Superstitious Women in the Philippines

[boracayjohnny]

I found this in my intarweb wanderings.


I have lived, worked and enjoyed myself here in the Philippines, specifically Angeles City, for many years. This a country in which the people, especially the women from the provinces, believe in many different superstitions or beliefs. One of which I came across recently in a personal experience. One lady that I know firmly believes in what we in the US call “Voodoo” but here it is called “kulam” which is supposed to mean a “witch curse”.
She believes that once you have Kulam, if you go to a doctor and get an injection, then you will die. Let me call this lady Anna, not her real name, of course. She explained that she got this curse from a woman she met in the province who took a piece of her hair and an a piece of her clothes. She found that had “Koto” which is lice in her hair. She developed a severe rash over her entire body and she was scratching herself so severely that she developed some sores as well.
She believed that the “witch” put rotten fish in her body. She was given money to see a doctor but refused to do so out of fear that the doctor would give her an injection and it would kill her. Instead she went to a local faith healer near where she lived. The faith healer told her to get a piece of clothing or anything from the witch which she was able to do. Then the faith healer started a series of rituals to include boiling the item from the witch.

Now, here is the hard part. Her close friend swore to me that she saw, during the ritual, flying cockroaches exit from the sores on Anna’s arms and legs. Naturally I laughed but the friend was dead serious and she believed in both Kulam and Barang as well as the faith healer. So, when you meet some of these ladies in the Clubs here, especially if they are from Samar and other distant provinces, do not be surprised if one day you find out about some of the superstitious beliefs they have.
Don’t bother arguing with them either or trying to change them. No matter what they will continue to believe in those that can cast an evil spell over them and the faith they have in those men or women you and I will call quack quack doctors who can dispel evil spells and cure all sorts of ailments. Sure would be interesting to know if any of you who have been coming to the PI for many years have met with any ladies with these beliefs.

[island14]

Lot of mistakes in that story, but pretty much sums it up anyway..

What about your wife Johnny? does she believe?

Mine does, and most here do believe in all that... and a lot more..

[boracayjohnny]

Originally Posted by island14

Lot of mistakes in that story, but pretty much sums it up anyway..

What about your wife Johnny? do she believe?

Mine does, and most do believe in all that and a lot more..

No but her mom does to an extent. The story goes about an aswang/whoda thunk it in the mango orchards.

[island14]

Had an ex girl friend and her mom went to a mangkukulam because they were upset I had started seeing another girl from the same neighborhood after we broke up.

The very next morning I was told about it and kind of laughed, but later that day the elder sis of the new girl I had started seeing came back from Japan with her Japanese husband that vetoed my seeing the girl.

He said.. we don't need an American in our family!

And it was over that quick..

I have to wonder about that......



At least I didn't pee worms or anything..

[boracayjohnny]

Originally Posted by island14

Had an ex girl friend and her mom went to a mangkukulam because they were upset I had started seeing another girl from the same neighborhood after we broke up.

The very next morning I was told about it and kind of laughed, but later that day the elder sis of the new girl I had started seeing came back from Japan with her Japanese husband that vetoed my seeing the girl.

He said.. we don't need an American in our family!

And it was over that quick..

I have to wonder about that......



At least I didn't pee worms or anything..

First bold: yep, them's the rules.

Second bold:

[63C2splitter]

Interesting. My Brother was married to a Korean woman, and she had a lot of superstitions as well. No major decision was made without consulting the witch doctor (I'm not sure what they actually call him).....for which he charges a fee.

I think that many of the people in asia have a lot of superstitions (compared to America).

[island14]

Voodoo exist even in America..

[boracayjohnny]

Originally Posted by island14

Voodoo exist even in America..

New Orleans and iirc, Charleston, SC.

[63C2splitter]

No Voodoo around here (I think)........knock on wood. Where did I put my 4 leaf clover?

I think every culture has their share of superstitions, and the USA has all of them. A lot of the local farmers have some strange ones.....mostly the meaning of things they see with wildlife.

['77Babe]

Well, were you there to witness cockroaches not flying from her sores?

[Kerrmudgeon]

I'm guessing STDs run rampant in the provinces as well.

[Dan Dlabay]

My wife is from Vietnam and she has no superstitions because she is Catholic and is strong in her faith and faith in God.

[NCC-1701]

Whatever drugs they are on we here at vette barn need them....

[OddBall]

Spread some magic mushrooms around and they'll think you are a god and worship you!

...or the devil, and draw and quarter you.

[Uncle Meat]

Originally Posted by Dan Dlabay

My wife is from Vietnam and she has no superstitions because she is Catholic and is strong in her faith and faith in God.

So is the majority of the population in the Philippines.

The first 19 years of my wife's life her medical care was performed by Dr. Quack-Quack, a local witch doctor in Nueva Ecija. She had never had any standardized health care growing up besides basic immunizations. She's paying for that foolishness now.

U.M.

[island14]

Originally Posted by Uncle Meat

So is the majority of the population in the Philippines.

The first 19 years of my wife's life her medical care was performed by Dr. Quack-Quack, a local witch doctor in Nueva Ecija. She had never had any standardized health care growing up besides basic immunizations. She's paying for that foolishness now.

U.M.

My wife still sometimes wants to take my kids to a quack doctor over in Sta Fe..

Pisses me off! .as I hate that old bitch with a passion from past experiences..

She causes and many problems as she cures, so many repeat customers..

She is half trained in medical, and half voodoo herself. so stupid.. but I do not trust the bitch a bit!

[Rob]

Originally Posted by island14

My wife still sometimes wants to take my kids to a quack doctor over in Sta Fe..

Pisses me off! .as I hate that old bitch with a passion from past experiences..

She causes and many problems as she cures, so many repeat customers..

She is half trained in medical, and half voodoo herself. so stupid.. but I do not trust the bitch a bit!

Do I even mention the medicine man you brought over to the house when I got sick on my first trip?



I have a video of him singing if you are ok with me posting it?


posting anyway.....

Badok - YouTube

The medicine man is the one that decides to start singing towards the end.

[island14]

Badok is somewhat of a body healer.. but does not deal with internal medicine..

Actually he is pretty friggin good for a drunken master..