MODULE 1:
INTRODUCTION TO
PHILIPPINE GAMES FOR
FITNESS
Introduction: Philippine Games
PE 004 | CE22S2
What is Philippine Games?
History
Games are universal phenomena. Adult and
children alike maintain their own kind of games
played at certain points in their lives. In its early
development, it is noted that gaming is intended
primarily for amusement and played whenever
suitable opportunities arise. Scholars assess that
games are frequently simplified and are secularized
ceremonies of older cultures. Comprehensive
cross-cultural studies of games have brought us to
the point of identifying these remnants of older
cultures. Most of the research on the games has
given us knowledge of the origins of the games,
how these were institutionalized, and how they
developed through time. Games among the people
of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao share a
commonality. The games selected here are
traditionally distributed all over the country and
played by both sexes, at certain ages. Toys and
implements used in the games are also presented.
The Filipino ‘Laro’
In the book ‘A study of Philippine Games’
(1980), author Mellie Leandicho Lopez noted that
‘laro’ is the Filipino generic term for all forms of
recreational play. The closest word term for the
game is the ‘palaro’ referring to a group of special
occasion games that take place during wakes,
festivals, and town fiestas. This would also refer to
games that are competitive in nature where each
contest is always brought to a conclusion. Major
studies of games pointed out that traditional games
are shared communally within the Philippines
context. The same situation exists in neighboring
countries, especially Indonesia. It is also commonly
known that games play an important part in the
learning process of the child. This educational
influence of games on the physical, mental, and
moral vitality of a child is a factor why games in the
country are still being practiced and observed by
the general public
In this connection, the family plays a very
important role in the transmission of traditional
games to their children. The family, specifically the
parents, reinforces the child’s learning process.
Psychologically, it helps the child in building up
himself to use all possibilities that will make him
grow normal. Lopez also observed that the normal
child’s natural interests lead him to different types
of games at different periods of his development.
The family is a social agent that builds the
development of each member of the household. As
traditionally practiced in the Philippines and the
neighboring countries, children learn from their
parents. It is the obligation of the parents to help
their children learn the social customs, standards,
and values of their culture. This system is also
shared by other members of the family, relatives,
and, by and large, the members of the community,
speeding up the learning process of any child. Also,
with this frame of attitude, the preservation of
tradition is enhanced, and the children benefit from
it. It is in this process that whatever they learned is
right away integrated into their consciousness.
(PHILIPPINE TRADITIONAL GAMES AND
SPORTS,
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 the 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 Commission 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 the limited resources of
toys of Filipino Children, they usually invent games
without the need for anything but the players
themselves. Their games' complexity arises from
their flexibility to think and act.
 This has been their regular and popular require any uniform or specific shoes and
pastimes, as well as the favorite games of our accessories, all that is required is people to play
parents and grandparents until new and modern with and space to play in
forms of entertainment (technology like computers,
and phones) have taken over the interests of Pre-Physical Fitness Test
children. Still, a great majority of Filipino children
still play these games. Fitness Testing is a great way to monitor
and assess students’ ability as it relates to aerobic
Benefits of playing Traditional Games fitness, strength, and flexibility. It can also help
students understand how healthy they are and
learn to set goals to improve their health-related
1. Builds life skills. Playing conventional games fitness.
has always brought students together encouraging
teamwork and social interaction. Most old-school Pre-Physical Fitness Test
games require agility and movements such as
Health-Related Fitness Test
swinging of arms and jumping. This boosts exercise
Fitness
and improves eye-hand coordination. Team games
Component
like Luksong Tinik and Piko require players to come
up with tactics to defeat their opponent in turn 1. Upper-body
Push-ups
helping them to strategize and resolve their strength
differences. ● use towel/mat on the
floor
2. Passing our heritage is equally important to ● position yourself
prone-lying
teach our students about our culture and tradition
● place both palms on
as it is to teach them new age concepts. It is vital
the side wider than
that they know their roots and have a sense of your arm width
pride in them. By playing Philippine traditional ● tip of the thumb
games, children can connect with their heritage aligned with nipple
through sports and this has a deep lifelong positive line
impact on them.
Execution:
3. Bridge generations ● start with your chest
on the floor
Sport is a great connector – across ● cross one knee on the
countries, ages, religions, and even socio- other (for girls)
economic statuses too. No wonder sports bridge all ● start counting going
gaps pulling people and connecting them up then down chest
touching the floor
emotionally. Playing traditional games as a family
● repeat as many
brings the family closer, and the bond stronger. executions as you can
Children need unstructured playtime and for the whole minute
introducing conventional games to the family ● once you pause, stop
routine can be a great bonding activity for all. the timer and also
Children who have strong family relationships fare counting repetitions
well in all other aspects of life as well. ● rest for a minute then
proceed to the second
4. Does not require expensive gear. trial
● repeat same
procedure mentioned
Philippine traditional games like – Piko, above
Luksong Tinik, Saranggola, and many more don’t
require expensive equipment to play, nor does it
2. Upper-body
Zipper test
flexibility
● do cross-sitting on the
floor
● sit with correct posture
● have someone to
score you for this
activity
Execution:
● place left hand on
your back, dorsum
touching your back,
and fingers pointing
upward
● raise your right hand
up, then reach down
for your left hand's
palm
● use the middle finger
as a reference to
scoring
● both long finger's tip
touching is scored as
1;
● the first line of the
middle finger is scored
as 2;
● the second line of the
middle finger is scored
as 3;
● the third line of the
middle finger is scored
as 4; and
● middle finger touching
the palm is scored as
5 hold for a couple of
● repeat the proper
execution vice versa
3. Abdominal
c. Forearm plank test
strength
● assumes a push-up
position but bend your
arms at your elbows
so your weight rests
on your forearms
● tighten your abs,
clench your glutes and
keep your body
straight from head to
heels.
● hold as long as you
can
4. Lower body
d. Wall sit
strength
● make sure your back
is flat against the wall.
● place your feet firmly
on the ground,
shoulder-width apart,
and then about 2 feet
out from the wall.
● slide your back down
the wall while keeping
your core engaged
and bending your legs
until.
5. Lower body
Sit and reach
flexibility
● start with the long
sitting position on the
floor
● observe 12 inches
distance between both
of your heels
● sit with correct
posture, place both of
your hands on the
floor with ease, and
make that mark as
your zero references
on the rule
● then reach slowly
forward. At the point
of your greatest reach,
seconds, and
measure how far you
have reached
● repeat for the second
trial
6.
Cardiovascular Three (3)-minute step test or
Beep Test
endurance
Preliminary Game
- Pre-games are games that are used to
decide the 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”
MODULE 2:
INTRODUCTION TO
PHILIPPINE GAMES FOR
FITNESS
Introduction: Jokes and Trickster & Dual
Contact Games
PE 004 | CE22S2
Jokes and Trickster Games
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 are not limited to:
➔ Concentration
➔ Grit
➔ Patience
➔ Perseverance
Examples 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
Dual Contact games
“Bunong Braso” or Arm Wrestling is a
sport played by two individuals where their arm
strength is tested. According to the Ultimate
Armwrestling League, Arm Wrestling can be traced
back to ancient Egypt about 2,000 B.C.. This is
because of a painting that was seen in an Egyptian
tomb which seems to illustrate a type of arm
wrestling. In the Philippines, Arm Wrestling is
considered an Indigenous People’s sport or “Laro
ng Lahi” as we locally call them. It symbolizes
national identity and pride. It is famous in Luzon as
“Bunong Braso”, in Visayas as “Ukbo” and in
Mindanao as “Tumbahan”. “Bunong” literally means
wrestling while “Braso” means arm. In Visayas,
“UK” means “Arm Toppling” and “BO” means
“Maneuvering Tactics” while the Mindanao term
“tumbahan” stands for “toppling”. There are other
local names for Armwrestling including “Sangga”
and “Sanggol” According to an article on Philippine
Traditional Games, the sport, therefore, is an open
gesture of a gentleman-friendly sport which is a
symbol of true brotherhood, love, and
understanding wherein winning is only secondary
especially that it is open to everybody regardless of
sex, creed, and status.
In the Cordillera Region, the sport is known
as “Sanggol”. It is included in the Region as a part
of their “Laro ng Lahi” often played during the
celebration of Indigenous People’s Month. It is also
one of the games included in the Department of
Education’s Provincial and Regional Meet for 7
years now. It is still in the process of pushing to be
added to the “Palarong Pambansa” since it is a
nationwide-known sport after all. This sport, like
darts and billiards, is also included in games played
for advertisement and promotion of establishments
like restaurants and bars. It is understandable
especially that it is not only enjoyable and fun, but it
also has minimal requirements when it comes to
the necessary equipment or paraphernalia. There is
a standard table set by the Armwrestling League
but as it is a “Laro ng Lahi” in the country, any flat
surface comfortable for standing or sitting
individuals for the sport will do.
“Sanggol” has always been a part of the
Cordilleran people. They usually play it anytime
especially for amusement during their rest from a
tiring day. At present, the sport is not only played
as a pastime but it is reincorporated in fiestas, an
intermission in assemblies, and other community
celebrations. And because of the muscular
physique of the Cordilleran people, some say that
they have more advantage in this sport. Though not
scientifically proven, it is assumed based on
circumstances. Aside from the fact that the
Cordillerans’ enthusiasm for “Sanggol” is revived,
this is one of the reasons why Armwrestling
Philippines chose to perform an exhibition game
last January 19, 2019, in the Region in the place
where you usually find the Igorot cowboys, the
famous Cowboy Town found in La Trinidad, best-of-three or best-of-five format, the player
Benguet. Another rising restaurant in the City of winning two or three rounds respectively winning
Pines held arm wrestling tournaments open not the match
only to men but also to women and transgenders.
Let’s hope that these kinds of sports will continue to Saw-saw suka
nourish despite the battle with the ever-growing
invasion of screens to stimulate growth, physically Nanay tatay
as well as intellectually and to keep our tradition
alive for the generations to come.

Thumb Wrestling

Objective of the game

The object of the sport of Thumb Wrestling
is simple, to defeat your opponent by pinning your
opponent’s thumb whilst saying “one, two, three,
four, I win thumb-o-war!” within each 60-second
round limit as stipulated by the rules of the World
Thumb Wrestling Championship.

Although one of the simplest games known to man,

Thumb Wars can be surprisingly tactical affairs,
with top competitors using a variety of techniques
and feints to overcome their opponent which can
make games of Thumb Wrestling particularly
intense and highly competitive affairs.

Players & Equipment

Anyone can play Thumb Wrestling as it
doesn’t particularly rely on power, strength or
explosive speed like sprinting, weightlifting or
combat sports. However, because the size of the
thumb can play a factor in a Thumb War, men tend
to compete against men and women against
women. Juniors too should only really play other
juniors too if they want a fair match. Having a larger
thumb is much like having a longer reach at boxing
and whilst it doesn’t offer a huge benefit to a player,
it can present a significant advantage in some
circumstances. There is no particular equipment
required to compete in a Thumb Wrestling bout.

Scoring
Because Thumb Wrestling is a simple
win/lose game, there is no scoring as such. Each
match is fought over one single round with one
single point. However, outside of the World Thumb
Wrestling Championships in more informal games
amongst friends, games are often contested in a