Filipino Corporations Play Larong Pinoy Sports Fest

The Traditional Filipino Street Games bounces back into the mainstream of Philippine society; finds its home into the hearts of adults, re-discovers the fun of playing Larong Pinoy during Company Sports Fests --- bonding employees, and building  relationships like real “kababata’s”. 

It is a game everybody knows.

It is a game that anyone can play with a youthful spirit.

The Filipino Street Games has been with us for over a century.  In today’s modern age of technology, the games are very much alive, bringing fun in communities, schools, and lately, as a team-building sports fest in local corporations.

Human Resource Department personnel saw the values that it brings to employees, as it bonds young and old together in activities that everyone can play. 

Filipino Team building is more than just dragging employees to the usual basketball intramurals or having someone give them a lecture on why it’s important to work together. People learn best when they’re moving around, interacting, and working together on fun challenges.

Since the 1980’s there have been many new sports and innovative games --- Triathlon, Xtreme Sports, Cross Games, Fun Runs, etc.  In Y2008, many companies have opted to launch sports fest using the Traditional Filipino Street Games as platform form team-building sports fests. With Larong Pinoy, employees THINK FILIPINO.

There's more than one way to improve the level of employee engagement in a company. Using Larong Pinoy is a unique platform to engage employees, creating youthful energy and fun community atmosphere at the workplace. It triggers sharing of personal experiences and insights that leads to intimate bonding.

The selection of Larong Pinoy as a Sports Fest Activity is intended to involve employees into doing an alternative event instead of the usual western sports, to make the company affair fun and truly Filipino. 

It is a fact that only a few employees get to play in the usual sports like basketball, volleyball, or other western sports; with Larong Pinoy everybody can play --- from executives, to staff, to clerks, to general service employees.  

It’s a game everybody knows.  It’s a game everyone can enjoy --- even the non-sporty type.  Larong Pinoy challenges employees & staff to re-learn the Filipino Street Games blended with team building values and youthful camaraderie in the office.  With Larong Pinoy as sports fest platform, the team bonding goals will flow naturally among employees and staff, internally at the office even before the day of the event.

What Happens When Companies Decide To Use Larong Pinoy As Sportsfest Platform?

Internally at the Office

It will get each and every employee talking about the games, reviewing what they know, and definitely remembering their childhood memories.  It will “bring-out the child” in everyone when they relate to one another, making the office alive.

It will trigger individual exploration, making young people consult elderly employees who are knowledgeable about the games.  It is a light and fun bridge for office bonding.

And, it will trigger CommuniTeam bonding as they practice the games together.    

Then, During The Event

Larong Pinoy engages employees with a unique sporting experience (definitely different from the usual basketball or track racing). In all types of games, everyone can play --- young our old, line or staff.  And, even non-players have the fun of watching co-employees execute and compete in the games.  It's a different kind of fun.

There is total team bonding with fun-filled cooperation that naturally flow amongst participants.  Larong Pinoy leaves no physical hurt or emotional feelings (unlike rough sports like basketball), because  it’s all child-like fun games and thrills that are so Pinoy.

The Larong Pinoy sports fest impart a youthful and unforgettable experience among employees. The youthful atmosphere that it creates will make them feel as if they all grew up together.  Aside from CommuniTeam Building, it builds employee relationships .

It is a game everybody knows.  It is a game that anyone can play with a youthful spirit --- from management to staff to line employees --- young and old!   The Larong Piinoy experience reverberates within the organization even weeks after the event ---- making each and every  feel as if they “grew up and played with each other when they were young”.  This is the spirit that games of our heritage bring into an organization.  And a well-organized event even makes it more memorable.

Magna Kultura Foundation, an NGO for arts and culture, organizes Larong Pinoy sports fests for companies with a Mini-Olympics format, making it truly fun and challenging for young and old employees. 

Magna Kultura organizes traditional Filipinos street games like patintero, tumbang preso, piko, sipa, luksong tinik,and other street games like an Olympic competition. 

Magna Kultura conceptualizes, organize and implement team building programs, workshops and corporate events, giving you more than what you expect, with the best value for your company.

Over 500 companies will tell you that Magna Kultura’s corporate team-building events makes are one-of-kind activities that leave lasting impression on employees and bring out the best in a company.

Treat your employees to a Fun Team-Building Sports Fest where everybody can play: Palarong Pilipino Mini-Olympics for young & old! A Sports Fest Team Bonding Activity can be held anytime of the year.

It doesn’t have to be summer. Build your corporate family into a CommuniTeam now.

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, CLICK & VIEW THE SPORTS FEST PLAN THE FOLLOWING SITES:  At http://kulturapilipinas.webs.com/corporate-mini-olympics

TO VIEW SOME OF THE COMPANY SPORTS FEST PHOTOS, preview them at  http://kulturapilipinas.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=14142715

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

Dickie Aguado, Executive Director - Magna Kultura Foundation

Direct Line: Tel No. (632) 514-5868

CP Nos.: +63 917 8990025 (Globe) or +63 922 8990026 (Sun)

Or Email us at kulturapilipinas@gmail.com (to request for a proposal)

INFORM US:
WHAT: How many employees
WHEN: The date & time of your company 
WHERE: The venue of your activity

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Advocating Filipino Culture Using The Games Of Our Heritage

In this technology-driven world where almost everyone – including children – practically live a virtual lifestyle, only a handful of those who are aware of indigenous street games remain.

After school or during weekends, children retreat to their own little world —watching TV shows for hours on end, or playing computer games at home, at internet shops, or malls.

Left with a little choice, modern-day parents usually join their kids and succumb to the lure of technology for the purpose of bonding.

But are these children losing the real joys of childhood to temporary happiness afforded by computer games?


STREET GAMES VS. COMPUTER GAMES

“Ang mga lumaki sa computer games, walang kababata, walang kalaro. Meron lang sila ka-chat. They are usually couch potatoes who may even have a hard time accepting defeat,” points out Dickie Aguado, Executive Director of Magna Kultura Foundation (MKF).

Since 2003, this education-for-development non-government organization has been on a mission to revive the playing of street games or Larong Pinoy among the youth in schools and residential communities.

With students from over 524 public schools now into these native street games, plus a Department of Education memorandum that orders the games’ integration in the curriculum, MKF’s advocacy gains solid ground and gets the much-needed support from civic organizations and corporate citizens.

At the Epifanio delos Santos Elementary School (EDSES) in Singalong, Manila, for instance, students are not just actively playing street games but are made to realize the values and benefits of these games.

“Mas maraming kaibigan, mas enjoy tapos nagiging healthy ka pa. Sa PSP (Playstation) wala kang kausap, parang nagsasalita lang mag-isa. Hindi masaya,” says Sydney Dormitorio, a Grade 6 student at EDSES.

Andrea Jane Ocampo, sixth grader, adds that by playing street games, she has learned to cooperate with people. She also gained a lot of friends and became physically fit.

“Sa computer games, mata lang, mga daliri at isipan ang gumagana. Sa larong Pinoy, di lang mahahasa ang isip mo pero buong katawan ma-eexercise,” notes 12-year-old Joshua Mark Orpilla.

ESKUWELARO: A SCHOOL FOR GAMES

EDSES principal Carmen Siao says only the movements used in these native games were initially incorporated in the DepEd curriculum. According to Mrs. Siao it was only lately that teaching larong Pinoy with scientific drills with official tournament rules are being actively promoted.

“We have a learning continuum that is tailored for each grade level. This includes the teaching of calisthenics and western games," according to Siao.   


Usually, native games are being played only in the neighborhoods and not in school. Pero dapat talaga maging aware ang mga bata na may sarili tayong laro. Ang mga computer games nakakabobo pero ang larong Pinoy, it will even help them develop nationalism and pride in being a Filipino,” she stresses.

Magna Kultura Foundation has been organizing sports clinics since the late 80s.  “Our goal is to bring the games back into the mainstream of society. We teach it in schools, and village-Barangays to encourage children to play it in communities. It is a subtle yet fun way of instilling patriorism among the new generation", according to Aguado.

"We are re-institutionalizing it by organizing  schools for Larong Pinoy, which we call Eskuwelaro (a.k.a. clinics) where we teach the game play mechanics in a systematic way, step-by-step, with drills, proper posture and movements” explains Aguado.

SCIENTIFIC PLAY

According to Dickie Aguado, there are about 50 native games classified into five categories.


These include Indoor Games, Fiesta Games (pabitin, paluan ng palayok, palosebo, agawang buko), Street Games (patintero, luksong baka, piko, tumbang preso, luksong lubid, taguan), Hurdle Games (habulan, agawang base), and  Indoor Games (sungka, dama, and even Games of the Generals which was invented by a Filipino).  Apart from these, there are also the Tsinoy games such as chinese garter, checkers, and chinese jackstones.

Dickie Aguado says the Filipino traditional street games are so numerous that one can even create an entire Olympics competition with it!

Academic authorities validate Magna Kutura's premises. EDSES Physical Education teacher Manly Jose Junio underscores how street games promote total fitness --- from the physical with the locomotor (moving from one place to another) and non-locomotor (moving on-the-spot without going anywhere) movements incorporated into the mental fitness.


“Sa street games, nandiyan ang iba’t ibang kilos. Sa Piko, yung pag-hakbang ng isang paa lamang. May basics movements ng gymnastics sa piko, yung pagkuha ng pamato habang nagbabalanse ka na nakataas kamay at isang paa."  


Luksong lubid promotes endurance, while Luksong Baka, cooperation and trust in oneself.  


"Sa Patintero yung pagtakbo ng pa-ilag o parang takbo ng kabayo.  In playing patintero, you learn to strategize, develop self-confidence and ability. Tumbang Preso promotes presence of mind, fast thinking and movements, as well as agility.  And best of all, these games promote social camaraderie.  May mga batang mahiyahin pero pag pinaglaro mo nawawala na at lumalabas yung talento,” Junio explains.



TO AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES

It is not true that the games have vanished in Philippine society.  It is veru much alive in urban and sub-urban areas, and moreso in the provinces.  Aguado reveals what many have always thought so: native street games have only been dead in the upper class of society!


“It still exists in many places, and played daily by a lot of children.  It is absent only among kids who can afford expensive high-tech gadgets, and those who don't go out in the neighborhood," according to Aguado.  Magna Kultura have also conducted Larong Pinoy in the French International School in Paranaque, Metro-Manila.  The French and the German children enjoyed the games.

BUILDING A SPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE GAMES.  

The real task for Magna Kultura is not just to conduct games, but to build an infrastructure --- from the training camps, to tournaments in schools, village-barangays and offices; to creating sports clubs; and finally, making the toys and game materials available everywhere ---- in neighborhood stores, commercial establishments, and making traders derive profit from marketing it as a sport.

During tournaments, they usually supply sari-sari stores within the neighborhood with toys and materials that will be used in the street games to make it available for the players while at the same time,
helping the merchants earn.

Their effort to promote street games to the affluent is now taking shape with an invitation to conduct an Eskuwelaro and tournament among private schools and upper-class villages in the country.



The event, Aguado says, will be participated in by kids who are not even familiar with most of the street games. Through Larong Pinoy, Magna Kultura hopes to promote patriotism; encourage family bonding with parents and relatives who played these games when they were kids; and to enliven and generate livelihood in the community.”

“We are reviving a cultural treasure. It’s really creating advocates and building an ecosystem of transformation. When these children grow 
up and learn to play western games, we hope the playing of street games will not die there but continue to be played and passed on from one generation to another,” he adds.


Aguado says their dream is to have an interdistrict, intercity, and hopefully a national tournament or Pambansang Palarong Pinoy in the near future, producing athletes who are truly proud of being Filipinos and the games they play.

...

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Dickie Aguado, Executive Director – Magna Kultura Foundation
Direct Line: Tel No. 5145868.  CP Nos.: 0917.899.0025 (Globe) or 0922.899.0026 (Sun)
Email us at kulturapilipinas@gmail.com

Treat Your Employees To A Fun Team-Building Filipino Sports Fest

More and more Filipino corporations are organizing Palarong Pinoy sports fests. Over 100 companies have held Larong Pinoy Corporate Mini-Olympic Events.  Human Resource Managers have testified that a Larong Pinoy even is truly a one-of-kind activity that leave lasting impression on employees, and bring out the best in each and everyone.

Unlike Basketball or any of the usual western sports activities, Larong Pinoy is a game where everybody will be able to easily participate in.  Even employees who don’t want play enjoys the event --- cheering, "jeering" and supporting the teams.  Iba ang Larong Pinoy.  Ito ang tunay na Laro nating mga Pinoy.

A Larong Pinoy  company sports fest is both for young and old employees, for male and female, and for everybody who’s every inch a Filipino.

Magna Kultura started advocating Palarong Pinoy company sports fests in 2009 as a way of promoting patriotism among adults in a fun way.  Since then, the word spread that companies could have an alternative sporting event other than the usual western games.  Companies have been requesting Magna Kultura to organize their sports fest not only during summer, but any month of the year.

Magna Kultura organizes the games like a real Olympics with Tournament Systems, Referees, Game Marshals. Employees are grouped into teams with team captains.  And competitions are conducted with matches on Patintero, Tumbang Preso, Jumping Rope, Sipang Bilangan, and various Pinoy Relay Races with timed heats & team scores tabulated.

But what makes it even great is that, everyone who plays the game with their fellow- employees gets the feeling like they are childhood playmates (magkababata).  The activity becomes a unique team-bonding experience.  The experience goes beyond the event as employees cherish the thoughts of the games through-out the year.

To build a corporate family, let employees play like children.  Because employees work hard --- let them play hard!  A Sports Fest Team Bonding Activity can be held anytime of the year.  It doesn’t have to be summer.

For more information, visit our Larong Pinoy website at http://filipinogames.multiply.com/  To get a sample document that you can use to present to your management, download an event concept plan at http://filipinogames.multiply.com/profile/resume/resume.pdf

For coordination, contact:

DICKIE AGUADO, Executive Director - MAGNA KULTURA FOUNDATION

Tel. Nos. : 514-5868 /  Mobile: 0917-8990025 or 0922-8990026

Or Email us at: kulturapilipinas@gmail.com