Day 7: Oh the Games we Played…

Posted on Oct 7, 2011 by in 31 Days of (my) Filipino Culture, Featured Articles | 10 comments

It’s Friday and Day 7 of our October series!

The weekend is here and its time to playyy (that’s assuming that I’ve pre-written the weekend’s posts. not telling)

Speaking of play, lets talk about how we Pinoy’s played…atleast in my time (which is really not that long ago), my childhood.   My sister and I didn’t really have “playmates” aside from schoolmates and each other when we lived in Baguio.  But when we moved to Cabanatuan City, kids were everywhere in the streets (probably waiting for some of the street goodies about to pass by their neighborhood) …and we realized we had countless cousins.

The province is where we really learned to play outdoors.  Like I’ve mentioned here, we didn’t really have a lot of toys to play with so we used our imagination and ingenuity. You’ll see what I mean…

Patintero

There are basically two teams in this game: Blocker and Runner.  There is a line/grid drawn on the ground (or several lines depending on how many players are involved) where the blockers are posted.  The Runners attempt to run past the line without being tagged by the blocker.

Here’s a detailed information on how to play Patintero.

Photo Source for Patintero

Luksong Tinik

This is literally translated, “jump thorn”.  This game has to be played by at least 3 people.  Two would be the “thorns” using their hands and feet.  This game is essentially one that tests your ability to jump through obstacles…like hurdles. Except, the obstacle “tinik” keeps getting higher ;)


Photo Source for Luksong Tinik - Jay Zer0 

Tumbang Preso

I’d hate to think where this game originated from.  It is literally translated “fall (-ing) prisoner”.

Another variation of playing “tag”.  4 elements are necessary to play this game.

  1. Empty soda can/bottle (prisoner)
  2. The taya (translated “it” or “catcher”) see how to pronounce it here
  3. Atleast 3 kids (the more the better)
  4. their  Flip-flops (with which to knock over the prisoner)
This was one of my favorite games.  The catcher would stand close to the soda can as the other players try to knock over the can with their flip-flops.  Once the “prisoner” is down, the player who knocked it down would retrieve his weapon (flip-flops) before the “it”  restore the poor soda can in its upright position and tag the snot out of the perpetrator player who knocked it down.


 Photo Source  for Tumbang Preso

Sipa

Literally “to kick”.  This one takes talent. See the video below.


 Photo Source for Sipa - General Howitzer 

 

Turumpo

is something I’ve never been able to play.  It’s like Yo-yo out of control.  I’m sure it was a fun game/toy for my cousins as they wrap the rope around that little door knob shape of a “thing” and then let it loose.  They watch it spin and sometimes let it spin in their palms.

I am so bitter.

Kidding.

Photo source  for Turumpo – JoeLax

(See the Turumpo in Action)

Our childhood in Baguio city wasn’t all that boring.  It was just a different season for my sister and me but we did have some games we played…

Pick Up Sticks

If you know how to play this and you have played it…chances are you and I are from the same generation.  This game requires strict concentration and steady hands.  BECAUSE you have to pick a color and pick the sticks up of the same color WITHOUT moving the rest of the sticks.

How’s that for spending your time?


Photo Source for Pick-Up-Sticks

Jackstones

is another game that took up most of our playing time in Baguio.  It takes coordination, this one does [Yoda Voice].

Watch here how a girl plays Jackstones.

Photo Source for Jacks

Bioman

We weren’t allowed to watch TV except for a few shows like  Popeye, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles, Batibot, MacGyver, and Bioman.  Which fueled our imagination to play outdoors as superheroes in Crayola outfits.  I was Yellow 4 and I was good with bow and arrows.


Photo Source for Bioman

(I was YELLOW 4 and my sister was PINK 5)

Atari

I don’t know whose it was. Maybe my uncles. But for a short period of time, we experienced video games.  I only remember the name of one: Pacman.  Then there were two others. One involved alien ships falling from the sky and we had to shoot them down.  The other was a frog crossing a very very busy street (sometimes mote).

Why did the frog cross the street?

Photo Source

…

..

Did you notice there aren’t any dolls on the list?  Here’s why.

How about you?

                               

 What games did you play when you were little?

                                                                               Know any other Filipino games?

 

(Click the Logo)

You might also find these interesting:

  1. Day 5: Kids and Grandparents

10 Comments

  1. Angie / October 7, 2011

    Chelo, I enjoy reading your blog. This is the topic I was waiting for… aside from what you’ve mentioned above, I also played sungka, Chinese garter, step-no/step-yes with my cousin, who’s now in South Korea, and we also played rubber bands, marbles and siyato (not sure if this is the right spelling) with my brothers. I loved all these indoor & outdoor games, they’re so much fun! Btw, I look forward to reading your next blog :)

    Reply
    • Chelo / October 7, 2011

      Ay Angie! Thanks for the input :D Oo nga I knew I forgot something kasi we also played Chinese garter…yun yung rubber bands na pinagsalo so yu can stretch it out and jump over them. Hahah. That was a lot of fun too!

      Reply
      • Angie / October 7, 2011

        tama ka riyan, pero bukod sa Chinese garter, we played rubber bands (payhop and pitik) ang tawag namin non don… I forgot to mention taguan pong (although this is not entirely Filipino) bec. this is hide & seek in another culture, but this was so much fun like the rest of the games mentioned. We used to make our paperboats on rainy days and have it floating/swimming on a stream that’s connected to a canal, we would try to see in the end whose paperboat sank and who made it to the end of the current. Those were the days… hindi pa uso ang computer games non at bawal manood lagi ng tv, lagi kaming me oras at de-susi pa ang tv non…hehehe :)

        Reply
  2. Angie / October 7, 2011

    Chelo, you’re very much welcome! I got so engrossed writing about the happy memories of my childhood I didn’t even recognize you said thanks… oh well, it’s nice to feel young again…hahaha :)

    Reply
  3. Cherie / October 7, 2011

    Well I played pickup sticks, pac-man (occasionally) and I know what Frogger was, but I’ve never heard of Bioman.
    I think Luksong Tinik looks like fun.
    And… I wonder if Chinese garter is the same as Chinese jumprope I used to play in Elementary school?

    Reply
  4. Cora / December 16, 2011

    Hi Chelo,
    I thibk I have seen your name more than a couple of times through our friend Christa’s fb page. I am glad to know that you are also from PI. I am Cora by the way from NC originally from Zamboanga del Sur and would be glad to be your friend. I like your topic on this blog. Made me think to play these with my kids soon in order to instill our culture. Thank u for posting.
    Cora

    Reply
    • Chelo / December 16, 2011

      Hi Cora! It’s good to meet you here :) Yes I’ve also seen some of your comments on Christa’s page. What stood out was about the Christmas eve traditions ;) Thanks for stopping by here!

      Reply
  5. Sheila / April 9, 2012

    I’m guessing we grew up in the same generation. :-) I loved playing jackstones, although I’ve always envied my playmates who were way better than me. It’s good to remember our childhood pasttimes. Way simpler yet more exciting and fun!

    Reply

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