CHINESE GARTER (FILIPINO GAME)

Chinese Garter, a game requiring flexibility, balance

and coordination.

It is a popular game for Filipino children,

most specifically among girls during

their elementary years. The game revolves around

an ordinary garter,

around two to three yards long, which can be brought

from the sewing

store at around twenty pesos or less.

Players are divided into two or more teams,

with a minimum number of two members per team.

During the game, two members of the “it” team shall serve as “game posts” as they stand opposite each other and hold each end of the garter.

The objective of the game then is to be able to

successfully jump over the garter as it is gradually

 held higher by the game posts.

Just like in the game 10-20, each team also has its

own team leader, more commonly known

as the “Mother”

The Chinese Garter game is usually subdivided into ten levels.

Most of the time, however, the players may decide for their desired number of levels for their game. Here is an example of the levels being used to

give you an idea of the game:

Level 1 – The garter is being held by the posts closer to the ground.

Level 2 – Knee high

Level 3 – Around the height of their hips

Level 4 – Waist high

Level 5 – Chest high

Level 6 – Shoulder high

Level 7 – Head high

Level 8 – At the tip of the head

Level 9 – A few inches above the head

Level 10 – Also known as the Father / Mother Jump, as high as a kid

raising his arms high on tip toes

The game usually ends after the highest jump.

However, some kids would continue playing the game

backwards. Instead of raising the garter higher, the

posts shall hold the garter back to its lower position.

 The game now has a new objective: to be able to

reach the garter by bending backwards. The game

 continues this way until the player reaches back to

 the lowest level.