I’m not a movie person. I can never seem to keep a movie on until the end. That’s why I always make it a point to keep them interesting no matter what genre and last October 9’s movie didn’t disappoint.

We watched an indie film by Joey De Guzman titled Tumbang Preso. The title seemed really familiar to me so because I was curious, I looked it up. Tumbang Preso was actually a child’s play, no wonder why it was so familiar. I used to play it at my grandma’s place back in Leyte when I was younger too. I actually thought it meant the fall of a prison cell since tumbang means fall and preso was jail. Lo and behold, it meant both. I was impressed with what Mr. De Guzman had going on. So tumbang preso has always been played in one way for kids. A player called an IT, is assigned to guard a can. The rest of the players with their “pamatos” or what they use to hit the can, line up behind a line drawn on the ground. Once settled, the game starts and each kid gets a chance to make the can fall with his or her pamatos. Once the can falls, the owner must retrieve the pamato that made the can fall immediately before he or she is caught. If he is caught, he becomes IT. If the can is hit and falls outside the circle but still stands, the IT has the right to tag the one responsible for the pamato once he or she leaves behind the line. The can may be kicked or knocked down under when it is outside the circle. If the player is not able to retrieve his pamato, the others can save him by hitting the can.

The movie was pretty much like the game. Those players behind the line are like the victims of human trafficking hidden behind closed doors. The can represented the entire place and purpose of the business while the IT represents the business owner. Now people behind that line tried to rebel or escape at some point of his or her life until one person did it right that set them free. There were some unsuccessful moments but they helped each other survive. The can falls and the IT doesn’t manage to catch the one that successfully made the can fall with their pamato so they still lose and the game ends. It was also pretty much the fall of the prison cell. Hilariously witty with a strong message to match, Tumban Preso was an interesting movie that’s definitely a must watch.