Banned by FDA: In defense of the ‘lato-lato’ toy

One fine evening while our family was watching the evening news, it was reported that some of our government authorities specifically the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local government units were against (primarily because it is noisy and irritating) the continued use, distribution, and proliferation of the latest toy craze “lato-lato.”

This led my wife to exclaim: “Jeez, what do they want? Our lads to get addicted to online games and gadgets or this toy?”

As a philosopher, my spouse’s outburst led me to clearly and deeply think about this. I admit that I am one of those individuals who was exasperated due to the noise of this toy, especially if the children of our neighborhood are simultaneously playing with it. Even my students who are attending our online classes could hear them.

But if I will be asked categorically to choose between this noisy toy and those online games/gadgets for our children, despite my misgivings, I would unhesitatingly choose the former than the latter.

Let me explain.

It would be beautiful and truly a sight to see that our children are again in the streets and playing amongst themselves. It is necessary for our young to interact with their friends, showing off their skills while displaying and playing with their respective toys and conversing with their fellows.

Engaging in online games and being hooked to various gadgets is far more dangerous than playing lato-lato. Though the former may sharpen our children’s minds, making them more “active” and alert, it is not enough, because it is at the expense of other psychomotor functions of their fragile bodies. We are designed by nature to move and roam. Nothing beats actual human intercourse and natural physical interaction.

I disagree with some of the barangay officials who decided to ban this game and threatened to confiscate these toys. Will the authorities also crack down on computer shops and online gaming sites?

The point is that, despite the noise produced by these toys, our lads are now engaged in physical activity with their friends.

It is only by playing with their fellow children that our youngsters will have the necessary emotional, social, psychological, and mental development that they will need as they go on with their lives. Those necessary elements (socialization notably) are needed for their growth and development that they can only attain through social interaction, recreation, and relaxation.

On the FDA’s lack of authorization: If that is the only problem, then that government agency has to ask the manufacturer of the said toy to comply with the requirement of the law to ensure that the ingredients or the materials in making the said toy will not pose harm to our young and there will be no deleterious effect to their health, but to ban it altogether is outlandish and idiotic.

JOSE MARIO D. DE VEGA
Assistant Professor
National University of the Philippines