(FIRST PHOTO) VICTORY: Basagan ng Banga’s main objective is to hit the pot that was tied overhead by a contestant which is blindfolded. The pot contained candies, coins, flour and other goodies which will be free for all if the contestant hit and breaks the pot.  In this photo, kids are excited to get candies after the contestant successfully hit the pot.

(SECOND PHOTO) WAVE THE FLAG: Frank Aldrin is halfway through in reaching the top of the bamboo pole during the palosebo competion.

(THIRD PHOTO) CHASING THE PIGLET:The “habulan ng biik” is also a popular Filipino traditional game. A small pig is set loose in a confined area, participants chase and catch the pig. The contestant who is successful in catching the pig wins, and the reward is the pig itself.

SANTA ANA, Cagayan, June 11 (PIA)- The rapid urbanization of this town never stopped kids, youth and kids-at-heart from experiencing and loving every minute of playing traditional games as the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) spearheaded the first ever ‘Palaro ng Bayan’ recently in line with the celebration of the town’s fiesta.

The participants enjoyed playing basagan ng banga, hulihan ng biik, palosebo, kadang-kadang, bunong-braso (sanggul in Iloko), tug of war, and other Filipino traditional games.

“Bakit hindi natin ibalik ang nakasanayan noong 90’s kung saan lahat ay masaya,” said Leonardo Cruz, CEZA head technical assistant and OIC for Cagayan offices.

Cruz said it’s high time to inculcate in the minds of the schoolchildren the importance of physical activities and that these kind of activities reduce the screen time of children.

BEYOND HAPPINESS: These children are more than happy when they receive their prizes from Mr. Leonardo Cruz, CEZA head technical assistant and OIC for Cagayan offices during the Palaro ng Bayan.

“In the advent of technology, masyado ng nakatutok ang mga bata sa cellphone, tablet, TV at laptop. With the palaro, kahit papano ay makakapagpahinga sila sa paggamit ng gadgets at mababawasan ang screen time nila, ” added Cruz.

Nine-year old Frank Aldrin, who won in the Palosebo competition said he is very happy that he won and he’s very grateful to CEZA for the prizes he received.

“Agyaman nak ti CEZA sir ta adda kastuy nga activity da. Sapay kuma ta tun next year ket adda pay kastoy ket adu kanyami ti kayat na ti kastoy nga ay-ayam, (Thank you very much CEZA for the opportunity. I hope you will continue this kind of program, there are many in our age bracket who would really love to join this kind of competition), Aldrin said.

Aldrin who won P1,600 in cash and received other goods from CEZA, said he will buy his new shoes and other school supplies in time with the recent opening of classes.

The Palaro ng Bayan also gathered kids-at-heart where games for family and group were also conducted such as the family sack race and obstacle racing.

A laudable initiative

National Nutrition Council (NNC) program coordinator Maria Gisela Lonzaga, for her part, lauded the initiative of the CEZA and hopes that the conduct of Palaro ng Bayan should be sustained.

“They should develop a physical activity plan for children with nutrition information and education (NIE) component,” Lonzaga said.

“CEZA has always been a partner in nutrition in Sta. Ana. I remember they also sponsored supplemental feeding before,” she added.

Lonzaga said that physical activity reduces risk of becoming overweight and obese and reduces risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

With these kinds of activities, Lonzaga said children’s screen time is reduced.

Screen time guidelines, she said, recommend that children 2 years old and above should limit screen time to 1 to 2 hours a day and children under 2 years old are not allowed screen time at all.

Screen time is the term used for activities done in front of the screen such as watching TV, working on a computer and playing video games and using cellular gadgets. (MDCT/PIA 2-Cagayan)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1023098