These days when you talk about games children play, it normally involves the kids controlling something on at a screen. It may be the screen of a television, computer, tablet, or a smartphone. While there are some kids who go out when to play when they have nothing to do over the weekend, more often than not you will see kids sitting down while staring at a screen.
This was not the case decades ago. Cebuano kids used to go out of the house to play with other neighborhood kids. We came up with a list of games Cebuanos used to play when they were still young.
Shatong
Shatong is one of the most popular games Cebuanos used to play. This outdoor game only needed sticks and a field or a small patch of land for the playing area. There were even instances when kids would simply try to find a hole on a concrete road and play the game in the streets inside a subdivision. The game involves hitting a small stick with a big stick. The goal is to hit the stick hard enough so it will fly far from the hole. The opposing team would try to catch it while it is in the air. But, the game does not end here since it has many other levels that allow kids to exercise their muscles over the weekend.
This was not the case decades ago. Cebuano kids used to go out of the house to play with other neighborhood kids. We came up with a list of games Cebuanos used to play when they were still young.
Shatong
Shatong is one of the most popular games Cebuanos used to play. This outdoor game only needed sticks and a field or a small patch of land for the playing area. There were even instances when kids would simply try to find a hole on a concrete road and play the game in the streets inside a subdivision. The game involves hitting a small stick with a big stick. The goal is to hit the stick hard enough so it will fly far from the hole. The opposing team would try to catch it while it is in the air. But, the game does not end here since it has many other levels that allow kids to exercise their muscles over the weekend.
Shatong – image source: filipinolifeinpictures.wordpress.com
Tago-tago (Hide-and-Seek)
Tago-tago or hide-and-seek is another game Cebuanos used to play when they were kids. The game did not require any equipment to play. A playing area where the kids can hide was all that was needed. There are even instances when the play area is the whole subdivision. The “it” would be asked to count while the other kids find a place where they can hide. After counting, the “it” would look for the other kids in the playing area. There are some variations in the game, but it essentially required one person to look for everybody else in the playing area.
Japanese Game
Tago-tago or hide-and-seek is another game Cebuanos used to play when they were kids. The game did not require any equipment to play. A playing area where the kids can hide was all that was needed. There are even instances when the play area is the whole subdivision. The “it” would be asked to count while the other kids find a place where they can hide. After counting, the “it” would look for the other kids in the playing area. There are some variations in the game, but it essentially required one person to look for everybody else in the playing area.
Japanese Game
Japanese Game – image source: bisayaphilippines.blogspot.com
Japanese game is a variation of a game of tag. The game divides the kids into two teams with each team protecting their base from the opponents. Each time a player leaves the base, a player from the opposing team tries to catch him or her. Nobody really knows why the game was called Japanese game, but it was a game Cebuano kids used to play after school while waiting for their parents to pick them up.
Tubig-Tubig
A direct translation of tubig-tubig in English is water-water. The only connection of the game to water is that water is sometimes used to make the lines used in the playing area. Similar to the Japanese game, tubig-tubig involves teams going up against each other. The defensive team tries to catch at least one player of the opposing team as they try to cross the lines on the ground. On the other hand, all members of the attacking team try to cross all the lines before going back to their starting point without anyone getting caught.
Tubig-Tubig
A direct translation of tubig-tubig in English is water-water. The only connection of the game to water is that water is sometimes used to make the lines used in the playing area. Similar to the Japanese game, tubig-tubig involves teams going up against each other. The defensive team tries to catch at least one player of the opposing team as they try to cross the lines on the ground. On the other hand, all members of the attacking team try to cross all the lines before going back to their starting point without anyone getting caught.
Tubig-tubig – image source: globalnation.inquirer.net
Tumba Lata
Tumba lata is another game kids used to play in the neighborhood. The game only required an empty can and slippers. The object of the game is to hit the can placed in the center of the circle using the slippers. The tin can is guarded by an “it,” who tries to catch the other kids as they try to retrieve their slippers after setting the can upright again.
Tumba lata is another game kids used to play in the neighborhood. The game only required an empty can and slippers. The object of the game is to hit the can placed in the center of the circle using the slippers. The tin can is guarded by an “it,” who tries to catch the other kids as they try to retrieve their slippers after setting the can upright again.
Tumba Lata– image source: pinterest.com
These are just five outdoor games Cebuano kids used to play during a time when video games, computers, and smartphones have yet to be invented. While these games can still be played by the kids of today, it is important to make sure they play in a safe and secure area. After playing, they can share a box of Peanut Browas, Butterscotch, or Toasted Mini Mamons for their snack.
What other games can you recall playing when you were still a kid in Cebu?
What other games can you recall playing when you were still a kid in Cebu?
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