Philippine Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health

Padpadya (Black Witchcraft)                                                    
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Authors:
Sinumlag AB, Suyam, R, Palaganas, EC
Title:
Phase II Documentation of Philippine Traditional Knowledge and Practices on Health and Development of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health for Selected Ethnoliguistic Groups: THE UMA TRIBE of Western Uma, Lubuagan, Kalinga Province, Cordillera
Source:
Terminal report
Keywords:
Causes:
This black witchcraft usually befall persons who have abused, discriminated, killed or done something wrong to other people. The people whom they hurt may seek help to the nalaing (witch) and an uncurable illness is casted on the person who've cause harm to the other.
Materials:
Severe kind of illness that cannot be diagnosed and cured by medical doctors.
Management:
Luis Tayawa shared that he had cured several people who had this kind of illness. One of them is his nephew who had five holes in his feet even showing his bones. When he examined him, he said that it is a padpadya. He asked him of his prior activities and he concluded that his nephew got the illness in Batangas. According to him, when his nephew washed his clothes and let it dry, the one who is holding the poison pour some in the pants. He cured it by charcoal coming from the butt if a pot with oil. He rubbed the charcoal with oil in the feet of his nephew for three days and the holes were all gone. Moreover, he healed several of the people of the Municipality of Pasil who went to Western Uma and seek his help. One of them is a lady having lots of an inch hole in her body. The patient was already suffering for three months. The holes he said started from her hands until it was spread all over her body. The lady is victimized he said by her previous boyfriend who cannot accept that they are going separate ways. The ex-boyfriend knew of someone who has the bad skill which is doing the padpadya. Luis instructed the family to buy a native chicken for them to start the healing process. They butchered the chicken and checked its bile if it says a positive sign. Luis however does not believe in bile reading. He believes that the person can be healed if God forbid. After eating, he started applying the charcoal with oil by rubbing it in a downward direction into the affected skin. A day after, the holes started to disappear. He again prayed and applied the ?medicine? on the lady. On the third day of healing, there is only one hole remaining which was in lady?s hand. When she was totally recuperated, the family went home.
Additional information:
Usually, the victims of padpadya only consult with the man-aalisig when it cannot be healed by medical doctors. It is because this is always associated with something immoral or anti-social activities that were committed by the patient.
Informant:
Luis Tayawa, 50
Address:
Sitio Ag-agama, Western Uma, Lubuagan, Kalinga Province, Cordillera Administrative Region
Information gathered by:
Sinumlag, AB
Date gathered:
01/06/2013
Abstracted by:
Province:
Kalinga - UMA tribe

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