Semestral Break is the most awaited days of the Students in the Philippines. The Semestral in the Philippines is usually started at June for the 1st Semester and end at October. This day is the closing or final examination week or the 2nd periodical examination of most of the college and as well as with the elementary and secondary students in the Philippines, where there will be a 2 to 3 weeks break before the start of 2nd Semester. The semester is usually starting at the 2nd to 3rd week of November and ends usually at March.
For most of the students are taking vacations at their ancestor's home because of November 1st Holiday, where most of the family meet or reunions happens. Mostly for the elementary students here in the Philippines Semestral break for them is the time when they will be out of school getting rid of the quizzes and just play under the heat of the sun. And as what I have observed during my elementary days me and my friends use to play those Pinoy Native Games especially the game Luksong-Tinik (Jumping Over Thorns). Regarding with my favorite game ill show you the rules on:
HOW TO PLAY LUKSONG-TINIK
Luksong Tinik (Jumping Over Thorns)
Minimum number of players: usually 3 but 2 can also work (more players is usually much more fun!)
Equipment required: a grassy field with lots of room to run and tumble
1) First child decides among themselves who will play first and who will be the two who will act as the “thorns” in the game. Thorns have a very important as well as difficult task in the game. Jumpers take turns passing the levels. The jumpers form a queue and the thorns take their position.
2) The “thorns” (A & B) sit, facing each other with the soles of their feet touching. This is the first level that jumpers must successfully jump through without touching any of their body parts with those of the thorns’ body parts.
3) Next level the two thorns must adjust their distance a bit towards each other so they can comfortably and successfully create level 2, where one of “thorn A’s” foot is used as base, and another of “thorn B’s” foot as the second level above the base.
4) Then it is thorn A’s foot as base, thorn B’s foot as second layer of base then thorn A’s other foot as 3rd level.
5) Then is both A and B’s feet alternating to create level 4. Then it is all four feet plus thorn A’s hand: Level 5. A & B’s feet and one hand each: Level 6. A& B’s feet and two of A’s hands and B’s one hand: Level 7. Finally Level 8 has all four hands and feet alternating.
6) Successful jumpers are cleared and pass on to the next level. The group decides how many tries will be given for each attempt. For example, you get one more try. So if you were unsuccessful the first attempt, you step aside and wait till everyone has their turn jumping over the “thorns”.
After this, all the unsuccessful ones take their second attempt. If you still did not clear that level, you are out of the game and spend the remaining time watching the rest of the kids complete all the rounds. Then you are candidate for the thorns so that the thorns of the current game can take their turn as jumpers in the next game.
Fun isn’t it? Playing with your friends under the sun while laughing at each other is a memorable one. We should keep on playing Filipino Native games so that they will not be endangered in the minds of young Filipino people coz as what I have notice most of the kids right are into playing computer games. We should instill on the minds of Filipino children that or native cultural games should be treasured as the generation passes by.