Traditional Sports and Games hold special status in The Philippines.
Mr. Hari Osais Banaag, member Advisory Committee Traditional Sports & Games (TSG), UNESCO, and Mr. Shammi Rana, Rapporteur, Advisory Committee TSG, UNESCO, were welcomed to The Philippines by the Philippine Global Sikaran Federation and The Philippines traditional sports community.
Recognition at World City College
At World City College in Antipolo City, Rana and Banaag were recognized for their commitment to TSG. There, they learned that TSG will be included in various festivals that will take place over the next few months.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a member of the United Nations Development group. Its goal is to contribute to building peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, culture, and sports. The mission includes safeguarding and promoting TSG, as well as to enhancing intercultural dialogue and peace, reinforcing youth empowerment, promoting ethical sports practices, and providing opportunities for traditional sports.
Filipinos love sports and many Filipinos have name recognition in the international sports scene, including Manny Pacquiao, one of the world’s greatest boxers, and chess grandmaster, Wesley So.
TSGs are a prominent feature in the Philippines, including
Arnis (Eskrima), the Filipino version of martial arts.
Sikaran, a martial arts sport, which uses feet rather than the hands.
Boys playing Sipa (photo, About Cagayan de Oro)
Sipa (“to kick”) is a native sport with the goal of kicking a ball back and forth until it lands on the floor of the opponent’s side.
Dumog, which is a form of traditional wrestling, combining martial arts techniques.
Palo-Sebo, a common sport played by locals, has greasy poles with a bag of prizes pinned at the top. Whoever gets the prize in the quickest time wins.
Sungka, a game for two, is played using a wooden block with 16 holes that can hold pieces of pebbles, marbles, or seeds. Two of the holes (called ‘heads’) remain empty, each player protects their own ‘head.’ The winning player is the one who gathers more pebbles in her or his ‘head.’
