Filipino Games

Games commonly played by children, usually using native materials or instruments. In the Philippines, due to limited resources of toys of Filipino children, they usually come up on inventing games without the need of anything but the players themselves. With the flexibility of a real human to think and act makes the game more interesting and challenging. Because it is a tradition for Filipinos to play in a bigger and spacious area, most games are usually played outside the house. Some games are played or held during town fiestas in the provinces. Here are very fun games that i played when i was a kid: Agawang sulok (catch and own a corner) - The it or tagger stands in the middle of the ground. The players in the corners will try to exchange places by running from one base to another. The it should try to secure a corner or base by rushing to any of those when it is vacant. Iring-Iring ( go round and round until the hanky drops) - After the it is determined, he or she goes around the circle and drops a handkerchief behind one of the players in the circle. If this player notices the handkerchief, he or she has to pick up the handkerchief and go after the it around the circle. The it has to reach the vacant spot left by the player before the it is tagged; otherwise, the it has to take the handkerchief and repeat the process all over again. Luksong-tinik ( jump over the thorns) - Two players serve as the base of the tinik (thorn) by putting their right or left feet together (soles touching gradually building the tinik). A starting point is set by all the players, giving enough runway for the players to achieve a higher jump, so as not to hit the tinik. Players of the other team start jumping over the tinik, followed by the other team members. Langit-lupa ( heaven and earth) - One "It" chases after players who are allowed to run on level ground (lupa) and clamber over objects (langit). The "It" may tag players who remain on the ground, but not those who are standing in the "langit" (heaven). The tagged player then becomes "It" and the game continues. Patintero or harangang taga ( try to cross my line without letting me to touch or catch you) - Each member of the group who is it stands on the water lines. The perpendicular line in the middle allows the it designated on that line to intersect the lines occupied by the it that the parallel line intersects, thus increasing the chances of the runners to be trapped. Taguan - hide and seek in America. What is unique in Tagu-Taguan compared to its counterpart, hide and seek, is that this game is usually played at sunset or at night as a challenge for the it to locate those who are hiding. Teks or teks game cards - texted game cards - Filipino children collect these playing cards which contain comic strips and texts placed within speech balloons. They are played by tossing them to the air until they hit the ground. The cards are flipped upwards through the air using the thumb and the forefinger which creates a snapping sound as the nail of the thumb hits the surface of the card. The winner or gainer collect the other players' card depending on how the cards are laid out upon hitting or landing on the ground. There's still a lot more of traditional Filipino games that childrens love to play.

Social Networking Site

There are many networking sites in the world nowadays. Here in our country, Friendster website is known to be the most popular in all. It is a user-friendly site and is very helpful when you are away from home. Though sometimes we experienced some problems usually when they are upgrading the site. I am thankful that there is Friendster because i can view updates on all my friends that are away from where i am. I can view their recent photos, blogs and most of all its easy to send them messages in special occassions.

Coconut Trees in Philippines

Philippines is abundant in many different kind of trees that can be found in any part of the country. Coconut tree is one of the most common that grows almost in all Philippine islands. The country is the world's second largest producer of coconut products, after Indonesia. The coconut tree is considered as the "tree of life" in the Philippines becasuse of its many uses, from its roots to tips (leaves), from culinary to non-culinary. Let me cite you some sample of its uses: Coconut roots are used as beverage, dye, mouthwash, and medicine for dysentery (formerly known as flux or the bloody flux). Coconut trunks, its hardy and durable wood is used for building small bridges, preferred for their straightness, strength and salt resistance. Coconut branches (leaf petioles) are strong and flexible enough to make a switch (a flexible rod, typically used for corporal punishment). Coconut water provides an isotonic electrolyte balance, and is a highly nutritious food source.Coconut shell produces the core of the most saleable household products and fashion accessories that can be turned into lucrative, wide-selling cottage industries and many more other uses.

Philippines Christmas Delicacies

Philippines is known to have many different kinds of native delicacies. Vendors offer a wealth of native delicacies in front of churches after the Misa de Gallo (Simbang-gabi). After hearing Mass, Filipino families partake of traditional Philippine Christmastime delicacies, either during breakfast at home or immediately outside the church. Some of these are bibingka (rice flour and egg based cake, cooked using coals on top of and under the pastry), Misa de Gallo Puto Bumbong (a purple-colored Filipino dessert made of sweet rice cooked in hollow bamboo tubes placed on a special steamer-cooker. When cooked, they are spread with butter and sprinkled with sugar and grated coconut), salabat (hot ginger tea) and tsokolate (thick Spanish cocoa).

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Day is so near but there are still some Filipino that are busy decorating their houses, though others have done it so early. Filipino Christmas would not be complete without the traditional Philippine Christmas symbols and decorations. Aside from Western decorations like Santa Claus, Christmas trees, tinsel, etc, the Philippines has its own ways of showing that it is the holidays. Though not strictly a custom, every Christmas season, Filipino homes and buildings are adorned with beautiful star lanterns, called parol. The earliest parols were traditionally made from simple materials like bamboo sticks, Japanese rice paper (known as "papel de Hapon") or crepe paper, and a candle or coconut oil-lamp for illumination; although the present day parol can take many different shapes and forms. The most base form of the lantern is a 5-pointed star with two "tails" at the lower two tips. Another traditional Filipino Christmas symbol is the belen -- a creche or tableau representing the Nativity scene. It depicts the infant Jesus Christ in the manger, surrounded by the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the shepherds, their flock, the Magi and some stable animals and angels. Belens can be seen in homes, churches, schools and even office buildings. The ones on office buildings can be extravagant, using different materials for the figures and using Christmas lights, parols, and painted background scenery.

Misa de Gallo ( Simbang Gabi)

Traditionally, Christmas Day in the Philippines is ushered in by the nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16. Known as the Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass) in the traditional Spanish and in Filipino as Simbang Gabi, or "Night Mass", this novena of Masses is the most important Filipino Christmas tradition. In some parishes, the Simbang Gabi begins as early as four o'clock in the morning. Going to mass this early for nine consecutive days is meant to show the churchgoer's devotion and faith as well as to heighten anticipation for the Nativity of Jesus. In traditional Filipino belief, however, completing the novena is also supposed to mean that God would grant the devotee's special wish or favour. During the old times, the pre-dawn mass is announced by the ringing of the church bells. In some rural areas, an hour before the start of Simbang Gabi, a brass band plays Christmas music all over the town. It is also believed that parish priests would go far knocking on doors to wake and gather the faithful to attend the misa de gallo. Farmers as well as fishermen wake up early to hear the Gospel before going to their work and ask for the grace of good harvest. The changing of times does not break the preservation of celebrating Simbang Gabi although it is celebrated in new ways. Still, the tradition of Simbang Gabi continues. Part of it are the colorful lights and lanterns that fill every streets. Beautiful parols are hung in every window. Songs of the season are played everywhere to warm the hearts. Families, friends and even individuals find its way going to the nearest church to attend the nine-day novena.
After hearing Mass, Filipino families partake of traditional Philippine Christmastime delicacies, either during breakfast at home or immediately outside the church, where they are sold. Vendors offer a wealth of native delicacies, including bibingka (rice flour and egg based cake, cooked using coals on top of and under the pastry), puto bumbong (a purple sticky rice delicacy which is steamed in bamboo tubes, with brown sugar and shredded dried coconut meat served as condiments), salabat (hot ginger tea) and tsokolate (thick Spanish cocoa). In some Aglipayan churches, after the mass everybody is invited to partake the "painit" (after mass snacks of delicacies with hot coffee or tsokolate) at the house of the sponsor of the mass.

Christmas Carolers

Caroling is a part of the Filipino Christmas tradition. Celebrating Christmas with the traditional Christmas caroling, especially the children - going from house to house singing Christmas carols. Makeshift instruments include tamburines made with tansans (aluminum bottle caps) strung on a piece of wire. With the traditional chant of "Namamasko po!", these carolers wait expectantly for the homeowners to reward them with coins. After being rewarded, the carolers thank the owner by singing "Thank you, thank you, ang babait ninyo (you are so kind), thank you!". When i was a kid, me, my friends and my cousins had fun doing christmas caroling. We visits every houses in our neighborhood and sing christmas songs. Doesn't matters, out of tune or not! Sometimes, we need to wake up in the middle of the night because we hear, carolers who are singing in front of our house. There are also group of carolers visit houses to sing Christmas songs. Some of these carolers raise funds for less fortunate families through caroling, while others are simply doing it for the joy of singing. Some carolers may be a group of friends, or belong to the same community or civic organization. Others may be family relatives who have made it a tradition to sing together as a family. Today, only a few doing Christmas caroling and i miss the fun of those years.

Halo- Halo in Philippines

Eventhough it's not summer time in Philippines but sometimes the weather is still too hot. Halo-Halo (also spelled Halu-Halo) is a Filipino treat perfect for tropical climes. Although referred to as a dessert, it's actually more common to eat it as a stand-alone snack, especially in the middle of a hot afternoon. It's literally meaning "Mix-Mix" and it's a blend of fruits, sweet preserves, evaporated milk and shaved ice. Imagine that. Now if that doesn't make you drool, think about the combination of red munggo beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, sugar palm fruit (kaong), coconut sport (macapuno), jackfruit (langka), tapioca or sago, nata de coco, purple yam (ube) or sweet potato (kamote), sweetened corn kernels or pounded crushed rice (pinipig), leche flan or custard, evaporated milk and gelatin. And to top that vision add up a scoop or two of your favorite ice cream! Just thinking about halo-halo makes my mouth water. It is available rain or shine, halo-halo serves as a delight to all food trippers, young and old alike. In Iligan City, Philippines, a number of fastfoods and restaurants serve halo-halos which will surely make you come back and ask for more. During the peak of the Philippine summer (April and May), makeshift stands are set up all over by people selling halo-halo. The ingredients are laid out on a table and the customer gets to choose which to have added to his or her order. Indoors, it's easier to have halo-halo topped off with a scoop of ice cream. Make sure to halo (mix) thoroughly before digging in. Yes, mixing all those goodies at the bottom without spilling the ice and ice cream off the glass is a skill that needs to be honed by regular indulgence!