Reviving Pinoy games: How play and stains should be embraced for kids' holistic development
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino kids once ruled the streets with games like Agawan Base and Tumbang Preso, but changing times have pushed these traditions aside, and Breeze EcoPlay wants to revive them along with their valuable life lessons.
Citing stains and the fear of mess as one of the reasons why kids are discouraged from playing, Breeze EcoPlay wants to change this mindset and encourages kids to embrace stains, recognizing that these are an essential part of their holistic development.
Breeze EcoPlay, a program initiated by Breeze in partnership with Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI), kicked off with the inaugural EcoPlay Olympics at the Marikina Sports Center on December 10, themed “Sige sa Mantsa, Tuloy ang Laro.”
The Marikina leg of the event saw 735 students from 17 schools come together to participate in traditional Filipino games such as tumbang preso, patintero and agawan-base.
This Palarong Pinoy event marked the nationwide effort to bring back these games, fostering valuable life lessons for today’s youth.
Through Breeze EcoPlay, a program launched in partnership with Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI), traditional Filipino games are being reintroduced into the physical education curriculum of 68 elementary schools across Metro Manila.
This initiative aims to instill resilience (tibay ng loob) and camaraderie (pakikisama) among students, while encouraging them to embrace the mess—viewing stains as badges of growth.
“Our goal with Breeze EcoPlay is to build resilient and well-rounded changemakers who are unafraid to get dirty in pursuit of meaningful experiences,” said Lara Santos, premium laundry business performance manager.
“Through this campaign, we are cultivating future leaders who understand the importance of teamwork and grit through these games which are more than just a source of fun—they are platforms for children to develop teamwork, perseverance and adaptability”
The recently held first-ever EcoPlay Olympics saw young changemakers engaging in traditional games like agawan-base, tumbang preso, patintero and more.
These games highlighted the development of essential life skills such as resilience, teamwork and