Games of the Katutubo

Tomorrow, Friday, November 6, 2009 the grand finale of the first ever Philippine Tribal Games will occur at the Clark Freeport Picnic Grounds in Mabalacat, Pampanga. The event is the culmination of competitions by the Mangyan-Aeta-Dumagat (M.A.D) tribes. Each tribe has had their own tribal games at various points throughout the year. The winners in the individual events will compete in the finale; representing their respective tribes. In all over 75 tribesmen will compete in archery (in standing, sitting and squatting positions), an archery assault course, javelin throwing and a foot race. The event is organized under the auspices of the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Asian Center for Biodiversity and the Philippine Soft Tennis Association. We applaud these groups for organizing the events and we wish best of luck to the competitors.

The Tribal Games are an admirable step in working to preserve our tribal history. Colonel Jeff Tamayo (who we understand conceptualized the tribal games) has said that the games are a way to celebrate and be proud of our “tribal blood”. For years we have heard about how we need to preserve and honor our past, but the truth is very little is really done. Organizations such as the National Commission for Culture and Arts and the National Museum (among others) have worked tirelessly to preserve our tribal cultural history. But we have always felt that more can be done by other sectors of society. Thus, we were very gratified to see the Tribal Games. It is activities such as these that need support; they are of vital important to preserving our national patrimony. We hope that other organizations will help support the tribal games to become an annual nationwide activity. What started in 2009 with three tribes can easily grow to encompass all the tribes in the Philippines.

The tribal games remind us of an old game that has fallen by the wayside of history: the fagfagto. Games are competitive struggles that provide wholesome outlets for aggression. The Bontocs and the Samokis invented an intertribal festival sport that channels violent emotions that may have found expression in headhunting. After the first rice festival of the year the two tribes would join in a festival. The most exciting part of the festivities was when the male populations would gather on the banks of the Chico River for the fagfagto — a rock-throwing war that lasted for four days.

The event itself was impersonal; wounds and injuries were regarded as badges of courage, not excuses for anger. The two groups of men were to start at opposite sides of the river, about 200 meters apart and slowly approach each other. The size of the rocks thrown would increase the closer they got. One group would win when the other would fall back to its village. This is dodgeball for the non-faint-of-heart. The fagfagto was banned in 1972 when rival gangs used it to wage war. To reduce war to a ritual sport was a significant step forward; to use the sport as a cover to conduct a real war was to defeat the very purpose of the sport. The fagfagto had to go. We wonder though if the fagfagto could be revived: Possibly to settle presidential elections. Besides, how different is mudslinging from rock slinging anyway? It would definitely save the country a lot of wasted time and money.

 Colonel Jeff Tamayo (a member of the POC) has come up with a remarkable and culturally important event. We look forward to seeing how it expands and grows to encompass more of Philippine culture and history throughout the country. There are many pre-Hispanic rituals and activities that can be included in future activities. Our congratulations to him and to all who have participated and worked to organized these events. We urge those who can attend to do so.

Events will start at 8 a.m. and run through the whole day. For more information visit the Philippine Olympic Committee website at www.olympic.ph or email  [email protected] and [email protected]. You can also call (+632) 6321254 or (+632) 8748515 local 531.