Sungka – A Traditional Count and Capture Game of the Philippines

Sungka is one of the traditional games in the Philippines that most families enjoy during gatherings. It involves dropping shells or stones into large holes on a long canoe-shaped board called Sungkaan. Sungka rules vary every household, different households play with very different rules, but there are common rules. Sungka is a turn-based game, to win at Sungka the player’s aim of the game is to capture as many shells and place them into your "ulo" (head).

Sungkaan is placed horizontally between the two players. Each player has seven houses in front of him and the heads should be at the far ends to the left and right. Each player's "ulo" is the hole/pit to his extreme left. 98 shells (beads, seeds or stones) will be place seven into each of the "bahays" (houses).

Both players play simultaneously. Once a player has ended their first turn, he must wait for the opponent to also end his turn and from that point on, players simply take it in turns to play their turns. A player may only start with a house on his side of the board. The game ends when neither of the players can play on.

This video was produced by Mindhaven School Inc, Capiz Philippines.