About Plants or Crops, Farming And Fishing:
1. The major crops are really important for the general farmers in the Philippines that's why some religious customs is linked to planting or cropping. The farmers in Pototan, Iloilo practice the kneeling like a priest while pounding some rice before continuing his work. They kneel first, sprinkle some charcoal in the rice which in turn spread in a big banig and then make a sign of the cross. If he could not do this, he could not expect to have good harvest in the next year.
2. It was believed that in the first planting of rice or in planting of any kinds of crop, the comb, the nganga (chewed betel leaf or something) or bunga or fruits, and old weaving or looming is thrown together with the rice in the farm fields. The objective of the comb is to have an orderliness, neatness or decency of the crops or plants; the fruits is for a bountiful harvest, and the weaving is for the good breed or variety of grains.
3. In planting rice,the lemongrass (an aromatic grass that is also used in cooking chicken or meat stew, roasted or grilled chicken, lechon, dinuguan etc.) is planted first in the first sowing or planting and this was followed by the cheap plants.
4. Before the rice is planted, mixed with bugnay leaf and lemongrass for its growth to be like lemongrass thick and leafy leaves and its fruits, produce or grains will be like the berry fruits of bugnay.
5. In corn, the first seeds or grains thrown to the area or place is covered with the coconut skins. It was believed that the grains or produces could not be seen by pests or other insects.
6. Before harvesting the rice or corn, one should go around the farm field first.
7. In planting root crops, the "panudlak" is always done thru praying while burying in the ground large stones, sugar and apog or lime together with the first plants or crops. It will produce sweet and big root crops. In harvesting "tambis" (Hiligaynon term for Syzygium Samarangense or Malay apple) and "banayan" (Hiligaynon term for chinese yam or wild yam), no one is allowed to speak loudly or to shout. If there is a noise created, the roots will sink or go deeper into the ground and it will be difficult to grab or pull it out to harvest.
8. Put some "ramos", or consecrated / blessed with holy water dried palm every corner of the kamalig or hut or storehouse that will be the used for storing grains because sometimes even if there's a lot of produced grains of rice the harvest is relatively low.
9. In planting and even harvesting, the farmers in Santa Barbara and New Lucena still uses old magic to ensure the success and influx of produce. The sweet potatoes are only planted if the sky is covered or shrouded with country clouds or moving clouds unison and the planting is only done by men. Women who can comes close to the sweet potato field at a time when they are being planted, the crops will just be infested by the pests called "balantik". This epidemic or plague of the sweet potatoes has the characteristics of split root crops and causes the infected part to become very bitter and unpalatable.
10. In Guimbal, if the clouds were clustered in the sky that's the time to plant the sweet potatoes.
11. The planting of trees and vegetables is in accordance or in conjunction within a few days or months o season or time of the day.
12. The people never plants any fruit-bearing plants or trees when they are hungry in the fear or just avoiding the produce or fruits will be not so nice.
13. The planting or sowing is not done in the days between waning moon, in the belief that the flowers and fruits will become too small.
14. The planting is done most especially during the days in between half moon and full moon because the flowers or the fruits will become bigger.
15. The trees which barely produce fruits or flower is being shaken with the ringing of the bell in the middle of the mass during Black Saturday of the Holy Week. Doing so will spur the fast growth of the tree and its early flowering or producing.
16. If the trees are big enough to flower, its body is being beaten by tubo (Hiligaynon term for sugarcane) so that its fruits will be sweet.
17. Sometimes, the skin of the tree is being sliced or wounded by a knife or bolo to form its resin.
18. If the salt is put in the sliced or the wounded part (caused by the slicing of a knife or bolo) of the tree, a lot of its fruits produce will fall down to the ground.
19. A black piece of cloth or ribbon is tied around the body of a papaya tree so it can bear or produce more fruits.
20. The first fruits of the plants is being given away to the people if not the tree will no longer bear or produce fruits of good quality.
21. In plants like calabash or bottle gourd and squash, big bottles were hanged from the lattice or trellis so that the plants will produce a lot of long and big fruits produce. A black ribbon is tied around the principal stem or stalk so that the plant will not die.
22. The farmers and the planters has a firm belief that in planting one should observe in the high tide and low tide of water level.
23. In planting crops where the leaves is watched and observed, the seeding should be done during the high tide.
24. If the fruits and flowers were desired, the planting of the root crops is done during the ebb tide so that it will grow some leaves but many roots.
25. In Iloilo, it is a practice to plant banana if a person finished eating a bountiful breakfast or lunch. If this was not done, the fruits of the banana will be thin and will not be of good quality. So, it should be avoided to plant banana if a person is hungry if not it will produce a low quality fruits.
26. In Janiuay, Iloilo, if the first fruits of the pomelo or citrus fruits is sour, the farmers get some tubo (sugarcane) and beat the body of the tree using it. The sugar or sucrose of the sugarcane is believed to transfer to the tree.
27. During the time when the cogon grass, mango and tangerine is flowering, many people get sick with fever. If the fruit of the mangoes is as big as the size of the thumb, many children suffer from itchiness.
28. The coconuts were planted during the full moon to produce huge harvests.
29. If the fruits of the "bariri" (Hiligaynon term for Amor seco) will flourish, the belief is that there is a bountiful harvest that year.
30. The newly sprouted or producing tree should not be pointed by fingers or it may falter in producing.
31. If there's no stars in the sky no one should plant any fruit bearing crops or plants because the tree will only produce a few or it will never again produce any fruits.
32. The name of one of the fruit-bearing tree came from its only use or purpose. It was said that this is the only tree where its main body is used in carving sculptures or images of saints and holy figures so it was called Santol. This tree is used as a refuge of travelers who were caught up by the bad weather. It was believed that it will never hit by a lightning because of its useful purpose.
33. On the other hand, it was presumed that the coconut trees is usually hit by the lightning because there are some of the causes of inebriation and sin.
34. If someone went to the wake of the dead, one should never go ashore to the sea because certainly there will be no fish to catch.
35. In angling or fishing by using fishhook the fishermen drop the mixture or concoction of substance in the water which is included with prayers.
36. If the people are fishing in the sections of fish corrals, they wrap the mixture and tie it in the posts of the corrals. They believed that the smell of the mixture serves as a bait or attraction to the school of fishes to come closer.
Ocean Breeze Visitors Around The Globe
Monday, July 4, 2016
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs VIII
About The Aswangs or Witches And Other Mythical Creatures:
Please bear in mind that the witches of the Oriental Asian literature (most particularly Southeast Asia including the Philippines) is different from the witches of the Western culture, tradition and literature.
1. The aswangs are peculiar characters or mythical creatures that can fly.
2. It was said that these creatures possesses power to kill a person by just staring at them or by eating their livers or heart.
3. An aswang can also make a person very sick or ill.
4. If a person has a stomachache, it is believed that his or her liver was eaten by the aswang.
5. The clothes being worn by the child should must be bounded or has a string or dangle of a piece of ginger so that it will not be eaten by the aswang.
6. The aswang can also change the body of a person and replace it with a banana tree while sleeping.
7. It was said that the aswangs can suddenly appear or disappear.
8. People also believed that an aswang cannot carry someone who has some coins or metals in their purse or they carry or bear in their bodies.
9. Other witches or aswangs has the hiwit, the Hiligaynon term for hexes or kulam in Filipino. Some said that if there's someone who died from a swollen big belly it is caused by the hexed doll.
10. It is common that if a person feels some pain in the parts of their body, it is called "pasok". It is said that some of the objects like rock, chopped wood and others are contained in a body in any forms of power. The victim is brought to an albularyo or traditional herb doctor expert in removing the insertion or pasok. Only a few people possessed this kind of ability. The albularyo applied or patched the betel leaves to the sore or painful part of the body. After a few minutes, the applied chewed betel leaf is removed from the body parts and something from the inside will come out that causes the illness or sickness.
11. In some houses, the people has a bottle of coconut oil which was concocted with different kinds of healing or medicinal herbs. Through this, they can detect or know if a person is an aswang or not. It was said that this concocted coconut oil is boiling if an aswang is within close proximity with it or if the aswang is just near the people who has this oil bottle.
12. This is what the native locals considered. On the third night of full moon, listen to the gecko lizard. Then count one to seven. After it one will go outside the house and will see the aswang.
13. If one will kill the aswang in the form of an animal, you should turn your back to the presumed aswang in front. It is only the shadow of the aswang and the real aswang is on your back.
14. Before the aswang will die, he or she passes to their children or to their favorite child their aswang nature as an inheritance. If the child is willing or consented, a chick will grown in its stomach. He or she will suffer from stomach ache or pain. However if in case he or she doesn't want to be an aswang, he or she should call an albularyo to kill the chick inside its stomach through incantation or chants and other grasses, herbs and shrubs.
15. It was also said that if in the likes or will of the manggagaway, or the evil spirit chanter, black magic sorcerers, that if a person would like to eat their food, their teeth will fall down and if a person is sleeping and is anointed or applied with saliva of the aswang on the ears, it will get infected by their behavior or will also become an aswang.
16. The kamakama, Hiligaynon term for elf and the duwende, local term for dwarf pinch the lips most especially the lips of lovely women.
17. If someone is cleaning in the backyard, don't pile the heap of trash and light the bonfire of trash in the mound of the dwarf because the dwarf will be very angry. To those who made it, they will get sick.
18. There is also a belief to the deities called tamawo, Hiligaynon term for fairies. It was thought that these creatures dwell in giant woods like lunok (Hiligaynon term for balete tree), bubog and salay.
19. The santermo, or the ghost of the sea sometimes fireball ghost is also scaring the people. Sometimes the santermo capsizes the outriggers. It appears in the form of jumping fire.
Please bear in mind that the witches of the Oriental Asian literature (most particularly Southeast Asia including the Philippines) is different from the witches of the Western culture, tradition and literature.
1. The aswangs are peculiar characters or mythical creatures that can fly.
2. It was said that these creatures possesses power to kill a person by just staring at them or by eating their livers or heart.
3. An aswang can also make a person very sick or ill.
4. If a person has a stomachache, it is believed that his or her liver was eaten by the aswang.
5. The clothes being worn by the child should must be bounded or has a string or dangle of a piece of ginger so that it will not be eaten by the aswang.
6. The aswang can also change the body of a person and replace it with a banana tree while sleeping.
7. It was said that the aswangs can suddenly appear or disappear.
8. People also believed that an aswang cannot carry someone who has some coins or metals in their purse or they carry or bear in their bodies.
9. Other witches or aswangs has the hiwit, the Hiligaynon term for hexes or kulam in Filipino. Some said that if there's someone who died from a swollen big belly it is caused by the hexed doll.
10. It is common that if a person feels some pain in the parts of their body, it is called "pasok". It is said that some of the objects like rock, chopped wood and others are contained in a body in any forms of power. The victim is brought to an albularyo or traditional herb doctor expert in removing the insertion or pasok. Only a few people possessed this kind of ability. The albularyo applied or patched the betel leaves to the sore or painful part of the body. After a few minutes, the applied chewed betel leaf is removed from the body parts and something from the inside will come out that causes the illness or sickness.
11. In some houses, the people has a bottle of coconut oil which was concocted with different kinds of healing or medicinal herbs. Through this, they can detect or know if a person is an aswang or not. It was said that this concocted coconut oil is boiling if an aswang is within close proximity with it or if the aswang is just near the people who has this oil bottle.
12. This is what the native locals considered. On the third night of full moon, listen to the gecko lizard. Then count one to seven. After it one will go outside the house and will see the aswang.
13. If one will kill the aswang in the form of an animal, you should turn your back to the presumed aswang in front. It is only the shadow of the aswang and the real aswang is on your back.
14. Before the aswang will die, he or she passes to their children or to their favorite child their aswang nature as an inheritance. If the child is willing or consented, a chick will grown in its stomach. He or she will suffer from stomach ache or pain. However if in case he or she doesn't want to be an aswang, he or she should call an albularyo to kill the chick inside its stomach through incantation or chants and other grasses, herbs and shrubs.
15. It was also said that if in the likes or will of the manggagaway, or the evil spirit chanter, black magic sorcerers, that if a person would like to eat their food, their teeth will fall down and if a person is sleeping and is anointed or applied with saliva of the aswang on the ears, it will get infected by their behavior or will also become an aswang.
16. The kamakama, Hiligaynon term for elf and the duwende, local term for dwarf pinch the lips most especially the lips of lovely women.
17. If someone is cleaning in the backyard, don't pile the heap of trash and light the bonfire of trash in the mound of the dwarf because the dwarf will be very angry. To those who made it, they will get sick.
18. There is also a belief to the deities called tamawo, Hiligaynon term for fairies. It was thought that these creatures dwell in giant woods like lunok (Hiligaynon term for balete tree), bubog and salay.
19. The santermo, or the ghost of the sea sometimes fireball ghost is also scaring the people. Sometimes the santermo capsizes the outriggers. It appears in the form of jumping fire.
20. If a baby cries non stop at night because an aswang or witch or any mythical creature is targetting or watching over the baby, just make a tuob or incense and scrape some shavings out of carabao horns and put into the tuob or incense and put the incense outside the house near the baby and the baby will stop crying.
21. If you have goosebumps or hairs all over your body are rising up starting at dusk, night until early dawn due to an aswang, witch, or mythical creature, just get some chili or cayenne peppers and crush them and combine them with salt and spread them outside all around your house and on the roofs and your fear and goosebumps will fade away.
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs VII
About Animals and Insects:
1. There is a belief that if a cat crosses the road on your way, you will meet mishap and misfortune. People who have this kind of belief is really careful in encountering a black cat. If this happens, it's better for them to return and stay in the house rather than continue with their walk. For others, a snake or black cat which gets in their way or crosses the road on their way still foretells death.
2. If there is a thunder, no one is allowed to play with the cats because they were considered as the source or conductor of lightning. If a child doesn't follow this reminder, there is a great danger and possibility that he or she might get hit by the lightning.
3. The monkey was thought to be a former human beaten by a ladle in disobeying their parents.
4. The lizards in the house, which was considered divine creatures is thought to touch the ground at kiss it every afternoon as a sign of gratitude to God.
5. Some of the objects, things and idea are implicitly told and expressed in the alternate or by turns of agreeing or disagreeing or a yes or no sound of a gecko lizard. First sound is a yes or agree and the second sound is a no or disagree and so on and so forth.
6. A "tambalihan" (Hiligaynon term or word for salamander) is believed to be very venomous. The person who is bitten by the salamander needs to spit out or expectorate or immediately go to the nearest water. Not doing so, means death to the victim.
7. If the gecko lizard made some noise when you are about to leave the house, it is a sign that a far away relative has died.
8. If one can hear the sound of the gecko lizard, count how many times it sounded. If someone will bet the numbers in a daily double, lotto or sweepstakes, it will win.
9. The falling of a spider on the head of a person means bad luck or misfortune.
10. A spider named udto-udto (Hiligaynon word for big green garden spider or samurai spider) is venomous or poisonous. The person bitten would immediately die.
11. An insect called tando tando or tunda tunda foretells two things. If it flies around the house at night and made some noise just like a musical percussion instrument tambourine, a relative of the family has presumably died. If the noise made is similar to the sound of the opening and closing of scissors, a lost relative that has disappeared for a long time is believed to be returning.
12. The howling of the dog means signifying the nearing of the evil spirits
13. The crowing of the rooster is asking for rain. If it crows at night, it has a buzzing sound of bad luck to its owner.
14. The butterflies can be a sign of good or bad fate.
15. If a yellow butterfly enters the house means an unexpected money will come all of a sudden.
16. A color brown butterfly entering the house means the coming of a news or money.
17. If a person hears the sound of a salagunting, a kind of rhinoceros beetle in front of the door, this brings good news however if the sound is in the window, this is a warning that a bad thing that happened will come.
About Food:
1. The plates that has been used in a meal should not be stacked up immediately. One should wait for everyone to finish first before stacking up the plates if not one will have a stacked up of debts.
2. Don't eat from time to time or every seconds of the time if you do not want to have arrears or debts from time to time.
3. Eating an egg which hatching is abrupted, brings failure to anything planned, intended or desired.
4. If a person caught up with the meal time (breakfast, lunch or dinner) in other people's houses, he or she should not leave because he or she will carry with them the blessings of the food of the family. If it can't be avoided to leave, they should leave a statement that they will leave the food to the family. If they forgot to say it, the family would remind them. For others, sometimes the family are the turning sides the plates in a clockwise direction when someone is leaving.
1. There is a belief that if a cat crosses the road on your way, you will meet mishap and misfortune. People who have this kind of belief is really careful in encountering a black cat. If this happens, it's better for them to return and stay in the house rather than continue with their walk. For others, a snake or black cat which gets in their way or crosses the road on their way still foretells death.
2. If there is a thunder, no one is allowed to play with the cats because they were considered as the source or conductor of lightning. If a child doesn't follow this reminder, there is a great danger and possibility that he or she might get hit by the lightning.
3. The monkey was thought to be a former human beaten by a ladle in disobeying their parents.
4. The lizards in the house, which was considered divine creatures is thought to touch the ground at kiss it every afternoon as a sign of gratitude to God.
5. Some of the objects, things and idea are implicitly told and expressed in the alternate or by turns of agreeing or disagreeing or a yes or no sound of a gecko lizard. First sound is a yes or agree and the second sound is a no or disagree and so on and so forth.
6. A "tambalihan" (Hiligaynon term or word for salamander) is believed to be very venomous. The person who is bitten by the salamander needs to spit out or expectorate or immediately go to the nearest water. Not doing so, means death to the victim.
7. If the gecko lizard made some noise when you are about to leave the house, it is a sign that a far away relative has died.
8. If one can hear the sound of the gecko lizard, count how many times it sounded. If someone will bet the numbers in a daily double, lotto or sweepstakes, it will win.
9. The falling of a spider on the head of a person means bad luck or misfortune.
10. A spider named udto-udto (Hiligaynon word for big green garden spider or samurai spider) is venomous or poisonous. The person bitten would immediately die.
11. An insect called tando tando or tunda tunda foretells two things. If it flies around the house at night and made some noise just like a musical percussion instrument tambourine, a relative of the family has presumably died. If the noise made is similar to the sound of the opening and closing of scissors, a lost relative that has disappeared for a long time is believed to be returning.
12. The howling of the dog means signifying the nearing of the evil spirits
13. The crowing of the rooster is asking for rain. If it crows at night, it has a buzzing sound of bad luck to its owner.
14. The butterflies can be a sign of good or bad fate.
15. If a yellow butterfly enters the house means an unexpected money will come all of a sudden.
16. A color brown butterfly entering the house means the coming of a news or money.
17. If a person hears the sound of a salagunting, a kind of rhinoceros beetle in front of the door, this brings good news however if the sound is in the window, this is a warning that a bad thing that happened will come.
About Food:
1. The plates that has been used in a meal should not be stacked up immediately. One should wait for everyone to finish first before stacking up the plates if not one will have a stacked up of debts.
2. Don't eat from time to time or every seconds of the time if you do not want to have arrears or debts from time to time.
3. Eating an egg which hatching is abrupted, brings failure to anything planned, intended or desired.
4. If a person caught up with the meal time (breakfast, lunch or dinner) in other people's houses, he or she should not leave because he or she will carry with them the blessings of the food of the family. If it can't be avoided to leave, they should leave a statement that they will leave the food to the family. If they forgot to say it, the family would remind them. For others, sometimes the family are the turning sides the plates in a clockwise direction when someone is leaving.
Friday, July 1, 2016
Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs VI
About Weather and Elements:
1. The mananggiti (Hiligaynon term for "toddy-gatherer" or "tuba collector") of Iloilo and Antique can predict if the weather will be good or bad by looking at the bamboo container that is used to collect and contain coconut sap or extract. If there are lots of froth on top of the tuba or palm wine, this foretells a bad weather. Usually, only few froths develop or buildup on top surface of the bamboo container.
2. If a frigate bird locally called kanuyos is seen flying northwards, it means there is a storm or typhoon in the south; if it goes southward, the storm or typhoon is in the north.
3. If some stars are seen that seems likely going towards the moon, it means that there is impending storm coming.
4. If a rainbow was seen in the atmosphere, it was thought that a heavy rainfall will take place.
5. If there is too much scorching heat during the day and then there's a heavy rainfall during the night, the belief is that a santermo or a dancing fire will appear.
6. If the sun splashes a reddish color at dusk, there will be a beautiful sunny weather the next day. If the sunrise in the morning is too red, there will be an intense heat in that day.
7. The elders or the old people are the still holding on the belief that if there's black clouds surrounding the moon, it will rain; if there is a long that seems like a line of white clouds from north to south in the sky at night, the next day will be a sunny day.
8. The first raindrops in May is considered a sacred water. They believed that the few raindrops of the year is the punishment of God to the people. After the rain which was immediately followed by a scorching hot afternoon, the parents do not allow their children to go outside and step on the earth or ground soil because the water vapor or the steam arises from the ground and the contributing humidity is bad for the health.
9. If a pig seems like coughing in a beautiful sunny day, this is a warning for the coming of the rain.
10. The bulalakaw (Hiligaynon term or word for meteor) is believed by the people as the falling star from the sky. If this kind of omen is sighted, one needs only to wish and it will always come true.
11. The appearance of a comet is a phenomenon of great shock to the people. They believe that if the tail of the comet shapes like a broom, a famine or plague will come. On the other hand, if the tail shapes in a pointed form like a sword, a war or battle is impending.
12. The rainbow is presumed a sign of blessing of God in heaven to remind the people that a great flood will never happen again. This belief was based on the Bible. However it is prohibited to point the rainbow that can cause the bending or twisting of fingers.
13. The people believe that above the clouds is the heaven.
14. According to the elders or the old people, the disappearance of the moon or sun is caused by the bakunawa or a giant snake. The people are putting a basin filled with water on a day or night of disappearance to prove the truth of what they said.
15. The wind coming from the northeast is considered by the farmers, tuba collector and fishermen as bad. It became the reason for the evaporation of tuba sap or extraction, the reddish color and the crop infestation of the rice, the low production or harvest of coconuts and the fish migration to the deep of the sea. The people describe the wind as mahinay Hiligaynon word for slow, and too hot and dry or humid.
16. If the southeasterly wind is blowing, people knows that the rainy season will start. This wind carries heavy rainfall needed by the farmers in plowing their farm fields.
17. If the northern winds arrive in the month of October, the people are rejoicing because the plants grow fast and most probably, there is a carrying coolness cure to the sickly infested plants and easily ripen the grains of rice.
18. For having the lightning, thunder and earthquake is also the development of its meaning and practices about it.
19. The people believe that the collision of the clouds is the cause of thunder.
20. If there is lightning or thunder, people immediately cover their mirrors because they can easily be hit of lightning.
21. If there is a lightning storm or thunder at night the people are going the next morning in the mountains and valleys where the mushrooms are lining up.
22. The people are sheltering or hiding in other trees except in coconut trees if there's lightning and thunderstorm because they can easily be hit by lightning.
23. The santol tree is the refuge of the people because this tree is often used as a material for making holy saint images and other sacred or holy sculptures thus they are always safe from lightning and thunder.
24. If caught by the lightning and thunder on top of a tree, one just need to shout loudly to be saved from lightning and thunder.
25. Do not ride a carabao if lightning and thunderstorm occurs because this animal is presumed a good conductor and easily hit by lightning.
26. Touching or holding the cat is being avoided during a lightning and thunderstorm because the cat is a good conductor of lightning.
27. There is a belief that those people who are having a conversation with or talking with animals especially the dogs can be hit by a lightning o if not will eventually become a hunchbacked.
28. It was a practice for the people to sing religious hymns, pray and make a sign of the cross to be saved from lightning and thunder.
29. A lot of people believe that lightning, thunder and earthquake are the punishments given by God to those people who don't believe and have a faith in him.
30. The appearance of flying ants is expected by the people as the sign for the coming of the rain.
31. The croaking of frog is a sign that the rainfall is coming.
32. If the thunder and lightning comes first before the rain, the rain will be short or will not last long.
33. The earthquake means a not so good harvest for the people in the remote barrios or villages.
34. If there is thunder and lightning, it is a belief for the people to burn feathers of wildfowl or chicken and cover the mirrors so that the thunder will not create so much noise and it will not be that intense.
35. The elders or the old people believes that the lightning came from a big cat which controls the strength of the thunder and lightning.
1. The mananggiti (Hiligaynon term for "toddy-gatherer" or "tuba collector") of Iloilo and Antique can predict if the weather will be good or bad by looking at the bamboo container that is used to collect and contain coconut sap or extract. If there are lots of froth on top of the tuba or palm wine, this foretells a bad weather. Usually, only few froths develop or buildup on top surface of the bamboo container.
2. If a frigate bird locally called kanuyos is seen flying northwards, it means there is a storm or typhoon in the south; if it goes southward, the storm or typhoon is in the north.
3. If some stars are seen that seems likely going towards the moon, it means that there is impending storm coming.
4. If a rainbow was seen in the atmosphere, it was thought that a heavy rainfall will take place.
5. If there is too much scorching heat during the day and then there's a heavy rainfall during the night, the belief is that a santermo or a dancing fire will appear.
6. If the sun splashes a reddish color at dusk, there will be a beautiful sunny weather the next day. If the sunrise in the morning is too red, there will be an intense heat in that day.
7. The elders or the old people are the still holding on the belief that if there's black clouds surrounding the moon, it will rain; if there is a long that seems like a line of white clouds from north to south in the sky at night, the next day will be a sunny day.
8. The first raindrops in May is considered a sacred water. They believed that the few raindrops of the year is the punishment of God to the people. After the rain which was immediately followed by a scorching hot afternoon, the parents do not allow their children to go outside and step on the earth or ground soil because the water vapor or the steam arises from the ground and the contributing humidity is bad for the health.
9. If a pig seems like coughing in a beautiful sunny day, this is a warning for the coming of the rain.
10. The bulalakaw (Hiligaynon term or word for meteor) is believed by the people as the falling star from the sky. If this kind of omen is sighted, one needs only to wish and it will always come true.
11. The appearance of a comet is a phenomenon of great shock to the people. They believe that if the tail of the comet shapes like a broom, a famine or plague will come. On the other hand, if the tail shapes in a pointed form like a sword, a war or battle is impending.
12. The rainbow is presumed a sign of blessing of God in heaven to remind the people that a great flood will never happen again. This belief was based on the Bible. However it is prohibited to point the rainbow that can cause the bending or twisting of fingers.
13. The people believe that above the clouds is the heaven.
14. According to the elders or the old people, the disappearance of the moon or sun is caused by the bakunawa or a giant snake. The people are putting a basin filled with water on a day or night of disappearance to prove the truth of what they said.
15. The wind coming from the northeast is considered by the farmers, tuba collector and fishermen as bad. It became the reason for the evaporation of tuba sap or extraction, the reddish color and the crop infestation of the rice, the low production or harvest of coconuts and the fish migration to the deep of the sea. The people describe the wind as mahinay Hiligaynon word for slow, and too hot and dry or humid.
16. If the southeasterly wind is blowing, people knows that the rainy season will start. This wind carries heavy rainfall needed by the farmers in plowing their farm fields.
17. If the northern winds arrive in the month of October, the people are rejoicing because the plants grow fast and most probably, there is a carrying coolness cure to the sickly infested plants and easily ripen the grains of rice.
18. For having the lightning, thunder and earthquake is also the development of its meaning and practices about it.
19. The people believe that the collision of the clouds is the cause of thunder.
20. If there is lightning or thunder, people immediately cover their mirrors because they can easily be hit of lightning.
21. If there is a lightning storm or thunder at night the people are going the next morning in the mountains and valleys where the mushrooms are lining up.
22. The people are sheltering or hiding in other trees except in coconut trees if there's lightning and thunderstorm because they can easily be hit by lightning.
23. The santol tree is the refuge of the people because this tree is often used as a material for making holy saint images and other sacred or holy sculptures thus they are always safe from lightning and thunder.
24. If caught by the lightning and thunder on top of a tree, one just need to shout loudly to be saved from lightning and thunder.
25. Do not ride a carabao if lightning and thunderstorm occurs because this animal is presumed a good conductor and easily hit by lightning.
26. Touching or holding the cat is being avoided during a lightning and thunderstorm because the cat is a good conductor of lightning.
27. There is a belief that those people who are having a conversation with or talking with animals especially the dogs can be hit by a lightning o if not will eventually become a hunchbacked.
28. It was a practice for the people to sing religious hymns, pray and make a sign of the cross to be saved from lightning and thunder.
29. A lot of people believe that lightning, thunder and earthquake are the punishments given by God to those people who don't believe and have a faith in him.
30. The appearance of flying ants is expected by the people as the sign for the coming of the rain.
31. The croaking of frog is a sign that the rainfall is coming.
32. If the thunder and lightning comes first before the rain, the rain will be short or will not last long.
33. The earthquake means a not so good harvest for the people in the remote barrios or villages.
34. If there is thunder and lightning, it is a belief for the people to burn feathers of wildfowl or chicken and cover the mirrors so that the thunder will not create so much noise and it will not be that intense.
35. The elders or the old people believes that the lightning came from a big cat which controls the strength of the thunder and lightning.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs V
About Death, Wake, Funeral or Interment and Prayers:
1. A child is prohibited from combing his or her hair at night because it was said that it will shorten the life of their parents.
2. The howling of dogs at night foretells that Grim Reaper is just around the corner and ready to take the life of someone.
3. The entrance of a black butterfly inside the house is an omen that a relative has died.
4. It is bad to sweep the house with a broom at night because it is like sweeping the residents of the house or in other words, it means successive or consecutive deaths.
5. The sweeping of the house with a broom while the dead is lying in state in the house is avoided because many will soon follow to die. The sweeping is like sweeping the entire family.
6. Lying accordingly or linear to the post of the house is like calling for an early death. Similarly, lying with the feet facing the door also means death.
7. If someone smells a candle (especially when no one is lighting a candle) or a flower (even if there's no flower around or near the area), there is someone who died or who will die.
8. If at present someone is dying in the house and you are downstairs, don't ever dare to go upstairs because you might meet Grim Reaper.
9. If someone is at the wake, don't get some lice from the head of others because it will only increase the lice in their head. If there are lots of lice in their heads, the remedy is get at least one lice from their heads and put it in the coffin moments right before they will close it to be buried so that the lice in their heads will be gone forever.
10. It is bad for someone to slaughter chicken while the dead is still lying in state in the house. To anyone who will slaughter a chicken, it will cause them death. Any or all close relatives of the dead is also prohibited to slaughter chicken, pig or any animals for meat for a year. If slaughtering is inevitable, they request or order someone who is not a relative of the dead to do it for them. It is also prohibited for the relatives to cook malunggay, some legumes, sweet potato leaves and others because these leaves can easily fall off and seems like family members or relatives are falling off.
11. If the people who attended the wake talks about the saints and holy or sacred topics, the soul of the departed will go up straight in heaven.
12. If a person died, no one is talking against the dead person because it was presumed that the soul of the dead will return to punish or inflict harm to someone who did it.
13. If the eyes of the dead are wide open, a relative from far-away places is expected to arrive.
14. If a person sneezes at a wake or within the vicinity of the dead person, it means that the person who sneezes was invited by the dead person to follow the latter. To combat it, any of the ears of the one who sneezed is pulled.
15. The combing of the hair except the fingers is prohibited in Arevalo district. It was said that a person combing his or her hair while the dead is still in the house for the wake will also die.
16. Before the dead is buried, all members of the family kisses the hand of the departed and asks for forgiveness.
17. In Miagao, Iloilo but also applies to different towns in Iloilo, the funeral is signified or determined by the music. If the music is rousing and happy, the dead is a child; if sad, an elder or old person died. This belief was based apparently for the reason that the children were considered as innocents and free from sins so they will go straight to heaven and they will meet and fetch those who will die thereafter.
18. In lowering down the casket to its burial ground or entering the casket into its tomb, flowers, leaves and salivated soil is thrown to the burial ground or tomb with the casket in it by the people as a last paying of respect and love offering .
19. After the burial or funeral, those who attended the funeral returns to the house of the departed where the wake was hosted and washes their hands first with lukewarm water made out of boiled pomelo leaves before partaking into a meal mostly lunch prepared by the grieving family and relatives so that the ominous grief will not transfer to them and their residence.
20. Someone who came from the house of the departed or who attended the wake of a dead person should not visit the sick or it will only worsen its condition or harm any vulnerable or weak person like the pregnant women and babies or toddlers. They call it as "alaw" in Hiligaynon. If this was done, some fingernails or hair of the visitor or someone who came from the wake should be cut and put in a tuob combined with pomelo leaves and optional sugar, ramos or blessed dried palm leaves and candle wax as a fumigation to the sick to avoid the worsening of its condition.
*tuob is a smoke created in a container or canister scented with some sugar, pomelo leaves, blessed or anointed dried palm leaves and candle wax combined with the required fingernails or hair cut from the person or any object or things that can cause an aggravation of the condition or harm any vulnerable person like pregnant women, babies and toddlers as a fumigation to the sick to avoid worsening of its condition or to protect the vulnerable especially pregnant women, babies and toddlers.
21. It was believed that three days after the burial, the soul of the departed returns for the last visit and farewell to its living loved ones.
22. If the dead is a miserly or stingy, its soul or spirit returns to guard the hidden treasures or wealth he or she left and scare away those who desires for it.
23. A sudden smell of a candle scent and smoky surroundings expresses the appearance of a ghost or an apparition.
24. Those who prayed during the wake and after the burial and the katapusanan should eat to have an indulgence for those asking for prayers.
25. The leader of the prayer for the dead should accept payment to have an indulgence for those who asked for prayers. The eyesight of the prayer leader will easily ruin if he or she will not accept payment.
26. While the people are praying they are kneeling in the laid banig to accumulate and never lose the indulgence.
27. During the period of wake and prayers, there should always be flowers in the altar beside or near the altar to be offered for the dead. From the time of its wake until three days after the burial there should be a candle lighted to serve as a light to brighten the coming again of the soul of the departed.
1. A child is prohibited from combing his or her hair at night because it was said that it will shorten the life of their parents.
2. The howling of dogs at night foretells that Grim Reaper is just around the corner and ready to take the life of someone.
3. The entrance of a black butterfly inside the house is an omen that a relative has died.
4. It is bad to sweep the house with a broom at night because it is like sweeping the residents of the house or in other words, it means successive or consecutive deaths.
5. The sweeping of the house with a broom while the dead is lying in state in the house is avoided because many will soon follow to die. The sweeping is like sweeping the entire family.
6. Lying accordingly or linear to the post of the house is like calling for an early death. Similarly, lying with the feet facing the door also means death.
7. If someone smells a candle (especially when no one is lighting a candle) or a flower (even if there's no flower around or near the area), there is someone who died or who will die.
8. If at present someone is dying in the house and you are downstairs, don't ever dare to go upstairs because you might meet Grim Reaper.
9. If someone is at the wake, don't get some lice from the head of others because it will only increase the lice in their head. If there are lots of lice in their heads, the remedy is get at least one lice from their heads and put it in the coffin moments right before they will close it to be buried so that the lice in their heads will be gone forever.
10. It is bad for someone to slaughter chicken while the dead is still lying in state in the house. To anyone who will slaughter a chicken, it will cause them death. Any or all close relatives of the dead is also prohibited to slaughter chicken, pig or any animals for meat for a year. If slaughtering is inevitable, they request or order someone who is not a relative of the dead to do it for them. It is also prohibited for the relatives to cook malunggay, some legumes, sweet potato leaves and others because these leaves can easily fall off and seems like family members or relatives are falling off.
11. If the people who attended the wake talks about the saints and holy or sacred topics, the soul of the departed will go up straight in heaven.
12. If a person died, no one is talking against the dead person because it was presumed that the soul of the dead will return to punish or inflict harm to someone who did it.
13. If the eyes of the dead are wide open, a relative from far-away places is expected to arrive.
14. If a person sneezes at a wake or within the vicinity of the dead person, it means that the person who sneezes was invited by the dead person to follow the latter. To combat it, any of the ears of the one who sneezed is pulled.
15. The combing of the hair except the fingers is prohibited in Arevalo district. It was said that a person combing his or her hair while the dead is still in the house for the wake will also die.
16. Before the dead is buried, all members of the family kisses the hand of the departed and asks for forgiveness.
17. In Miagao, Iloilo but also applies to different towns in Iloilo, the funeral is signified or determined by the music. If the music is rousing and happy, the dead is a child; if sad, an elder or old person died. This belief was based apparently for the reason that the children were considered as innocents and free from sins so they will go straight to heaven and they will meet and fetch those who will die thereafter.
18. In lowering down the casket to its burial ground or entering the casket into its tomb, flowers, leaves and salivated soil is thrown to the burial ground or tomb with the casket in it by the people as a last paying of respect and love offering .
19. After the burial or funeral, those who attended the funeral returns to the house of the departed where the wake was hosted and washes their hands first with lukewarm water made out of boiled pomelo leaves before partaking into a meal mostly lunch prepared by the grieving family and relatives so that the ominous grief will not transfer to them and their residence.
20. Someone who came from the house of the departed or who attended the wake of a dead person should not visit the sick or it will only worsen its condition or harm any vulnerable or weak person like the pregnant women and babies or toddlers. They call it as "alaw" in Hiligaynon. If this was done, some fingernails or hair of the visitor or someone who came from the wake should be cut and put in a tuob combined with pomelo leaves and optional sugar, ramos or blessed dried palm leaves and candle wax as a fumigation to the sick to avoid the worsening of its condition.
*tuob is a smoke created in a container or canister scented with some sugar, pomelo leaves, blessed or anointed dried palm leaves and candle wax combined with the required fingernails or hair cut from the person or any object or things that can cause an aggravation of the condition or harm any vulnerable person like pregnant women, babies and toddlers as a fumigation to the sick to avoid worsening of its condition or to protect the vulnerable especially pregnant women, babies and toddlers.
21. It was believed that three days after the burial, the soul of the departed returns for the last visit and farewell to its living loved ones.
22. If the dead is a miserly or stingy, its soul or spirit returns to guard the hidden treasures or wealth he or she left and scare away those who desires for it.
23. A sudden smell of a candle scent and smoky surroundings expresses the appearance of a ghost or an apparition.
24. Those who prayed during the wake and after the burial and the katapusanan should eat to have an indulgence for those asking for prayers.
25. The leader of the prayer for the dead should accept payment to have an indulgence for those who asked for prayers. The eyesight of the prayer leader will easily ruin if he or she will not accept payment.
26. While the people are praying they are kneeling in the laid banig to accumulate and never lose the indulgence.
27. During the period of wake and prayers, there should always be flowers in the altar beside or near the altar to be offered for the dead. From the time of its wake until three days after the burial there should be a candle lighted to serve as a light to brighten the coming again of the soul of the departed.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs IV
About Courtships, Relationships and Marriage:
1. It was believed that if a young lady singing while in front of a stove, she will get to marry an old man enough to be her grandfather.
2. Facing someone winnowing rice will result to marrying an old man.
3. One can determine if the lover is faithful to the relationship by just looking at their fingernails. A one pure white mark signifies faithfulness to one and only love but if it has many white marks it means the lover would be unfaithful.
4. The lovers should not exchange beads of rosary or any religious objects to each other as a remembrance or souvenir because it is a sign of short lived relationships. The exchange of necklace is also not allowed or prohibited because it might foretell their love will not last.
5. One should avoid eating rotten egg and someone eating them might be infertile. Only the elders can eat rotten eggs.
6. A young woman is also prohibited from eating the butt part of the chicken and she might scare away young men.
7. If the lover of a young woman looks exactly like her, they will end up together because it was thought they were soulmates.
8. If a picture was taken together with the one he is courting, pursuing or wooing, they will certainly end up together.
9. A young man or woman who has a mole in the tear's pathway will become a widow or widower early.
10. If there are two stars near or close to each other near the moon it was said that a wedding will take place. The two stars symbolizes the fiance and fiancee. If the stars are big, the betrothed belongs to the well-to-do family or rich families; if they are small, the couple came from a humble or poor family.
11. For others, if two stars were seen near the moon, it was believed that two star-crossed lovers eloped.
12. It should not fall within the year the weddings of siblings.
13. If the day of the wedding took place or will take place on a fall moon, the couple will have a prosperous life together.
14. The couple who will wed on a Black Saturday of a Holy Week and on the month of May, expect a good fortune.
15. If the couple who is about to marry or has wed is either first cousin or third degree cousin, they will bore a child with disability.
16. On the eve of the wedding, the couple to be betrothed or to be bounded together should not go out on the street because there are lots of danger, disaster and trouble awaits them that will stop their long awaited dream of a bliss and prosperity.
17. The wedding veil is considered a symbol of obedience of the bride to her other half.
18. The rice or any grains that symbolizes prosperity and good harvest is thrown to the newlyweds. It expresses the desire for the triumph and victory of the marriage.
19. The groom should stand first from kneeling in the altar and in going down the stairs, if any, after the wedding so that he will never be dominated by his wife or be a henpecked husband.
20. In other places, after the wedding, the newlywed couple should not go out or leave the house for three days. After the ceremony, the newlywed should not go up the stairs of the house where the reception is located not until or before their parents and their sponsors does.
1. It was believed that if a young lady singing while in front of a stove, she will get to marry an old man enough to be her grandfather.
2. Facing someone winnowing rice will result to marrying an old man.
3. One can determine if the lover is faithful to the relationship by just looking at their fingernails. A one pure white mark signifies faithfulness to one and only love but if it has many white marks it means the lover would be unfaithful.
4. The lovers should not exchange beads of rosary or any religious objects to each other as a remembrance or souvenir because it is a sign of short lived relationships. The exchange of necklace is also not allowed or prohibited because it might foretell their love will not last.
5. One should avoid eating rotten egg and someone eating them might be infertile. Only the elders can eat rotten eggs.
6. A young woman is also prohibited from eating the butt part of the chicken and she might scare away young men.
7. If the lover of a young woman looks exactly like her, they will end up together because it was thought they were soulmates.
8. If a picture was taken together with the one he is courting, pursuing or wooing, they will certainly end up together.
9. A young man or woman who has a mole in the tear's pathway will become a widow or widower early.
10. If there are two stars near or close to each other near the moon it was said that a wedding will take place. The two stars symbolizes the fiance and fiancee. If the stars are big, the betrothed belongs to the well-to-do family or rich families; if they are small, the couple came from a humble or poor family.
11. For others, if two stars were seen near the moon, it was believed that two star-crossed lovers eloped.
12. It should not fall within the year the weddings of siblings.
13. If the day of the wedding took place or will take place on a fall moon, the couple will have a prosperous life together.
14. The couple who will wed on a Black Saturday of a Holy Week and on the month of May, expect a good fortune.
15. If the couple who is about to marry or has wed is either first cousin or third degree cousin, they will bore a child with disability.
16. On the eve of the wedding, the couple to be betrothed or to be bounded together should not go out on the street because there are lots of danger, disaster and trouble awaits them that will stop their long awaited dream of a bliss and prosperity.
17. The wedding veil is considered a symbol of obedience of the bride to her other half.
18. The rice or any grains that symbolizes prosperity and good harvest is thrown to the newlyweds. It expresses the desire for the triumph and victory of the marriage.
19. The groom should stand first from kneeling in the altar and in going down the stairs, if any, after the wedding so that he will never be dominated by his wife or be a henpecked husband.
20. In other places, after the wedding, the newlywed couple should not go out or leave the house for three days. After the ceremony, the newlywed should not go up the stairs of the house where the reception is located not until or before their parents and their sponsors does.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs III
About Baptism of the Child:
1. The child should be baptized at the soonest possible time because it was believed that baptism has a big role in the healthy well-being and safe from illness of the child.
2. If the baby is crying while being baptized, it will grow up mischievous, naughty and stubborn. If it is quiet, the child will grow up nice and kind.
3. In the baptism of the child, there should be food to be served to the guests, visitors and godparents so that there will always be food for the child.
4. The godfather and godmother should give money to the child so that there will be an easy, smooth and convenient flow of money to their godchild to get their godchild get richer quickly.
5. It was believed in the baptism of the twins, one of the twins should enter the door and the other twin should enter the other opposite door so that no one will die to anyone of them.
About Caring and Raising A Child:
1. Buying a child - if a family has lost at least two to three family members at an early age, and the next child seems likely to suffer the same fate, a ceremony of buying the child takes place. A neighbor who is successful in raising many children brings money or any object to buy the child. It was declared by the mother of the child selling it to the neighbor who attended the ceremony. The neighbor is really paying real money or any object. In this way, the child will become healthy and will regain back his health from sickness or any illnesses. However, the child is still owned, stay and part of his or her real parents and family.
2. Abay - No one is allowed to give a comment, teasing, irony or sarcasm about the child that it is healthy. This when it is intense or tough will cause sickness or illness to the child. So, before saying anything, anyone should say the following first: "puera abay", "puwera usog".
3. Panagang - The child is adorned with a necklace dangling with crocodile teeth or any object that will serve as "panagang" (shield) or pangontra (weapon). The people believed that this will be an effective weapon against evil spirit which intends to inflict harm to the child. Others hang a piece of ginger in the dress of the child to stop the evil witches to any cruel or evil intentions to the child or to fight off any evil intentions of the evil spirits.
4. It is avoided to bath the child every Tuesday and Friday.
5. There is a practice in Guimbal that a child will not have a haircut until it reaches at least a year old so that it will not be mischievous. The fallen hair that was cut off is inserted or put in a dictionary or book so that the child will become intelligent or smart.
1. The child should be baptized at the soonest possible time because it was believed that baptism has a big role in the healthy well-being and safe from illness of the child.
2. If the baby is crying while being baptized, it will grow up mischievous, naughty and stubborn. If it is quiet, the child will grow up nice and kind.
3. In the baptism of the child, there should be food to be served to the guests, visitors and godparents so that there will always be food for the child.
4. The godfather and godmother should give money to the child so that there will be an easy, smooth and convenient flow of money to their godchild to get their godchild get richer quickly.
5. It was believed in the baptism of the twins, one of the twins should enter the door and the other twin should enter the other opposite door so that no one will die to anyone of them.
About Caring and Raising A Child:
1. Buying a child - if a family has lost at least two to three family members at an early age, and the next child seems likely to suffer the same fate, a ceremony of buying the child takes place. A neighbor who is successful in raising many children brings money or any object to buy the child. It was declared by the mother of the child selling it to the neighbor who attended the ceremony. The neighbor is really paying real money or any object. In this way, the child will become healthy and will regain back his health from sickness or any illnesses. However, the child is still owned, stay and part of his or her real parents and family.
2. Abay - No one is allowed to give a comment, teasing, irony or sarcasm about the child that it is healthy. This when it is intense or tough will cause sickness or illness to the child. So, before saying anything, anyone should say the following first: "puera abay", "puwera usog".
3. Panagang - The child is adorned with a necklace dangling with crocodile teeth or any object that will serve as "panagang" (shield) or pangontra (weapon). The people believed that this will be an effective weapon against evil spirit which intends to inflict harm to the child. Others hang a piece of ginger in the dress of the child to stop the evil witches to any cruel or evil intentions to the child or to fight off any evil intentions of the evil spirits.
4. It is avoided to bath the child every Tuesday and Friday.
5. There is a practice in Guimbal that a child will not have a haircut until it reaches at least a year old so that it will not be mischievous. The fallen hair that was cut off is inserted or put in a dictionary or book so that the child will become intelligent or smart.
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