Babaylanism in Negrosanon Culture

BABAYLANISM
IN
NEGROSANON
CULTURE
Resource Person:
SEVERINO F. PACETE
(Silay City Consultant on Sociology)
*Former Tourism Officer of Silay City
*Three- time Most Outstanding Tourism
Officer of the Philippines
TERMS AND RITUALS
Babaylanism is a traditional
village practice wherein a
“babaylan” performs a ritual that
connects himself to the spirits of
nature or to the beings in another
dimension.
Babaylan is a gifted person in the
community who gains the respect
of the village chief and the council
of elders because of his ability to
connect to the
“elementals” or nature spirits such
as elves and fairies.
TERMS AND RITUALS
A “babaylan” could understand things
not readily seen by the rational mind
and the physical sense alone
(extraordinary psychic).
A “babaylan” could function as...
a priest who officiates rites
a doctor who can heal
a consultant who can foretell
the future
a medium who can connect to
the spirit world
TERMS AND RITUALS
Our “babaylan” here could be
compared to the shaman or
medicine man in other countries.
A “babaylan” is using “amulets”
and “talismans”.
He is an “albulario” who heals by
secret words and herbs.
As a psychic, he could even found
missing persons
Some have the ability to have
contact with the extra-terrestrials.
TERMS AND RITUALS
“Amulet” is an ornament or gem
worn on the body as a
protection against evil spirits.
“Talisman” is an object,
especially a figure carved or cut
at a time regarded as
astrologically favorable,
supposed to have magical
protective qualities.
Our “babaylan” is having
“anting-anting” that could be
similar to the function of the
“amulet” or “talisman”.
TERMS AND RITUALS
The “anting-anting” could be
in a form of……..
-“Praskita” or “Lanahan”, a
small bottle loaded with
different herbs, stones,
entrails and other ingredients
personally prepared by the
“babaylan”. It is prepared
with a coconut oil ritually
cooked on a Good Friday or
First Friday of the month.
TERMS AND RITUALS
The “babaylan” believes that the
elementals are stronger on
“Martes” and “Viernes”.
-“Librita”, a small book with Latin
verses obtained by a “babaylan”
from a previous “babaylan”.
Usually, it is taken from under the
pillow of a person in a floating
coffin that serves as “bagat” in
secluded areas to threaten
people. Only a “babaylan” has
the courage to wrestle whoever is
inside the coffin.
TERMS AND RITUALS
-Orasyon, litany of words in Latin
(or bastardized Latin) believed to
have been learned and
memorized by a “babaylan” from
a “Master Babaylan”.
The “orasyon” could be
effective in driving away evil
spirits, healing the sick, stopping a
force of nature, preventing the
bad intention of other people,
facilitating success in business,
winning in sports competition,
among others.
TERMS AND RITUALS
“Bato sang Buhawi” (Tornado’s stone)
could be obtained at the center of
the whirlwind. A “babaylan” has to
jump at the center of the whirlwind
and wrestle with the big man who
owns the pebble. If the big man is
defeated and the stone is taken and
placed inside the mouth of the
“babaylan”, the big man and the
whirlwind will disappear. The stone
will make the “babaylan” strong.
-Skull of a black cat buried on a
Good Friday to be exhumed in the
next Good Friday. It can make the
“babaylan” unseen (disappear).
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Trabungko” (big snake’s ball).
It will make the babaylan
acquire the characteristics of the
snake….strong, fast and
poisonous
-“Lumay” (love potion). It could
make a person fall in love with
another…preferably male to
female and vice-versa.
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Panabi-tabi”. It is uttered when
humans traverse a trail that is
believed to be “mariit” (abode of the
elementals).
Examples: bungsod (mound)
Dapdap (tree of tag-lugar)
Lunok (tree of tag-lugar)
Bubog (tree of tag-lugar)
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Diwata” , the goddess or nymph of
the rivers and the forest. They are good
spirits who are the guardians of the
environment.
-Barang or Hiwit. Our “babaylan”
contradicts other human beings who
inflict pain or even death to other
persons using their black power. Those
who suffer from “barang” or “hiwit”
have unexplained physical or mental
affliction, disease or pain.
-“Maranhig”. This is our local version of
Zombie. They could not die. If they
touch the water, they become worms.
The worms can always assemble again.
TERMS AND RITUALS
The “babaylan” understands
that the “tamawo” (engkanto),
kama-kama, bululakaw live
here.
-Aswang (the creature that flies
during the night)
Aswang stories:
Tenyente Gimo
Yanggaw
Tiktik
Wakwak
TERMS AND RITUALS
“Bulalakaw”, the Firebirds.
When they appear, it is an
omen. “Bulalakaw” is a bird of
ill omen. When you see one,
say…. “Fuera sinda bulalakaw!”
-“Kataw”, mermaid or sea
nymph having the body of a
woman and the tail of the fish
instead of legs. The male version
is the “ukoy” or “siokoy”.
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Kamandag”, the sap of a
poisonous tree that kills (just like
the venom of a snake).
-“Mantiw”or “Mantio”, a lanky
ogre (8 feet or taller) who is very
shy. He loves to whistle.
-“Kapre”, dark skinned, hairy and
huge. Loves to smoke cigar. He
enjoys frightening the passers-by.
He loves to court young beautiful
women in the village. He lives in
the branches of big trees.
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Da’ga ”, blood offering for the
new house, factory, bridge, school,
etc. to appease the underworld
spirits.
-“Duso – duso”, offering of food
and beverage to appease the
spirits of nature and our ancestors.
-“Luy-a Luy-a”, healing by using
ginger. It follows a ritual.
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Sigbin”, dog-like creature of the
dark that kills humans and animals.
-“Tayho”, half-horse and half-
human. It runs fast.
-“San Termo”, jumping fire balls
that appears at the scene of the
latest accident, especially during
rainy nights.
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Murto”, spirits who have not left
their abode for whatever reason.
They look horrible. They have the
ability to manifest in forms but they
cannot harm if humans will not
panic. In tourism, we call it
“paranormal attractions”.
Examples: White Lady, headless
persons, floating smoke in human
form
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Agta”, dark creatures living in
deep forest. They are very
envious and sometimes they
disturb people in villages at the
foot of the mountain.
-“Bagat”. They are aswang or
creatures of the dark that
threaten people who travel at
night in secluded trails. They
appear in form of a dog, pig,
horse or big bird.
TERMS AND RITUALS
-“Duwende” or “Kama-Kama”,
creatures believed to be dwelling
inside the white ants’ (anay)
mound. If you don’t see them, they
will pinch you. They love to pinch
the legs of the girls taking a bath.
-“Muwa” , creatures living in dark
caves. They are dirty and have
long hair. They love to abduct
children gathering firewood. We
also call them “Bruha”.
Madamo gid nga
salamat

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