Games from the Past

Everyone has a favorite game during childhood. The games that Filipino children have been addicted with only last for a certain time of the year. Hence, their attention to a game changes as time pass by. Apparently, the games that the Filipino children used to play before were very different from what the children have today. Obviously, the western culture has influence so much the manner of their recreational activity. Not to mention the continuous advancement of technology.

The games before requires more physical ability. Usually, it was played outside and with the company of other children in the a particular town. The games offered greater challenge and ability. Not only did games like taguan or luksong tinik keep the body active and perspiring, they also develop quick thinking, creativity, camaraderie, sportsmanship among the players.

If a particular game became a hit, then the same game will be played by children everywhere. Games like marble games (jolens), rubber band (lastiko), top (turumpo), yoyo and kite (saranggola) recurred in a cyclic way. But the most popular games among the Filipino children were those that were played throughout the year and doesn’t require extra cost or special props. These includes piko, sipa, syato, tumbang preso, patintero, luksong tinik and taguan.
The sungka and jackstones were the sit-down games which are less adventurous but not exactly dull.

Despite of the fun and excitement that these games incorporated to the Filipino kids before, it was such a quite disappointment that the games are slowly being lost on today’s generation for several reasons. The streets today are too much busy with vehicular traffic. Danger lurks almost everywhere. Schools demand more hours of assignment and at home tasks. Another thing is that children are just hooked on television and computers so tend not to play outside anymore.

If they will stay only as memory, it was such a very good one. And the kids now a day are very unfortunate not to have the chance to experience it. The bliss that every game had given to those children during those times will remain vivid in their memories even if as time goes by.

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