Dumaguete reintroduces PNoy games

CEBU, Philippines - The Dumaguete City Tourism Office will reintroduce the traditional Filipino games in a one-day activity dubbed as “Balik-Dulang Pinoy” on Saturday (May 26) as a major activity of the city's Santacruzan Festival, which slated its procession on May 30.

City tourism officer Woodrow Maquiling Jr., the vice mayor-elect, told The Freeman it is now high time to instill the values of sportsmanship as part of its commitment to strengthen sports tourism in this part of the country.

“Everything played by elders during their childhood days has to be reintroduced to the kids of today who are most of the time glued to the PC games, home videos, gaming consoles and the like, Maquiling said, citing surveys in the United States where children's obesity, short attention span and declining school grades are fast becoming true to the kids in the city.

Maquiling said among the traditional Filipino games to be played are the palo sebo or greased pole, pot breaking,  takyan, patentiro, paaway og damang, sungka, luksong-tinik, tug-of-war, sack race and dakpanay ug baktin, of which the organizers will release three native piglets at the Quezon Park and whoever catches them will own the piglets as the prize.

Maquiling said the “Balik-Dulang Pinoy,” is not about the prizes, but the fun and enjoyment of children, ages 4-13, and reliving the memories of the past to honor the tradition of Dumagueteños and Negrenses. ---(FREEMAN)