How do you spend quality time with your family?

With gadgets, it is almost impossible for parents to let their kids engage in outdoor activities, unlike before. Everyone is fascinated with the new technology, especially with the presence of tablets, android phones, play station, etc. One can just simply compare how leisure time was spent in the 90s and at present.

For some, these gadgets and the apps it contain are the epitome of spending quality time with the whole family. However, we must not forget that quality time can also be found even in the simplest and most unexpected things.

Here are some Filipino games that might not be so popular these days but, will surely get everyone involved and will bring fun to the whole family:

Hide-and-seek or Taguan

The game starts with choosing the “it” or “taya” who will be responsible for looking for all the other players. The game starts with the “maiba taya” or a show of hands, either palms facing up or down. This determines the “it” of the game. The “it” then makes a countdown, in order to give ample time for the other players to hide. The “it” for the next round can be the first person found in the previous round or the last person to reach the base.

So why is this game perfect for all ages? Hiding is not a typical thing to do. Before you know it, you are challenging your mind in finding the best places to hide. This game is also a good form of exercise; keeping your body mentally and physically alert.

Luksong Baka

The ultimate rule of this game is to avoid falling and to avoid contact from the “baka”. The “baka” forms a kneeling position, and the bending position goes higher as all the players complete the round. Challenging, isn’t it?

So what makes this game suitable for the whole family? Completing each round may seem impossible. This game is not just a test of physical strength but also, plays a role in boosting your self-esteem and in believing that you can do what seems to be the impossible.

Patintero

The game is composed of two teams, each aiming to have the most number of team players to cross the lines without being tagged. The game starts by drawing vertical and horizontal lines on a concrete floor, with the use of a chalk.

Not only is this activity physically engaging, this game is perfect in instilling the value of team work, especially among kids.

Lawin at Sisiw

Here is another game of chasing. This game is composed of players tagged as the “lawin”, the “chicken”, and the “chicks”. The goal here is for the “lawin” to catch the “chick”. The “hen” protects all of her “chicks”, who form a line at her back. You can imagine that the longer the line, the more fun this game brings! The line may break, as the chasing goes, and this adds more excitement; making the chicks more vulnerable to the lawin. This game typically has 10-20 players, making it perfect during family reunions.

According to legend, the game comes from the story of a hawk bargaining to have one of the hen’s chicks. After some time, the hen agreed and the hawk uses the chick to look for rice grains for his dinner. As the hawk falls asleep after dinner time, the chick returns to the hen, which in turn made the hawk very angry. The angry hawk then tries to win the chick back thus, the game itself.

Playing these Filipino games isn’t just for fun, or a good form of exercise. We also learn values, and before we know it, we have slowly applied these values in our everyday lives.  The best part is, playing outdoors is a good form of spending quality time with the family. You will be surprised; these Pinoy games might just be more fun to do than what our gadgets can bring us.