Philippine Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health

Descriptions

Mindoro - Hanunuo Rituals

Practice or ritual  Purpose Material/s  Description of practice or ritual Additional information Informant/s  Address
Babalyan Nanuno, espiritu, dwende etc.  Pounded rice, pure white chicken (from head to toe), red and white cloth, or kundiman, guitar, orasyon, guitarist and "magluluop" healer.  Prepare the materials. Wrap the rice in banana leaves, do this seven times but with smaller fold then pile on top of each other. Go to the forest. Take the pounded rice (milled) wrapped in banana leaves folded moderately, raw rice (unmilled) wrapped in banana leaves with smaller fold, pure white chicken tied with red string on the foot. Release the chicken in the forest and play the guitar, accompany with dancing and chanting for over an hour while smoking incense The sickness is diagnosed through pulse reading. Bringing salt and wearing red clothes are prohibited except for the person performing the spell because the entities in the forest will be scared (kontra sa taong gubat). Catching the chicken with the red string is prohibited for the illness will be transferred to him. Pig is used when the sickness is severe- its head and feet are buried to the ground, only its body is brought to the forest. Its whole body may not be brought to the forest, but just a portion that will be sufficient for the sacrifice and enough to eat. Elpidio delos Reyes Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Balis Balis Ginger, Kusol, Litlit. Chew the materials then rub it to the forehead of the sick person. When the forehead turns red, it is "balis". Otherwise it is not "balis". Elpidio delos Reyes Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Kulam Kulam Alum, hot coals(baga), water and chant or spell. Put the alum into the hot coals and wait until an image is formed while casting the spell. When an image is already formed, crush the alum into the water, and wipe some to the forehead, lower abdomen, feet and hands while chanting the spell.   Elpidio delos Reyes Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Tagablag For soul that don’t want to leave their loved ones. Pure white chicken (from head to toe), or pig, water basin, 2 mini boats that will fit the basin, and black and white thread. Slaughter the animal between eight (8) and nine (9) in the evening. Roast the pig or stew without any ingredients, especially salt. Prepare a basin with water inside the house. Tie the two (2) boats threaded one with red and one with white. Leave the house of the relatives of the deceased and leave the healer or Herbalist inside alone with the material. Put the boat in the basin with water and spin it while doing the chant. When the 2 boats separate the soul is gone. There should be no other person inside the house other than the healer. Elpidio delos Reyes Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Tuos Para sa kaluluwang ayaw humiwalay. (For spirits or souls don’t want to leave their relatives.] 7 grains of rice, 7 cereal grains, ginger, money (even a peso), a chant, black dress that will be used for wrapping. Wrap the materials in black cloth. Hit the sick person with the black cloth containing the materials for seven (7) times from head down. Hang it on a high place. Only the healer can hang and get the black cloth and materials. Chant or spell is used. Elpidio delos Reyes Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro

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