THE DEPARTMENT of Education will feature Indigenous Filipino Games or “Laro ng Lahi” anew as an exhibition sport in the Palarong Pambansa in Marikina City.

These games include Kadang-kadang, Tumbang Preso and Patintero on July 28.

“Laro ng Lahi” was first introduced at the 62nd Palarong Pambansa in 2019, where the Department’s officials and personnel participated in playing Kadang-kadang, Patintero, Hilahang-lubid and Karera ng Sako.

The inclusion of Larong Pinoy in the multi-sport event aims to promote, preserve, and propagate the country’s rich cultural heritage and traditions and ensure that the new generation will experience and help revive traditional Pinoy games.

The indigenous games will also instill teamwork, sportsmanship, camaraderie, friendship, and discipline among the youth and help improve their physical, emotional, and mental health.

According to DepEd Memorandum No. 35, s. 2023, all regions must choose 10 members from their delegation to participate in the Palaro indigenous games.

Cheerdance, weightlifting and obstacle course will also be included for exhibition, while dancesports and pencak silat will be featured as demonstration sports.

In addition, separate events for learners-athletes with intellectual disability, or those visually impaired and orthopedically handicapped under Special Education classes, such as Para-Athletics, Para-Swimming, Bocce, and Goalball, will also be conducted.

There will be 1,573 medals at stake in Regular Sports, Para-Games and Demo Sports in this year’s Palaro.