Old Filipino Games

Title

Old Filipino Games

Language

English

Year

1936

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Muu, 1.936 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 117 Old Filipino Games , (Collected) / ' IN the old days, our grandparents played games that were very interesting. They often used shells and pebbles in these games. Sometimes, they played for forfeits such as songs, dances, food or money. But always, they played for fun, and their games needed plenty of thinking and reasoning. This vacation, you have plenty of time for play. If you get tired of the games you have formerly learned, here are some games which are so old that they will be new again if you play them. Carefully read all the directions for playing them, then teach them to your brothers and sisters and to whoever will play with you. CHUNGCAJAN OR MANCALA Chungcajan is a game that is still being played, but many of the young boys and girls now do not know what it is. It is a very interesting game which will not only rest you but also develop your watchfulness and your ability to calculate. The game is played ~ith a boat-shape board that has fourteen holes in two rows and a large hole at each end. Ninety-eight little shells or sigay are distributed in the holes, seven in each hole. The two players sit at each side of the board. They begin at the same time, taking the contents of any hole they like. They drop one shell at each hole, passing to the left and leaving one shell at the end hole which belongs t<J him. When he has dropped the seventh shell, he takes the contents of the hole in which he dropped the last one. He continues in this way until he has dropped his last shell in his own big hole or cavity. Then he gets another set of shells. Both players continue alternately. If one gets a set of shell and drops the last in a vacant hole, he stops and lets the other continue. They go on alternating until there are no more shells in the small hole. PUNGITAN This is like an old shooting game. Now, perhaps, you play this with bottle covers and centavos. A long time ago, this game was _played with shells. The game can be played on smooth ground under the houses or on the basement floor. Concrete places are also very suitable, and· of course, the floor of the sala when it rains. Draw a ring on the ground or floor. A ring · with a diameter measuring two feet is good enough. Draw a small circle inside the ring. Place a small shell in the circle. Each player has a white shell which he twirls in the air to determine who shall shoot first. If one shell falls mouth ·up and the other falls mouth down, the owner of the first shell shoots first. If both shells fall mouth up or mouth down, the play is a tie, and both players twirl again. The first player places his shell on the line of the large circle. With a flip of thumb and forefinger, he shoots it at the small shell in the inner ring. If he succeeds, he wins the small shell. If he does not, the shell is put back in the inner ring and the opponent shoots. .The bets are usually food and other common ·articles. The one who ha8 the most shells in the end wins.

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