Tumbang preso facts for kids
Tumbang preso is a fun, traditional Filipino children's game. Its name means "knock down the prisoner." People also call it tumba lata ("knock down the can") or bato lata ("hit the can"). Kids often play this game in backyards, parks, or quiet streets.
How to Play Tumbang Preso
To play Tumbang preso, you need a few simple things. Grab an empty soda can or any other can or bottle. Each player also needs one slipper. For the most fun, try to have no more than nine players in total.
One player is chosen to be the "It," also called the "tayà." This player guards the can. The other players, called "hitters," try to knock down the can. They do this by throwing their slippers at it.
The can sits inside a small circle on the ground. This circle is a few meters away from a "toe-line." The toe-line is where the hitters stand to throw their slippers.
The goal for the hitters is to knock the can over. The "It" player's job is to quickly put the can back inside its circle. If a hitter gets tagged by the "It" while trying to get their slipper back, that hitter becomes the new "It."
Different Ways to Play Tumbang Preso
Sometimes, people play Tumbang preso with a few changes, especially on narrow streets or sidewalks. The basic rules are still the same, but here are some differences:
- Two toe-lines are drawn instead of one. These lines are on opposite sides of the can and are closer to the can's circle.
- The hitters are split into two groups, with one group at each toe-line.
- To make the game harder, the soda can might be flattened a little. You can do this by gently hitting the sides of the can until it folds, then carefully stepping on it.
- If the hitters run out of slippers to throw, the game can turn into a chase! Players on one side might try to trick the "It." Meanwhile, players on the other side try to kick the can. Everyone tries to avoid being tagged.
- After the can falls down, the game pauses. This gives all players a chance to get their slippers back before the next round starts.
