Where are the Traditional Filipino Games?
By yallit
@yallit (3677)
Philippines
December 17, 2010 3:20pm CST
I pity the kids these days for not playing the traditional games that we used to play when we were young. I missed seeing kids play "taguan" or "patintero" in the streets. I see the younger generation instead at computer cafes playing online games.
During my younger years, I, together with friends play "taguan", "patintero", "langit/lupa", "tumbang preso" and other traditional games that we love to play. Oh, let me add "luksong tinik" and then during summer, we do kite flying. I was addicted also with competitive Filipino games like "trumpo", marbles, "lastiko" and even "teks". I remember the time when "POG" has become a sensation as well.
For indoor games, we have chess, scrabble, monopoly and even the guessing game of "names/places/things/animals" and the like.
My friends share the same sentiment that at times when we go to beach outings, we play "patintero" on the shore. There was a time when we were in Boracay, foreigners were watching us play "patintero". It seems like they were not used to seeing a game like that because most of the beach-goers play volleyball, football throwing or freesbie.
How about you? What were your favorite Filipino games? Or what do you want kids these days play at least once in a while?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@Lance26 (956)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
Technology indeed affected man and his way of life. As the technology advances our way of living is moving forward as changes is inevitable. Our very own traditional games were set aside and ignored to give way to the modern ones where even a single person can play on. I am happy to say that can still see kids in my province playing patintero, teks and kite playing. Oh yes I missed my childhood!
One way to preserve our tradition is to put it in the curriculum.
1 person likes this
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
I agree with you lance putting it in the curriculum would force the next generation to learn the games we played. It is not only tradition but a part of Filipino culture.
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
The traditional games are indeed forgotten by most. Very few od todays generation know what piko, tumbalata and shato mean. And that is a pity. Though I would not mind teks to be gone as it teaches children to gamble.
Lance had a great point, putting these games as part of Filipino or Physica Education, or Hekasi should be considered by DECS and CHED let us not lose our culture because of technology,we should enhance our culture with it.
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
19 Dec 10
Yes parents should. But its difficult now that there are no children playing outside! Bringing children to play school is also an option but its very expensive. As much as possible children should stay away from computer games and TV it causes a lot of behavioral problems for the young.
@yallit (3677)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
well, i think parents should also encourage their children to go out and play. my sister is overly protective of her sons and sometimes wouldn't allow them to go out and of course when you're cooped up inside the house with no one to play with, your last resort would be to watch TV or play computer games. my mom, though, always ask her grandchildren to play scrabble with her.
1 person likes this
@uyab19 (112)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
Yes your right. Most of the kids nowadays are playing those online games instead of those traditional games that we used to play. All of the games you mentioned were those games that I used to play. The games I missed so much were agawang base, piko and chinese garter. I want to play those games again with all my old friends. Its kind a bit sad and at the same time so funny to reminisced those childhood moments :)
@glamgirldoll (313)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
Oh I love those kinds of games but whether we like it or not, children today will no longer play that because of the new technology everyone is talking about. Children now are addicted to facebook and other online games. I think they waste too much time on that that they didnt seem to notice the benefits of the games we used to play before.
@yallit (3677)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
yeah, they're so addicted to PSP and online games that that's the only thing they do during available time. My mom, though make it sure that my niece and nephews at least play scrabble with her. And this holiday break, when I go home to the province, I might as well bring home a Monopoly board for us to play.
@zaga_cleuth (1407)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
I really miss playing "tumbang preso", "langit lupa" , "tembang. . Whenever I come for a visit w/ my sister on my grandpa's house we play like kids. And I really miss those days cuz now they are all out for work. And I'm studying much.
@meuji100 (198)
• Philippines
21 Dec 10
My favorite Filipino games are marbles, taguan, patintero. I think the children doesn't want to play these games anymore because computer games interest them more. A few children are just playing these Filipino games. I think they should play these games because it is part of our childhood years and they are enjoyable.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
20 Dec 10
To answer you literally, there are printed in various Makabayan books that grade schools are ought to remember but not to play or experience. Since the advent of video games and various consoles that are readily available in the nearest shopping mall near you, many kids today are more reluctant to drop their consoles in exchange of interacting with other children of their age. If children do play, sometimes it is an organized sport like volleyball or basketball. in my childhood years, I am not much of a social butterfly, so I rarely get to play them with the neighborhood kids. However, I do recognize them and know the rules of each game. I distinctly recall that in our retreat, my class had a patintero tournament with another class on retreat to kill off time.
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
18 Dec 10
I miss playing patintero. I remember when we were still young, we can create a team of 12 on one side and 12 on the other. You can see us occupying the whole street late in the afternoon. And imagine how difficult for us to score just to pass thru 12 kids...hahaha... I also miss playing taguan (hide and seek) especially during the time when we had a power crisis. Almost every night we would experience a brownout. We would go out to the streets and gather then start playing taguan. We do it in the dark just to make it more exciting...
