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In Focus: Traditional Games in the

Philippines
Back to article list

August 15, 2003

ARTEMIO C. BARBOSA

Games are a universal phenomena. Adult and children alike maintain their own kind of
games played at certain points in their lives. In its early development,  it is noted that
gaming is intended primarily for amusement and played whenever suitable opportunities
arise. Scholars assess that games are frequently simplified and are secularized
ceremonies of older culture.

Comprehensive cross-cultural studies of games have brought us to the point of

identifying these remnants of older cultures. Most of the researches on the games have
given us knowledge on the origins of the games, how these were institutionalized and
how these developed through time.

Games among the people of  Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao share a commonality. The
games selected here are traditionally distributed all over  the country and played by both
sexes, at certain ages. Toys and implements used in the games are also presented.

The Filipino ‘Laro’

            In  the book ‘A study of Philippine Games’ (1980), author Mellie Leandicho
Lopez noted that ‘laro’ is the Filipino generic term for all forms of  recreational play. The
closest word term for the game is the ‘palaro’ referring to a group of special occasion
games that take place during wakes, festivals and town fiestas. This would also refer to
games that are competitive in nature where each contest is always brought to a
conclusion.

Major studies of games pointed out that traditional games are shared communally within
Philippine context. The same situation exists in neighboring countries, specially
Indonesia.

It is also commonly known that games play an important part in the learning process of
the child. This educational influence of games on the physical, mental, and moral vitality
of a child is a factor why games in the country are still being practiced and observed by
the general public.

In this connection, the family plays a very important role in the transmission of traditional
games on to their children. The family, specifically the parents, reinforce the child’s
learning process. Psychologically, it helps the child in building up himself to use all
possibilities that will make him grow normal. Lopez also observed that the normal child’s
natural interests lead him to different types of games at different  periods of his
development.

The family is a social agent that builds the development of each member of the
household. As traditionally practiced in the Philippines and the neighboring countries,
children learn from their parents. It is the obligation of the parents to help their children
learn social customs, standards and values of his culture. This system is also shared by
other members of the family, relatives, and, by and large, the members of the
community, speeding up the learning process of any child. Also, with this frame of
attitude, preservation of tradition is enhanced, and the children benefit from it. It is in this
process that whatever they learned is right away integrated into their consciousness.

Malay (1956) pointed out that ‘Filipinos like to play game,’ and this is observed true.
Traditional and hightech games are simultaneously played around the country. As part
of Filipino pastime, specially in the rural areas and during moonlit nights, the
neighborhood gathers and shares games in the plazas, open areas, and main roads,
trying different sets of games and interacting with each other as part of their recreation,
socialization, and relaxation after a hard day’s work.

12 Philippine Games

The selection is based on the premise that these games share commonality around the
country and that of their neighboring Asian countries. Majority of these are common or
ordinary games utilizing physical strength, and classified as mock warfare, racing
games and formula games, most making use of dexterity and skill.

1. Patintero (block the enemy game) – This game is played by boys and girls, ages
5 to 10 years old in mixed teams. Adults though tend to rank themselves
according to sex. There are two sets of this game. One requires six players to a
 team while the other needs eight players. The game is played outdoor at anytime
of the day and at night when the moon is out.

The game is prepared on the ground by drawing a rectangular field (usually five to six
meter with four parallel lines inside) using either water, stick and charcoal on the ground
to define the boundary. To play, one set of taggers or the ‘it’ situate themselves inside
the lines of the rectangle while the runners will try to get through both ends of the field
and back without being tagged or blocked. When caught, they right away change roles.
The group that has lesser tagged incidents is declared winner. The games is
widespread in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

2. Karera ng Baong Sangko (coconut shell stilts race) – This game is designed for
racing. This game requires two or more chidlren of both sexes ages between 7 to
12 years old or much older. This game uses coconut shells with string of abaca
rope inserted into the eyes of the shells. The strings are measured to the height
of the user. A set of starting and finish lines are drawn. The players, with their
feet on the coconut shells stilts, run at full speed to the finish line.
3. Luksong Lubid (jump rope) – This is another common game played only by girls
between the ages of 5 to 15. This is usually played outdoors when the weather is
good and indoors during the rainy season. The length of the abaca rope depends
on the players involved. The game is played first using two ‘its’ who are replaced
after a player touches the rope with his feet.

4.Taguan (hide and seek) – This game has no limit to both boys and girls of ages
between 5 to 15. This is played outdoors during daytime and on moonlit nights. Children
are most often discouraged by parents partly due to a belief in unseen spirits that might
harm their children. The game starts in an unidentified base where the ‘it’ closes his
eyes and counts to 100 while the other players start hiding. After the count, the ‘it’ start
looking for the rest of the players. Once found, one is automatically out of the game. In
some provinces though, once a player is found, the ‘it’ will have to run to the base and
touch it while the found player tries to beat him to it. When the found player beats the
‘it,’ he remains ‘it’ until everyone else is located.

5. Kolyahan ng Sarangola (kite fight) – This is a game of dexterity and skills at

manipulating high-flown kites. Kiting is one the old games found in the repertoire
of Philippine games. This particular game is played by boys, ages seven and
older, outdoors during summer (March to June in most provinces and extended
to the month of October in other areas). The game is played by two groups using
their kites: either a big one (gorion) or a small one (small kite) to engage in the
‘kolyahan.’ The players would try to damage the each other’s kite while avoiding
damages to their own kites.

This game needs preparation since the kite’s string  is coated with powdered glass, to
help cut the strings of the opponent’s kite. The owner of the kite that is damaged and
plunges to the ground loses.
 6. Dama (checkers) – This is another familiar game and familiar pastime.that uses
skill, usually played by males 10 years old and above, and played either indoors
or outdoors. The game is played on a small wooden board with 10 squares and
14 end points. The checkers (dama) pieces are comprised of 24 pitsas made
from pieces of small bamboo, stones, or bottles caps, with the players having 12
pieces each. The players position the 12 pieces of pitsa on the end points of the
diagram. The players move alternately from from point to point. Like chess, the
game ends once the opponents pitsas are captured or literally eaten, especially
the dama or queen.
7. Turumpo (top) – This is a popular game throughout the country. Each province
has its own shape and style of top but the most beautiful and biggest are those
found among the Maranao of Mindanao. The game is done with ordinary skill in
order to manipulate the top. The top is usually made of soft wood for those used
in regular games and hardwood for heavy competition. The top is played by
winding the meter-long string around the top. The top is held between two fingers
and the thumb and thrown to the ground. The competition is of two kinds. One is
to inflict damage on the opponent’s top– the top that receives the heavy damage
lose the game. The other one is to keep it spinning for the longest time– the one
that spins the longest wins.
8. Yoyo – According to early researchers and documents, this particular piece of
instrument was not intended for game purposes but as instrument in hunting or
capturing animals and as self-defense. Presently, yoyo is made of wood and
acrylic plastic though before it was made of carabao horn, ivory, silver, and even
gold.

The game is quite new, played alone or by two, outdoors or indoors, by young and adult
alike of both sexes. The mechanics of the game is simple, the players only have to
outwit the opponent in reeling the yoyo continuously without interruption. If the opponent
did not complete the required style, e.g. ‘around the world,’ ‘walking the dog,’ and loses
momentum, or his yoyo stops in the process, then he loses the match.

9. Sipa (rattan football) – This is a common game that requires kicking skills. The
game is played outdoors during daytime with young adults participating in the
game varying in numbers from two, four, and eight players. Like the ball in the
volleyball game, the rattan ball is kicked by the players to their opponents who
kick it back and so forth. The ball should never touch any parts of the body
except the knee down to the toes.
10. Palo Sebo (climbing a greased bamboo contest) – It traces its origins to a similar
game widely played in the Visayas that had men racing up a greased coconut
tree. It is also similar to the ‘Pinang’ game of Java, Indonesia. The game is
played by young males and generally done in an open space during fiestas and
other celebrations. A long polished bamboo pole greased with oil is planted on
the ground with the prize placed at the topmost of the pole. All players, whether
individually or as a team, try to climb the pole for the prize. The prize, usually
cash, is increased depending on the sponsor’s generosity.
 11. Luksong Tinik (thorn hurdles). This is a very common game played largely by
girls ages between 7 to 12, though, in some areas, boys join in. This game is
played outside with players divided into sets, comprising of the mother (‘inay) and
her child (‘anak’). The ‘it’ are two players who seat facing each other, stacking
their feet and hands together, gradually increasing the height while the
opponents jump over it. Any ‘child’ player who touches any part of this hurdle is
saved by the ‘mother’ who would jump on the former’s behalf. If she, too, fails to
accomplish the feat, both ‘mother’ and ‘child’ becomes the ‘it’ who would assume
the seated position.
12. Sunka or chongca, sungca, sunkaan, sunca, tsunka (board game) – This is
another set of game widely distributed in the country and the rest of Southeast
Asia. This game is played both outdoors and indoors and is played by both
children and adults. This is played by two players with a wooden pea-pod shaped
board with seven small holes in rows on each side, and a big hole on each end
filled with an equal number of ‘sigays’ (small shells). Each player takes turns
picking up from any hole on his/her side, putting one ‘sigays’ in the small/big hole
to his/her left, then picks up all the ‘sigays’ from the last hole that the last sigay is
put and places them in the big hole to his/her left. This is repeated until one
person no longer has any ‘sigays’ to play with and is declared the loser. The
person with the most number of sigays is declared the winner.

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Traditional games in
the Philippines 
       These are games commonly played by children,
usually using native materials or instruments. In the
Philippines, due to limited resources of toys of Filipino
children, they usually come up on inventing games
without the need of anything but the players
themselves. With the flexibility of a real human to
think and act makes the game more interesting and
challenging. Because it is a tradition for Filipinos to
play in a bigger and spacious area, most games are
usually played outside the house. Some games are
played or held during town fiestas in the provinces.
These games of Filipino children include the following:

Agawan Base

There are two teams with two bases. How many players on each team
depends on the players. There are two bases which each team claims as
their own. The goal is to tag the other team's base without getting
tagged. If you're tagged, you're transferred to the other team and must
be rescued. There are several variations in which the rules are changed,
in some, you can connect other items on the base so you can easily touch
the base.There are usually set points, such as first team to tag the other
team 5 times wins. You can tag other people who has touched their base
before you and are on the opposite team. If they've touched their base
after you've touched your base, they can tag you, and you can't tag them.

Agawang sulok
- catch and own a corner - The it or tagger stands in the middle of the
ground. The players in the corners will try to exchange places by running
from one base to another. The it should try to secure a corner or base by
rushing to any of those when it is vacant. This is called "agawan base" in
some variants, and "bilaran" in others

Araw-Lilim
- sun and shade - The it or tagger tries to tag or touch any of the players
who is in direct contact with the light.

Bahay-Bahayan

A role-playing game where children act as members of an imaginary

family, sometimes to the extent that one of them becomes the family
"pet." They then act out various household situations such as dinner,
going to mass, and the like.

Bahay-Kubo
A hand-clapping game generally involving 4 people. They are split into
two pairs, a pair having 2 people facing each other, and all members
from both pairs facing the center (the two pairs being perpendicular to
each other). Each pair then does a hand clapping "routine" while singing
the "bahay kubo." At the middle of the song, each pair exchanges
"routines" with the other.

Bati-Cobra
This is a hitting and catching game. This game is played outdoors only by
two or more players.
To play this game, 2 pieces of bamboo sticks (1 long, 1 short) are
required. A player acts as a batter and stands opposite the others players
at a distance. The batter holds the long bamboo stick with one hand and
tosses the short one with the other hand. The batter then strikes the
shorter stick with the longer stick. The other players will attempt to
catch the flying shorter stick. Whoever catches the stick gets the turn to
be the next batter. If nobody catches the stick, any player can pick it up.
The batter then puts down the longer stick on the ground. The holder of
the shorter stick will throw it with the attempt to hit the longer stick on
the ground. If the longer stick is hit, the hitter becomes the next Batter.
If the player with the shorter stick misses to hit the longer one, the same
batter will continue.

Bulong-Pari
- whisper it to the priest - It is composed of two teams and an it. The
leader of team A goes to the priest and whispers one of the names of the
players of team B. Then he returns to his place and the priest calls out,
"Lapit!" ("Approach!"). One of the players of team B should approach the
priest, and if it happens to be the one whom the leader of team A
mentioned, the priest will say, "Boom" or "Bung!" The player then falls out
of line and stays somewhere near the priest as a prisoner.

Buwan-Buwan
A rough circle is drawn on the ground and one person from the group is
tagged. He is not allowed to enter the circle, but instead has to touch
one of the people inside the circle without having entered it. If he
succeeds, he can enter the circle, and the person touched becomes the
next one tagged.

Calahoyo ("Hole-in")
This is an outdoor game by two to ten players. Accurate targeting is the
skill developed in this game because the objective of each player is to hit
the anak (small stones or objects) with the use of the pamato (big, flat
stone), trying to send it to the hole.

A small hole is dug in the ground, and a throwing line is drawn opposite
the hole (approx 5 to 6 metres (16 to 20 ft) away from the hole). A longer
line is drawn between the hole and the throweing line. Each player has a
pamato and an anak. All the anak are placed on the throwing line, and
players try to throw their pamato into the hole from the throwing line.
The Player whose pamato is in the hole or nearest the hole will have the
chance for the first throw. Using the pamato, the first thrower tries to hit
the anak, attempting to send it to the hole. Players take turns in hitting
their anak until one of them gets into the hole, with the players taking
turns a complete round and so on. The game goes on until only one anak
is left outside the hole. All players who get their anak inside the hole are
declared winners, while the one with the anak left outside the hole is
the alila (loser) or muchacho. Alila orMuchacho will be 'punished' by all
the winner/s as follows:

         Winners
stand at the throwing line with their anak beyond line A-B
(longer line between hole and throwing line). The winners hit their anak
with their pamato. The muchacho picks up the pamato and returns it to
the owner. The winners repeat throwing as the muchacho keeps on
picking up and returning the pamato as punishment. Winners who fail to
hit their respective anak will stop throwing. The objective is to tire the
loser as punishment. When all are through, the game starts again.

Chinese Garter

Two people hold both ends of a stretched garter horizontally while the
others attempt to cross over it. The goal is to cross without having
tripped on the garter. With each round, the garter's height is made higher
than the previous round (the game starts with the garter at ankle-level,
followed by knee-level, until the garter is positioned above the head).
The higher rounds demand dexterity, and the players generally leap with
their feet first in the air, so their feet cross over the garter, and they end
up landing on the other side. Also, with the higher levels, doing
cartwheels to "cross" the garter is allowed.

Iring-Iring
- go round and round until the hanky drops - After the it is determined,
he or she goes around the circle and drops a handkerchief behind one of
the players in the circle. If this player notices the handkerchief, he or she
has to pick up the handkerchief and go after the it around the circle.
The it has to reach the vacant spot left by the player before the itis
tagged; otherwise, the it has to take the handkerchief and repeat the
process all over again.

Juego de Anillo
A game notably Spanish in influence. The name literally translates to
"game of rings." It involves riding a horse while holding a dagger and
"catching" rings hanging from a tree or some other structure using the
dagger.

Juego de Prenda
- game of looking for the missing bird - There is no limit to the number of
players that can play. Players sit in a circle with the leader in the middle.
Each player adopts a name of a tree or flower that is given by the leader.
The leader recounts the story of a lost bird that was owned by a king. He
or she says, The bird of the king was lost yesterday. Did you find it,
Ylang-Ylang? The player who adopted the name of the Ylang-Ylang tree at
once answers that he or she has not found it, so the leader continues to
ask the other trees whether the bird has hidden in them. If a player
cannot answer after the third count, he or she is made to deposit a thing
he or she owns to the leader until the leader has been able to gather a
lot of things from the members.

Kapitang Bakod
- touch the post, or you're it! or hold on to the fence - When the it or
tagger is chosen, the other players run from place to place and save
themselves from being tagged by holding on to a fence, a post, or any
object made of wood or bamboo.

Langit-Lupa
- heaven and earth - One "It" chases after players who are allowed to run
on level ground (lupa) and clamber over objects (langit). The "It" may tag
players who remain on the ground, but not those who are standing in the
"langit" (heaven). The tagged player then becomes "It" and the game
continues.

Lawin at Sisiw ("Hawk and Chicken")

This game is played by 10 or more players. It can be played indoors or

outdoors.

One player is chosen as the 'hawk' and another as the 'hen'. The other
players are the 'chickens'. The chickens stand one behind the other, each
holding the waist of the one in front. The hen stands in front of the file of
chickens.

The hawk will 'buy' a chicken from the hen. The hawk will then take the
chicken, asks him/her to hunt for food and goes to sleep. While the hawk
is asleep, the chicken will return to the hen. The Hawk wakes up and
tries to get back the chicken he bought while the hen and other chickens
prevent the hawk from catching the chicken. If the hawk succeeds, the
chicken is taken and punished. If the hawk fails to catch the chicken, the
hawk will try to buy another chicken.
Luksong-Baka

- jump over the cow - A popular variation of Luksong Tinik, one player
crouches while the other players jump over him/her. The crouching
player gradually stands up as the game progresses, making it harder for
the other players to jump over him/her.
Luksong-Tinik

 - jump over the thorns - Two players serve as the base of the tinik
(thorn) by putting their right or left feet together (soles touching
gradually building the tinik). A starting point is set by all the players,
giving enough runway for the players to achieve a higher jump, so as not
to hit the tinik. Players of the other team start jumping over the tinik,
followed by the other team members.
Palosebo

- greased bamboo pole climbing - This game involves a greased bamboo

pole that players attempt to climb. This games is usually played during
town fiestas, particularly in the provinces. The objective of the
participants is to be the first person to reach the prize—a small bag—
located at the top of the bamboo pole. The small bag usually contains
money or toys.
Patintero

 Harangang taga - try to cross my line without letting me touch or catch

you - Each member of the group who is it stands on the water lines. The
perpendicular line in the middle allows the it designated on that line to
intersect the lines occupied by the it that the parallel line intersects,
thus increasing the chances of the runners to be trapped.even only one(1)
member of a group is tagged the whole group will be the "it".

Piko
hopscotch- The players stand behind the edge of a box, and each should
throw their cue ball. The first to play is determined depending on the
players' agreement (e.g. nearest to the moon, wings or chest). Whoever
succeeds in throwing the cue ball nearest to the place that they have
agreed upon will play first. The next nearest is second, and so on.

Pitik-Bulag

This game involves 2 players. One covers his eyes with a hand while the
other flicks a finger (pitik) over the hand covering the eyes. The person
with the covered eyes gives a number with his hand the same time the
other does. If their numbers are the same, then they exchange roles in
the game.

Sambunot
Sambunot is a Philippine game which may be played outdoors by ten or
more players, but not to exceed twenty. The goal in the game is to get
the coconut husk out of the circle.

A circle is drawn on the floor, big enough to accommodate the number of

players. A coconut husk is placed at the center of the circle. The players
position themselves inside the circle. At the signal ″GO,″ players will rush
to the center to get the coconut husk. Players may steal the coconut husk
from another player in an attempt to be the one to take the husk put of
the circle. A player who is successful in getting out of the circle with the
coconut husk wins, and the game starts again. 

Sipa

- game of kick - The object being used to play the game is also
called sipa. It is made of a washer with colorful threads, usually plastic
straw, attached to it. The sipa is then thrown upwards for the player toss
using his/her foot. The player must not allow the sipa to touch the
ground by hitting it several times with his/her foot, and sometimes the
part just above the knee. The player must count the number of times
he/she was able to kick the sipa. The one with most number of kicks wins
the game. Sipa is also the term used for the Filipino variant of Sepak
Takraw.this game is called"pambansang laro".

Taguan
-  hide and seek  in America. What is unique in Tagu-Taguan compared to
its counterpart, hide and seek, is that this game is usually played at
sunset or at night as a challenge for the it to locate those who are hiding.
Takip-Silim
 - twilight game, look out, cover yourself! or take-cover game! -
Participants usually step on couches, hide under tables, or wrap
themselves in curtains – much to the dismay of neat-freak parents.

Ten-Twenty

A game involving 2 pairs, with one utilizing a stretched length of garter.

One pair faces each other from a distance and has the garter stretched
around them in such a way that a pair of parallel lengths of garter is
between them. The members of the other pair, then begin doing a
jumping "routine" over the garters while singing a song ("ten, twenty,
thirty, and so on until one hundred). Each level begins with the garters at
ankle-height and progresses to higher positions, with the players jumping
nimbly on the garters while doing their routines.

Tsato
- stick game, better be good at it - Two players, one flat stick (usually 3')
and one short flat piece of wood (4" usually a piece cut from the flat
stick).

Player A hitter and Player B as the catcher. Played outside on the ground
where you dig a small square hole (slanted) where you put the small
wood so it sticks out.

Player A hits the wood with the stick so it catches air enough to be hit by
the stick.
The further the wood gets hit the more points you get (usually counted by
the number of stick length

Player B on the other hand has to anticipate and catch the small piece of
wood to nullify the points and become his turn OR looks forward to Player
A to miss hitting the wood.

Tumbang Preso

Tumbang Preso is a popular Filipino street game also known as Presohan.

The game requires 3 or more players. Each player is provided with a large
throw-away object (could be slippers or a shoe) called "pamato". A semi-
flattened empty tin or plastic container (the size of an 8 or 12 oz. tins) is
placed in upright position 6 or 8 meters from the throwing line. A player
is drawn as the prisoner (usually through a system like Jack en Poy). The
prisoner will guard the empty tin or container.

The other players stand at the throwing line. They take turns throwing
their "pamato" at the empty tin, trying to knock it down. As soon as the
can is knocked down, the prisoner must put back the tin in upright
position before he can tag the any of the players attempting to recover
their "pamato". If the "pamato" becomes too close to the tin in an upright
position, so that the prisoner can step on both with one foot, the owner
of the "pamato" becomes the new "prisoner". The prisoner can also tag
the players while recovering their "pamato" outside the throwing line.

After each throw, a player must recover his "pamato". Should he be

tagged by the prisoner before he reaches the throwing line, he becomes
the prisoner in the next game.
Ubusan Lahi
- game of conquer - One tries to conquer the members of a group (as in
claiming the members of another's clan). The tagged player from the
main group automatically becomes an ally of the tagger. The more
players, the better. The game will start with only one it and then try to
find and tag other players. Once one player is tagged, he or she then will
help the it to tag the other players until no other participant is left. Some
people also know this a Bansai.

Teks
Teks or teks game cards - texted game cards - Filipino children collect
these playing cards which contain comic strips and texts placed within
speech balloon. They are played by tossing them to the air until the cards
hit the ground. The cards are flipped upwards through the air using the
thumb and the forefinger which creates a snapping sound as the nail of
the thumb hits the surface of the card. The winner or gainer collect the
other players' card depending on how the cards are laid out upon hitting
or landing on the ground.
Source : Wikipedia

Tumbang Preso

 Tumbang preso or presohan (tumba-patis in most Visayan regions) is a popular Filipino

street game and is commonly seen in most Filipino movies and TV series.
 Like other Filipino traditional games, members take the following rules: one as the
“taya”, someone who takes the rule of a-player-at-stake and holds the responsibility of
the Lata (tin can), and; the two others as the players striking. The game is performed
by having the players a “pamato” (which is ones own slipper) used for striking the tin
that is held beside the taya.
 As to how the game cycles, the taya, is obliged to catch another player to take over his
position of running after the tin that keeps from throwing away by the strikes of the
players. Nevertheless, the taya is only privileged to do so only if the player is holding on
his way a pamato and when the tin is on its upright position. Hence, running after
another player is keeping an eye to the tin can’s position. As for the players, they have
 their whole time striking the tin can and running away from the taya keeping themselves
safe with their pamato since making the tin fell down helps another player from
recovering. Instance like having everyone had their turns over is one big climax of the
game that leads them to panic since case is that taya has all his rights to capture
whether the player have a hold of their pamato or not.
 However, mechanics also give each side privileges. With the roadway or streets as the
area being performed, the taya take its place on one side held its tin centered on the
ground while on the other end is bound by a line that limits the player when throwing.
Breaking rules to the players give way for the taya to have his overturn, like: stepping
on or outside the boundary line when throwing; kicking the tin; striking the tin without
having oneself reaching the line; or even touching it.
 In other versions, especially those in Visayan regions and Southern Luzon, is of
complexity for the part of the taya. The latter has to make the tin can stand upright
together with its own “pamato” on the top of it which also adds up to the mechanics of
the game. The tendency is that even when the taya has already made everything stood
up but when the slipper will fall from the tin, he is not allowed catching anybody unless
he hurriedly put it back to its position.

umbang Preso is not just a game. It’s a fun outdoor physical activity that helps children
players develop strategic planning skills and agility.

Long before the internet and gadgets were introduced to them, Filipino kids had already
been playing this outdoor social game called Tumbang Preso.

Tumbang Preso or Tumba lata (Tagalog), or Bato Lata (Bisaya) literally means “Knock

Down the Prisoner” or “Knock Down the Can” in English. This game is usually played in
backyards, open fields, parks, or in the streets when vehicular traffic is minimal. While the
game involves much physical activity like running, Tumbang Preso calls for skills in strategic
planning and agility to avoid being tagged.
 Traditional Filipino Games Series #05
Tumbang Preso

We don’t know when this game

started. But for as long as I can remember, the generation before mine had already been playing
Tumbang Preso. (Photo credit to the owner)

The game’s primary objective is to knock down the guarded “prisoner” or “can” with a
certain tool and retrieve the same tool without being caught by the guard.

Equipment Needed for Tumbang Preso 

 a small can (usually a milk can) or any small cylindrical object, and;
 a slipper or a small flat stone. This tool is called pamato

Ideally, this game involves a maximum of 9 players, although kids may decide on the
number of participants. One of the players serves as the guard or “It”, and the rest are the
hitters.

Mechanics of the Game

1. The players draw a toe-line at one point of the ground, and a small circle a few
meters away on the other side. 
2. Then they decide on the first guard or “It” by throwing their pamato at the toe-line,
trying as much as possible to hit it or at least make the pamato land closest to the
line. Whoever’s pamato is farthest from the toe-line is the first guard or “It”.
3. The “It” places the can inside the circle and guards it. While the hitters stand ready
behind the toe-line. 
4. At the signal of the “It”, the hitters start throwing their pamato at the can.
5. Once the can is hit and knocked down, the “It” must quickly retrieve it and put it right
back up inside the circle. At the same time, he should be quick enough to catch and
 tag the hitters trying to retrieve their pamato. One important rule: the guard cannot
tag a hitter until he or she makes the can stand in its place inside the circle.
6. When the can is thrown outside the circle, the hitters may kick it farther away from
the circle to allow all of them more time to retrieve their pamato. But, if
the pamato landed close to the can but did not knock the target down, the guard may
“capture” the pamato by putting a foot over it while his/her other foot rested on the
can. This is a signal for the owner of the pamato to take his/her turn as the
next “guard” or “it”.
7. A hitter who fails to retrieve his or her pamato may stay close to it and waits for the
other hitters to knock down the can again.
8. Unless a player is “captured” (rule #6), the hitter who has been tagged becomes the
next “It” [or whichever comes first].
9. And the process is repeated for as many times as the players agree.

The players must be quick to think of a strategy to retrieve his or her pamato without being
caught. The “It” must also be alert for any movement of the other players. The primary
element required in the game is speed – speed in thinking of a strategy, and speed in
running away from the “guard” or “it”.

Tips on Playing Tumbang Preso

 Choose a pamato that is right for you. It should neither be too light nor too heavy for
you to handle.
 Practice your aim.
 Be watchful for any movement of your co-players.
 Act and react fast.

Tumbang Preso may also be played by the young at heart. Try it with your officemates or
fellow homemakers one weekend and (re)discover and enjoy the fun Tumbang
Preso brings. Not to mention the benefits of physical and mental exercises that come with
the game.

Curious that he’s always been, Kyle Jennermann did not let Tumbang Preso pass. Watch
how he enjoys the game

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