Issue 1.2020
LINGAWDUWA/LARONGPINOY IN HAMILTON THE Waikato Filipino Association (WFA) will host LingawDuwa/LarongPinoy in Hamilton on October 24, 2020. This was announced by Ariel Imperial, WFA chairman. With the cancellation of Pistang Pilipino Labour Weekend this year, the WFA Board of Trustees decided to organise an event to bring together Filipinos in Waikato as well as neighbouring regions. Mel B. Libre, founder of LingawDuwa/LarongPinoy, who was recently elected as one of the new directors of WFA proposed the sporting event that had its inaugural competition in 2013. The games include Tumba Lata, Tubig-tubig/Patintero, Dakup-dakup/Agaw Base, Siatong, Kariling, Takyan/Sipa, Dama and Sungka. The organisers are aiming for eight teams or tribus to compete for medals, cash prizes and for the team, The Tahanang Pilipino Trophy currently held by the previous champion, Tribu Iskul Bukol. LingawDuwa/LarongPinoy is one of the highlights of KULTURANG PILIPINO celebration that also features WFA Sing-Galing 2020 and Pinoy Palengke. Imperial said that with last year’s successful hosting of Pistang Pilipino in Hamilton, WFA is confident that the Kulturang Pilipino celebration will attract as many participants who want to reminisce, if not experience, the fun in traditional Pinoy games.
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About the LingawDuwa/LarongPinoy Logo
The LingawDuwa logo is represented by a takyan/sipa, one of the traditional games played in the Philippines. It has a smiling face symbolising the fun-spirit of the event. The multi-colours represent the different tribus competing in the fun-filled family event. This was designed by comic creator and illustrator Tyke Villalonga whose graphic novel, Ang Espada ni Maria Cacao, was serialised in the comic section of Cebu Daily News, a sister publication of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Tyke resides in Auckland, New Zealand and is an active member of TawagAwit.
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The LingawDuwa Story So Far, So Good by Mel B. Libre It wasn’t complicated. The idea of putting together an event where people could play traditional Pinoy games was logical for one craving for a Filipino-flavoured gathering of families and friends. Convincing others was another thing. There were buts, and what ifs. The games do not have guidelines like other sports. We do not have the paraphernalia. We do not have referees. We do not have a venue for all the games to be played. We do not have enough time. We are too busy. What if nobody will come to play? What if there will be no spectators? What if it will rain? What if we do not have funds to cover for the costs? We did it anyway. We wrote the rules of each of the games. We scouted for, if not produced ourselves, the paraphernalia. We trained volunteers to be referees. We booked a school for the venue. We found time to meet for planning and execution. We campaigned for players and spectators. We made petitions and prayed that it wouldn’t rain. We solicited from sponsors and donors. So, it happened. On June 1, 2013, the inaugural LingawDuwa was held in Henderson Intermediate School in West Auckland. Ten tribus competed with funny names such as Iring Gilaygit, Ilagang Pawt and Kiwing Gahalhal. Tribu Irong Kagiron was declared as the over-all champion. It wasn’t just about the games, as the organisers turned-over $11,000 to Norman Gayo whose wife died earlier while delivering their baby. The event was covered by Herald on Sunday. In 2014, LingawDuwa was held in Wakaaranga School in Auckland on May 31. It had a subdued opening ceremony with a “People’s Prayer for Blessie Gotingco” who was abducted and brutally
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killed in central Auckland. Twelve tribus competed with even crazier names such as Sigbing Gahayang, Tiking Kwanggol and Banggiitang HaringBuang. Tribu Machong Baboy won the 2 nd edition. Radio New Zealand and Prime TV covered a portion of the event. The 2015 edition was brought back to Henderson, Auckland on November 21. The Tahanang Pilipino championship trophy was claimed jointly by Tribu Irong Kagiron and Tribu Gwapo ug Gwapa. The event also had celebrity chef Leo Fernandez, the Filipino pig farmer who was the first runner-up in MasterChef New Zealand 2015. The event was covered by a TV crew of “Neighbourhood”, a series focused on ethnic communities and migrants in New Zealand. Hosted by Tribu Gwapo ug Gwapo, the 2017 edition was again held in Henderson Intermediate School on September 30. Eight tribus participated in the games and once more Tribu Irong Kagiron raised the Tahanang Pilipino Trophy. For the pre-game contests the following were the winners: Barangay Putyukan for Best Mascot and Best Tribu Uniform, while Tribu Kutsero nzbpc took the Best Streamer prize. The Hobbyists Corner was added to the program with two participants displaying their creations.
Through the years, the competition has become intense as players fight for honours. As a result, the organisers set up the children’s edition where kids played purely for fun and not for prizes. The 2018 edition of LingawDuwa was as competitive and as fun as in the past. The five tribus that competed were: Tribu Irong Kagiron, Tribu Saksak Sinagol, Tribu Iskul Bukol, Tribu Torogi and Tribu Kabalyerong Hagis. The first timer Tribu Iskul Bukol raised the Tahanang Pilipino Trophy. LingawDuwa was not held in 2019. We are thankful to the Waikato Filipino Association for hosting the 2020 edition, and the organisers are doing their best to make it truly memorable. That is the LingawDuwa Story. So far, so good. 4
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THE GAMES WE PLAY
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LINGAWDUWA/LARONG PINOY TRIBUS Since 2013, Filipinos have congregated to compete in LingawDuwa/LarongPinoy. One of the distinctive features is for teams to have a Filipino name. Here are some of the past tribus that competed:
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LINGAWDUWA/LARONGPINOY HOST
WAIKATO FILIPINO ASSOCIATION
Waikato Filipino Association is a social and cultural non-profit organisation based in and about Hamilton City. WFA was founded primarily to preserve and promote Filipino ideals, values, culture and tradition - especially song and dance among Filipinos and Filipino/Kiwi families. We have participated in local community activities for the past few years and thus have a close cultural relationship with other cultural groups in the Waikato and New Zealand as a whole. We also provide services such as: basic living skills (adaptation to new country, information to new settlers, migrants, WFA members and the Filipino community in the Waikato region) education in culture (cultural traditions, social cohesion, ethnic communication language skills) children's programmes language, arts and culture (training and dance performance/arts and culture) transmission (participation and inheritance of cultural identity) enrichment of community of Filipino culture, arts and performance language lessons.
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