Mary Danielle Monroid 1-BSHM
The topic or the term to be defined: What is the meaning of bato-lata among Cebuanos?
Opinion or informal/ formal definition of the term defined: Batu-Lata is a game that is famous in the
Philippines.
Thesis statement: Bato-lata is a traditional Pinoy game.
Pattern/s of main points: Classify and illustrate by narrations
I. Introduction: Bato-lata is a traditional Pinoy game.
II. Body paragraph 1. The mechanics of this game.
III. Body paragraph 2. Period of popularity.
IV. Body paragraph 3. The lessons/values that we learned from it.
V. Conclusion: Bato-lata is still a popular game amongst today’s kids.
“What is Bato-lata and why it’s still popular up to this date?”
Mary Danielle Monroid
When we say Pinoy games, we instantly think of Langit-lupa, Luksong baka, Patintero, and Bato-lata.
Bato-lata is a Bisaya word which means Tumbang-preso in Tagalog. Bato-lata is a game that is popular
amongst kids and it is usually played outside or in an open area. Kids usually choose a place where they
are no vehicles that will go through the road to be safe and also to not disturb the ongoing game. There
is a lot of running in this game. You have to be quick if you don’t want to be it or “hago or hatoy”.
Bato-lata, in other words, is a traditional Pinoy game.
The mechanics of this game is not that complicated. To explain, It is played with only a tin can and a
slipper. Each player must have a slipper, and the “it” is in charge of the can. The can must be placed at a
distance away from the players. The player’s goal is to hit the can using their slippers and then run
without getting caught by the “it” by the time they make the can stand (Monteclar, 2021). The way on
how to determine who will be the “it” is they do this by throwing their pamato or the slipper at the
toe-line. Each player tries as much as possible to hit the marker. Or at least, he makes sure his pamato
lands closest to it. Otherwise, if his pamato landed the farthest, he becomes the first guard or “It”(Eslit,
2019). When I used to play this game when I was a kid, there was this rule that if the slipper is in the
circle, the “it” should hit the slipper using the can while counting from 1-3, and the owner of the slipper
will be the new “it”.
People didn’t know what era it began, people just started playing and mostly the articles began in the
‘90s. Television and video games are expensive at that time. Some parents can’t afford to buy
entertainment for their children, so the children had to improvise. Around this time, computers, phones,
and any other gadgets are not that popular since it’s very new and expensive. So to ease the boredom,
they played street games that require minimal materials to have some fun. Children nowadays are now
hooked to cellphone or computer games but there are still a lot of kids who play outside.
According to Eugenio (2020), Tumbang Preso involves the participants throwing slippers towards a tin
can until it is knocked over. The “it” then will put the can back where it was before tagging other players.
In this case, you are neither the “it” nor a thrower. You are the can. And no matter how many times
you’ve been knocked down, there will be a circumstance that will put you back up. And the process goes.
You see, these games bring more than just nostalgia. The lessons it brought contributed to how we deal
with life, especially now that we’re adults. Although sometimes, we just wish to go back and play on the
streets with friends again, we can still carry because these games made us tougher than we thought.
Bato-lata is a traditional Pinoy game that is still a popular game amongst today’s kids. At a young age,
you can hone your skills such as strategic planning, quick thinking, and agility. Aguado (2013) stated that
the Traditional Filipino Games are very much alive in the Philippines. It is not true that the Filipino Street
Games are no longer played, as some would say that it has vanished in Philippine society in the age of
computers and high-tech gadgets. In many urban and rural areas, a great majority of Filipino children still
play outdoor street games as most of them are still unable to own expensive high-tech gadgets. Let
children experience the fun things of playing the Filipino Street Games. Those traditional and classic
games –piko, tumbang preso, chinese garter, luksong tinik, sipa, patintero, and many more. These are the
games that were far more enjoyable than playing digital games. These are the cheapest forms of child
play that will greatly benefit kids’ physical, social, mental, and emotional development.
References:
Aguado, D. (2013, October 3). The Traditional Filipino Street Games are Alive in the Philippines. Magna
Kultura Foundation. [Link]
Eslit, N. (2019, July 15). Traditional Filipino Games Series #05: Tumbang Preso. The Catalyst.
[Link]
Eugenio, A. N. (2020, July 10). What we Learned From Our Childhood Street Games. Inside Manila.
[Link]
Monteclar, A. P. (2021, September 7). TRADITIONAL PINOY GAMES WE PLAYED AS KIDS. [Link].
[Link]
