TRADITIONAL GAMES AND SPORTS

INTRODUCTION

Philippines is rich in culture and tradition. One of the most significant

aspects of the country’s culture and traditions is the traditional games of the Philippines.
Is very popular among children because there are games or sports that usually play,
and that no Filipino who grows up having no experience of these traditional games.
Traditional Games and Sports are games that are being played by Filipinos with
use of native materials and instruments. In spite of having limited resource of toys,
Filipinos don’t lose the joy of childhood because of the games being developed
by their Filipino ancestors. In this module you will lean different traditional
games of the Philippines.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the module, the students should be able to:

a. Trace the history and background of traditional games and sports;
b. Recognize the importance of traditional games and sports;
c. Identify the importance, benefits, types and characteristics of traditional
games and sports;
d. Know and play the different traditional games and sports;
e. Demonstrate the different traditional games and sports; and
f. Apply the basic rules and regulations in playing traditional games and sports.

DISCUSSION PROPER

TRADITIONAL GAMES AND SPORTS

LARO NG LAHI
Philippines is rich in traditional games that mark in the heart of the 90's Filipino Children,
back when electronic devices weren't common. As kids we had made bounds and leaps to make
past time - fun time.
These Larong Lahi usually played using the native materials or instruments. And due to
limited resources of the toys, young Filipinos used their creativity of creating and inventing
games without the need of anything but the players themselves and make the game more
interesting and challenging.
 Laro ng Lahi 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 Filipino games bring good memories of friendship and fun among those who have
played it. It brings a smile among our elders whenever they remember the days when they used
to play it. It brings out the child among our parents when they mention it, and vividly
remembering their childhood playmates and the neighborhood where they use to play it. It every
adult's wish for the new generation of Filipino to experience the fun of the Traditional Street
Games.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL GAMES

As a game is structured playing, undertaken for enjoyment and educational purposes, it
is characterized by rules, challenge and interaction. With respect this structured play role of
game, the following are the characteristics of traditional game:

1. It is locally organized.
2. Have few rules. The rules are not written and enforced.
3. Have few roles or positions for players.
4. Use simple skills.
5. Have participations restricted to either boys or girls or men or women.
6. It lack of precise boundaries or special facilities.
7. Use little or no equipment.
8. It is controlled by players rather than by referee.
9. Give men (boys) the opportunity for competition and self-testing, but give women (girls)
the opportunity to practice cooperation.
10. Utilize the observation and imitation methods of learning rather than any kind of
sophisticated teaching or coaching.

ROLE OF TRADITIONAL GAMES

The major roles of participation in traditional are:
1. Physical development of the players.
2. Skills training and skills maintenance for adult behavior. Traditional game plays in
developing physical, cognitive skills, social decorum and respect for others.
3. The enhancement of the community values about age and gender roles.
4. Create opportunities for interaction within a community and between communities.
5. Perpetuation of heritage and sense of origin. Traditional game offer continuity and
contextuality of ethnicity. Knowing these games helps in understanding of ones
symbolic, social and physical culture. Local communal affiliation patterns such as age-
set are reinforced as a game participation helps strengthen long life affiliation.

TYPES OF TRADITIONAL GAMES

According to Cheska (1978) the main categories of traditional games are games of
physical skills, games of strategy, games of chance, and games of memory, rhythm games,
simulation games and verbal games. Each of these is described in the following sections:
1. Games of Physical Skills
The outcome is determined by physical and motor skills of the players e.g. endurance,
strength, coordination, agility etc.,. These games can be divided in four types:
i. Games that require only physical skills e.g. running a race.
ii. Games that combine physical skills with strategy e.g. wresting.
iii. Games that combine physical skills with luck.
iv. Games that combine physical skills with rhythm, e.g. clapping games.

2. Games of Strategy
The game is determined by success achieved through the rational choices of the
players. Example: games of strategy includes military games such the defense of targets
against attack. This game allows the players to make use of their ingenuity in order to
influence the outcome. Many games of strategy are combined with physical skills;
however, there are two types:
i. Games where element of luck is absent.
ii. Games of chance where the element of luck is a factor in the outcome.

3. Games of Chance
The outcome is determined by players luck (good or bad). These games combine luck
with physical skills and/or strategy. It is usually played for money or atakes, in which the
winner is determined by a chance event, as by drawing numbers or throwing dice. The
two types of these games are guessing and gambling game.
i. Guessing game
A guessing game is a game in which the object is to guess some kind of
information, such as word, a phrase, a title, or the location of an object.
ii. Gambling games
The game played for stakes in the hope of winning including the payment of a
prize for a chance to win a prize.

4. Games of Memory
The outcome is determined by player’s ability to remember. This challenge the memory,
this usually found combined with verbal game, rhythm games and even physical skill
games.

5. Rhythm Games
The outcome is determined by players’ musical skills combined with skills, e.g. chanting,
clapping hands or playing an instrument to provide the beat or cadence for performance.

6. Simulation Games
The outcome is determined by players’ ability to copy either one another or some other
person or thing. This type of game is an attempt to simulate the decision and processes
inherent to some real-world situation. Most of the mechanics are chosen to reflect what
the real-world consequences would be of each player action and decision. There are
three different types of simulation:
i. Mimicry games, where players copy actions, sounds of appearance of
people, objects or animals from their environment.
ii. Imitation games, where players copy the skill performance of others, usually
in an effort to become skillful themselves.
iii. Dramatic play, where players act out situations and to try different “roles”.

7. Verbal Games
 The outcome is determined by players’ ability to combine their memory with their use of
words. Verbal games are considered especially important means for practicing oral skills
in those societies where writing has yet to develop. Perceptive awareness, association
and logic are components of cognitive skills. These skills are extremely important.
However, verbal games combine memory and strategy skills.

DISTINCTIONS OF TRADITIONAL GAMES FROM MODERN SPORTS

Based on structures and function of traditional game and modern sports one can recognizes a
variations. These differences between traditional games and modern sports can be described in
terms of what characterizes a game as shown in the table.

CHARACTERISTICS TRADITIONAL GAMES MODERN SPORTS

Organization Informal, Local Level
Rules Few, Simple and Oral
Skills Simple, Common
Gender Specific Games:
Gender of Players
Seldom Played Together
No precise boundaries,
Procedures duration, or number of
players
Common, low or no coat,
Equipment
made by players
Social Control By players in the game
For males: self-testing, For
Social Interaction Model
females: cooperative
Learning Process Observation and Imitation
Process oriented meaning
that the activity itself is more
Outcome
important than the end
results.
Formal, Institutionalized,
Local to International Level
Many, Elaborate and Written
Complex and Specialized
Both gender play same
sports, Sometimes together
Define boundaries, time
limits, number of players
Specialized, High cost,
Manufactured
Outside officials and
Bureaucracy
For both genders:
Cooperative
Formal instruction and
coaching
Results oriented meaning
that there are clear cut
winner and losers as result
of a play.

INVASION GAMES FIELDING/STRIKING TARGET GAMES

- are team games in GAMES - are activities in which players
which the purpose is to - are activities in which send an object toward
invade the opponents' players score points by a target while avoiding any
territory. While trying to striking an object and obstacles.
score points and keeping running to designated
the opposing team's playing areas or prevent
points to a minimum. opponents from scoring by
retrieving the object and
returning it to stop the
play.
GAMES:
Invasion: Striking/Fielding: Target:
  Agawan Base  Syatong  Tumbang preso
 Lawin at Sisiw,  Basagang Palayok  Tamaang Tao/Batuhang
 Agawan Panyo  Dart bola/touching body,
 Tatsing
 Holen/Siring Bulding
 Paway

IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL GAMES

This is not necessarily something negative, but sometimes we will find that our children
completely abandon traditional children's games that have so much to offer. As always, neither
extreme is recommended, it’s great that children have fun with new technologies, but they
should also find enjoyment with their parents and in the street, with their friends, playing classic
games that have entertained so many previous generations.

Traditional games give happiness to both mind as well as having good health, it also
helps the children to maintain good emotional stability. And it keeps them fit and healthy.

Children will always continue to enjoy games from the past, as long as they learn to
play them. These games can also be of great benefit to them, they require physical activity,
social skills, creativity, imagination, competition, camaraderie.

Quite simply, traditional children's games stimulate their growth, physically as well as
intellectually. They will also help them to make friends.

BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL FILIPINO GAMES

It is prove that traditional Filipino street games could benefit every child who plays such
traditional street games in Philippines. Also, to introduce the traditional Filipino street games
to the new generations up to the next generation.
 It has different varieties and commonly played by children in the Philippines according
to (Samahang Makasining (Artist Club), 2009)

 Traditional games help the social, emotional stability, mental learning and
physical abilities of Filipino children.

 Family plays very important role in the transmission of traditional games,

specifically parents reinforce the children’s learning process (Hill, 2009).

 Traditional games help the social, emotional stability, mental learning and
physical abilities of Filipino children who play these games.

 Larong Pinoy is all about giving kids fun in the communities where they live, at the
same time, promote healthy outdoor activities through play.

 Outcomes of TSG (Traditional Street Games) to children are combination of exercise

for the body that makes children to be more flexible and physically healthy, cultural
and social learning, positive social values and skill development.

 TSG helps children to retain their playful attitude which contributes to open-
 mindedness, creativity, and flexibility, and problem solving (Calixihan, 2010).
OTHER BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL GAMES AND SPORTS

1. Heart and Circulatory System. Regular exercise or playing healthy games makes the
heart muscles stronger and more efficient. The heartbeats of an athlete do not
increase appreciably even when doing something requiring physical exertion and revert
very soon to the normal rate afterwards.

In contrast, even a little exertion sends the pulse rate of a sedentary individual
rocketing up, and it takes time for the heart to settle down to its normal rate of beating.
The blood vessels dilate during exercise, and so more blood reaches the muscles. It
has been found that during vigorous or rapid exercise, the blood circulation in certain
muscles and organs increases 25 to 30 times, thus supplying the muscles and organs
with more oxygen and a larger number of red blood corpuscles.
2. The respiratory system: Breathing becomes not only more rapid, but also deeper,
thus making increased quantities of oxygen available.

3. The musculature: Healthy Games strengthens the muscles, promotes their

development and increases their efficiency. Stronger muscles lend better support to
the joints.

4. The skin: The pores of the skin open up during exercise. The result is a healthier
skin, because of more efficient disposal of impurities and dirt.

5. Temperature of the body: The temperature of the body rises during playing.
This promotes the burning up of the toxic substances in the body.

TRADITIONAL GAMES IN THE PHILIPPINES

There are a lot of Filipino Traditional Games, and many of these are as challenging and
competitive as Western-style games. Here are some of the list of Traditional Filipino Games:

PIKO
Piko is a popular game played in yards or alleys. A geometric figure is drawn on the ground
and provided with divisions or compartments. Piko is unbelievably old. When ancient Roman
cities were dug up, drawings of hopscotch lines were found on the stone floors
Everywhere, it is played for one aim to win a place to call one’s own. In the Philippines
the game is also known as “kipkip”, “pikuba”, “laban” and “segking”.
Preparation
Draw the playing court on the ground with a sharp stick. (Five rectangles arranged vertically
with rectangles 3 and 5 divided equally (3a and 3b) and (5a and 5b) and (a half moon for no. 6) A
horizontal line is also drawn on the 4th rectangle to be used for manuhan purposes .

Note. A piece of chalk, charcoal or a roll of masking tape may be used if the court will be drawn
on a stone or cemented floor.

6
5 5
4
3 3
2
1
Make available flat pieces of stones which may be used as “pamato” A brick chips, the
bottom piece of a clay pot or a smooth chunk of window glass maybe used, too.

How to play the game?

1. Stand in front of rectangle no. 1.
2. Take turns in tossing your “pamato” to the dividing line in rectangle no. 4. The player
who tosses his pamato closest to this line, play first. This is called “ manohan”.
3. If you are the first player, toss your pamato to rectangle no. 1. Neither the player nor
thepamato must touch the line otherwise you lose your turn.
4. Start hopping or skipping through the compartments. Avoid stepping on the part where
your “pamato” is.
5. Land on both feet when you reach compartment no. 6. Landing in both feet is only allowed
in this compartment and in other areas which you may earn after successfully finishing the
game. These areas will be called your home or “bahay”. No other player can step on this
are.
6. Pick your “pamato” on your way home starting from rectangle no. 5.
7. After you have played in the entire rectangle, toss your pamato strong enough from
compartment no. 6 to pass over rectangle no. 1. Hop again passing no. 5 to no. 1 them
jump over your “pamato”.
 8. Pick up your pamato and with your back turned against the rectangle play area, toss your
pamato towards the direction of the play area. The compartment where the pamato lands
becomes your home or “bahay”. You may write your name on your “bahay”.
9. Start the game all over again without passing through the homes won by players. The
owner of the home or “bahay” is the only privileged player to land on his home or “bahay”.
10. Play the game all over again until all compartments have been won as homes. The player
with the most number of homes, wins.

TATSING

“Tatsing” is a game enjoyed by youngsters in the backyard. “Tatsing” comes from the
English word touching.
The objective of the game is to hit the bottle caps out of the square with one’s stone or
“pamato” from the tow line. The player, who hits the most number of bottle caps out of the
square, wins.
The bottle caps may be substituted with marbles, rubber bands and coins.

CULLIOT

This game is similar to tug of war in principle. It is sometimes called “Hatakang Lubid”.
The purpose of a team is to pull the other team over the borderline.

PREPARATION
 Look for safe place where the players can play
 Draw a centerline and two borderlines which should be one meter away from the centerline.
 Make available a 15 meter long rope with a diameter of 3.81 centimeters.
How to Play the Game
 Have equal number of players for each team. The head player is the team’s captain.
 Separate the two teams who should be facing each other about five meters apart with the
centerline in the middle of both teams.
 Let each member of each team hold on the rope. The end of the rope should be tied on
the waist of the last player.
 Tie a piece of ribbon or handkerchiefs on the center of the rope which should fall on the
centerline.
 On signal, each team pulls each other until one’s team captain crosses the middle line.
 The team that pulls the other over the borderline is declared as the winner.

PATINTERO
Patintero or “Harang Taga” is the most popular among the Philippine games. It is played
every- where, anytime of the day most especially at night during full moon.
A team is composed of five (5) players and a coach. The officials of the game are the
referee, scorer, timekeeper and five (5) linesmen. Two teams compete (the offensive and the
defensive teams) to accumulate as many points by passing the lines without being tagged. The
defensive team is called the line guards while the offensive team is called the “passers”. The
objective of a team is to accumulate as many points by passing the lines without being tagged.

PREPARATION
Draw a patintero court with a length of 13.5 and a width of 7 meters. Divide the court
into six courts by dividing the length into three and the width into two.

How to Play the Game

 Start the game by tossing a coin. Whoever wins becomes the passer.
 A time limit of two minutes is given to each team to score.

Originally, the game was started thru

“jack en poy” Each team was represented by
a leader and the winner in the “jack en poy”
becomes the offensive team.
 There was no time limit. At the whistle
of the referee, all offensive players enter the
court and advance to the next line of the
court until they reach home without being
tagged. On the other hand, the defensive
players guard their lines so that nobody can
cross their lines going to the next box. Tagging
was legal then even if one foot only had
contact with the line on the ground. Any player
of the offensive team who reaches home
without being tagged, scored a point.

If the offensive team continues to earn a score for sometimes, the defensive team is
shouted at “bagoong” by the offensive players. The game continues until a turnover is called.

How to Play the Game (NOW)

 The game is started with a toss of a coin. Whoever wins, becomes the offensive team.
 A time limit of two minutes is given to each team to score. A turnover is called if the time
lapses.
 At the whistle of the referee, players enter the court with a risk of being tagged.
 Passers cross the lines from the starting point and back.
 Line guards who are positioned on the vertical lines keep their feet on the line while trying
to tag the passers. The guard on the horizontal line (patotot) does the same.
 If any of the passers is tagged, a turnover is called even if the 2 minute limit has not
elapsed. The line guards assume the position of passers while the passers become line
guards.
 Tagging is legal only when both feet of the line guards have contact with the ground. No
tag is allowed when the players have already passed a preceding box. The horizontal line
guard (patotot guard) is the only guard privileged to tag anywhere.
 A run is scored every time a player enters a new box. The equivalent point for each run is
shown below. Any player who reaches home scores 20 points for his team.

 The game is played in three innings

 The team with the highest score after the third inning wins the game.

Scoring
Each width line will have corresponding points as follows:

Going up Back to home ground

1st - 1 pt. 4th – 2 pts.
2nd- 2 pts. 3rd - 3 pts.
3rd- 2 pts. 2nd - 3 pts.
4th- 2 pts. Home ground - 5 pts.

SANGKAYAW

Sangkayaw is popularly known as coconut shell

race. It is commonly played in the Tagalog and Central
Luzon prov- inces. This game makes use of a coconut
shell tied to a string under each foot. The string is
placed between the toe and the next one. The loose
end of the string is being held by the hands.

PREPARATION
 Draw a starting line and finish line with a distance of twenty (20) meters.
 Make available a pair of cadang in front of each team. A team may be composed of ten
(10) to twelve (12) players.
 On signal, the first player of each team walks with his coconut shell (hush) towards his goal
line.
 Upon reaching the goal line, be turns around with his stilt and returns to the starting line.
 The next player gets the pair of cadang and does the same.
 The third, fourth, up to the last player repeat the procedure.
 The first team to finish the race, wins.
 A team whose player walks for more than two (2) steps after a fall will be disqualified.

TIYAKAD

This is a Philippine game with the use of bamboo stilts. Two bamboo poles of equal
length are used with a foot size tongue in each pole to serve as platform for the player’s feet.
The prin- ciple of the game is to walk on stilt from a starting line to the finish line. The length to
be traveled is 100 meters.

PREPARATION
 Draw two (2) parallel lines with a
distance of 100 meters apart to
serve as starting l and finish line.
 Mark every 25th meter
RULES OF THE GAME
 Have four players in each team.
 Arrange the players in such a way that the first player stands behind the starting line, the
second player behind the 25th mark, the third player behind the 50th mark and the fourth
and last player behind the 75th mark.
 On the signal “G0” the first player mounts on his stilts and starts walking to the 25th mark.
He gets off from the stilts, hand then down to the second player who does the same while
going to the 50th mark.
 The third and fourth players repeat the pattern until all players have experienced the
bamboo stilt race.
 The first team that reaches the finish line without getting off the stilts, wins.
 A team will be disqualified if:
a. a player falls twice from the bamboo stilts.
b. a player walks for more than two steps after a fall

VARIATION
 Each player walk on stilt from the starting line to the finish line. The length to be traveled
is one hundred (100) meters. The first player that reaches the finish line without getting off
the stilts, wins.

TUMBANG PRESO
This is a very common game played in the backyard or even in streets with less vehicular
traffic. It started during the Spanish regime in the Tagalog region. It was handed down in the
different parts of the country and was given different names. The equipment needed are empty
milk can, slipper or a piece of flat stone used as “pamato”.

Any number of players may participate

although it is recommended that players should not
be more than nine (9).

The object of the game is to hit and knock

down the milk can with the pamato and for the “It”
to put back the can inside a small circle, a few
meters away from the toe-line. When a player is tag
while recovering his pamato, he becomes the new
“It”.

PREPARATION
 Make available an empty milk can, some slippers or pieces of flat stones which may be
used as “pamato”.
 Draw a starting line or a toe-line about five (5) meters away from a small circle where the
empty milk can will be placed to be guarded by the “It”.
How to Play the Game
 Select an “It”. From the small circle where the empty milk can is standing, throw your
“pamato” to the starting line. Whoever has the farthest pamato from the toe-line becomes
the “It”.
 Let the “It” guard the empty milk can in the small circle
 Line up at the back of the starting line. When the “It” shouts “Game”, each of you should
hit the can trying to topple it down.
 The toe-line serves as your home base. You are safe once you stay in the home base
with your slippers or stones with you.

 If the can topples down, you can retrieve your pamato and run immediately to your home
base. The “It” will try to return the can to an upright position inside the circle. He then
runs after the players who try to retrieve their stones. Any player tagged becomes the
next “It”.
 If the can is hit and goes off the circle but remains standing, the “It” has the right to tag
the hitter once the hitter leaves the toe-line. In this case, you may kick or knock down the
can to save other players who have not retrieved their stones.

AGAWAN BASE
(lit. catch and own a corner): the it or tagger stands in the middle of the ground. The
players in the corners will try to exchange places by running from one base to another. The it
should try to secure a corner or base by rushing to any of those when it is vacant. This is
called "agawangsulok " in some variants, and "bilaran" in others.

BAHAY BAHAYAN

A role-playing game where children act as members of an

imaginary family, sometimes to the extent that one of them
becomes the family "pet." They then act out various household
situations such as dinner, going to mass, and the like.
 Players make imaginary houses using materials like curtains, spare woods, ropes, or
other things that can be used to build the houses. They will assign everyone what they wanted to
be, then act as if it is real.

CHINESE GARTER

Two people hold both ends of a stretched

garter horizontally while the others attempt to cross
over it. The goal is to cross without having tripped on
the garter. With each round, the garter's height is
made higher than the previous round (the game
starts with the garter at ankle- level, followed by
knee-level, until the garter is positioned above the
head). The higher rounds demand dexterity, and the
players generally leap with their feet first in the air, so
their feet cross over the garter, and they end up
landing on the other side. Also, with the higher levels,
doing cartwheels to "cross" the garter is allowed.
Players are divided into two or more teams, with a minimum number of two members
per team. During the game, two members of the “it” team shall serve as “game posts” as they
stand opposite each other and hold each end of the garter. The objective of the game then is to
be able to successfully jump over the garter as it is gradually held higher by the game posts.
Just like in the game 10-20, each team also has its own team leader, more commonly
known as the “Mother”. Once a team member either touches the garter or fails to jump at a
certain level, the Mother can still save her team by taking her team member’s turn. Failure to
do so will lead to the team’s elimination by making them the new game posts and will bring the
game back to the first level.
The Chinese Garter game is usually subdivided into ten levels. Most of the time,
however, the players may decide for their desired number of levels for their game. Here is an
example of the levels being used to give you an idea of the game:
Level 1 – The garter is being held by the posts closer to the ground.
Level 2 – Knee high
Level 3 – Around the height of their hips
Level 4 – Waist high
Level 5 – Chest high
Level 6 – Shoulder high
Level 7 – Head high
Level 8 – At tip of the head
Level 9 – A few inches above the head
Level 10 – also known as the Father/ Mother Jump, as high as a kid raising his arms
high on tip toes.

HOLEN
 This game is where players should hold the
ball called holen in their hand then throw it to hit
the players ball out of the playing area. Holen is
called marble in USA. It is played a more precise
way by tucking the marble with the player's third
finger, the thumb under the marble, the fourth
finger used as to stable the marble. They aim at
grouped marbles inside a circle and flick the
marble from their fingers, and anything they hit out
of the circle is theirs. Whoever obtained the most
marbles wins the game. Players (manlalaro) can
also win the game by eliminating their opponents
by aiming and hitting his marble. Players need to
be very accurate to win.
Another version of this game requires three holes lined up in the ground with some
distance. Each player tries to complete a circuit of travelling from the first hole to the second
then third and back to the second again and finally back to the first hole. Players decide on
where the starting line is and the distance between holes. The first to complete the circuit wins
the game. They are also able to knock other player's holen (marble) away using theirs.
Generally the distance between holes allows for several times of shooting to arrive at the next
hole. The players next shoots from where the holen landed. The players take turns of who is
shooting. A variant of this game needs players to requires their holen to pass back the starting
line.

JACK ‘n’ POY

This is the local version of Rock-paper-scissors (bato,

papel, at gunting). Though the spelling seems
American in influence, the game is really Japanese in
origin (janken) with the lyrics in the Japanese version
sound "hong butt".
The lyrics:
Jack 'n' Poy, hale-hale-hoy! (Jack and Poy, hale-hale-
hoy!) Sinong matalo s'yang unggoy! (Whoever loses is
the monkey!)

LANGIT LUPA
 Langit-lupa (lit. heaven and earth) one it chases after
players who are allowed to run on level ground ("lupa") and
clamber over objects ("langit"). The it may tag players who
remain on the ground, but not those who are standing in the
"langit" (heaven). The tagged player then becomes it and the
game continues.
In choosing who the first it is usually a chant is sung,
while pointing at the players one by one:
Langit, lupa impyerno, im – im – impyerno (Heaven, earth, hell, he-he-hell) Sak-sak puso
tulo ang dugo (Stabbed heart, dripping in blood) Patay, buhay, Umalis ka na sa pwesto
mong mabaho ! (Dead, alive, get out of your stinky spot! )

LUKSONG TINIK

- jump over the thorns –

Two players serve as the base of the tinik
(thorn) by putting their right or left feet together
(soles touching gradually building the tinik). A
starting point is set by all the players, giving
enough runways for the players to achieve a
higher jump, so as not to hit the tinik. Players of
the other team start jumping over the tinik,
followed by the other team members.
Luksong tinik (lit. jump over the thorns of a plant): two players serve as the base of the
tinik (thorn) by putting their right or left feet and hands together (soles touching gradually building
the tinik). A starting point is set by all the players, giving enough runway for the players to
achieve a higher jump, so as not to hit the tinik. Players of the other team start jumping over the
tinik, followed by the other team members. If a player hit either hands or feet of the base players
"tinik", he or she will be punished by giving him or her consequences.

LUKSONG BAKA

- jump over the cow –

Luksong-Baka (lit. jump over the cow) is a popular

variation of Luksong-tinik. One player crouches while
the other players jump over them. The crouching
player gradually stands up as the game progresses,
making it harder for the other players to jump over
them. A person becomes the it when they touch the
baka as they jump. It will repeat continuously until the players declare the player or until the
players decide to stop the game most of the time once they get tired. It is the Filipino version of
Leapfrog.

PALOSEBO

Palosebo (lit. greased bamboo pole climbing): This game

involves a greased bamboo pole that players attempt to climb.
These games are usually played during town fiestas, particularly in
the provinces. The objective of the participants is to be the first
person to reach the prize—a small bag—located at the top of the
bamboo pole. The small bag usually contains money or toys.

PITIK BULAG

This game involves 2 players. One covers his eyes with

a hand while the other flicks a finger (pitik) over the hand
covering the eyes. The person with the covered eyes gives a
number with his hand the same time the other does. If their
numbers are the same, then they exchange roles in the game.
Another version of this is that the blind (bulag) will try to guess
the finger that the other person used to flick them.

TSATO

- stick game, better be good at it –

Tsato is played by digging a small hole on the
ground and using 2 sticks - a short and a long one (but in
our case, we usually use the coconut husk in
replacement of the short stick, for safety purposes). Put
the short stick on the hole with one end protruding out; hit
that end with the long stick and while the short stick is in
the air, try and hit it again as far as it can go. Then
measure the distance using the long stick as the
yardstick. The winner then gets to hit the short stick,
starting from the hole, as many times as his winnings. The loser has to run from that distance
back to the hole, all the while shouting "TSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATO"! If he/she loses
his breath while running, the winner hits the small stick again from that point, and the loser has
to run and shout again.

SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONAIRE

ACTIVITY 1
 1. Form a group and play the different team games.
2. Were you able to play all of the team games presented in this lesson? If not, what games
were you able to play?
3. Can you identity the desirable values derived from playing team indigenous games?

ACTIVITY 2

Find out if you can identify these indigenous games by the equipment/materials or playing field they
use. Can you tell the title of the game of each picture?