Games people play this season

During parties of Yuletide past — when life was so much simpler — people sang, well, Christmas carols in these get-togethers. But in this world where attention span is so short and you have to get everyone excited, I dare you to sing O, Holy Night or Silent Night without causing party guests to head for the exit.

In today’s Christmas parties, participants in programs often dance to songs that are often played on radio during the months leading to the holiday season.

And so in the mid-‘90s, children and even adults danced in Christmas parties to the tune of Macarena, which — this, if am not mistaken — was derived from one of the titles of the Blessed Mother (most likely in Spain).

In 1999, office girls swayed to the beat of Mambo No. 5 during corporate Christmas parties that were grand because we were all eagerly waiting (actually anxiously because there were rumors that data in computers, especially in the banks, were going to be erased) for the coming of the new millennium. A couple of Christmases later, it was Asereje.

Today, the most popular song used in Christmas parties is undoubtedly Nobody, by the Wonder Girls of Korea. Jai Ho by the Pussycat Dolls could have been it, except that its popularity came a bit early. Besides, Nobody is more exciting although more baduy, but really its tune is bouncier. Another popular song being played in most Christmas parties today is I Gotta Feeling.

When it comes to parlor games played in parties in the last two Christmases, completely gone were the musical chairs and The Boat is Sinking. (Five years ago, Charade was the “in” thing.) But when the local edition of Family Feud was launched by GMA 7 in the last quarter of 2008, I was witness to a lot of Christmas parties where everyone played the game, except that nobody paid for the franchise. And no, the emcees in the parties didn’t look like Richard Gomez at all — not even close.

But play Family Feud they did. When I stay in the condominium that serves as my halfway house, I would be kept all night by partygoers in nearby buildings (on the roof garden) who play Family Feud. From the kitchen, I would look out the window and watch the games and everyone had fun.

Family Feud is still popular in most Christmas parties today — so I noticed — but the emcees still shout “Family Feud!” the way Richard Gomez did it. Apparently, Family Feud temporary replacement Dingdong Dantes still has to establish his own trademark of saying “Family Feud” before breaking into   commercial.

But watching Dingdong, the matinee idol has easily adjusted to the demands of his new hosting job and is, in fact, already very comfortable with it. He only has yet to inject a little more humor to his quips when contestants give unbelievably off answers to surveys conducted by the show’s staff. However, I believe he will be able to catch up soon and be as good as Richard Gomez.

Like I said in my most recent review of Family Feud, the questions in the show had become more difficult, which in a way is good because there’s a lot more challenge this time.

But really, the more popular game played by Filipinos in most Christmas parties these days is Pinoy Henyo — as popularized by Eat, Bulaga!. In fact, no get-together in the last three years is complete without people playing this game.

Among my friends, I introduced jengga or Tumbling Tower — a set with tiny rectangular blocks piled up that you carefully pull out one by one without the whole thing collapsing. When the pile comes tumbling down, you lose. I recall discovering this game in Boston 11 years ago and I played with the then teenage children of former Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cabinet secretary Dinky Soliman, who later joined the Hyatt 10 (I still hold her in high respect for making such decision). When I returned in 1999, I brought home a Tumbling Tower set and played it during gatherings with friends. Later, we shifted to Taboo, but have since incorporated Pinoy Henyo in our parties.

Now, here’s a tip on how to win in Pinoy Henyo. If the party has a theme — like come in your favorite rock star attire — be prepared to give answers like — Prince, electric guitar, etc.

How do you play Pinoy Henyo? Oh, please, where have you been the past couple of years? If you don’t know how to play it, you’re no Pinoy. And definitely, you’re no genio.