FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
7 ,,[I 
>r 
I 
J 
i “I 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S.B. 1813 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
Explanatory Note 
One sad truth is that not many of our young people h o w  that sipa is the 
Philippines’ national sport. In fact, it is even disheartening to note that even grown-ups 
and our national athletes are confused and unfamiliar that sku is the country’s national 
sport.’ And sipa, along with other traditional games and sports are considered dying 
cultural legacies due to the advent of electronics, the introduction of the games of the 
new information highway and the intrusion of western sports. 
Filipino traditional games and sports have originated from different cultures, 
some of which have pre-Hispanic origin and are very unique in terms of how are they are 
played. The Filipinos are known as sports-loving people, creative in every aspects of life 
and these traditional games are as testament to our passion for play. We are proud to 
have games from our ascendants that were developed and handed down from generation 
to generation. However, these priceless ancestral heritage that included sungka, duma, 
and patintem, have become less popular with the young people. Ironically, some of the 
traditional Filipino games such as sku, yoyo and mnis have been adopted by other 
countries as their own and the fact that they originated from this country has been 
obliterated into oblivion. 
These games should remain relevant as they provide the people the opportunity to 
learn, appreciate and experience aspects of their own culture. Also, they provide 
essential training in social interaction and help develop camaraderie, sportsmanship and 
honesty. Hence, encouraging their preservation will mean understanding our cultural 
values. 
Consistent with the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandating the 
State to conserve, promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage 
and resources to preserve them for future generations of Filipinos and ensure continuity 
of Filipino identity and cultural belongingness, 
it is imperative that the study of 
traditional games and sports be made part and parcel of physical education cowses in all 
levels of educational institutions, both public and private. 
The timing for the passage of this bill could never be more an opportune season 
when asserting that distinct Filipino identity is a collective sentiment of our people. 
’ “Is Sipa the National Sport?” , by Kathleen Anne Johnson, Manila Bulletin online, www.mb.com.ph 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
-i’ />Jfii’ 
-!I , i3e ., 
1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senate President Villar 
AN ACT 
TO INCLUDE TRADITIONAL GAMES AND SPORTS 
IN THE PHYSICAL 
EDUCATION 
(P.E.) COURSES 
IN 
ALL 
LEVELS 
OF EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS AND SPORT ACTIVITIES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
UNITS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “ Traditional 
Games and Sports Act of 2007”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. I t  is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to foster patriotism, nationalism and sportsmanship by giving priority to 
sports program that shall revive, promote and enhance the country’s 
traditional games and sports. Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to 
preserve and promote our cultural heritage and national identity among the 
people, especially the youth, by including traditional games and sports in the 
Physical Education (P.E.) courses in all levels of educational institutions. 
SEC. 3. Traditional Games and Sports. - The traditional games and 
sports shall include the following: agawang sulok, araw-lilim, arnis, aso at 
pusa, bulong pari, bunong braso, dama, garter, hulaan, holen, iring-iring, 
istatwa, jack en poy, jackstone, kapit bakod, laglag panyo, lawin at sisiw, 
luksong baka, luksong lubid, luksong tinik, palo sebo, patintero, piko, pitik 
bulag, saranggolahan, sipa, siklot, siksik bulak, sungka, suot lungga, taguan, 
takip-silirn, tatsing, tumbang preso, turumpo, viola, yoyo 
and such other 
traditional games played in the various localities in the country. 


SEC. 4; Inclusion of Traditional Games and Sports in the Physical 
Education (P.E.) Courses. 
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are hereby directed to include the 
aforesaid traditional games in the Physical Education course in all levels of 
educational institutions, both private and public. 
SEC. 
5. 
Traditional 
Games 
and 
Sports 
for 
School-Based 
Competitions. - 
the CHED shall jointly determine which 
among the aforementioned traditional games and sports shall be included in 
all school-based competitions. 
The DepEd and 
SEC. 6. Local Government Units and Non-Government Organizations 
(NGOs) and Private Sectors Participation in the Revival and Promotion of 
Traditional Games and Sports. - 
The local government units in partnership 
with the non-government organizations (NGOs) and the private sector shall 
undertake 
sports 
activities 
throughout 
the 
country 
through 
sports 
competitions participated in by the residents in their respective localities for 
the revival and promotion of traditional games and sports. 
SEC. 
7. Implementing Rules. 
Within thirty (30) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DepEd and the CHED shall issue the necessary rules 
and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this 
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 9. 
Repealing Clause. 
Any law, presidential decree, executive 
order, or issuance, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act is hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 10. 
Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after fifteen 
(15) days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,