Did you know? Yo-yo grew popular in America thanks to a Pinoy innovator

Now that lato-lato is enjoying a revival, do you remember the yo-yo, another toy that used to be very popular in the Philippines?

While the toy itself existed as early as 500 BC in Greece, a Filipino touch helped it become popular in the United States back in the 1920s.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Thursday, a Pinoy immigrant named Pedro Flores made some changes to the yo-yo design, resulting in different ways to play the toy.

"Ang kanyang innovation is made of wood. Doon nagboom 'yung innovation niya on yo-yo at na-associate sa kulturang Pilipino, magkaiba kasi 'yung invention sa innovation," anthropologist Dr. Chester Cabalza said.

The yo-yo was discovered by archaeologists when they found a vase that had a painting of a man playing a yo-yo in 440 BC.

A World Yo-Yo Contest is held every year where participants from different countries compete to become the World Yo-Yo Champion.

There is also the Philippine National Yo-Yo Contest, which will be held this year on September 16-17.

—Carby Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News