What are some of the Traditional Games in the Philippines?

Article by: Krish Valentini

Traditional Games in the Philippines

The Philippines has a rich cultural heritage, and traditional games play an important role in the lives of many Filipinos, especially children. Here are some popular traditional games:

• Patintero - A team game played on a rectangular field where players try to cross lines while avoiding being tagged by the opposing team.

• Sepak Takraw - A sport similar to volleyball but played with a rattan ball and using feet, head, knees, and chest to hit the ball over a net.

• Sipa - A traditional game where players kick a rattan ball back and forth, trying to keep it in the air as long as possible.

• Langit-Lupa - A tag game where players must avoid being tagged by the "it" player while running between "heaven" (safe zone) and "earth" (the playing area).

• Agawang Bati - A tug-of-war game where two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, trying to bring the other team across a designated line.

• Chinese Garter - A game where players jump over a garter or rubber band that is progressively raised higher as the game continues.

• Holens - A marbles game where players take turns trying to hit a target marble with their own marbles.

• Taguan - A hide-and-seek game where one player counts while others hide, then seeks to find them.

• Ten-Twenty - A counting game where players take turns counting and must avoid saying numbers that are multiples of ten or contain the digit '2'.

These games not only provide entertainment but also foster teamwork, physical activity, and social interaction among players.