PHILIPPINE LOCAL GAMES

Denis L. Lo, MAEd,LPT

AP IV
SIATO
 Popular Filipino game between two or more players.
Two sticks are used to play this game. One is about two
feet long, and the other one is about half a foot long. A
small hole in the ground is made where the smaller
stick will be placed with one end at the bottom and the
other end sticking out.
The player will hit the smaller stick with the longer one
so that the smaller stick flies to the air. At mid-air, the
player then hits again the smaller stick with the longer
one. This is repeated three times. Whoever hits it to the
farthest distance wins the game. As punishment, the
loser will be forced to shout the word "siato" without
interruption while running back to the original starting
place.
 THINGS • The game needs one long (1 foot) and
one short stick (5 inches) and a small
YOU NEED hole on the ground.
 • At the start of the game the base player
place the short stick horizontally across
the hole and position the long stick in the
middle of the short stick and hit the latter
THE CHANCE
as strong as he/she can to the direction of
OF THE the opponent. If the opponent is able to
OPPONENT catch the short stick, the base player loses
TO PLAY BASE the chance to advance further in the
game and give the base to the former.
 • At the start of the game the base player place the short
stick horizontally across the hole and position the long
stick in the middle of the short stick and hit the latter as
strong as he/she can to the direction of the opponent. If
the opponent is able to catch the short stick, the base
player loses the chance to advance further in the game
THE CHANCE and give the base to the former.
OF THE • If the opponent is unable to catch the flying short
OPPONENT stick, he/she then collects the short stick and
TO PLAY BASE position himself/herself to where it landed and throw
it to the long stick placed horizontally on the hole.
Hitting the long stick will give the opponent the
chance to play the base.
 • If the opponent unable to get the two chances: catching
the short stick and hitting the long stick, the base player is
then advances to the next stage of the game. The short
stick is place across the hole. The long stick dig in the hole
positioned at the center of the short stick and hit the latter
towards the opponent. The opponent gets the chance to
play the base if able to catch the flying short stick. If not
MAKING A the opponent collects and positioned himself/herself where
SCORE the short stick landed and throw it to the base player. The
base player then hits the short stick. The count starts
measuring the distance where the short stick landed using
the long stick if it is hit single, if double the short stick is
use for the measurement. Hitting the short stick triple
counts double the measurement. If the short stick landed
near the hole and could not measure one count of the long
stick, the opponent get the chance to play the base.
 • Advancing the game to another stage, the short
stick is place on the hole in slant position. The
base player hit the tip of the short stick making it
THE flew up on the air then hit it again to the direction
of the opponent. The higher the short stick flew,
CHANCE the better the chance to hit it double or triple. The
TO EARN opponent will get the chance to play the base
if able to catch the flying short stick. If not the
MORE count measuring the distance where the short
POINTS stick landed is instituted using the principle of
single, double, triple hit. If the short stick landed
near the hole and could not measure one count of
the long stick, the opponent get the chance to
play the base.
 • While holding the sticks (the short and the
long) one in each hand, winner will bat
the shorter stick as far as he/she can.
Loser then will shout SHAAATONG....
while running from the base to where the
THE stick landed. If the loser takes a breath
PUNISHMENT before reaching the destination then back
to the base again.
 • While holding the sticks (the short and the
long) one in each hand, winner will bat
the shorter stick as far as he/she can.
Loser then will shout SHAAATONG....
while running from the base to where the
DETERMINING stick landed. If the loser takes a breath
THE WINNER
before reaching the destination then back
to the base again.
 • While holding the sticks (the short and the
long) one in each hand, winner will bat
the shorter stick as far as he/she can.
Loser then will shout SHAAATONG....
while running from the base to where the
DETERMINING stick landed. If the loser takes a breath
THE WINNER.
before reaching the destination then back
to the base again.
 • The sum of the measured distance in
DETERMINING
advance stage of the game determines
THE WINNER
the winner.