ones.
In that way, I could help contribute to preserving this kind of game.
This game is easy to play and there are few requirements
There are the rulings of the game, but you can modify them as per agreement by both teams.
1. Wide the space the better. Preferably on land because you will dig a small hole on it2. It is a team play game which is composed of two teams the hitters and the other called the fetchers. The more players the better.3. The materials need are two sticks, the first stick is longer it is called the “bat” about 12 inches in length while the other stick is smaller about 4-5 inches in length, and called the “hit”4. They will decide where to dig a small hole where the shorter stick will be laid and hit to be launched.
How to play this game?
At first, will decide who will be on the team as hitters and who will be as fetchers. They do it by tossing a coin or by rock paper scissors. Whoever wins will be the initial hitters. The hitters will stand behind the small hole and take turns with each member to perform the first level of the game. The fetchers will position themselves a few meters opposite the base or small hole.
First Level
1. The hitter places the short stick or ‘hit’ across the furrow. Then, he launches it off into the air as hard as he can. He must see to it that the ‘hit’ lands at the farthest distance. The hitter makes sure that no fetcher catches the stick.
2. When the hitter is successful in his launch, a fetcher is obliged to retrieve the short stick from where it landed. The hitter now rests the longer stick or ‘bat’ right before the furrow and waits for the fetcher to throw the short stick back to the base.
3. However, if the hitter is unsuccessful in his launch and a fetcher catches the stick in mid-air, his team loses its turn to play hitters. They now must take the role of fetchers.
4. On the other hand, the fetcher’s aim is to hit the long stick with the short one. When he succeeds in hitting the long stick, his team now takes the role of hitters. But, if he fails to hit it, the hitter proceeds to the Second Level.
Second Level
1. The hitter suspends the short stick in the air and drops it. But, while the stick is in mid-air, he must move quickly and strike it as hard as he can. He makes sure that the short stick lands on the farthest distance. At the same time, he hopes no fetcher catches it. But, in case the opponent catches the short stick, the hitter’s team loses its turn to play. The two teams must now exchange positions.
2. However, if the stick is not intercepted, the fetcher throws it back to the hitter. But, this time, the hitter aims to strike the stick back as hard and as far as he can manage.
3. When the hitter succeeds in striking back the stick, his team now earns points.
4. The hitters earn their score by measuring the distance between the drop point of the short stick and the furrow. They use the long stick as the measuring rod.
5. Finally, the hitter proceeds to the Third Level.
6. But, if the hitter fails to strike back, his teammate takes his turn to play. The second player begins with First Level.
Third Level
1. The hitter positions the short stick at a 45-degree angle against the furrow. He makes sure that a good part of the stick protrudes enough for an easy hit.
2. Once ready, he hits hard the protruding part of the short stick to launch it into the air. And while in mid-air, he strikes it quickly to the farthest distance, making sure no fetcher catches it.
3. The hitter is given only 3 attempts to launch the ‘hit’. If he fails, his teammate takes the turn to play, starting from the First Level.
4. If the hitter succeeds in his launch, they count their score once more. The count starts from the drop point of the ‘hit’ to the base. They add the score in this Level to what they got at the Second Level.
5. But, if the hitter fails to strike, or an opponent catches the ‘hit’, the hitter’s team loses a turn.
6. If a hitter succeeds in all levels without the ‘hit’ intercepted, he turns over the game to his teammates. The succeeding player repeats the process until everyone gets a turn to play the bat and hit.
Source: google.com
What can you observe in the process of the game? Do you find it interesting?
You can modify the game mechanics as per agreement by all players who played this game
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Who will be the winner of this game?
As I mentioned above there is no definite rule as long as they agree by both teams. They can modify the rules and make different variations of the game to make it fun and interesting. In my case in my hometown to declare the winner is to set the score, for example, who will reach 100 scores first will win the game. In other variations they want the game will be shorter there are only two turns and the highest score will win the game.
The more interesting and fun is the punishment of the game, as I mentioned you can modify the punishment but usually in my hometown the losing team will perform the following steps.
1. He launches the ‘hit’ like what is done in the First Level. But this time, no fetcher attempts to intercept it in mid-air.
2. From the drop point, the player strikes the ‘hit’ forward to the farthest distance (like what is done in the Second Level). Again, no fetcher is allowed to catch the ‘hit’.
3. Finally, a representative of the losing team picks up the ‘hit’. And, holding his breath, he runs towards the base screaming, “Shaaatoooooong”.
Source: google.com
What lesson is integrated into this game?
Shatong is originally a children’s game. But, adults or the young at heart play it, too. After all, it’s a fun game for everyone to enjoy.
This game was originally for children but because of its strategic game, adults can play it too. It is for everyone.
This game is not only fun and for past time. It helps kids develop the value of teamwork and comraderies. Then it involves counting the scores so in one way it could practice their mathematical skills.
Tips for Playing Shatong
1. Need to practice your batting skills, make sure to hit that lands far from the base and avoid being caught by the fetchers.
2. Do some strategy to prevent the fetcher from catching the hit stick.
3. But, be careful to avoid the ‘hit’ landing on your head or other parts of the body. This is a highly physical game and is careful to use the sticks.
Personal Quotes:
This makes my childhood fun and interesting instead of using a cellphone and doing nothing or playing video games. I highly recommend playing this game and share to your younger sister or brother or even with adults this game is very interesting. It develops teamwork and collaboration friends at the same time honed their mathematical skills in counting points.
Do you recommend these games? Of course, this is one of the Philippine traditional games that we played during our childhood. This helps me improve how our personalities are crafted by these games. this is part of our childhood memories that we enjoy during our time.
Once again thank you so much for reading my article and I hope you have learned something that you could share with future generations.
👨💻 Disclaimer: All texts and information are based on my experience during my EB training as a poll clerk
Any similarity to other contents is unintentional. The article is not advised to follow. It is made for educational purposes only. Make some research before adopting or using my opinion.
Ang galing mo air. Nasulat mo talaga Ang mga rules. Kabisado ko Ang larong Yan. Naglalaro din kmi Nyan dati.