SUNGKA

Sungka is an important means for creating identity,

particularly for Philippine migrants. This can be seen in

sungka competitions, which are organized in the Philippines,

and in the representation of Philippine culture at cultural

festivals through Sungka demonstrations. The identity

forming function of the game is also a central theme in

Sungka and Smiling Irish Eyes, A Boy discovers what it

means to be Half-Irish and Half-Filipino by Natalie

Gonzales-Sullaway. The feminist poet and communication

scientist Alison M. De La Cruz wrote in 1999 a one-woman

performance called Sungka, which analyses the societal

 and family-related expectations in regard to gender-

specific behavior and sexuality, race and ethnic affiliation,

by comparing it to a game of Sungka. De La Cruz also reflects

 in her performance how she has come to terms with her

lesbian coming-out. Her poem That Age, which was part of

the performance, has become well-known in the America.

Moreover, sungka is still used by fortunetellers and prophets,

which are called on the Philippines bailan or maghuhula, for

divinatory purposes. Older people hope to find out with their help

whether the journey of a youth is favorable at a certain day,

and girls, whether they will marry one day, and, in case they will,

when this will be. The game is usually played outdoors because

there is a Filipino superstition about a house will burn down if it's

 played indoors.

In past times sungka boards were also used for mathematical

 calculations, which were researched by Indian

ethnomathematicians.

Although the sungka rules are not much different from

those of congkak, sungka is perceived as a genuinely Philippine

 game by native players.

Rules

The oblong game board (sungka(h)an), which is usually carved in wood (e.g. mahagany), consists of two rows of seven small pits each. In addition, there are at either end a large store (bahay) for the captured stones. Each player owns the store to his right.

In each small pit are initially seven counters (sigay), usually cowrie shells.'