Module 4: “Laro ng Lahi”

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN FROM THIS MODULE?

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

• explain the nature and variations of indigenous or traditional games; and

• play some of the indigenous or traditional games.

WHAT IS THIS MODULE ALL ABOUT?

Traditional Filipino Games or Indigenous games in the Philippines (Laro ng Lahi)
are games commonly played by children, usually using native materials or instruments.
Due to limited resources of toys for children, they usually invent games without the need
of anything but the players themselves. The games' complexity arises from their
creativity to think and act.

Traditional Filipino games while believed to have vanished due to gadgets and
sophisticated technology, are very much alive in some parts of the Philippines. Games
such as Patintero, Tumbang Preso, Piko, Sipa, Turumpo, and many others, are still
played daily in neighborhoods. One of the main reasons why some children stop playing
Filipino games is because western sports activities (i.e., basketball or volleyball) are
more prominently organized in local barangays and in schools. Thus, schools such as
the University of Mindanao are challenged to revive the Filipino traditional games
through curriculum integration.

Popular Filipino Games

There are over thirty-eight known Filipino games, and many of these are as challenging
and competitive as Western-style games. A non-exhaustive list of Traditional Filipino
Games include the following:
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1. Patintero

Patintero''', or '''Harangang Taga''' or '''Tubigan'' meaning try to cross my line without

letting me touch or catch you'. There are two teams playing: an attack team and a
defense team with five players for each team. The attack team must try to run along the
perpendicular lines from the home base to the back-end, and return without being
tagged by the defense players.
Members of the defense team are called ''it'', and must stand on the water lines (also
"fire lines") with both feet each time they try to tag attacking players. The player at the
centerline is called "Patotot". The perpendicular line in the middle allows the ''it''
designated on that line to intersect the lines occupied by the ''it'' that the parallel line
intersects, thus increasing the chances of the runners to be trapped, even only one
member of a group is tagged the whole group will be the ''it''.
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2. Piko

Piko is the Philippine version of the game hopscotch. The players stand behind
the edge of a box, and each should throw their cue ball. The first to play is determined
depending on the players' agreement (e.g. nearest to the moon, wings or chest).
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3. Palo-sebo

A traditional Filipino game usually played during festivities or important

occasions in the provinces. The game is so exciting that it is among few
traditional games that are still being played up to this day. It is a local variant of
the greasy pole, likely derived from the Spanish cucaña.
The game includes a long pole made of bamboo with grease wherein players need to
climb the slippery pole to reach the prize tied at the top usually money, toys or a flag
that represents the prize.
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4. Luksong tinik

The game means jumping 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", giving him or her consequences will
punish him or her.
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5. Dadge Ball

6. 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. They end up landing on the other
side. Also, with the higher levels, doing cartwheels to "cross" the garter is allowed.
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7. Hand clapping games

A hand-clapping game generally involves four people. They are split into two
pairs with each pair facing each other. Members from both pairs face the center
(the two pairs being perpendicular to each other). Each pair then does a hand
clapping "routine" while singing the "Bahay Kubo" or "Leron-leronSinta". In the
middle of the song, each pair would exchange "routines" with the other.

Bahay Kubo Leron-leronSinta Variations:

Bahay Kubo, kahit munti Leron-leron sinta Gumising ka, neneng,
Ang halaman doon ay Buko ng papaya. Tayo'y manampalok,
sarisari, Dala-dala'y buslo, Dalhin mo ang buslong
Singkamas at talong Sisidlan ng bunga, Sisidlan ng hinog.
Sigarilyas at mani, Pagdating sa dulo'y Pagdating sa dulo'y
Sitaw, bataw, patani, Nabali ang sanga. Lalamba-lambayog,
Kundol, patola, Kapos kapalaran, Kumapit ka, neneng,
Upo't kalabasa, Humanap ng iba. Baka ka mahulog.
At saka meron pa, labanos,
mustasa, Ako'y ibigin mo Leron, leron sinta
Sibuyas, kamatis, Lalaking matapang, Buko ng papaya,
Bawang at luya, Ang baril ko'y pito, Dala-dala'y buslo,
Sa paligid-ligid ay puno ng Ang sundang ko'y siyam Sisidlan ng bunga,
linga. Ang lalakarin ko'y Pagdating sa dulo'y
Parte ng dinulang Nabali ang sanga
Isang pinggang pansit Kapos kapalaran,
Ang aking kalaban. Humanap ng iba.
Leron, leron sinta
Buko ng papaya,
Dala-dala'ybuslo,
Sisidlan ng sinta,
Pagdating sa dulo'y
Nabali ang sanga
Kapos kapalaran,
Humanap ng iba.
A variation on the game is an incorporated action according to the lyrics. An example is
"Si Nena", a song about a girl named Nena, starting when she was born. The song
progresses with the life story of Nena, (i.e. when she grew up, became a lady, get
married, got children, get old, died, and finally became a ghost). After she died, one
player would act like a ghost and catches the other players.
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Si Nena ay bata pa, kaya ang sabi nya ay Nanay-tatay

um um um ah ah (players should act a
baby action)
Si Nena ay dalaga na, kaya ang sabi nya
ay um um um ah ah (players should act
a lady action)
Si Nena ay nanay na, kaya ang sabi nya
ay um um um ah ah (players should act
a mother action)
Another version of the same variation goes
like this:
Nanay, Tatay, gusto ko tinapay Ate, Kuya,
gusto ko kape, Lahat ng gusto ko ay
susundin ninyo. Sinong sasali sa larong
ito? Ang magkamali ay pipingutin ko…
(clap 5x)
… and so forth

Si Nena ay namatay na, kaya ang sabi nya

ay um um um ah ah (players should act a
dead action)

Si Nena ay mumuna, kaya angsabinya ay

um um um ah ah (players should act a
ghost action)

I DARE YOU
Tournament: At this juncture, you will be divided into groups (depending on the
number of students enrolled and in negotiation with the teacher). The class shall
conduct a tournament on the suggested games below (may change based on the
pleasure of the class).

Activity 1: Luksong Tinik

Activity 2: Dodge ball
Activity 3: Patintero
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BOTTOM LINE
1. Why is there a need to preserve the traditional Filipino or indigenous games?

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2. What can the government or schools do to preserve the Filipino traditional games?

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