Tumbang Preso is a Traditional Filipino game most Filipino children that grew up in the 90's and earlier, played in the streets. In Cebuano, it's called Tumba Lata.

I chose this topic because children these days are prone to being stuck to some kind of screen and seldom go out to play games. Instead of watching tv, we took them to the street, and taught them, watched them intently as they play street games with their friends.

All you need to play the game, is a slipper, and an empty can. The objective of the game is to "Tumba" or tip over the "Lata" or can. One person will be guarding the can, making sure it is standing back up before running after their playmates who are getting the slipper they threw out to hit the can.

To play the game, first, find an empty can.

In our case, we just ate a can of sweet corn that day and we made sure no pointed edges were popping out to keep the little ones' fingers safe.

Second, using chalk or charcoal, draw a line which will be home base. This will be where those who will throw their slipper at the can will be standing. They cannot go past this line when tossing the slipper, and they need to be back on this line with their slipper before the one guarding the can puts the can back in upright position.

Next, do rock paper scissors or "Maiba-taya" to determine who will be "taya" or it. To do this, players put their hands on their head and when one person says, "Maiba-taya", everyone will put their hands in front of them with either palms up or down. The person whose hand differs becomes it.

You are now ready to start the game!

It was their first time playing so the can was only 2 meters away from the base line. To start off, the first player throws a slipper at the can, while the second one is guarding it.

If the can is hit, the 2nd player needs to get it back upright and run after the first player before he gets his slipper and goes back behind the base line.

If the first player is caught while getting his slipper back, he becomes it and guards the can next.

Stop. Play. Repeat.

Pretty easy right? Also loads of fun, with a touch of resourcefulness.

It is a game most of us Filipinos grew up playing in the streets when our streets were safer and our parents let us play until the sun goes down. Most of us grew up away from the television in the 90's whether it was because our parents couldn't afford one, or we just didn't have cable TV and we were stuck watching the news in the afternoon.

Sadly, this traditional Filipino street game is almost forgotten.

Playing traditional Filipino games is an experience we wanted the kids to get a taste of while also teaching them that you don't need much to have fun- no cellphones, gadgets, or televisions - just your friend, a can and a slipper.

They played until the sun went down and enjoyed every minute of it.

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Also posted on luvabi.com.

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