More than 100 students representing 10 elementary schools in Serpong and Tangerang took part in lively traditional games during a recent competition at Stella Maris International School, Tangerang.

"This competition displays the students' sportsmanship. It will also teach students about teamwork.

"This is one way to preserve *our* national heritage," headmaster Maria S. Santy said.

The program, titled "1000 colors in a nation", was held to celebrate Stella Maris' 14th anniversary.

The games were supported with a Farmers' Market, which is also celebrating its second anniversary this year.

The traditional games consisted of galasin, gasing (spinning tops), congklak and pitik.

Each game required students to demonstrate dexterity, logical abilities and speed.

Tiffany Alicia Griesbach, a fifth-grader at Stella Maris, said galasin was a very challenging game. Tiffany and her group had won the match against Fidelis Elementary School.

"It does not only require strong physical abilities, but also brain speed," she said, explaining that she felt tense when opponents tried to touch her as she tried to get past them.

In galasin, opponents attempt to block members of the opposite team from passing rows.

If they get past, they score points. To win the game, each group must pass six rows, back and forth.

Tiffany had done prior training with her Physical Education (PE) teacher to prepare for the contest. Team works was also important, she said.

"I had to prepare for the semifinal stage," Tiffany said. The semifinals and final round are scheduled for Sunday, July 26.

Another student, Rachel Djohar, of Harapan Bangsa School, said she did not really enjoy gasing, "because I had to throw very hard to keep the top spinning."

Rachel said she was not strong enough to spin the top.

Students were curious to see how long their tops would spin for, with the top spinning longest winning.

Pujiono, a PE teacher at Harapan Bangsa school, said the program trained students to maintain emotional and physical balance.

"This program also sharpens their leadership skills," Pujiono said.

Other students also enjoyed other games like congklak and pitik.

One pair of students looked very thoughtful while playing congklak, attempting to collect the most sea shells to win.

Congklak utilizes a plastic or wooden board with seven small indentations on each side, and two larger indentations at each end. Sea shells are distributed in all the indentations.

The competition also included a pitik contest. In unison, students sang "what are you doing right now?", to which another group replied, announcing their activities. The first question was followed by another question mentioning certain categories, like fruit and vegetables. (nia)

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