Start the Real Fun with Jack ‘n’ Poy!

Jack en Poy, hale hale hoy, sinong matalo syang unggoy…

Fun can be free!

Today computer games have evolved and take the place of traditional games of yesterdays. When I was a kid I could still reminisce how my playmates and I gather in the streets having fun with free games or commonly called traditional games.

Traditional or local games are games commonly played by children a few decades ago as their past times, before modern forms of entertainment had taken place. Patintero, Piko, Luksong Tinik, Tagu-taguan and Langit-Lupa are some of these games that are commonly played and enjoyed.

Have you even tried playing one of it? If not, then it’s time for you to learn.

Are you familiar of the lyrics, Jack en Poy, hale hale hoy, sinong matalo syang unggoy? These lyrics came from the game “Rock-paper-scissors” and is commonly known in local version Jack’n’poy. It is a hand game, traditionally played by two people facing each other. The players usually count aloud to three, or speak the name of the game, each time either raising one hand in a fist and swinging it down on the count or holding it behind. On the third count saying “Poy” the players form their hands into one of three gestures, which they then throw by extending it towards their opponent. The winner of the round depends on the gesture that is formed. If the players have the same item that is formed it would be a tie, if a rock and scissor is formed, the rock wins. If scissors and paper are formed, the scissors win. If paper and rock are formed, then paper wins. Paper is represented by an open hand, with the fingers extended and touching (horizontal), it covers rock, which is represented by a clenched fist, rock blunts scissors that is also symbolized by two fingers extended and separated and scissors cut paper. This game is very convenient to play because of the limited space it requires and the simplicity of it rules.

Jack’n’poy according to the Chinese Ming Dynasty ,the game dates back to the time of the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), it was called shoushiling .By the 18th century these games had become popular in Japan. The most common name in Japanese is Janken. The origin of the name is unknown. Ken is a fist in Japanese and Jan-ken-pon is categorized as a “ken (fist) games”. Ken games began to increase in popularity in the middle of the 19th century and by the early 20th century Rock-paper-scissors or Jak’n’Poy had spread beyond Asia. Children play the game but have different chants. Some even have additional hand movements.

This hand game is often used by the children to segregate team members as preparation stage for the game they are about to play or to weed out who will go first. This game is energetically played over again and again as boredom is alleviated.

So what are you waiting for? Put your gadgets aside. Get out and discover the fun!