Philippine Witchcraft and Other Filipino Beliefs
Filipino mythology and folklore are intriguing subjects to delve into and explain. Even with the advent of superior technology and studies, Filipino folklore is still being handed down from generation to generation. This includes tales of creatures and curses that were logically unanswerable in ancient times.
There is a plethora of resources available to learn more about mythic entities and folklore beliefs in the Philippines. In fact, I often lament how time-consuming it is to look up everything whenever I am fascinated by a folkloric being. Aside from legendary myths, various folklore stories can pique your interest. And you may find some salient claims about them right here.
If you visit the Philippines, remember that some of these fabled creatures dwelt in the spiritual realm and would sometimes emerge in human form. Hence, natives feared and loathed them. These entities include ‘creatures, “monsters,’ spirits, folklore beings, ‘witches,’ and mythical beasts, all of whom are supposed to bring misfortune or suffering if not properly respected or served.
Let’s get started and see which one gives you the greatest creep.
Kulam Chronicles
‘Kulam’ is often regarded as one of the worst curses that may plague a person in the Philippines. It is also known as ‘Barang’ in Bisaya, is an evil deed from a ‘Mangkukulam’ who curses their victim using black magic. A Filipino witch, also known as a mangkukulam, casts spells, curses, or black magic on those they want to take vengeance on. This ritual includes some voodoo objects, commonly a doll and a needle, and candle lighting. Anything done to the voodoo doll would be felt by the victim, being the subject of the kulam.
Legendary claims show that a mangkululam has a sinister penchant for spewing fire from itself at midnight at least once a month. This is a famous rumor from provinces that used to claim that a mangkukulam is in their town living an estranged life. Fire is frequently used in a witch’s ritual to praise and worship the source of their dark magic and power.
A witch, or ‘mangkukulam,’ is a person, an ordinary human being, except that they are not normal as they are wicked. Mangkululam employs ‘kulam,’ folk magic, mostly in remote areas of the Philippines. It emphasizes one’s intrinsic black force and hidden skill of black magic. Often, mangkukulams use ordinary kitchenware or utensils for their said rituals, charms, spells, potions, fire, herbs, spices, candles, and oils. Anyone allegedly living close to a mangkukulam should be cautious since ‘kulam’ may be delivered with just the snap of a finger. Considering its readily-available equipment, we all can say that it can be pulled out anytime.
Isn’t it fascinating? Let us explore more.
Gayuma Chronicles
Gayuma is a sort of magic that works to charm or captivate someone. It is often manifested in the form of a love potion. That’s right! It is highly possible to bring the man or woman of your dreams into your life in the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas. Indeed, Siquijor, a well-known island in the Philippines, is home to Visayas’ most famed mangkukulams and mananambals (healers). Siquijor is renowned for its witchcraft and sorcery practices.
The Siquijor Island Love Potions in the Philippines are as mysterious as they are powerful. The Philippines’ gorgeous South East Asian country’s residents revere and fear the island of Siquijor. Why? Simply because the Witch Doctors who live there can either bless or curse people with their potions and spells. Fortunately, there is a means to get the Witch Doctors’ blessing in the guise of a love potion, one of the most popular ones available in Siquijor.
But did you know that you can brew your own love potion with herbalists and Witch Doctors? Yes! You read it correctly, and the only way of finding out that one is to see it barely for yourself!
Notwithstanding its reputation, the Siquijor traditional love potion is much more than only love. Instead, it dramatically helps in the attraction of things and impulses in general. It is an all-encompassing elixir for attracting everything enormous into your life, from job promotion to winning the lotto. A love potion comprises 8 to 12 components, each of which must be measured and sliced to fit the user’s lips for the love potion to be efficacious. After gathering all the components, you will journey to the Witch Doctor’s cabin, where she will prepare and consecrate your love potion.
Sounds quite!
Aswang Chronicles
Aswangs are one of the Philippines’ most dreaded creatures or folklore beings. They are flesh-eating, shape-shifting lifeforms that can blend in with the population during the day but feast on them at night. Manananggal and Tiktik are two of the most well-known species of ‘aswangs.’ Pregnant ladies are often preyed upon by these monsters. Tiktiks, on the other hand, are notorious for having an unusually long tongue that they use to suck the woman’s blood and abduct the fetus from a pregnant woman’s womb.
There are several Aswang classes in the Visayas. Another kind is the Manananggal, a mythical devilish being that seems like a sane, ordinary human during the day. But at night, its head and entrails split off from its entire body and fly to haunt for flesh. Many old stories about manananggals originate in rural communities. There’s even one account that claims that a manananggal was captured. A misfortunate night hunting got her tangled atop an electric pole, as she was discovered the morning after its horror.
The ‘Aswang’ feature may be equated with any supernatural being you’ve ever read about in tales or fiction films. Thus, when Filipinos talk about aswang, they often allude to the physical attributes, habitat, or activities of these mythological entities to know its exact class – how it’s called, perhaps. Other fabled beings, such as the dwarf and elf, are also present in Philippine entity folklore. Now, let’s delve more into these creatures. Check this out!
Bicol, Cebu, Ilokano – Blood Sucker
According to Philippine folklore, vampires are bloodsucking entities masquerading as lovely women. This damsel marries an unsuspecting youngster, so she has access to his blood every night until he dies of anemia. The monster maiden then finds another husband to suck blood from and stage the same harm as the previous one. According to legend, bloodsucking maidens use the tip of their tongue, which is pointed like a mosquito’s proboscis, to penetrate the jugular vein.
Bicol, Luzon, Visayas – White Lady
The legendary White Lady will scare the life out of you until you pass out. This supernatural entity is said to look like a beautiful lady by day, with long hair and a fair complexion. It lacks a mouth, nose, and a well-defined face. Some people who have seen white ladies believe that these creatures are unlikely to touch or harm you. It just stares at you dead till you faint on the ground. There are other stories of a white lady luring a human to her realm once she deems them fragile or attractive. If she takes an interest in you, you might become a victim. You can never leave their world once you enter theirs and take the food they offer you.
Bicol, Cebu, Western Visayas, Luzon – Were-Beast Feature Aswangs (Sigbin)
In other nations, such as Europe, the werebeast is a mythological figure believed to be a man or woman by day but transforms into a fearsome beast at night. However, in the Philippines, it is primarily a dog called ‘Sigbin.’ Whereas Europe has werewolves, China has werefoxes, and India has weretigers, the Philippines has’ sigbin.’ In the Philippines, however, sigbins are neither people nor disguised in any way. It’s merely a dog, viciously possessed with unsettling anatomy, usually owned by someone who does black magic. Some households that have Sigbins keep them hidden since they are thought to bring luck and fortune. Sigbins, like dogs, are devoted to their owners, but they’re vicious.
Bicol, Cebu, Eastern Visayas – Witch Feature Aswangs
Another legendary element encompassed by the word aswang is the witch, whom the people know to be a person who is exceedingly vengeful or causes sickness in the town. Go back to the top and learn about a witch’s ‘kulam’ workings. A Filipino witch, known as a mangkukulam, does her evil work by magically invading various objects such as bone, shells, fish, unhusked rice, and insects of different types into the victim’s body orifices.
A mangkukulam may even perform her curse by physically entering the victim’s body. The Philippine witch punishes those who have shunned her. And she makes an equally innocent victim sick with just a glance or utterance. However, unlike European witches, the Philippine witch has no desire for human flesh. She is reclusive and hides on the edges of towns and villages in abandoned huts. She will not look people in the eyes because the sight in her pupils is said to be upside down. Her pupils are narrow and elongated, like a cat or reptile in strong sunlight.
