𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐡𝐢: 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

For people situated along the rural areas of the country, it is normal to notice that tradition and modernity coexist. Since the Philippines prides itself as a beacon of cultural heritage, its people have found the midpoint between the future and the past. However, amongst the many traditional aspects that the Filipino people uphold to this day, there is one image that is slowly fading in the minds of the younger generation – the traditional games, or what is locally known as “Laro ng Lahi”.

Traditional games find its roots towards the various cultures of the Philippines, and some come from the pre-Hispanic era of the country. It reflects the culture of the Filipino people and the fact that the younger generation is at the verge of extinguishing what once was a fiery blaze of cultural image, rips the flag of which it once waved freely. With the blaring notion of modern conquest and virtual lifestyle, it is inevitable to question the current stance of traditional games in the millennial society.

With the shifting millennia rapidly unfolding, the stigma of traditional and cultural games was swept aside. A chapter of technology and western influence blossomed over the younger generation that readily accepted it. What was supposed to be a descending of heritage came to be a blockade between generations. A blockade of which modernity emerged superior over cultural significance, and an imminent stamping of ignorance upon the new generation in contrast to the diverse cultural background of the nation.

With the uprise of mobile usage and virtual shifts in activities in the past two years, it is alarming to note that the so-called “laro ng lahi” has seen a plumet in practitioners. Add that to the influence of western sports to the games the typical Filipino plays, gives the idea that the traditional games of the country are slowly being forgotten. Children, and the youth indulge themselves in mobile and online arenas of gameplay where they compete in virtual setups far flung from the concepts of the cultural games of the country. The streets of which were the playgrounds of children now run dry as the mobile arena expands.

Moreover, it is deemed clear to understand that people, not only the youth enjoy the sports that are brought by western influence more. Sports like basketball, volleyball, football, and the likes are more likely to be featured rather than that of the locally known sepak takraw and arnis. The level of which they are played has a big difference in the local setup. For example, basketball and volleyball are aired constantly thanks to major associations like the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) which give the Filipino audience live coverage of the sporting events. For sepak takraw and arnis, the associations are less known and media companies seldomly cover the events of the games for live viewing. Factors like these contribute to the slow decay of traditional games in the country.

However, in the senate stage, a bill was proposed by Senator Manuel Villar Jr. on July 12, 2010, known as Senate Bill 1108 of the 15th Congress or the Traditional Games and Sports Act of 2010. The bill sought to include traditional games and sports in the Physical Education (P.E.) courses in all levels of educational institutions and sports activities of the Local Government Units, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes. Moreover, Section 4 of the bill urged the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to include the traditional games in school-based competitions such as Intramurals.

The bill included traditional games in the likes of agawang sulok, araw-lilim, arnis, aso at pusa, bulong pari, bunong braso, dama, garter, hulaan, holen, iring-iring, istatwa, jack-en-poy, jackstone, kapit-bakod, laglag panyo, lawin at sisiw, luksong baka, luksong lubid, luksong tinik, palo sebo, patintero, piko, pitik-bulag, saranggolahan, sipa, siklot, siksik bulak, sungka, suot lungga, taguan, takip-silim, tatsing, tumbang preso, turumpo, viola, yoyo and such other traditional games played in the various localities in the country, as based on Section 3.

Consequently, higher education institutions like the Northwestern University have made efforts to preserve these traditional games by conjoining it to the annual intramurals. This year, it became part of the contested events in the games as a breather outside the competitive atmosphere of the returning in-person meet. Students have found it an avenue to enjoy themselves out of the friendly rivalry build up in the games.

Moves like these do not only highlight the importance of such games to the cultural identity of the country, but it also allows students to have an avenue to realize physical attributes they can use in other sporting events outside of the traditional aspect. Adding cultural games to the sports program of educational institutions provides an opportunity for learners to appreciate the games more by indulging and immersing themselves in the experience of the said activities. By placing the traditional games alongside the more modern events, the laro ng lahi would make it across generations to stamp cultural significance in the country.