By Shy Polido
“MEMORIES of childhood were the dreams that stayed with you after you woke.” – Julian Barnes
Once in my life, I dreamt of going back to the times when everything’s just *really* fine. No stress. Free. Fun. Colorful. Yes, the memories are still as vivid as yesterday.
As we mark World Children’s Day today, Nov. 20, shall we take a trip down memory lane? What’s your favorite childhood memory?
All the games we play
This is making me nostalgic, of course. Before cellphones and lappys’ existence, we kids were a couple of musmusin and easy-go-lucky sweethearts. We were clad in our simplest shirts and shorts, then off to the scorching heat of the sun. We’d hit the brown grounds – or the rust of roofs – tagging along our closest kapitbahays.
Now, can you recall some of the games we used to play before?
*Tumba-patis
Wow! I can still smell the afternoon sweat with this one. It was that one-tiresome-of-a-game but surely one of the best. Until now I can’t understand why the sardines can was called patis before! Plus, I forgot how many slippers I had lost that time.
* Sekyu
Perfect for team-building. One of my faves. Two aggressive groups were heads on! Basically, Team A versus Team B. Each of you has a base to protect. Then came the hilarious running and going after one another. If one was caught, then they’d bring him/her to their space. Someone from the “victim’s” team would come and save them. Well, that’s the beauty of teamwork and strategy!
* Chinese garter
I know you’re smiling, too. Can you still recall the “Chinese garter mother” of your batch? (Last time I checked, we have this so-called “flower,” too!)
* Jackstone
Well, even at this age, I still long to play those lucky stars. We had up to level 25 in our time! (my favorites were 9 and 19 lol)
* Under the rain
Well, this is not necessarily a game but we had lots of turns and dances and songs under the pouring rain! We had long runs, shouts for each other. (Kis-a gatusmaw pa sa baha, relate?)
* Slipper games
Slipper game (like that of softball), slipper bat, I LOVE YOU, paris-paris, name it. Back then, we thought we were the super kewl kids out there every time we score a “home run.”
* Balay-balay
Yes! We got the best house ever, brags the five-year-old me. And the house was, of course, made up of weird, funny structure. Spare blankets for the “roofs,” chairs for the wall, and anything you could ever imagine.
90’s fave foodies
Aright! Aside from the games, we love to have a taste anew of our fave foodies, too!
Below are some chichiryas, candies and sweets I’m sure you’d remember! Like our days won’t be complete without these tummy gems. Thanks to It’s me Bluedreamer via Kami ang mga batang 90’s via FB for the photos.
It remains gold
The joy felt by the heart was unrivaled. We’d play. We’d had a couple of quarrels with some *irritating* playmates. But afterwards, we’d buy ice scramble together. Then play again. Every day was indeed treasure-worthy. Then we’d kiss our mamas and papas at nighttime. We’d pay respect to our grandmoms and grandpops. We’d pray before sleep. And wakeup the other day filled with hope and excitement.
Anyway, despite the differences now (brought about by technology), our kids can still enjoy inside the bubble of their own definition of joy. We as moms and dads and manangs/manongs just have to support them. Every kid is precious, and they need love more than anything else. We only experience childhood once. So in any possible angle or dimension, my generation or not, we can still achieve that bunch of happiness because of love./PN
