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

Buhay Na Buhay Ang Mga Palarong Pilipino Sa Iba't Ibang Lugar

"Nawaawala na ba ang mga larong Pinoy sa Pilipinas?"  
("Are the traditional Filipino Games vanishing in Philippine society?")

This is a question often asked by students, media, and other PR practitioners during interviews with Magna Kultura.  My straight answer is "No, it is very much alive".  

It is actually an "upper class" perception. Whenever they ask me about the perception, I asked back: Where do you live? Where are the places you frequently go to?  

The Traditional Filipino Street Games are actually very much alive.  If you visit places like Tondo (Manila), Tatalon or Payatas (Quezon City), or even C.A.A. (Las Pinas) --- there they’ll  see lots of children in the streets (like a “factory of kids”), and what are they doing?  They are all playing in the streets.  What are they playing?  Street games.

One of the perceived reason why some think that Larong Pinoy has vanished is because of they say that is has been replaced with computers and high tech games.  Again, the perception is “socio-economic”.   How many people in the country has computers, or have access to the internet?  I believe that roughly 30% of the population has access to modern technology --- people from the AB & C socio-economic classes.  But a big majority from the lower C, D & E classes --- which is about 60% of the population still don’t have regular access (or even budgets) for computers and internet.

I repeat: it’s an intergroup perception.  Distance between social classes,  social world, and among  economic sectors.

Without prejudice, I believe that the two group’s rarely interface.  Those who are exposed to computers rarely go out to interact with people in the neighborhood; instead of having “kababata’s” --- and friendships are vitual, having “ka-chat’s”, “ka-Facebook”, or “ka-Text”.  (In fact, they rarely visit the nearby sari-sari stores; visiting more of the malls, supermarkets and 7/11’s.)

In the advent of high tech gadgets and computer games, larong Pinoy is very much alive.  Children in the provinces still play the Filipino games.  Public school students regularly meet with neighborhood kids after school and still play Piko, rubberbands games, tansans, trumpo, and even invent new ways of playing the games.  Citizens in many Metro-Manila Barangays celebrate fiesta’s still organizes the traditional “Fiesta Games”.  

Ang Larong Pinoy ay di mawawala sa Pilipinas.  Ito ay yaman ng ating lahi. Patuloy itong nilalaro ng maraming kabataan sa mga barangay.  

Reviving The Traditional Filipino Street Games In Today's Modern Times

PALARONG PINOY: THE TRADITIONAL FILIPINO STREET GAMES

Larong Pinoy is the games of our heritage ( Laro ng Lahi ).  It is a cultural treasure ( yaman ng lahi ) cherished by generations of Filipinos. It favorite past-time that is close to the hearts of Filipinos, encompassing generations --- from our grandparents, to our parents, and among the youth & toddlers of today. 

Considering that almost 60% of the mass population in the Philippines don't have computers and still can't afford the high-tech game gadgets, the Filipino Traditional Street Games are still a favorite past-time among children in heavy urban areas and provinces.  

The Traditional Filipino Street Games brings back good memories of friendship and fun among those who have played it.  It brings a smile among adults and elders whenever they remember the days when they used to play it.  It brings out "the child" in every parent when they mention it; vividly remembering their childhood playmates and the neighborhood where they use to play it.  It is actually every adult's wish for the new generation of Filipino kids to experience the fun of the Traditional Street Games.     

INTRODUCING THE TRADITIONAL FILIPINO STREET

GAMES AMONG KIDS IN THE MODERN AGE

Recognizing the vital role of “outdoor play” on the overall well-being and development of children, Magna Kultura Foundation, an arts & culture NGO launched activities at the grassroots to reintroduce the traditional Pinoy games.

Dubbed as “LARONG PINOY”, the program aims to bring back the fun and excitement of Traditional Filipino Games that our parents and grandparents used to play.  Before the advent of the popular virtual games, these Pinoy games were the favorite pastime of young kids for generations.

Since most of the kids nowadays are no longer familiar with these traditional games,  Magna Kultura Foundation endeavored to reintroduce these once popular games to as many kids as possible through sports clinics & tournaments.

Magna Kultura's Larong Pinoy Play Camps (sports clinics) featured play instruction sessions with systematic drills and exercises, and mini-tournaments that teaches the official rules of the games.  These Play Camps teaches children a host of favorite Pinoy street games like patintero, tumbang preso, piko, sipa, luksong tinik, siyato, holen, trumpo, and other street games.  

Magna Kultura's Larong Pinoy Play Camps is all about giving kids fun in the communities where they live, at the same time, promote healthy outdoor activities through play. 

Dickie Aguado, Executive Director of the Magna Kultura Foundation: through this project, Magna Kultura also aims to promote the healthy physical, mental and social development of today’s young people.

Larong Pinoy Pinoy is a Philippine cultural treasure.  Magna Kultura’s purpose in conducting Larong Pinoy is to revive the games back in the mainstream of society, and to instill fundamental social values among the new generation of youth. The activities of the Larong Pinoy are intended to promote patriotism, strengthen family ties, involve the community in worthwhile activities.

LARONG PINOY’S PROGRAMS GOALS ARE:

1. To INSTILL PATRIOTISM and love of things that are Filipino.  Larong Pinoy is a light and subtle way of instilling the Filipino Spirit among children without lecturing or “preaching” about Patriotism. Anyone who experience Larong Pinoy never forget the memories  of playing the games.  It will always be a part of their lives. 

2. To use the games as A Bridge for BONDING the YOUTH with PARENTS and ELDERS (lolo, lola, uncles, etc.)  Before the era of modern games and high-gadgets, Larong Pinoy was the game of our parents and ancestors. Providing children with the knowledge and experience of the games allows them to “connect” & relate with their relatives and other adults.

3. To ENLIVEN COMMUNITIES by bringing back the fun in neighborhood, with kids playing with their peers.  In today’s modern age, kids seldom interact with neighbourhood children, having no “kababata”, having only  “ka-Chat” who are virtual friends Facebook or YM.  Larong Pinoy allows physical activity and paves the way to interaction with other children in the neighborhood.

Magna Kultura revives the traditional Filipino street games.  Reaching out to children in communities, reviving fun in the neighborhood.  Larong Pinoy promotes active play by giving children in the community something to play on.  Larong Pinoy promotes healthy physical, social and mental development of young people. And best of all, it is all about giving kids fun in the communities where they live. 

Larong Pinoy promotes healthy outdoor activities through play. Larong Pinoy promotes a healthy lifestyle and active outdoor play among children in schools and barangays. It promotes physical (energy), social (camaraderie) and emotional (fun / shapes character) activities through outdoor activities.  The physical and health benefits of outdoor play  are obvious, yet the social and personal benefits are equally  as important.  

Play is the way kids grow, learn and live. As children continue to grow, so do the skills they learn on the playground.  From agility and strength-building to socialization and independence, some of our most important lifelong lessons are learned outside of the classroom.

So, let the children play.  And let them play the games of our heritage.  It's the game of Filipinos.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST A GAME; IT IS A VEHICLE

TO INSTILL PATRIOTISM AMONG THE NEW GENERATION. 

One day these kids will join society's league, 

and they will Play with the TEAM called Filipino race.

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For more details about the program, contact

MAGNA KULTURA FOUNDATION

Direct Line: Tel No. 5145868

CP Nos.: 0917.899.0025 (Globe) or 0922.899.0026 (Sun)

Email Address: kulturapilipinas@gmail.com

VISIT THE LARONG PINOY INFORMATION SITES AT

Magna Kultura Foundation:  http://magnakulturafoundation.webs.com/

Kultura Pilipinas:  http://kulturapilipinas.webs.com/

Wikipedia Info on Traditional Games of the Philippines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_games_in_the_Philippines#Reference

WikiPilipinas on the Traditional Filipino Games

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Filipino_Traditional_Games

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CONTACT INFO. 

DICKIE AGUADO, Executive Director - MAGNA KULTURA FOUNDATION

Tel. Nos. :  (02) 514-5868 /  Mobile: 0917-8990025 or 0922-8990026

Email: kulturapilipinas@gmail.com