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.

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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