Blogpost #4: Kids from martial law vs kids from the present

When I was seven, I used to play a pinoy traditional games like tagu-taguan, patintero, langit lupa and bahay bahayan with my childhood friends. I had a great time playing all sorts things like that. When the time goes by like 7 years later, I went to my old house just to came a visit to my grandmother. When arrived at my old house, I saw the place that totally changed. There are lot of children stay in their parent's house playing computer games or iPad and the playground was like an abandoned place, there full of rusts on the seesaw, the slide and other playground materials except the basketball court. Not only the playground,but also the street is 100 percent neat that nobody play's outside anymore.

During the Marcos-era, the children from their time used to play outside and they know how to play any pinoy traditional games than the children who were born in 90s or the last decade. During the present time, everyone is now attached from technology or we can call as "Digital Culture".

As I read the article called "Throwback: larong pinoy to each and everyJuan" by Jen Macalam. This article tells about she experienced the tradional games from the Philippines when she was in Marcos-era. She tells about how her life happy when she was a child that no one will say that "I'm bored" during those times even they were controlled by the Marcos-era.

According to Macalam "You also played simple games using simple objects; with sticks, stones, cans, balls and others. There was no need for expensive, fancy gadgets, or video game systems to keep you and your friends entertained." Back in her childhood days, they don't use fancy technological games to her friends entertained because their real fun is on nature.

It's true that technology can make us limited in communication. I observe that when we got black out, my siblings said that they were board because they don't have enough to play. When my parents had idea about playing Jenga,Monopoly and other board games, we had a great time spending ourselves without technology.

As I read another article called "Computer Games vs Outdoor Games"  by Max Smith. This article is the same as Macalam's article but he didn't experience the larong pinoy. This tells about his experience playing outside the house with his friends. He was sad that the children from the present don't play on the playground anymore because they are now using iPad, PC and other fancy gadgets they have.

According to Smith "This is truly saddening because, in my opinion, it ruins their childhood. Okay, certainly, there are some games which are good for your child's development, but there is no way I can agree that spending your whole day in front of the PC is healthy and normal for a kid that should be using his energy outdoors". He was sad that children are attached to fancy gadgets and they don't even play outside anymore and their childhood will be ruined by technology. However, at least they are safe inside instead of playing outside they they might get injured.

I can't agree that it's for their own safety but spending time on their fancy gadgets will make their children anti-social or an outcast because they don't experience how communication was.

As born from 90s and grew up in the digital culture, I've experienced playing outside with my friends and had experienced spending time on my video games. I would rather say that I prefer on playing outside than being imprisoned in my parent's house because playing outside can make us happy and to have a real life communication Lastly, it will give our childhood be remembered with our friends.