(my) Games of Summer

because digicams were not around in my childhood 🙂

back in my very much younger days, summer was always  something to look forward to.
after 10 long months, school is over! at least for 2 months, we do not have to worry about homework or quizzes and just play!

i was the regular tomboy, preferring to run with the guys and trying to best them at most games.
we did not have much toys (mostly they do not survive a month after christmas) nor gadgets (no budget! as my mom used to say) so we pretty much just played with the kids, mostly cousins, in the neighborhood.

the following are my 10 (no ranking!) memorable games of summer:

1. luksong tinik:  this one cost me a cracked right arm and about a month of going around with my arm in a cast. 
2. shatong: because dad usually had really nice shatong made for us 🙂 and i always found it challenging to see if i can catch the shorter end of the piece. 
3. chinese garter: several kilos lighter, i was able to jump over an arm’s length above my opponent’s head. no kidding 🙂 
4. patintero/tubig-tubig: you need to be smart, have teamwork and fast to win as a team. 
5. japanese game: i used to love and outrace my playmates and saving the slower ones from their punishment.
6. tumba-lata: the can is usually the small alpine milk and if your slippers are small (they usually are when you are kids) so hitting that so it goes way out of reach, enough for you to retrieve your slipper is just super fun. 
7. dr. wakwak: this is our cool-down game after hours of running around. 
8. baro-baroan: i think this is called piko in other regions. i like the setup part of this game. it has some level of difficulty as some areas get “occupied”. 
9. balay-balay: because i was excellent at cooking leaves and flowers! nevermind that it was all pretend 🙂 
10. step-no, step-yes: i don’t really know the official name for this game but it was fun to play with your eyes closed and see if you manage to avoid stepping on the lines.