TOP 5: BACK TO BACK

'MOST STICKY GAME AWARD'

This game was actually a bit unhygienic in the way that you have to be back to back, arm by arm with a co-player, regardless of you both sweating. You have no time to wipe the sweat, and in fact you’ll be in panic mode just finding a pair because every round you need to pair up with a different person.

Despite that, I think this was one of my most favorite games. It enabled us to get to know more of our classmates, in fact a lot of them. Plus, it’s fun and super exciting. There’s no exaggeration when I said super. It’s like we’re back to being children, only caring about winning, about finding a pair. It doesn’t matter who. Size doesn’t matter. Gender doesn’t matter. If you’re qualified to the standard set for a pair, then you’re good enough.

I experienced being pulled by someone, and next thing I know, we’re back to back. All of us were into the game. There’s no time for being in dreamland.

One good observation I had, we’re all sweaty and sticky. It’s a bit uncomfortable but what choice did we have? We’re in the game and I bet we all wanted to not be ‘it.’

My MVP for this round was Fitz. Well, it’s because of one incident, in which we were supposed to be a pair, but next thing I know, Eube (?) managed to take my place. It was hilarious and embarrassing at the same time because our classmates were laughing at the incident. I was laughing with them actually.  

For the variation, I think it would be nice if it could be done by group. Then, each member from a group would have to pair up with one from another. That way, there will be limited people to pair up with and a bigger possibility of tagging someone to be ‘it.’ Plus, the ‘it’ group can join in the crowd and pretend that they’re from another group. Those who pair up with the wrong people get to receive some sort of punishment to make the game more interesting.

TOP 4: THE HUNGRY GAMES

'MOST YUMMY GAME AWARD'

The game makes me want to eat even before it began! In fact, I sensed my classmates feel the same way too. Most of us set their eyes on the Nova LOL. 

It’s funny how random comments can distract a reporter and then one from our team can enter and succeed and getting a food. The other problem remains with having to escape and bring the food back to our team base.

My chosen MVP for this was Fitz. It’s surprising how he managed to get in and out the food zone, succeeding to get our team a lot of food, without getting tagged by a reporter. He did get tagged, but he already brought us a lot of food before he lost.

To me, the most exciting part was trying to outwit a reporter so you can snick pass them and go get a food. I was blessed to have gotten one.

For the variation, I suggest there be a lot of food zones so it’ll be just like in the actual ‘HUNGER GAMES.’ And maybe, it could be a one vs. all for every player. Each player could be assigned a certain spot in a circle. The food can be scattered inside the circle. At the signal, the goal can be to get food and return to one’s original spot. The difficult mechanic can include that practically everyone can tag you and eliminate you from the game.

TOP 3: SHINBUNSHI

'MOST SIMPLE BUT FUN GAME AWARD'

I always love it when a dress is what I can call, simple but elegant.

Normally, the simplicity would imply that the thing is boring. Apparently, Shinbunshi overthrew that context. It’s merely a combination of some sort of newspaper stop dance (without the music) and jack en poy, and yet all of us were enthusiastic with the game.

I, for one, really wanted to congratulate the winner, the last one standing, the survivor of the game, who so happened to be my MVP. For the original game, it’s Daniel. And for the one with variations, it’s Angel from our team.  She really is blessed with talent in jack en poy LOL. She brought our team to championship!

In the original game, I heard my classmates yelling their victories every time they won in jack en poy. Funny, I’ve never seen people so competitive in playing the common game.

For the variation, I especially remember Arcel because he kept urging the other team to add more people to make fit in their newspaper. His excitement stood out the crowd. In fact we were getting more hyped up because of his encouragement.

I think a good variation would involve the same mechanics as the one played, but this time, the winning team (the one who wins in the jack en poy – thus this can keep changing) gets to demand the number of feet that the losing team can make step in their newspaper. Thus, it’s possible they would have no choice but to piggy back or carry some of their teammates to fit in the newspaper.

TOP 2: AWAY NG MGA KOMA

'MOST AGGRESSIVE GAME AWARD'

Note that this award actually depends on the aggressiveness of the players.

If you think about it, one only has to tap the head of the opponent. But the game turned out to be a lot more. It was like an actual battle field out there. Each representative from a circle was practically trying his/her best to hit the head of their opponents. To them, there was no holding back.

As a matter of fact, I’ve witnessed one of my teammates fell to the ground due to the force of the other team.  It was a good thing no serious injury was inflicted though our teammate Mark seemed hurt. I think he was shocked too, and so were most of us who saw what happened. Who wouldn’t? One second, they were trying to win each other. Next thing we know, they were already on the floor before any of us had the time to react and help.

It was for this reason that I chose Kevin as MVP. The guy can jump really high, surprising his opponents and using it to his advantage for winning. That’s how he defeated Mark, the representative from our circle.

Aside from aggressiveness, I think the game requires a whole lot of alertness. One time we were so focused to tap the head of another circle that we didn’t get to stop another team from approaching and tapping the head of our supposedly representative.

The variation was definitely more challenging as the team with few members automatically has the disadvantage.

I think a good variation for this game will be if the representative of each circle can come out from the circle, but only half of their bodies can, the other half, still inside of the circle. This way, it will really be more similar to how the hermit crabs act. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to have more restrictions to avoid injury.

TOP 1: MAY I TOUCH YOUR HAND?

'MOST ROMANTIC GAME AWARD'

This game reminded me of William Shakespeare’s star crossed lovers: Romeo & Juliet.

Being part of the smaller barrier that was the inner circle, I felt like I was role playing as one of the Capulets. By all means, we had to stop Juliet (in the game’s case, Abi) from being together with her ‘lover’ Romeo. The outer barrier that was the bigger circle, on the other hand, served as the Montagues, preventing Romeo (in the game’s case, Mark) from reaching Juliet.

While we were playing the game, I felt excitement abundant in the air. My classmates were all touched by the game’s romantic concept. In fact, some were even suggesting that we (the barrier) just let them get together. Anyone can guess that it’s all for the sake of a happy ending!

Nevertheless, we had to be the antagonists and play our part. Fortunately, Mark and Abi succeeded in touching hands, proving that they were stronger than us. Symbolically, it meant to imply that their love was stronger than the circumstance.

The variation, having two Romeos fight over one Juliet, felt even more exciting. If I were to come up with another variation, I’d like there to be two or more Juliets and one Romeo. And instead of Juliet being in the inner circle, it could be that Romeo will be the one inside. I think it’ll be more hilarious because it would imply that the girls are fighting over that one guy! How fortunate of him, whoever he is Lol XD Or, if possible, there could be two Juliets and two Romeos.

Needless to say, my MVP for the game is Mark, the Romeo of our class because he succeeded to held hands with Abi, the Juliet of our class.

PS: I also think that this game showed that two can play that game. It’s not only Mark who fought to hold hands with Abi. Abi fought too. So it takes two to win the game.