LESSONS IN PHILIPPINE GAMES

 Introduction (Background)
- What are Philippine Games?
All games that are played in the Philippines, even if with foreign influences, are considered Philippine
games. However, not all recreation or play activities are considered Philippine games in the PE sense. Games
that can be played in the PE sense are those that have rules and have system of determining a winner or loser.
Games that can be played in a PE sense are games such as patintero, tumbang preso, etc while games that
cannot be played in the PE sense are games such as bahay-bahayan, pabitin, etc. Identification of games that
can be played in the PE sense can be dependent on the teacher.

- Why Children Play Games

Children play games for several and/or different reasons: competition, excitement, pastime,
socialization/friendship, challenge, etc. Different children views playing games differently, others who are
competitive may

- How Children Learn to Play Philippine Games

Children learn to play games basically from other children (children of, more or less, the same age group;
children from their neighbourhood; children in school). However, some of the games they may know may be
taught by their teachers.

 Origin of Philippine Games (Children’s Inventions and Modifications, Cultural Heritage, Foreign Influences)
Philippine games are basically children’s inventions. However, unlike modern sports, the investors of
games are not known. Nobody knows who invented patintero because nobody documented who, where, when,
and how it was invented. That is just not how games are.
Some of the games are modified by children depending on its applicability. Game elements like
mechanics, materials/equipment, player movements, playing area, scoring system, determining of winners, etc
can be modified to suit the players. At times, modified versions of games are the ones played.
Most of the games we know can be considered part of the cultural heritage, those that have been played
by many generations of Filipino children. However, some of the games we know have foreign influences like
batuhang bola/tamaang tao (dodgeball), Chinese garter, etc. These games have been “indigenized” or
“Filipinized” that is why they can be and have been considered Philippine games.

 Foreign Influences in Philippine Games

Since the Philippines has been interacting with neighbouring countries even before the Spaniards came,
it is not unlikely that some of the Philippine games we know have foreign influences. For the most part, some of
the games with foreign names like juego de prenda have distinct foreign influences.

 Game Preliminaries (Kampihan or Groupings; Manuhan or Taking Turns)

Before game proper, preliminaries are necessary. How teams are formed uses kampihan or groupings.
This can be done using sing songs like Minnie Minnie or other ways like bato, bato, pick or jack en poy,
pongpyang or maiba alis, bilangan or count off, etc. These work for games that are dual or group. For individual
games or games with it or taya, nomination of it or taya through volunteering, calling out, and the like can be
used.
Manuhan or taking turns is another game preliminary wherein individual, pairs, or groups determine
order of turns. This can be done through volunteering, bato, bato, pick or jack en poy, or based on game
mechanics like in piko.

 Types of Philippine Games (Locomotor and Stationary; Individual, Dual, and Group; Combative or Mock War;
Manipulative; Chance)
Typology of Philippine games can be based on various games literature. However, a common typology
can be based movement of players (locomotor or stationary), organization of players (individual, dual/pair,
 group), nature of game (combative/mock war, manipulative, chance). Game can be grouped in many more types
but the ones used are fairly straightforward.

 Are Philippine Games Dying? (Contemporary Beliefs about Philippine Games; Philippine Games vs Video
Games; Actual Status Philippine Games)
Many Filipinos believe that Philippine games are slowly dying. Because of the popularity and rampant
use of, and easy access to video games and electronic gadgets, many Filipinos believe that these have taken over
the attention and interest of Filipino children from playing Philippine games. The dwindling number of Filipino
children playing Philippine games in the streets is used as proof of this. However, this is not the case. Philippine
games are very much alive! How can this be?
Comparison of “way back when” and “the now” is the main flaw in this belief. The times “way back
when” and the times of “the now” are very different; hence comparison is not valid. Thinking about “way back
when,” the forms of play are fairly different from “the now.” “The now” can be characterized by a wider array of
play forms especially with the availability of electronic gadgets. However, this does not necessarily mean that
Philippine games are not being played. In fact, they are being played. We may notice that the number of players
may be fewer because of the basic point that we are comparing the “way back then” and “the now.” No
comparison should be done because the comparison is flawed.
What can be emphasized is the promotion of Philippine games through the encouragement of playing
them in schools, programs, etc. House Bill 7103 Philippine Traditional Games and Sports Act by Rep. Raymond
Palatino aims to conserve, promote and protect the nation’s rich historical and cultural heritage, particularly the
traditional games and sports.

 Elements of a Game [Objectives, Materials and Equipment, Number of Players, Mechanics (Movement of
Players, Eliminating Opponents, How to Score Points/How to Win), Rules]
The elements of a game include objectives (to score higher than the opponent, to prevent opponents
from moving forward, etc), materials/equipment, number of players (even/odd), mechanics (movement of
players – running, walking, etc; eliminating opponents – tagging, etc; how to score points/how to win – tagging,
reaching a certain number of points), rules (movement is only inside the playing area, no use of free hand, etc).

 How to Modify Philippine Games (Why and When to Modify Philippine Games; Changing Elements in
Philippine Games)
Modifying Philippine Games is not a sin. If games are to become effective, they need to be able to
involve all students whether able-bodied or with disabilities. If a game is not appropriate for a single player, it is
worth examining and altering to accommodate that player. Games are for everyone, but not all games – at least
not in their “traditional” configuration. You can modify any game to include anyone, obliging a wide spectrum of
abilities, needs, etc.
You can also change games to increase the level of excitement and to challenge players (e.g., having
more it or taya in habulan); to accommodate all players or to eliminate idleness (e.g., tagged players in patintero
become opponents or taggers instead of sitting out); to apply more appropriate and/or dynamic mechanics if
original ones do not work effectively; and to combine aspects of other games.
To modify games, select one or more components of the game to modify or change. You can change the
number of players (e.g., increasing the number of taggers in habulan), movement of players (e.g., skipping or
hopping instead of just running in habulan), rules of the game (e.g., including gapang in patintero), materials
(e.g., using a bigger ball in batuhang bola/tamaang tao/Pinoy dodgeball), etc. When you have modified the
game element/s, try them out. Modify other components if necessary.

 Characters and Roles in Philippine Games (Taya or It, Pain or Target, Sakripays)
Certain Philippine Games entail the playing of roles. These roles vary in objectives and at times in
movements and skill levels. Games that involve these roles are usually tagging or chasing games wherein play a
specific role and interchange roles instantaneously. Games like habulan, tumbang preso, tagu-taguan, Pepsi 7-
up, etc are examples. In games such as these, skill levels of players are important to make the game more
enjoyable. If the it or taya has no difficulty tagging pain or target, the chasing and tagging will not be boring,
However, if the it or taya has difficulty doing so and has been the it or taya for some time, some more skilled
players at times intentionally get themselves tagged to become the next it or taya. They therefore sacrifice their
life in the game, thus become sakripays.
There are also games wherein roles change within given specifications such as eliminating one or all
players. Such games include patintero, luksong tinik, luksong baka, batuhang bola/tamaang tao/Pinoy
dodgeball, etc.

RECOMMENDED PHILIPPINE GAMES

From Lopez (2001) A Study of Philippine Games Known Games

Aswang-aswang Agawang Sulok Patintero
Bihagan Lawin at Sisiw Ice, ice, water/habulan/mataya taya
Pusa at Daga Bagbagto Pinoy Dodgeball/Batuhang Bola
Pilantikan Buwan-buwan Agawang Base/Moro-moro
Kawit ng Daliri Dakpanay Piko
Baboy-baboy Night or Day Tumbang Preso
Berong-berong Luksong Bayo Dr. Quack-quack
Hipuin ang Kulay Sambunot Agawang Panyo
Basket ng Prutas Ora-ora Comanching Kadang-kadang
Tatsing Kaba-kabayuhan Taguan
Pari-pari Buwal Pare Holen
Bulong Pari Tapatan Dampa
Bilaran Kalahoyo Luksong Baka
Tablita Sisiran ng Pera sa Harina Luksong Tinik