Profriends: Filipino Outdoor Games

Kids today have been brought up and are being brought up to a culture of technology that some of them tend to not know some of the awesome Filipino outdoor games previous generations grew up with. There are quite a lot and it would be great to teach kids about these not only in school, but also at home. Apart from letting them in on a part of Pinoy culture, it also promotes exercise and socialization among children. Physical development and social development are crucial when bringing up children. Playing outdoor Pinoy games is perfect in a community that offers more space, breathable air, and security. Playing outdoor Pinoy games is perfect in the residential projects of PROFRIENDS (Property Company of Friends Inc).

Patintero

Two teams strive for the most points. How to score a point? After deciding which team goes first in trying to score (decision can be based via toss coin or bato bato pik), the team who would like to try their luck must bypass the other team members who stand in linear formation. The trying team must avoid getting tagged by the opposing team who has limited space, by the way, as they can only move along the lines drawn on the ground. Once a member of the trying team makes it forward and back to the home base without getting tagged, the trying team gets a score and gets another turn in trying to get a score. But if any member of the trying team gets tagged, then they would have to switch places with the other team. The other team becomes the new trying team.

Piko

Piko is the Filipino term for hopscotch.

Tagu-taguan

Tagu-taguan is hide and seek. It is best played in the late afternoon or early evening. Instead of just counting, a song is sung by the “it” to allow other players to hide.

Tagu-taguan maliwanag ang buwan.

Pagbilang ko ng sampu, nakatago na kayo.
Isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat, lima, anim, pito, walo, siyam, sampu.

Mataya-taya / Habulan

Habulan is the Filipino term for tag.

Moro moro / Agawan Base

Agawan Base literally means "capturing base". It is played by two teams with a minimum of 3 players for each team. Each team has a base to protect from capture or siege. Once the base is captured, the team loses. The base is usually marked on the wall or ground. You can use a pair of multi-surface bases used for standard games. The two bases should be at least ten to fifteen meters apart. To capture the opponent's base, one just need to step on it, or touch it, without being tagged. Each base must have, at least, one guard. The players who steps out of the base first, will become the target, or the prey. He can be tagged anytime, but he cannot tag. The first to be caught or tagged will be a prisoner. The game temporary stops to attend to the prisoner.

Langit Lupa

Langit Lupa is a game of tag but the “it” cannot tag anyone who is off the ground or on higher ground (ex. Chair, table, stairs). Sometimes, a countdown ensues to avoid other players from overstaying, giving the “it” to tag others and to be finally free from being “it.” The initial “it” is chosen through a song. The players form a circle and a song is sung by one or all. Every syllable of the song allows the hand for choosing the “it” to rotate until it finally lands on the “it” as the song ends.

Langit, lupa, impyerno.

Im-im-impyerno.

Saksak puso, tulo ang dugo.

Patay, buhay.

Umalis ka na diyan sa puwesto mo.

Sipa

This native sport involves two teams on a court (indoor/outdoor) that is about the size of a tennis court. The teams consist of one, two or four players in each side. The aim of the game is to kick a soft ball made out of rattan fragments, back and forth over a net in the middle of the court.

One version of Sipa uses a lead washer covered with cloth, which gets kicked. This version is played by both girls and boys, but girls tend to use the outside of their foot to manipulate the washer, while boys more often use the inside of the foot. Points are scored based on the number of kicks without the ball touching the ground. If the ball touches the ground one point is awarded to the opposing team.