Of Tumbang Preso and PSPs… (A SentiSabado Reflection)
My friend (@lorenzocosio) and I were discussing recently (on my blog) about #SentiSabado’s impact…
He commented on my blog entry: “SentiSabado encourages people (especially kids) to go and make new memories, today!”
Make new memories…
That phrase stuck in my mind… Why do kids nowadays have to be encouraged to go and make new memories today?
Encourage them? Isn’t that supposed to come naturally? Aren’t memories formed by every action we take and every interaction we engage in?
It is in pondering this that I ultimately realized the reason why we, the so called “Gen X/Y” babies, have so much memories and nostalgia compared to those who were born in the 90s. We actually had more interaction with the world… the people around us… the things we did… the places we’ve been to… the experiences we’ve gone through…
Not because we are (obviously) older than them. No.
The main culprit (in my honest opinion): computers, game consoles, internet, cable TV, etc.
Kids nowadays are holed up in their own imaginary world playing PSPs, iPhones, Farmville, and all those other time-consuming-and-attention-grabbing devices.
Heck! I see a good number of kids and teens playing with PSPs at the mall even while walking!
Whatever happened to engaging conversations or laughing at simple jokes… or the friendly banter every now and then… or even simply looking at your surroundings while walking? Does it ever exist anymore… with the younger ones for that matter?
Back then, our idea of recreation and fun was climbing a tree, hanging out in the park with friends, playing “tumbang preso” till it became too dark to play outside. Even our toys back in the day would encourage us to interact with others (Can you imagine playing tex by yourself? Or play “touchball” without a friend”?). Going to the mall was an exciting experience for us every single time… just to walk around and see the new places… we’d take everything in and love every minute of it.
The only time we’d be caught inside the house was either due to homework… or because it was time for our weekly dose of Saturday morning cartoons.
What will these new generation of kids look back at when they grow older? What kind of memories will they have? If they had their own form of #SentiSabado, what sort of nostalgia will they reminisce on?
Moments such as “hanging out from dusk till dawn playing counterstrike in the internet cafe”, maybe? Or “how Farmville changed Facebook gaming”? Or perhaps, “watching all sorts of trailers on YouTube” and “reaching the high score of “Need for Speed” on the PSP while ascending the escalator”…?
Don’t get me wrong… PSPs, cable TV, the internet are all cool! They’re great!
But anything in excess is unhealthy.
So, going back to my first question… “Encouragement?”
Of course. No doubt!
If for no other reason, let #SentiSabado be the means to help encourage kids… to limit video games… to lessen cable TV watching… to set restrictions on certain activities…
…to get out more… to interact physically… to engage… to feel the breeze, smell the air… to live… love… laugh… to make mistakes… and learn from them…
…to make memories.
Lots of them.
Today.
September 10, 2010 @ 12:33 AM
You know, I had that epiphany earlier today din.
My sister and I were hanging out early this evening. I told her to participate in the #sentisabado event. She said "Ah! Pokemon!"
She just turned 18. She was a child during the late 90s, during the advent of SMSing, surfing the internet, and Counterstrike. All her memories involved computer games. Don't get me wrong. I'm a big console game fan too. But I just felt the generation gap between us when I realized she never was one to play outside the house – patintero, etc. – climb trees. She never had to have fractures like my brother and I because she grew up just holed up at home. May cable na nung kamalayan niya.
Then I realized, my broken bones are a small trade-off sa multitude of memories ko. Kaya I took her to wall-climbing today for some semblance of a climbing experience na meron kami ng brother ko when we were younger.
September 10, 2010 @ 1:05 AM
Kids think they have it made, don't they? What with all the gadgets and techie devices they have nowadays… I wouldn't trade how I spent my childhood for anything. :)
September 10, 2010 @ 12:42 AM
Great point Chuck! Since Amy and I are having our first kid, I'd like to put him/her in a place where he/she can naturally "make" memories, meaning, do stuff that is worth reminiscing upon because of the intrinsic value (and fun!) of the act. I think that this #SentiSabado can also be an eye opener to parents because they (oops — "we" pala) are directly involved in the pastimes of children. If we show them that there's more fun to be had than just sitting in front of a screen all day, they will certainly live a memorable life. Keep up the reflections bro!
September 10, 2010 @ 12:44 AM
Btw, I also think that TV/movies/pop culture and all this seemingly mundane stuff can also have value and bring much enjoyment. Just have a good balance, I guess!
September 10, 2010 @ 1:57 AM
I totally agree with everything that you wrote. It's not about these gadgets being bad for us, I mean, we even own loads of them now, right? But it's the togetherness we're missing. I used to play Monopoly with my parents and aunts, I mean I haven't been to Europe but because of that game, I have become familiar with its streets and stations and I was only 8 or 9 yrs old! We play boggles, scrabble, snakes and ladder… who plays those games alone!?! No one (unless you're practicing), what I am trying to say is, we learn as we interact with others. Having debated with my mom about the word QAT was classic! No one debates with me right now in that regard — I bake, I cook, that's it — and it's all in Facebook!
September 10, 2010 @ 2:54 AM
Same here. I loved playing with all sorts of board games… Monopoly, Cluedo, even Pictionary!
These are classic pastimes that have rewarded me with some of the best memories I can recall from my childhood. :)
September 10, 2010 @ 2:45 AM
I agree. #SentiSabado also challenges every Gen Y/X parent not to allow their kids to become introverts and isolated individuals brought about by these new devices and gadgets. :)
September 10, 2010 @ 3:39 AM
The other day I was at a birthday party of my friend’s kid and I saw some children bringing their PSP,nintendo DS. So during the party these kids just sat there playing, while the other kids without these gadgets sat there watching the game.There was no interaction and no engaging in friendly game or chat.I had 2 Game and watch when I was growing up but I did not take them to birthday parties.Parents should be responsible not to allow their kids to bring these gadgets in parties.That is what I do with my kids.
September 10, 2010 @ 1:22 PM
I agree with you. The activities of kids these days are highly individualistic. I can still clearly remember playing patintero with friends from church under the full moon. :) that was fun.
September 10, 2010 @ 3:25 PM
Oh yeah! Those were awesome times! Patintero or taguang pong sa gabi! Enjoy lalo pag pinayagan tayo ng parents to stay out late! Those were really wonderful times! :)
September 10, 2010 @ 3:19 PM
True! that's why we keep on encouraging our kids to play physical games with their friends… mas masaya sila!
September 10, 2010 @ 3:29 PM
Yes. PSPs, Nintendo DS devices and the internet will never go away… but we only have one childhood. There will always be time to play with these gadgets… :)
September 10, 2010 @ 11:44 PM
sobra ganda ng pagkakasulat nito! sir chuckie minsan lang ako mapangiti sa mga binabasa ko. tama! saktong sakto, sana magkaroon din ng pagkakataon ang mga bata ngayon na maranasan kahit katiting lamang ng mga naranasan natin noon. masarap makipaglaro ng tex. masaya makipaghabulan sa sikyo. nakakatuwa maglaro ng bahay-bahayan at lutu-lutuan. di rin madali kalimutan ang tagu-taguan.
sulat ka pa ng madami. masipag naman ako magbasa! magiging isa na ako sa masugid na bisita dito.
salamat!
October 23, 2010 @ 4:33 PM
astig ang sentisabado ksi masarap balik balikan yung mga memories nuon. Kaaliw lang. Lalo na’t batang 80’s at teenager ng 90’s ako.
Tutoo lahat ng sinabi mo sa taas, minsan nga ang mga kabataan ngayon ultimo ang mga unang relasyon, unang ligawan lahat ‘cyber’ o hi-tech na. Kulang na ang ‘hands-on’, ‘actual application’ at mga ‘sa personal’ na mga encounters.
Sana nga’t kahit nakakalurky isipin that we need to encourage the youth of today to go out in the real world, mingle with real people and make memories, ay gawin nga sana nila.
Aba ibang maexperience ang madapa habang nagpapatintero, ang mamaos sa pag-cheer sa mga liga, ang mag benta ng mangga, singkamas, mani, bbq pag summer, ang makipagtaguan pag brownout, ang matamaan sa ‘football’, ang magkapasa pag nakikipag agawang base, kesa ang masira ang mata sa pagbabad maghapon sa harap ng pc, ang magkastiff neck kakalaro ng psp, ang makipagchat online… Hayyyy…
Oh well, eto lng, nothing beats the real thing ;)
October 28, 2010 @ 11:46 AM
Haha… Alam mo kung ano ang nakakatuwa? Sa haba ng comment mo, pwede na siyang maging sariling blog entry! Haha! Naaliw ako basahin ang comment mo. :)
January 25, 2011 @ 3:07 PM
@chuckdreyfus I agree with your topic of "Tumbang Preso and Psps…" for #SentiSabado. Back then when I use to live in Philippines, I would play all day with a group of kids playing ghetto games like tumbang preso, hopscotch, skipping ropes made out of elastic bands, and mostly playing tags until the sunset. I also climbed on trees, high walls and rooftops and i wasn't aware of how high i could go and the feeling of the breeze blowing in my face was priceless. Flying kites was one of my favorites! I wouldn't mind going back in the past just to re-experience those moments.
February 15, 2011 @ 10:09 PM
You’re article made me realized that we (born in 80’s era) are luckier (in some ways) because we have experienced those simple things that we really enjoy, and made memories with. And if given a chance to play like a young kid again, I bet we all be taking our tsinelas (okay, its havaianas now) and aim that evaporated milk can. We can even watch a whole movie by just reading the comic strips sa mga tex na de numero. haha.
Mas interactive ang mga games noon compared nowadays.
Oh, those were the days.