LARONG PINOY (PHILIPPINE TRADITIONAL GAMES)

Artwork photographed by Mr. Glenn Martin of Glenn Martin Photography
Artwork by: Dennis Gonzales
Dimensions: 178 cm x 140 cm
Medium: Oil Painting
Year: 2018
Location: Canberra PE
Filed Under: Kulay at Kwento
Description

“Larong Pinoy” (Philippine Traditional Games) painted by Mr. Dennis Gonzalez was donated to the Philippine Embassy in Canberra on June 12, 2018. The painting brings to life a tableau of children playing traditional Filipino games, namely:

Chinese garter wherein players take turns jumping over a long elastic band.

Palo sebo wherein players attempt to climb a tall, greased pole to reach a prize at the top.

Luksong tinik translates to “jump over thorns”. The game involves a player jumping over the hands of other players who are sitting on the ground and bent over.

Luksong baka translates “jump over the cow”. It is similar to Luksong Tinik where players jump over another player who is standing upright.

Sungka is a traditional Filipino board game played with shells or seeds, where players move the pieces around the board to capture their opponent’s pieces.

Tumbang preso involves players trying to knock over a can or bottle placed in the center while a designated “it” player guards the can and tries to tag other players.

Pukpok palayok translates to “hit the pot” wherein players are blindfolded and take turns trying to break a clay pot (usually filled with treats) with a stick while being spun around to disorient them. The painting celebrates joy and unity through nostalgia in the cherished games that Filipinos had once filled their own childhoods and are now being passed on to the next generations.

Written by: Angela Kristel C. Laurente