1.1.

- All About Philippine

Games
What is Philippine Games?

History
Laro ng Lahi (Indigenous games in the Philippines) was coined and popularized by
the Samahang Makasining (Artist Club), Inc. in 2012 with the help of National Commission
for Culture and the Arts and is used by the other Philippine Local Government Unit, other
organizations and other institution.
However, even before coining “Laro ng Lahi” by the National Commision for Culture and
Arts, kids were already gathering in the streets or in their neighborhood playground to play
their favorite Pinoy games. Where children, usually using native materials or instruments,
commonly play these games. However, due to limited resources of toys of Filipino
Children, they usually invent games without the need of anything but the players
themselves. Their games' complexity arises from their flexibility to think and act.
This has been their regular and popular pastimes, as well as the favorite games of our
parents and grandparents until new and modern forms of entertainment (technology like
computers, phones) has taken over the interests of children. Still, a great majority of
Filipino children still play these games.

Pre-Games
Pre-games are games that are used to decide teams or roles of players. Examples of pre-
games are:

Singing Rhymes

• Rhymes are sung while someone points at people, when the rhyme stops the
pointed person becomes it
• A popular Tagalog rhymes is Pen Pen de Sarapen
 "Pen pen de sarapen de kutsilyo de almasen, haw haw de karabao batuten, sipit namimilipit
ginto’t pilak namumulaklak sa tabi ng dagat"

Batu-bato sa Langit

• A group of players will form a circle

• One person stand at the center and recite the following:

"Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay huwag magagalit"

• After reciting the verse, the player throws either leaves or twigs in the air, the
first person hit becomes the “it”

Bunutan

• Players may use straws, twigs, or any lengthy object that is cut into several
pieces equal to the number of players, it should be of different length
• One person will hold all the pieces showing only the top end
• Everyone draws and compares what they got
• The one who got the shortest becomes “it”

Tao o Ibon

• Two players gets a coin and one selects “tao” (heads) and the other “ibon” (tails)
• They toss the coin into the air
• The players then checks which face of the coin is up
• The player that chooses that face of the coin wins and the other becomes “it”

Tihaya o Taob
 • Two players will choose an object to be thrown
• Each of them will either choose “tihaya” (standing face up) or “taob” (standing
facedown)
• When the object is thrown they will check which side is up
• The one who guessed correctly wins, and the other becomes “it”

Gansal o Pares

• One player picks up a token (shells, rocks, seeds) and encloses them in their fists
• He then asks his opponent if the total number is “gansal” (odd) or “pares” (pares)
• If the opponent guesses correctly they win and you become it, vice versa

Kaliwa o Kanan

• One player picks up a token (shells, rocks, seeds) and secretly shifts it repeatedly
from left to right behind his back
• He then asks his opponents if the token is in “kaliwa” or “kanan”
• If the opponent guesses correctly they win and you become it, vice versa

Pili

• A players rearranges their five finger in one hand with the intent of hiding the
middle finger
• Holding the rearranged fingers in a fist hold of the other hand, allowing only the
fingertips to show, he makes the other player point out the middle finger
• If the opponent guesses correctly they win and you become it, vice versa

Jack en Poy
 • Two players face each other as they chant in unison “Jack En Poy” rhyme (the
words may vary according to region)
• On every third syllable, they make different hand gestures either “bato,” ”papel,”
or “gunting”

1.2. -Formula Games

FORMULA GAMES
A formula game is one in which the whole game is the sum-total of all its parts, and each
part is related to and derives its ultimate significance from the entire whole. A formula
game is governed by precise contingency rules.: This Category is divided into the following
subheads

1. Cumulative Games. These are chain reaction games. The succeeding movements
always repeat the previous movements or parts thereof, then adds a new part each time
to arrive gradually at the conclusion. Ex. Luksong Tinik (hurdling thorns).

2. Minor Formula Games. These are parallels of Aarne-Thompson tale type examples.

3. Circular games. These are verbal forfeit games that require each player to repeat
traditional segment (a phrase, sentence, or verse) of a story. The game stops abruptly
when a player fails to follow the pattern and he is punished. Ex. Juego de Prenda (forfeit
game).

4. Game avoiding pronouns. These are games where the players are made to recite
traditional poems or verses, sometimes lyrics of songs and while doing so must omit all
pronouns. Ex. Buwan, Hulugan Mo Ako ng Sundang (Moon, Drop me a Big Knife).

5. Verbal jousts. This is a game characterized by an extemporaneous debate between

two players or between two groups of players on a traditional subject or any current
social or political topic. Ex. Dupluhan (verbal debate).
1.2.1 Cumulative Games
Cumulative Games.
These are chain reaction games. The succeeding movements always repeat the previous
movements or parts thereof, then adds a new part each time to arrive gradually at the
conclusion. Ex. Luksong Tinik (hurdling thorns).
1. Luksong Tinik (Hurdling Thorns)
is a popular game in the Philippines. It is originated in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, played by
two teams with equal numbers of players. Each team designates a leader,
the nanay (mother), while the rest of the players are called anak (children). The players
chosen to be nanay are usually the ones who can jump the highest. The game involves
players sitting on the ground and other players jumping over parts of their body.
Basically you just jump over people's feet which is meant to be the tinik which one
foot/hand of the 2 players sitting on the ground will be added after all players have jumped
the 1st round
In Myanmar, a similar game is known as Hpan Khone and is played mostly by girls.
2. Piko (Hopscotch)
Piko or hopscotch is one of the most famous Filipino games. It is a group game and can be
played with as many people as you want. Unlike games nowadays, piko is more physical
and requires a lot of jumping.
Growing up, many of us has played piko. You can still see children playing piko on the
streets today. It may have simple mechanics, it is still a fun game to play.
Playing “piko” is very simple. All you need to have is marker usually chalk or charcoal or
anything than can be used to draw lines in the ground. You also need a “pamato” for this
game, this is usually a stone or part of a broken pot.
3. Sungka
Sungka (pronounced SOONG-kah) is a game played on a solid wooden block with two
rows of seven circular holes and two large holes at both ends called "head".
1.2.2 Minor Formula Games
Minor Formula Games
These are parallels of Aarne-Thompson tale type examples.
a. Circular games.
b. Game avoiding pronouns.
c. Verbal jousts.
Dupluhan (Verbal Debate)
Players: Men and Women. The men are called “belyakos or villacos” and the
women “belyakas or villacas”.
Setting: This is generally played at night during wakes. A temporary shelter called damara is
built in front of the house of the deceased to accommodate the overflow of guests during
the night vigil and in the evenings of prayer after the funeral.
Formation:
Two rows of benches or chairs are arranged. The men sit on one side and the women on
the other.
A king (hari) is selected. He is someone generally known as the “star duplero”, the most
articulate spaker in the whole group. He sits on a chair at the center of the two rows of
player.

Objectives: The players are to engage in a debate on any subject or one group accuses the
other of an imagined crime. The latter defends itself and in turn accuses the accuser.
Jokes and Trickster Games are activities that include jokes or tricks played by a
participant. The intention is to render that individual “to a physical or mental indignity or
discomfort.”

These games help develop characteristics such as but not limited to:

• Concentration
• Grit
• Patience
• Perseverance

Example of games that have thrived here in the Philippines are:

• Basag Banga
• Haliw sa Pwet ng Palayok
• Pabitin
• Puto Seko
• Sisiran ng Pera sa Harina
• Tuktukan ng Itlog
• Palipitan ng Dila
• Kuwarta sa Noo