Traditional games set for exhibition
ROXAS CITY – A dozen of traditional games will be played by various Indigenous Peoples group members on October 3 at the open field of the Villareal Stadium here as part of this year’s Dungog: Indigenous Peoples festival.
The various traditional games for exhibition include So-ong (Punong Braso), Kahi, Kadang, Trompo, Lisik-Lisik, Dumog, Pana’, Bangkaw, Pulas, Busog, Bitbitnag, and hand wrestling.
“Participants will have the opportunity to interact with other attendees in practicing various traditional games provided that the mechanics set by IP leaders who introduced the particular games warrant participation,” said a festival briefer on the activity.
Based on Dungog Secretariat records, the various ethno-linguistic communities that will participate in the indigenous games presentation are Mangyan (Mindoro), Ati (Western Visayas provinces), Jama Mapun and Pala’wan (Palawan), Panay Bukidnon (Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan and Antique), Agta/Ita (Camarines Sur), Tumandok (Negros Occidental), Bagobo (Davao), and Kalinga.
The showcase of native and traditional games during the IP month celebration intends to preserve and enhance such sports from vanishing from the Filipinos rich cultural heritage.
An online article of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) noted that the upcoming festival will be “the very first IP month celebration that will bring representatives from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, in which traditional and cultural practices of 18 major communities will be highlighted.”
The week-long celebration will culminate on Oct. 2 with a Welcome Ceremony that will be highlighted by a Solidarity Parade, Opening Program and Welcoming of guests and participants to the IP traditional houses.