Every time I see a child play with a Playstation or Xbox, I can’t help but ask whether Filipino children, or any child for that matter, still play traditional games.
I remember growing up playing with our traditional games such as Taguan, Piko, Tumbang Preso, and a lot of other games which doesnt require high tech gadgets nor money. We made cars from tin cans, balls from used socks and other toys made from recycled materials. All we need was a little imagination and with the use of available resources, we didn’t spend a lot of money in order to have fun as kids.
It’s always been group games for us. We would gather with the other kids in the neighborhood and play our favorite Filipino traditional games which are usually played outdoors. That’s why you would seldom see obese children back then.
With the advent of online gaming and high tech gaming gadgets, children now seldom play traditional games. To think that there are 40 known Filipino games, it’s a shame that these kids no longer get to play them as much as we have.
Internet has made it possible for games to be played online either against a computer program or against a real person thousands of miles away. Even casino games can now be played online with real money as bets. These games can also be downloaded and played from the desktop. Imagine playing poker and roulette in your pajamas. That’s how convenient it is to play online casino games these days.
Online Role Playing Games are also a hit with both children and adults. Internet shops are always filled to the brink with gamers and these shops are usually open 24 hours a day.
Clearly, technology has changed the way we as children and adults play over the years. Although it’s not always bad, some of our traditional games are slowly vanishing especially for those who live in urban areas. Unless there’s an organized sports activities for traditional Filipino games, these games would just slowly fade away and the next generation would not know how they are played.
