Paroxysm to Filipino Native Games

3:29 AM

Summer, on my childhood, was the most auspicious time I treasured. The thorns that brought by a weary schooling had been clutch over my taut head filled with school lessons. The calluses on my feet in walking from house to school, vice-versa, which today I cannot imagine that I have choked that trial, had been eradicated by the joy of being emancipated. And, the numerical problems that flew over my pivoting eyes had been hurled by the wind brought by my run of independence.

Piko, pikyaw, taksi, teks, the ubiquitous tagu-taguan and other native games completed my every day in summer. It healed my somnolent body and lubricated my muscled rested by nothing time for exercise and playing during school days. Besides, there was also kadang-kadang that tested my equilibrium while holding the two bamboo stilts, bahay-bahayan at the branches of the kawate trees and the battle between tops which are made of guava tree polished with sand paper. The cold river was the answer from the sweats we had from the excruciating sun heat while the tempting fruits of star apple tree standing alongside the river pervaded our stomach after the swims we had. Collecting kuhol in rice fields after the river bathe was also enjoyable because laughs and fun took place instead of idleness. Those games and experiences were really unforgettable causing me to miss those treasured moments. If there is a machine to bring me in the past, I would rather bring a video camera to let the kids nowadays see those blissful events of my life.

Department of Health (DOH) was alarmed because obesity cases are now starting to ravage the youth. Not just adults at present time are punctured by the deadly obesity, an abnormality to physical weight which is said to be deadly, but even elementary students are now at risk this time. DOH had disclosed to public that internet and getting addicted to some gadgets are some reasons of this result.

As years comes by, those native games and treasured experiences I had in past are sentenced by the technology to a guillotine death. And worst, the death is being disregarded by the children of this generation who yet not know that those games mark their being Filipino. The demise of those is near, but those jiffies of my childhood that were part of our culture have not given justice by the kids who are colonized and allured by today’s gadgets. The pikoand other games of my past are overlaid by cellphones, online games and other computer applications which are unhealthy. For high school students, counter strike, social networking sites and even the prohibited malefic porn videos are much preferable than enliven our own diversion. There is no artifice to save the games marking our history; except if every Filipino child will cheer-up and know its importance for practice. The feasibility of its death is unpredictable. Thus, even its status is benign or malignant; the key is the Filipino youth.

 As they said, too much is harmful. Although computer applications based on studies are helpful in improving the children’s mathematical and logical ability, there should have an equitable time to be spent for this. Parents or guardians should be alert since physical health is not only the main issue, moral health of the children who get involved in porn viewing is terrifying so. There is a dearth of parental guidanceamong minors; that is why parents should be vigilant to the exploitations of their children.


Technology is helpful to us when it comes in globalization. But again, too much is harmful. We should maintain what are our choices in dealing with it. Let us not be abusive nor let it veil our pristine games. The salvage from death of our native games never depends on the fate set by someone; it is in the action that will enact by the youth which is in first place it is you.

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