Barriolympics at DFA Brings Back the Fun of Traditional Filipino Games

OCD Assistant Secretary Celia Anna M. Feria opens the Barriolympics at DFA event

MANILA 29 May 2025 — The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Cultural Diplomacy (OCD) brought back the fun in playing beloved traditional Filipino games, such as Tiyakad/Kadang-Kadang, Sungka, Patintero, Luksong Tinik, and Sipa at its recently-held Barriolympics at DFA on 02 May 2025.  

“Today, we want to share the joy of recalling the memories of our childhood, before the advent of digital games, when we would engage in traditional Filipino pastimes, when the world outside our doors was our playground, and when all we needed were our friends, and the sticks and stones, and other bric-a-brac that we could find in our backyards,” OCD Assistant Celia Anna Feria said in her opening remarks.

OCD organized the Barriolympics at DFA in collaboration with the DFA ASEAN Ladies Foundation and the DFA Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. More than a hundred young and not-so-young players from the Department and the Embassies of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia participated, gleefully reliving their juvenile memories, reconnecting with their cultural roots and celebrating their common Southeast Asian heritage. 

Guest of Honor, Mme. Pamela Louise Manalo, emphasized the importance of the Barriolympics as a reflection of the Philippines’ commitment to preserving its rich and vibrant cultural heritage, passed down through generations. She reminded participants that while the games invite friendly competition, their greater purpose is to foster camaraderie and teamwork among players from the DFA and the embassies of ASEAN member states, whose own traditions share many commonalities with these games.

The opening program was likewise graced by Malaysian Ambassador, Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony, and some members of the ASEAN diplomatic corps, as well as the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) President Marlyn D. Montano and Executive Director Daniel Enriquez.  

The Barriolympics attendees also had the chance to try their hand at other game favorites, like Jackstones, “Teks”, “Holens” and “Pogs”. A zumba workout provided added fun while helping warm up and cool down the participants before and after the games.  Yoyo Master Glenn Angeles capped the day with an entertaining performance of world-class yoyo tricks. 

The five games, Tiyakad/Kadang-Kadang, Sungka, Patintero, Luksong Tinik, and Sipa, were featured in the Laro I Play mini-animated series, which OCD produced with ACPI and launched in February of this year, to demonstrate and celebrate the skills and talent of the Philippine animation industry while highlighting and preserving our intangible cultural heritage of traditional games.  Five different Philippine animation companies were involved in the production of the five games and will be separately featured and promoted to the foreign service posts in the second half of the year. The video can be viewed on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Official Youtube Channel or via this link. END

Participants spiritedly compete in traditional Filipino games of (clockwise from top left) Sungka, Patintero, Luksong Tinik, Kadang-kadang, and Sipa

Guest of honor, Mme. Pamela Louis Manalo, delivers the keynote address at the opening program of the Barriolympics at DFA.

Yoyo Master, Glenn Angeles, entertains the audience with his world-class yoyo tricks