Philippine Children
When visiting any village in the Philippines, one of the most pleasant sights that will welcome you is of children playing in the streets….everywhere!
While this Southeast Asian tropical country has not escaped the invasion of new gadgets and gizmos enticing the young ones with space games and 3D animation, Filipino children have retained the age-old tradition of playing outside their homes.
“play another game of tag”
Noontime until early afternoon is usually devoted to siesta (naptime). Come five o' clock in the afternoon, when their energies are fully recharged, these children come rushing out of their homes ready to play another game of "tag" or "hide and seek".
These games, which require nothing more than a child's imagination, will go on for hours and hours.
Such a flurry of activity makes for good entertainment for the adults- comprising usually of mothers and yayas (nannies), and who would usually be equipped with labakaras (small towels) to wipe the sweat off the hyperactive children.
From here, one can observe the relationship between a Filipino child and an adult.
No matter how engrossed he is in his game, he would immediately respond to his elder's call. Noticeable is his use of "po" and "opo" which translates into his respect towards the adult.
“immediately respond to his elder's call”
Aside from the call of their mother or yaya, the other thing that can distract these children from their game is the sound a tinkling bell, signaling the arrival of the mamang sorbertero (ice cream man).
Once he comes into view, these children would instantly flock towards his tricycle and would dive their hands into a boxful of ice cream and popsicles.
At the end of the day, the children are usually drenched in sweat and are extremely dirty.
Once called by the adults to clean up and get ready for dinner, there will be much protesting and grovelling, none of which works- but nevertheless is part of the daily ritual.
And even while he is his eating dinner, talking to his parents, or lying in bed, the Filipino child is already looking forward to the next day-another day full of running, shouting, and of course, ice cream and popsicles with his friends.
The truth is, from an adult perspective, that most of these children are living in poverty. Shouldn't they be in school, one might ask?
How is their health and nutrition? Many negative connotations and questions could be raised. But the reality of the average Filipino child in a normal barangay is laughter, fun, innocence and play…