Remembering Some of the Philippine Games and Toys

When I was growing up as a young boy in the Philippines, we didn't have video games, flat screen TV, or a TV for that matter.  I have 3 other brothers and we kept ourselves entertained but we have neighbors and cousins that we played with.  We kept ourselves busy with many games and toys.  We played shatung, kick the can, we played with spiders, we made our own top, rubber bands, jolens, and for me I always have my tirador (sling shot).  

It was fun growing up in the Philippines.  Here are some interesting links related to Philippine kid games:

http://pinas.dlsu.edu.ph/culture/filipino_games.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_games_in_the_Philippines
http://coconuter.blogspot.com/2009/03/traditional-filipino-games-larong-pinoy.html
http://www.kidscoop.com/webliography/places/topics/philippines/

Is Filipino Martial Arts Pacquiao's Real Secret to His Speed

When you hear the name Manny Pacquiao, immediately you think, boxing, filipino, 8 championship title in 8 different weight class, and great hand speed.  Manny got to where he is at today not just because he is a hard working, God fearing, likable individual, but his best attribute when he is in the ring is his hand speed.   Manny managed to beat opponents larger than him because he is fast.   He outpunched them and many times he also outpowered them.  Speed equates to power.  

Where did he get that speed?  For one he is naturally built fast.  But I always wondered if he has, or have, or still straining in Filipino Martial Arts.  Fililipino Martial arts includes Arnis, Escrima, Kali all of which uses stick for fighting.  Training with the sticks can improve hand speed.  In Escrima, there is a stick training called "siniwali", which involves 2 long sticks that are whipped back and fort in an alternating manner.  As the practitioner gets proficient with this, he can do the sinawali faster and faster.  Eventually, the same workout can translate into empty hands, or punching fist.  Since the hand have been used to the sticks with "siniwala" without the weight of the stick, the hands will strike faster.

I've seen interviews of Manny Pacquiao where he would comment,  "It's a secret" (what his strategy for a certain fight that is).   I would not be surprised if his training regiment includes even more "secret" techniques that the media have not seen. 

I've seen videos of Pacquiao also emmulating Bruce Lee's moves.  Bruce Lee who trained with Danny Inosanto is the father Jee Kune Do (JKD).  JKD incorporated a lot of the Filipino Martial Arts.  Bruce is fast.

This is all speculation of course, but you've got to wonder, what the possibility of this idea being true.  Manny lives in Mindanao, a place where Kali, Escrima is widely practiced, he's a Filipino fighter which leads me to believe he would have ran across the idea of Filipino Martial Arts as part of his regiment.  He likes Bruce Lee and he can be a secretive guy (as far as his training regiment).

Next time you watch him fight notice how he throws his fist one after the other.  This is exactly what happens with "siniwali".

Baybayin and Art Evokes Deeper Meaning

Baybayin is an ancient Filipino script used by the natives before the Spanish time.   When the Spanish occupied the Philippines, they destroyed a lot of the artifacts and literatures written in baybayin.  Now there are very few baybayin artifacts left because of it.  In addition, baybayin where written in materials that did not preserve very well.

Learn more about the ancient Filipino sript called Baybayin from http://www.baybayin.com/ .  

By itself baybayin is beatiful.  But what if they can be incorporated in recognizable forms to create a unique art  and to evoke deeper meaning.   Found these awesome works from Tony Fajarillo, a baybayin artist, through Facebook, and gave me permission to share his works below:

This piece says "matapang", which means brave, fierce, or fearless.    Tony added the sharks head, tail, and fin to form  a shark or "pating".   It is known that sharks are predators of the see.  They don't fear anything.   This piece also symbolizes Filipinos, since they are brave individuals and often fearless.

This piece says "matibay", which means tough or  hardy.     Tony artistically added the legs and horn to form a "kalabaw".  Kalabaw or Carabao is a Philippine water buffalo.  They have been domesticated to use for plowing rice fields or to pull carts.  They are tough animals and hard working.  During the pre-colonial days, the Filipinos used their tough hide as armours.   This work symbolizes a true Filipino - Matibay - Tough and Hardworking.

Here's another website I found related to baybayin with videos:  http://wn.com/Tagalog's_Baybayin_script.