"Patentero" (Children's street game)

Patentero comes from the Visayan word. There's no exact explanation of it just to be clear. This kind of street game will be so much fun. I played it when I was young so I can tell. Even though this is just a simple game. Just run fast and avoid someone catching you. But it's not like a run-and-catch game. There will be a boundary where the participants can't pass or else he/she will be out. This is a street game because this game needs a longer area even though not so wide.

Staying in our place will make you love to roam around. When afternoon arrives a lot of people you can see on the street. They will always do something to make them enjoy the time. Anything will be fine for them as long as they can play. That's what being a child is after all. But as an adult, we envied the attitude of the children. To play without worrying about life. Although we can't play it, we will just be happy watching them having so much fun.

I'd love to walk and roam around in our place during the afternoon. But I can't do it anymore since we started selling barbecues in the street. I can't leave for now because of financial reasons and that's why in the meantime this is my source of income with my sister.

While sitting and waiting for a customer to buy. I saw these children playing quite a distance from where I was selling. I adored watching them because of their smile. I noticed as well that the game they played was one of my favorite street games when I was young. I couldn't help it and I captured them playing.

This type of game is very simple. The lines that are being drawn in the street are a sign that it's a block. That line will be the one to use where one child or participant guards it. That child will not let someone pass him/her. But there's nothing to worry about because the one who just passed or another one will pass it again. Just make sure to capture or to catch it next time. That will be the time to decide if the other team will now be the one to catch the other team.

There will be a finish line and there will be the edge-line. If you can pass every participant who guards the line and you will reach the edge of it. The game will not be decided yet because you need to come back to the line where you started or the finish line. Avoid the guard by tricking them, fooling them, or outplay them by your speed in running. If no one can catch each one of the team. The game will resume again and the catcher will still be the one to guard.

Actually, this type of street game is a very popular game in the Philippines. All Filipinos know this game but not all can play because of the environment and the location that needs to be used. Thankful for those who live in the province because a lot of children can use the street as a playground. There are not many vehicles that can use the street. That's the children here can use it freely and just stops if a vehicle will pass but only sometimes.

Thank you for reading

images are mine

d' dreamboy,
@mrnightmare89