In the late 1980s and early 90s, the partnership between the Children's Television Workshop (CTW, the creators of Sesame Street ) and the Philippine production team broke down. A legal dispute arose over the ownership of the characters.
Pong Pagong (literally “Turtle Tag”) is a traditional Filipino street game that combines elements of tag, evasion, and temporary safe zones. Unlike standard tag, where a single “it” chases other players, Pong Pagong introduces a unique mechanic: players may avoid being tagged by assuming a turtle-like crouching position. This paper examines the game’s mechanics, cultural significance, and the social values it instills, such as strategic thinking, fairness, and physical agility. pong pagong
While Batibot was a co-production, the international copyright for the characters remained a point of contention. Eventually, the courts ruled in favor of the foreign entity. The puppet designs—which were considered intellectual property of Sesame Street —had to be surrendered. In the late 1980s and early 90s, the
The game also mimics real-life adaptation: sometimes the best way to avoid conflict (the taya ) is to “go low and stay still,” a metaphor for patience in Filipino social interactions. Unlike standard tag, where a single “it” chases