GAMES WE USED TO PLAY

By Manny Pinol

www.mannypinol.neet

Under the shade of a giant 48-year-old Guimbal mango tree which I planted as a young boy, I taught my children and their cousins yesterday the simple games we played during the years of our youth.

“Siatong,” a game which involved just two sticks, one long and the other short, was introduced to my children and their cousins yesterday.

They all had fun, and frustrations too, as they discovered that the simple game which requires hitting the shorter stick with the longer stick to see who hits longest, was not as easy as it looked.

Maria Krista, now a doctor, Josa Bernadette, now a 3rd year medicine student, and the youngest Bernhart Immanuel, and their cousin, Jan Andre, were all sore that they failed to hit the stick in the first attempts they made.

When I joined them, all of them had to pick up the small stick from afar and brought it back to me while chanting “syatong……” at the same time.

This was one of the simple games we played as poor children growing up in the farm.

Back then there were no Nintendos, Minecraft, roblox, No Ipads and no Farmvilles. Just the real farm.

But we enjoyed our childhood and became what we are now.

Back then, life was easy and dreams were simple.

And childhood happiness was just a simple “syatong” game.

(Photo caption: 3rd Year Med student JB tries her hand on “syatong” while her ate, Dr. Maria Krista, brother Imman and cousin Jan Andre watch.)

Source: Manny Piñol