Let me tell you about this “forgotten” traditional Filipino board game before *those* people at Hallmark make a cringe movie about our culture.
Sungka is believed to have originated around the 17th century have originated from other similar south East Asian games, like Congkak from Malaysia.
Traditionally, Sungka consists of a hand-carved boat-like wooden base with 16 pots and 98 puka shells. This aesthetic makes the game showcase Filipino artistry, craftsmanship, and resourcefulness; while the game itself showcases quick mathematical skills, strategic planning, and overall patience.
THE GAME
To supplement this step-by-step, please watch the video I posted here or on Instagram, YouTube, and Tiktok.
Sungka is strictly a two-player game and requires a flat surface, preferably a table. The players each get one side of the board, having. Their own seven smaller pots and one large pot called “Bahay” or “house” Each player's bahay is the large pot on their left.
The game begins with each player distributing 7 puka shells on each of the 7 smaller pots, leaving the bahays empty. Once ready, both players start at the same time, choosing any of the 7 pots, grabbing the contents, and start moving clockwise, redistributing one shell per pot they pass AND putting one shell on their bahay if they pass it. Shells are redistributed to every pot as the player moves clockwise, but trying to remember NOT to place a shell in the opponent's bahay. If they accidentally do so, the opponent gets to keep it.
If the last shell on hand gets dropped on your bahay, you may pick another pot, grab the contents and keep placing shells. If the last shell on hand get dropped on an empty pot on the opponent, your turn ends. However, if the last shell on hand gets dropped on an empty pot on your side, your turn ends and you take that shell and any shell(s) across from it and put them in your house.
The strategy, really, is to quickly calculate which pot will make the last shell on hand get dropped at your bahay so you can keep adding more during your turn; OR quickly calculate how to land on an empty pot across from a filled opponent's pot to collect.
The game continues as until one player has absolutely no more shells on any of their 7 smaller pots. The opponent with "leftover shells" on their 7 smaller pots get to keep those leftovers in their bahay.
This game can be very quick or very slow, depending on how skilled the players are. Mas madiskarte, mas mabilis! The goal of the game is to collect as much shells in your bahay as you can because whoever has the most shells in the end, wins.
Would you want to give this game a try? Have you played this game? I'd like to hear your experience!