Republik der Philippinen Botschaft und Ständige Vertretung bei den Internationalen Organisationen in Wien		Repúbliká ng Pilipinas Pásuguán at Pamalagiang Kinatawán sa mga Pangdáigdigang Kalipunán sa Vienna
PRESS RELEASE 27-08		02 December 2008

FIRST SUNGKÂ TOURNAMENT SOW SEEDS OF
PHILIPPINE CULTURAL AWARENESS IN VIENNA

The first-ever Sungkâ tournament in Vienna was held last Sunday, 30 November 2008, at the Vienna Museum of Ethnology (Museum für Völkerkunde, Neue Burg A-1010 Vienna), gathering sixteen (16) competitors from the Filipino, Southeast Asian and Austrian communities in the city.

The tournament opened with a ceremonial game played by Philippine Ambassador to Austria Linglingay F. Lacanlale and Ambassador Grace Tsitsi Mutandiro of Zimbabwe, one of several African countries that have a tradition of playing sungkâ, which belongs to the “mancala” family of “sowing” or “count-and-capture” board games played in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Also playing were Ambassador Julius K. Kandie of Kenya and Mr. Jojie Samuel, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Malaysia.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Lacanlale highlighted sungkâ as both a traditional Filipino pastime and a common tradition among several nations and as an avenue for mutual understanding.

Ms. Charmeylia Tamba of Indonesia emerged as champion of the 1st Sungkâ tournament, with Ms. Myrna Patricio of the Filipino community and Ms. Mary Anne Baliao, wife of Embassy staff Severino B. Baliao, taking second and third place, respectively.

The tournament was part of the autumn programme of the Vienna Museum of Ethnology and was organized in cooperation with the Philippine-Austrian Society led by the University of Vienna’s Dr. Johann Stockinger, and the Philippine Embassy.

Traditional Philippine sungkâ rules, which include opening each game with simultaneous “sowing”, were used to the tournament.