Traditional Filipino games are very much alive in the urbanized town of Santa Ana, Cagayan as the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) organized the first ever “Palaro ng Bayan”. This is in line with Santa Ana’s week-long celebration of its patronal town fiesta from June 2 to 13, 2019.

The CEZA Palaro ng Bayan is a throwback of games way back in the 90s and beyond such as sanggul or bunong braso, kadang-kadang, catching the pig, palo-sebo, blowing the flour, tug of war, catching the egg and breaking the pot. It gathered kids and kids-at-heart where games for family and group were also conducted such as the family sack race and obstacle racing.

Secretary Raul Lambino as represented by Mr. Leonardo Cruz, OIC of CEZA Cagayan Offices said that it is high time to inculcate in the minds of the schoolchildren the importance of physical activities where it can reduce their screen time. And one of the main reasons why some children stop playing Filipino games is because western sports activities are more prominently organized in local barangays and in schools.