Officials of the local government led by Mayor Marides Fernando recently threw their support behind a campaign to re-introduce Filipino children to patintero, piko, tumbang-preso, and other indigenous games. Together with Anak TV, an organization promoting child-friendly programming, Marikina officials launched “Larolympics.” Larolympics is an intercity and regional tournament featuring indigenous children’s games in a bid to discourage kids from indulging in TV and the Internet. “Nowadays children are always watching TV or surfing the Internet, which somehow limit their physical, mental, and social development. We have to find ways to make them engage in physical activity and, at the same time, to recognize the importance of playing outdoors with other kids,” Mayor MCF said at the launch of the project at the Freedom Park.

The tournament will be held in selected cities and towns around the country, with the barangay or school winners competing in intercity and regional events in July.
Larolympics will be comprised of two divisions: “chikiting” (for those aged 7-10 years old) and “bagets” (11-14 years old).
The games will have some socially relevant variations: The lines used in patintero will be inscribed with children’s rights (as though they are protecting them), while the tin can used in tumbang preso will bear drawings of drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol (as though they are felling them).
At the event, Mayor MCF also declared Marikina as a “city of child-safe media,” outlining the city’s efforts to promote the welfare of children by encouraging households to make kids watch only child-friendly programs and avoid those that are not.
“Now more than ever, we have to be vigilant in safeguarding our children’s values, ensuring that the TV fare contributes toward their positive growth. Children should hear, see, and express themselves, their culture, and life experiences through TV programs that affirm their sense of self, community, and place,” she explained.