Squid Game on Netflix is about a group of desperate, underprivileged strangers competing in deadly games for their survival — all for the KRW 45.6 billion (or PHP 1.9 billion) prize. If you’ve watched the series, you’ll know that every game is based off on children’s games Koreans have played in their youth. Which got us thinking, what if Squid Game happened in the Philippines? Which classic Filipino games would desperate Filipinos be playing? Well, first, players will be selected if they defeat Kuya Kim (he resembles Gong Yoo #sorrynotsorry) in a game of Pogs. And then they proceed to eight rounds of difficult games starting with…
Langit Lupa
The classic Langit Lupa is played by having one person as taya or ‘it.’ While they belt out the Langit Lupa chant, the other players have to scramble to get to higher ground or ‘Langit’ (heaven). The taya will chase those on level ground or ‘Lupa’ (earth) and tag them so they will be the next taya. However, for our Calamares Game (a working title, BTW), a Doll of Death will be the permanent taya, and the landscape changes every time to make it challenging. The players have to hold on for dear life or look for a better ‘Langit’ if they want to survive.
Pinoy Henyo
This game is an easy party favorite too. But not at our Games. Players will only have 3 minutes to guess the word flashing on their forehead. When the time’s up, you know what happens. Clue: the device on their foreheads is actually a ticking time bomb.
Patintero
This classic Pinoy game requires players’ agility and stamina. They will be divided into an equal number of players with an even number of teams. Two teams will be pitted against each other for three rounds of Patintero with switching roles. The team with the most wins in three rounds — regardless if they’re playing as the attack or defense team — will be a little closer to winning that PHP 1.9 billion.
Tumbang Preso
Tumbang Preso with a deadly twist? That’s possible. As with most classic Filipino games, one player is the taya while the rest team up against him. But in our Game, the taya guarding the can is yet another Doll of Death. (Better utilize that billion-peso tech, right?) The players will play in batches. They have to knock out the can while under time pressure. If our agile Doll of Death catches any of the players, well, the guns on the walls aren’t there for decor, you know.
Tagu-taguan
Tagu-taguan has the same mechanics as your classic ‘hide and seek’ but with a Pinoy twist. The taya has to chant the Tagu-taguan song while the players run around looking for places to hide. To make it even more challenging, this stage of the Game will be set in SM Mall of Asia at sunset. Troops of goons in PPE and face shields will roam the mall to shoot players they find. After the time’s up, those who successfully hid get to advance to the next round.
Agawan base
Agawan Base is a fun game that builds children’s camaraderie and their competitive desire to win. But since it’s going to be included in our Games, there’s a deadly twist. The players will be divided into an even number of teams and will be pitted against each other two teams at a time. They will follow the regular rules of Agawan Base. But since we need entertainment here, it’s a free for all. The players will be given actual weapons to defend themselves.
Chinese garter
Two dolls will be stationed on both ends of the long garter instead of other players. All the players need to cross to the other side. They can jump, cartwheel, or limbo rock their way through. But of course, that’s easy to an extent so the players will actually need to play in varying levels of garter height and difficulty. It’s the end of the line for a player if they can’t cross.
Piko
#SquidGame Netflix series makes me remember the traditional Filipino outdoor games that I played when I was a kid. 10-20 dead mother dead ALL hits different now. 😭💀
SK’s traditional squid game is like a hybrid of patintero & piko? 🥲 pic.twitter.com/nX6yyioNEX— Post (@PostForStartUp) September 18, 2021
And finally, we have Piko. This is easy enough but once you set it on a platform that’s 50 feet high, it turns dangerous. Players have to take a pamato or a small stone they will throw it on the first box and hop to the end of the course. Then they have to throw the stone on the second box and so on until the tenth. They have to hop their way through the entire length, taking care to skip the box where the stone is. If they make mistakes in skipping or their stone doesn’t land in the right box, well, a 50-foot drop is quite deadly.
Which other classic Filipino games should be included in ‘Squid Game’ Pinoy edition?
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