The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled my cousin’s Manila apartment as laughter echoed from the living room. It was a typical Sunday gathering—relatives crammed onto couches, plates of pancit and lumpia being passed around, and my Tita Susan shuffling through what looked like colorful lottery tickets. But these weren’t betting slips—they were Pinoy bingo cards, each square brimming with inside jokes, cultural quirks, and Filipino pop culture references. "Basta, 'pag may nag-'Ay nako!', mark it!" she announced, and the room erupted into playful groans. That afternoon, watching my family connect over squares like "Nakalimutan ang 'po' at 'opo'" or "Kumanta ng My Way sa karaoke," I realized how powerful themed games could be in preserving culture, sparking joy, and creating shared memories. It reminded me of another long-awaited reunion I’d witnessed recently in the gaming world—one that mirrored this same hunger for revival and celebration of classics.

Just weeks earlier, I’d been hunched over my console, diving into the Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, a release that felt like unearthing a time capsule. Before this collection dropped, it had been nearly 12 years to the day since any of these games had seen an official release—the Marvel Vs. Capcom Origins bundle on September 25, 2012, to be exact. Let that sink in: 12 years! Days, months, and years passed—along with a new release in the franchise that drew an infinite amount of ire, pardon the pun—with fans not knowing when these games would be freed from their seemingly endless stasis. I remember chatting with fellow gamers online, all of us wondering if titles like Marvel Super Heroes or The Punisher would ever get the polish they deserved. Then, suddenly, Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection opened the floodgates with aplomb, grouping them all into a package worthy of the modern era. Sure, there are some issues, and some of these games don’t hold up quite as well as others, but the fact that they’re all here is a terrific act of preservation worthy of praise. It’s like stumbling upon an old family photo album—you don’t just see the pixels or faded edges; you feel the history.

And that’s exactly the magic I see in creating Pinoy bingo cards for gatherings. Think about it: both are about resurrecting something beloved and giving it new life. While the Fighting Collection bundles arcade classics, a well-designed Filipino-themed bingo game bundles our shared experiences—from the chaotic jeepney rides to the drama of teleserye cliffhangers. I’ve made a few of these bingo cards myself, and let me tell you, it’s not just about listing random items. You’ve got to weave in layers of nostalgia, just like how Capcom included lesser-known gems in their collection. One of my cards, for instance, has squares like "Nakita si Manong Vendor na nagbebenta ng taho" or "Nag-viral ang hugot line sa Facebook." It’s those little details that get everyone nodding and laughing, because they’re slices of our everyday lives.

But here’s the thing—preservation isn’t just about locking things in a vault; it’s about making them accessible and fun for new generations. I noticed that with the Fighting Collection: my younger cousins, who’d never touched an arcade stick, were suddenly asking me about characters like Jin Saotome or why Morrigan’s sprite looked "retro." It sparked conversations, just like how my Tita’s bingo game had my niece asking, "What’s a 'Nora Aunor movie marathon'?" That’s when it hit me: these games, whether digital or analog, are bridges. They connect us to our past while letting us create new memories. And honestly, I’ll take that over a generic board game any day.

Of course, not every attempt is a slam dunk. I once tried to include a square about "Memorized the entire jingle of a local shampoo commercial" in one of my Pinoy bingo cards, and let’s just say it caused more confusion than cheers. Similarly, the Fighting Collection has its rough edges—some hitboxes feel dated, and the online lag in a few matches had me grumbling. But you know what? Imperfections add character. They remind us that these artifacts, whether pixelated fighters or cultural inside jokes, are products of their time. And that’s part of their charm.

So, if you’re thinking of spicing up your next family reunion or virtual hangout, why not give Pinoy bingo cards a shot? Start with themes that resonate—maybe "Classic Filipino Komiks Heroes" or "Iconic OPM Songs"—and watch as Titos and Titas light up with recognition. It’s a small act, but like the return of those Capcom classics, it keeps our stories alive. After all, in a world where so much gets forgotten, there’s something beautiful about pressing "play" on the games—and memories—that define us.