The Games We Played as Kids: Outdoor Games Edition III
1. Jack-en-Poy
This game is usually used to decide who will go first in another game but I tell you that rock-paper-scissor game is another outdoor game, too. This is basically a race game which means the goal of the game is to finish track.
Two players are needed for the game. They will set a particular distance in which they will compete. If the area is not too long, the course could be adjusted and be set as a two-way path where in the player who reaches the end point will go back to the starting point to make up for the missing distance.
The players will do the Jack-en-Poy while chanting:
"Jack-en-Poy!
Hali-hali-hoy!
Sinong matalo,
siyang unggoy!"
In english:
"Jack-en-Poy
Hali-hali-hoy!
Whoever loses,
is the monkey!"
The rock crushes the scissors while the scissors cut the paper. Lastly, the paper bags the rock. The values for the rock, paper, and scissors are 10 steps, 5 steps and 2 steps. If the player won using the rock, he will have to move 10 steps toward the finish line. If he won using the paper, he will continue with 5 steps and so on.
It is important that the two players will still be able to see each other if another moves forward that's why we prefer playing this at the roadside wherein the players stay across each other at the both edges of the road to see each other and to avoid the passing vehicles. The player who gets first to the finish line is the winner.
There is another version of Jack-en-Poy where it is played by 3 or more players. The punishment for this game is a little violent for kids such that the winner for a round slaps all the losers or hit them in the head or flicks them in the forehead really hard. We didn't play this one, though because it's not proper.
Another version of this game is deciding the number of wins needed firsthand. For instance, the player who'll win should have 5 winning points. The two players will do jack-en-poy, then and the first to reach the 5 points, wins.
The last two versions mentioned above can be played indoors.
2. Langit-Lupa
This game is translated to "Heaven-Earth". This is actually a tagging game with a twist. The Heaven is any platform or object that is elevated while Earth is the soil or the floor itself. Any open space where the players can run is the best playground.
The game starts by gathering the players in a circle. One player will point at all the players consecutively with every syllable of the chant starting from himself. The chant goes like this:
"Langit, lupa, impyerno!
Im-im-impyerno.
Saksak puso, tulo ang dugo.
Patay, buhay.
Maalis ka na dyan!" (or Umalis ka na dyan sa nilalagyan mo!)
This chant is translated to:
"Heaven , earth, hell!
Hell, hell, hell.
Stab the heart,
Out comes the blood.
Dead, alive.
And, out you go!" (or Get out of your place!)
The last person he points at will be the "it" of the game. He will tag and chase any of the other players to replace him as "it"; however, the runners can be immune of the tag when they step up into an elevated area or simply put the heaven where the "it" can't follow. The "it" can only tag the players who are on Earth.
To avoid being the buro or the atchoy (a loser or someone who can't escape being the "it"), rules are applied to the game such as:
- The player who stepped up to Heaven will lose his immunity after 10 or 15 seconds
- The player who climbed up to Heaven should transfer from one Heaven to another for them to runaway or to protect their immunity.
3. Sili-Tubig
This is another tagging game with a twist. The "it" is again determined by a chant:
"Sili-sili, maanghang (Pepper-pepper, spicy)
Tubig-tubig, malamig." (Water-water, cold.)
One player will point at everybody for each syllable in sequence while singing this chant. The last pointed player will be the "it". The "it" will tag all the players while voicing the word siliand if tagged, the other players will motion their hands like they ate something spicy. They could be rescued by someone who isn't tagged, yet. This player will say tubig to rescue the tagged participant. The game will end if all the players are caught. The "it" will be changed again by singing the chant to start another round of the game.
4. Gagamba Wars
Gagamba means spider. This game is supposed to be an indoor game; however, I considered catching all the spiders so I classified it as an outdoor game. The boys loved this game. I liked to tag along with my brother and cousin in catching spiders but they always left me out. So I couldn't do anything but watch the wars only.
The boys will catch spiders and often, reach far and wild forests. They will store their spiders in match boxes and separate them using a coconut leaf or a carton divider placed inside.
The boys will do spider wars, then. They will use a stick; usually a stick from the walis ting-ting (broomstick) and let two spiders fight. They will wait until the other spider wraps the other in webs and eats it. It is also considered a defeat when the spider falls 3 times from the stick. The player whose spider loses is defeated.
5. Dr. Wakwak
This is a game where a lot of players can participate into. It is best played outside because it can take a lot of space. However, it could also be played inside a covered court. This game is also known as Dr. Kwak-kwak or Dr. Quack-quack.
The goal of the game is literally to have fun in solving puzzles. "Ompyang: Maiba Taya!" can be done to decide who'll be Dr. Wakwak. Or someone could volunteer. He will turn away from the group, close his eyes or leave the place in order to not see how the players do the puzzle.
Now, the puzzle is the players themselves. They will form a circle and hold hands. Then, they will entangle themselves in various, weird but not painful ways. After doing so, they will call:
"Dr. Wakwak, tulungan mo kami!" (Dr. Wakwak, please help us!)
Or in other dialect:
"Dr. Wakwak, buligi kami!"
Or:
"Dr. Wakwak, tabangi mi!"
The doctor will come, then. And he will fix them. He should be able to undo all the tangled arms. The game will end if he succeeds in unraveling them. The group will decide who'll be the next Dr. Wakwak, then and repeat the game.