Magic lore in the Philippines is extremely fascinating. We have Mangkukulams and their deadly dolls, along with mysterious tales of Agimat – powerful charms that can make someone become a god among men. Of course we can never forget the mysticism brought by the Babaylan as they invoke spirits and deities with their dance and trance.
If those are not enough to trigger your inner magician, here are some other interesting and bizarre lore and rites. These are sure to make you realize the culture of magic in the Philippines stirs both allurement and danger into a single cocktail of folklore and mythology. A word of warning though: drink at your own risk.
Divination Magic
Divination is categorized as magic that enables someone to see future events. Our ancestors had many methods for them to have a glimpse of things to come, especially during sowing season or during special events like raids and hunting.
The Manobos of Agusan Valley performed a specialized type of divination called hieromancy where they observed their object of sacrifice for a sign. They gave focus to the blood coming from their sacrificed chicken or pig. If the blood is pure red without any bubbles or froth, it indicates a good omen for their tribe. Evil is looming when the blood has dark spots, foam or bubbles. Circular streaks in the blood foreshadowed the total annihilation of their enemy.
Another divination rite performed by the Manabos was the usage of a suspended bolo or dagger above their altar or sacrificial tray. The movement of the blade would act just like the pointer used on a Ouija board wherein the Manabos can ask questions. This was only limited to simple answers; a movement means yes and lack of it means no.
During raids, the Manobos also conducted a ritual to identify among them who will be the most distinguish warrior. By seizing a fowl and using its neck as a pointer, the leader of the raid will ask the fowl to point out who will be the warrior with the greater glory during their raid.
Besides the tawas ritual (using candle drippings), egg divination is pretty common among Albularyos to diagnose the illness of their patient. This is done in several ways; one is through breaking the egg and examining the yolk inside to see if it has an unusual appearance. The other is to see if the egg stands on a plate – meaning the patient’s sickness is caused by a spirit.
Other divination rituals include examining the entrails of sacrificial animals – notably the liver, gall bladder or intestines – for any deformities or abnormalities that might foretell ill omens.
Rites and Charms of Power
Talismans and other charms are said to provide people with powers usually reserved for your favorite fantasy or superhero – from invisibility and invulnerability to blades or bullets. Most of these magical items are constructed using various materials (from common to exotic) or simply purchased. If you wish to have a powerful charm made by your own efforts, here are the rituals that you might want to try:
The Red Stone of Begonia
A certain species of Begonia plant called gaue morado was said to produce a red stone on its flower that can render its possessor to be unsinkable in water – even to the point of not even getting wet. To acquire the red stone, you must first offer an unsalted stewed pig under the Begonia at 8 PM. You will then recite the following: “Tagallias sa Tagalliasan, Tagac aco sang acon pinagaio-an Con daog, mo aco tagan con buntol aco sayupan”. The said offering will be then be consumed by a big black cat. After finishing its meal, you must stop it from going away. It will then transform into a giant that you must overcome until 12 midnight. Once it is dominated, his head must be cut off to reveal the red stone.
Immediately, you must put the stone in your mouth and run away towards your house without looking back. Upon reaching home, you must go in backwards. After the ordeal, you can now take the red stone from your mouth and keep it.
Black Cat’s Bones
Black cat’s bones are an alleged source of invisibility. But the ritual that comes along with it is quite complex and entails a lot of patience. In the month of January during a full moon, you must catch a black cat and keep it tied in a dark and gloomy room for 3 days. You will only feed it with chicks of black crows and eggs from a black cockatrice.
After three days, the cat will be bathed in water from a fruit of the tree called “tulog-tulog” and it will be given a quarter of that water to drink. On the fourth, for some unknown reason the black cat’s body will be smeared by mud and charcoal. At sunset, the black cat is then to be prepared for burial in the middle of a crossroad with its head and feet tied down. Covering yourself with leaves of the bandiang tree you will recite the following: “Oh, King of Crows, of obscurity and of darkness, give us what we beg of thee, and grant us what we desire. Amen and Amen.”
After peering to the sky through the leaves, you will throw the body of the cat in the hole you dug about 2 and half palmas (an old Spanish measuring unit) deep. The hole will be then marked and you should walk around it three times.
You will only return to that spot after three months during a new moon at 12 noon. You must bring a 13 year old boy along with you. The boy must turn his back from the spot as you dig it using the bones of a crow fastened to cabonegro wood. You will then give the bones of the cat to the boy and asked him if he receives it. The boy will confirm but will also respond that he can’t see the bones nor the one who gave it to him. After repeating the said routine once more, you must recite a prayer: “O mighty Maragundum, who has given me the tigadlum, Grant me again what I beg of thee, and do not become angry thereat.” Nibbling the bones of the black cat will then make you invisible.
Blue Stone of the White Eel
If you wanted to become slippery and strong, finding the legendary 100 year old white Eel is the quest that you want to try. On the first Friday of the year – which must be a leap year and had a three numbers alike (i.e 1999) – one can try searching for the said eel by making an offering to Pandangan, who is said to be the master of the creature. You must bring two eyes of a white shark and two balaraw (a kind of dagger) as you dive into the water where the cave of the white eel is found. Once the eel is spotted, you must quickly stab it on its back. Out of nowhere, a giant will appear and fight you. You must duel with the large man while your foot is pressed down on the head of the eel, which will lead the giant to beg for your pardon.
You will grant his wish on the condition of acquiring the blue stone. Never take your foot off the eel until the giant brings the stone to you. Afterwards you must immediately leave the cave and the water. To use the power of the Blue Stone, you can place it in your mouth to become strong and slippery like an eel.
Dead Child’s Fingers
This one is a bit darker than the above mentioned rituals. First you need to find a newborn baby who has died unbaptized and dig up the coffin.
As you open it up, the child will supposedly raise his or her arm and immediately you must bite the said hand and take the little fingers. Wrap them in a black cloth and let them dry.
There are varying uses for this charm. One is that when you visit a house and leave one of the fingers there, you may enter that house once more without being noticed. The second is by putting it in a bottle of alcohol and praying over it through the night which will eventually will turn the fingers into a divination tool that can tell if luck is against you.
A warning: before taking the little fingers, frightful images will start to haunt you.
Love Charms
Certain plants and insects may unknowingly be utilized to make someone fall in love with you. Proceed with extreme caution for it might cost the sanity of the ones you wanted to fall in love with.
Tying a woman’s hair on a butterfly or an insect called langaw-langaw found in Carabao’s wallows will make her become madly in love with you. She may go crazy if she doesn’t get to see you though.
The Tagulilong plant known for sucker like protrusions found on its branches exhume a sweet pleasant smell that is said to attract woman. Other plants that are said to have the same properties include the Tagulisang, a small herb with a sky blue flower that when dried can also produce a scent that to make woman to fall madly in love. The Tuncos, whose leaves resembles that of a male peacock’s tailfeather, mixed with coconut oil taken during a new moon can make someone follow you with sheer devotion and passion. This can be done by applying the oil mixture to his or her hair.
A charm called a Faramanis of the Tiruray people was said to give beauty that equals to the stars and moon at night. To prepare the charm, one must utter a secret prayer as they mix a certain oil and egg in a bowl during full moon. The night sky must not be cloudy for once the moon or stars will be covered, you cannot achieve the said effect of the said charm.
While many of the above rituals seem far fetched, gruesome, and even silly, they are part of the traditions and folk beliefs that existed long ago (and some even still). They are a glimpse into the magic and mysticism of the past. A window to the desires of our ancestors. In another 400 years I wonder how our rituals to attain love, beauty and power will be viewed?
Source:
The Manobos of Mindanao by John Garvan (1929)
Pavon Transcript No. 5-B: The Ancient Legends of the Island of Negros; Book First Part I by Jose Maria Pavon (1838 – 1839)
The Customs of Tiruray People by Jose Tenorio (1970)
Encyclopedia of Philippine Folk Beliefs and Customs by Fr. Francisco Demetrio S.J
Currently collecting books (fiction and non-fiction) involving Philippine mythology and folklore. His favorite lower mythological creature is the Bakunawa because he too is curious what the moon or sun taste like.
