Langit is the Filipino word for heaven and lupa is earth.

The game's name describes how the chaser cannot

reach players how are elevated from the earth.

Startup
The game is for at least three players, who will gather in a circle. One player points at everyone in succession
while chanting Langit, lupa, impyerno / Im-im-impyerno / Saksak puso / tulo ang dugo / Patay, buhay / Maalis
ka na diyaan. (Heaven, Earth, Hell / Hell-Hell-Hell-Hell-Hell / Stab the heart / Out comes blood / Dead, Alive
/And out you go.), pointing to the player next to the one he just pointed to with every syllable of the chant.
Whoever the chanter is pointing at when the chant ends is the it.

Gameplay
The it chases the other players in an attempt to tag them. Whoever gets tagged will
become the it, just like in habulan. However, players can climb or step onto an elevated
space such as a flight of stairs, on top of a table, or simply dangle from a jungle gym.
Players who manage this are immune from being tagged. Different rules are applied to
govern this limitation. One is to time a player's immunity. After a prearranged number of
counts, the player has to come down and be vulnerable again. Some groups impose a
ruling that the it must move away from elevated players to give them a chance to run
away. The game ends when the players are exhausted or are called home.
Im currently doing research and stories on Philippine games. Heres an interpretation on one of the
childhood favorites:
It starts with chant by a ring of children gathered on a lawn or backyard. A designated child begins the
rhyme:
Langit, lupa, impyerno
Im-im-impyerno
Saksak puso
tulo ang dugo
Patay, buhay
Maalis ka na diyaan.
Loose English Translation:
Heaven, Earth, Hell
Hell-Hell-Hell-Hell-Hell
Stab the heart
Out comes blood
Dead, Alive
And out you go.
With each syllable, the designate points to a player in the group until finally the rhyme finishes and with
the last syllable, the taya or the it is chosen.

A mad scramble ensues as the remaining players search for elevated ground which is Langit or Heaven.
Here the It cannot go and the player cannot be touched. The unfortunate player who is caught and tagged
standing on Lupa or the the level earth becomes the new It. Then the running and tagging begins
again.
The game ends when the sweat soaked children have had enough or their mothers call them in for
supper.
Langit-Lupa impyerno im-im-impyerno sak-sak puso tulo ang dugo
patay buhay umalis ka dyan sa pwesto mo.
Have you remember this well-known chant? Hope you have not missed to play this Langit-Lupa game during your
childhood. This has been one of the most interesting local games we have here in the Philippines. No one could ever
identify in an unknown time and space who is the genius kid who invented this chant. All we know is that it is handed
down from our ancestors down to our parents until todays generation.
Langit-Lupa game describes our view as a Christian as well as our beliefs in the afterlife. Indigenous terms heaven
(langit) and earth (lupa) were borrowed from the European term inferno. This means that before Catholicism, our
ancient Filipinos had no concept of a place of eternal suffering. Langit would mean to them as a place of the heroes
and the rest goes to the underworld.
The line sak-sak puso tulo ang dugo also refers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which is famous to most of the
Catholics as well as the line Umalis ka dyan would mean that all the sinners will be sent by Jesus to hell which is
given emphasis in the chant the im-im-impyerno.
Traditional games just like Langit- Lupa are still very much alive in our country today despite of the age of computer
and video games. Children of todays generation primarily those who are not exposed to lots of the gadgets, internet
and online games still manage to play this indigenous game. During their past times especially after school, children
gathered at their streets and backyards to play this Langit-Lupa game with their friends and neighbors. The children
stops from playing when it is getting dark or when they are now called at home by their parents for supper or
homework are need to be done.
The game is for at least three players who will gather in a circle. One player points designating each of the syllable of
the chant to the players and when the chant stops and a player is pointed at they are out and save for being
the it or taya. The last person left will be the it. The it or taya chases the other players in an attempt to tag them.
Whoever the unfortunate player that would be caught and tagged standing in Lupa or the level earth will be the
new it.

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A child steps on an elevated place to make herself safe from tagging.

However, players can climb or step in an elevated place such as a stairs and on the top of the table. Players who
manage this are safe from being tag. There are different rules applied to manage this limitation. One is to time a
players exception. After a prearranged number of counts, the player has to come down and be in danger again.
Some groups impose rules that the taya will move away from the elevated players to give them a chance to run
away. The game ends when the players are tired or are called home.
Children can experience the Filipino spirit by playing this game. It could make them feel and realize that games
like Langit- lupa are indeed a cultural treasure passed from generation to generation. It serves as a way to instill
patriotism and became the way for family bonding. It teaches them to love our country and take pride in being a
Filipino for the lessons they could learn through the play will be part of their lives forever. It also builds their
camaraderie among the youth in their neighborhood. Lastly, it brightens the communities with the fun of children
playing.
This indigenous local game we have in our country must be preserved to show appreciation to our national culture
especially among the new generation as for them to experience the enjoyment their parents and ancestors have felt
when they