The Importance of Preserving Traditional Filipino Games

 
    Magna Kultura, a Philippine based NGO that aims to implement educational, socio - cultural programs in order to strengthen the Filipino well being are responsibly vigilant with regards to the fact that Filipino children nowadays spend they childhood playtime on Internet cafes or with their handheld game consoles instead of socializing with other children playing the traditional street games that for years is a culture  and a norm for a typical Filipino child. Magna Kultura is seriously advocating such concern by holding tournaments and educating the children in their schools all focusing on traditional Filipino Games. But why do they need to go this far in promoting and encouraging young children to play the games? 

     Apparently there is indeed an obvious issue regarding the increase of children spending their playtime in Internet Cafes and the number of children that still are playing the traditional games are seen to be going downhill. Instead of the usual Patintero, Tumbang Preso, Piko, Tago-Taguan, Siato and the like many children indulge themselves with computer games such as DOTA: Defense of the Ancients, Counter Strike etc. and those children who are above the middle class are expected to own at least a PS2, a PSP , an XBox, or a Nintendo DS. As the researchers have done relevant reading about the matter, the researchers found out that a lot of bloggers and article writers who are wired on this issue agree that children nowadays that do not know how to play traditional Filipino games tend to be more laid back, unconfident, lazy, lack social skills and some claim that they also lack sportsmanship and have hard time accepting defeat. Having read these people's opinions and as Filipinos ourselves, it is one of those issues that indeed needs to take a closer look at .   

    Filipino games must at least be seen played by many children if it won't be possible anymore that it would be back in the mainstream , at least that's what these writers are trying to tell. They believe (especially Magna Kultura) that these games should be preserved not only because they prefer Filipino children play these games as like they did when they were in their childhood but they insist and believe that these games help the children grow in mind, body and character and it also helps instill patriotism and nationality in a child's mind. Aside from significant sentimental reasons others believe that it should be preserved and thought to the Filipino children for they think that Filipino games like Tumbang Preso, Sipa, Patintero and others alike help improve a child's physical and motor skills as well as strategic logic and since most Filipino Games are team games, teamwork and sportsmanship as well as self confidence and leadership skills are being emphasized on a child while playing these games. 

    Filipino children nowadays are left with a choice, to keep up with the flow of modern times ,dwell on virtual games and completely leave behind traditional entertainment or try to learn the games and simply have fun with it. But they don't have to make this choice at all if we just lay out our concerns on this matter and find a better, drastic and creative solution to create the balance that is justly needed. 

Sources 


http://bluecheese.wordpress.com/2009/05/23/filipino-street-games/
http://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Effects-Of-Playing-Defense-Of-580808.html
http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Delos-Reyes-paper1.pdf
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-bulletin/mi_7968/is_2007_March_4/games/ai_n34602762/
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=210591292325711
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=10&subcat=13
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.filipino/2007-02/msg00863.html
http://larong-pinoy.weebly.com/index.html
http://magnakultura.multiply.com/?&show_interstitial=1&u=
http://www.slideshare.net/dickieaguado/magna-kulturas-palarong-pilipino-advocacy