ANGAT, Bulacan—Where have all the traditional Pinoy fiesta games have gone in the fields and playgrounds in Bulacan like the Palo Sebo, Karera ng Sako, Patintero, Agawan ng Buko, Hilahang Lubig, Sipa or Sepak Takraw, Dama at Sungka etc.
The 340th founding anniversary of Angat town themed “Gunita ng Lahi at Yamang Angat” (GulayAngat) which kicked off on Oct. 18 reverts these traditional Pinoy games the youth today, known as the Generation Z have yet to experience, indulge in and play.
More than 500 residents, mostly youth from Angat’s sixteen towns participated in all the competitions in “Laro ng Laking GulayAngat” –palo sebo, sipa (sepak takraw), patintero, hilahang lubig, dama, sungka, karera ng sako (sack race) and agawan ng buko held at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial School in Barangay Sto. Cristo last Oct. 18.
Mayor Jowar Bautista conceptualized reintroducing the old Filipino traditional backyard and street games to the town’s GulayAngat Festival to engage the youth today in physical, body contact yet bayanihan games different from all the electronic and digital playing field they craze today. Bautista gives emphasis on the exemplary Filipino values like sportsmanship these traditional games inculcate to the minds and spirit of the youth.
Also, the mayor said, such games remind everyone, particularly the youth today of the rich heritage and culture of our country.
Bautista said that fiestas and festivals these days have already diversified into modern practices like pageants, singing competitions but no longer with these old Pinoy outdoor and indoor games.
The mayor added that it is now the time to bring them back to our playgrounds and fields, this time being a distinct identity of their town.
GulayAngat Festival also features “Parada ng Karosa,” “GulayAngat Hari at Reyna,” “Indakan sa GulayAngat” and the 340th anniversary celebration which will be held on October 24.
According to the mayor, the GulayAngat Festival promotes the rich tradition, culture, agriculture and natural resources and wealth Angat town is known for, for over 340 years. Other than the wide fields, the mountains and hills rich with minerals like iron ore, cilica, metals,
“This is our second year celebrating our GulayAngat Festival. I am very much overwhelmed because all of you have participated and joined our efforts to bring change and give our beloved Angat town its own identity. Now we are known for the GulayAngat, part of which reverts our very own Pinoy traditional games. They cannot say today that we still do not have our own identity and festival,” the mayor said.
Vice Gov. Alex Castro said Angat’s newborn two years old GulayAngat Festival is something the residents must really be proud of because, finally, the town bore its own identity. “Angat town is 340 years old this year and yet you only have your festival for its second year. It is really something to celebrate that finally you have your very own identity through the GulayAngat Festival,” he said during the opening program last week.
The name Angat was derived from the Tagalog word, “angat,” elevated, because of the mountainous and hilly topographical nature of the place. Until today, Angat remains a major source of gravel and sand and other quarry minerals including land filling materials, boulders and soil.
The town was founded in October 1683 by Augustinian missionaries. It was originally a part of the old town of Plaridel or “Old Pueblo de Quingua” before it became a separate town. This fact was due most probably to the situation of the Rio de Quingua Angat River, which directly connects the town of Quingua, a community then located in the center of vast lands, covering plains and mountains alike.
Angat Dam located in Barangay San Lorenzo, Norzagaray town and the source of 97% of Metro Manila’s water is named after the town because Angat River stretches from Norzagaray passing through Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Plaridel, Baliwag, Pulilan, Calumpit, Paombong and Hagonoy.
The winners in the game competitions will be awarded during the Oct. 24’s foundation day celebration, the mayor said.
