Philippines Boys Activities: Play


Figure 1.--This Magic Latern slide show Filipino children playing somne time in the early-20th century. The only information on the card was that the children were from Luzon. Unfortunately we do not know the name of the game or the rules.

We do mnot have much information on play activities in the Philippines. Given the cultural influences (traditinl, Sopnish, and American), they are likely to be varied. One observr describes traditional games commonly played by children which use locally available materials and instruments. Until modern times, few Filipino children because most families were poor, had manufactured toys. As aresulkt children invented games without the need of anything but the players themselves. He explains that the flexibility of a real human to think and act makes such games interesting and challenging for the children. Many of the games required a spacious area. They are thus usually played outside the homes. Some games are played or held during town fiestas in the provinces. As an archiplelago many Filipino vhildren were located close to water. Thus play inevitably included ater activities. The Spanish and Ameican influences added new gmes and play activities. It is dificult to know the origins of many ganes. Greased pole climbing is clled palosebo. We notice this is a game common in Latin America. We note games like British Bull Dog anbd Red River. Several of the populr gmes are stples in other countries. There has been no Philippines economic miracle as we see in the Tiger economies (Hing Kong, South Korea, Singpore, and Taiwan) and China, but the economy has developed and most Filipino children now have at last some toys. .







HBC






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Created: 8:56 AM 11/23/2018
Last updated: 8:56 AM 11/23/2018