Patintero facts for kids

Patintero, also known as harangang-taga or tubigan, is a fun, traditional Filipino children's game. It is one of the most popular outdoor games played by kids in the Philippines, similar to tumbang preso.

What's in a Name?

The name Patintero comes from the Spanish word tinte. This word means 'tint' or 'ink.' It refers to the lines drawn on the ground for the game.

Another name for the game is tubigan. This means 'water game.' People often draw the game's grid lines by wetting the ground with water.

It is also called harangang-taga. This name means 'block and catch.' It describes how players try to block and catch each other during the game.

Different parts of the Philippines have other names for Patintero. For example, the Igorot call it lumplumpas. The Kapampangan call it sabatan. In eastern Visayas, it can be called tadlas or birus-birus.

How to Play Patintero

Patintero is played on a special grid drawn on the ground.

The Playing Area

The game uses a large rectangle drawn on the ground. This rectangle is usually about 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 feet) long. It is also about 4 meters (13 feet) wide.

This big rectangle is divided into smaller squares. A long line goes down the middle. Then, one or two lines go across. The number of squares can change depending on how many players there are. Each square must be large enough for a player to stand in. They should be able to stand there without being tagged by someone on the lines.

Teams and Roles

You need two teams to play Patintero. Each team usually has about two to six players.

One team becomes the 'taggers.' Their job is to tag the other team. The other team becomes the 'runners.' Their job is to cross the grid without being tagged.

Teams usually decide who is who by playing rock–paper–scissors (called jak-en-poy). Sometimes, they flip a coin instead.

The Game's Goal

The main goal for the runners is to cross the entire rectangle. They must go from one end to the other and back again. They have to do this without getting tagged by the taggers.

How Taggers Play

One tagger stands on each crosswise line. They can only move along their own line.

The tagger on the first line is special. They are the team leader, called the patotot. The patotot can move along their crosswise line. They can also move along the long central line.

Taggers can tag runners at any time. This includes runners who have already passed them. But there's a rule for tagging: both of the tagger's feet must be on the lines. If a tagger tags a runner with only one foot, or no feet, on the line, it doesn't count.

How Runners Play

Runners can cross the lines at any time. They can move to any square next to them. However, they can only leave the playing rectangle at the very ends.

If a runner gets tagged, they are out of the game. They must sit out until the next round starts.

Scoring and Winning

Teams score points when a runner completes a full circuit. This means they cross the entire rectangle from one end to the other and then back again. This is called isang gabi ("one night").

Once all the runners on a team have been tagged, the teams switch roles. The taggers become the runners, and the runners become the taggers.

In some versions of Patintero, the game ends if even one runner is tagged. In other versions, the game only ends if the patotot (team leader) of the running team is tagged. Some modern games also have a time limit. If the time runs out, the game ends, even if no points were scored.

Images for kids

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  People playing patintero

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  A tagger must have both feet on the line to tag a runner.