Let’s be real. Generation Alpha (yep, uh huh, that’s you) grew up in a totally different world than your parents or older siblings and cousins did. Touchscreens, apps, videos, and games have been part of your life since, like, before you could even read. You probably don’t even remember a time without Wi-Fi.
And that’s not a bad thing at all! Technology is amazing. But you know what? All that screen time may have made something really fun and super Filipino start to fade away. We’re talking about traditional games, like patintero, tumbang preso, luksong baka, and piko.
Studies have shown that Generation Alpha (that’s kids born from around 2010 to the mid-2020s) spends a lot more time on digital devices than any generation before. You’re watching videos, playing mobile games, scrolling, chatting, and we get it. It’s fun, easy, and always available.
But because of this, outdoor games don’t seem as exciting anymore. Why play agawan base or ice-ice water in the sun if you could just grab your phone and play Repo on Roblox with your friends?
Let’s not forget COVID-19. Most of you spent some of your childhood locked indoors. No school playground. No street games. No hanging out with the whole neighborhood. If you lived in a big city like Metro Manila, things were even stricter. Long lockdowns and safety rules meant you couldn’t really go outside, even if you wanted to.
And while kids in rural areas sometimes had more space, it still wasn’t the same. With no classmates or friends to play with, traditional games slowly started disappearing from your everyday life (womp womp).
Here’s where it gets serious. When kids stop playing traditional games, we don’t just lose fun activities. We lose a part of our culture. These games were passed down from generation to generation. They help kids make friends, stay active, and learn teamwork. But without anyone to play them or teach them, they slowly fade away.
Some of you might not even know how to play them anymore and that’s not your fault. It’s just that things like city living, online classes, digital habits, and safety concerns made it harder to learn or even try them out.
The good news? Yes. We can. And you can help.
It starts with curiosity. Ask your parents, grandparents, or teachers about the games they used to play. Try them out with your friends. Bring them to school events or playtime in your community. Some kids are already rediscovering how fun they actually are without needing Wi-Fi or a charger.
Because even if you’re part of the most digital generation ever, you can still be the one who keeps these awesome Filipino games alive.
