Haunting tales abound in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - For more than three decades, single mother Rosemary (not her real name), 45, has been suffering from dizziness, headaches, sleepless nights and body pains.

She did not know where her sickness originated, but a local healer recently told her that an engkanto or spirit had been pursuing her since she was 14 years old, when she was still living in their family’s ancestral home in Parañaque.

Such stories are common in the Philippines.

Cultural anthropologist Nestor Castro, a professor at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, explained that supernatural beliefs exist primarily so that people can have an explanation for things they do not understand.

“In societies simple in terms of science and technology, sometimes they don’t understand natural phenomena, so they create beliefs to explain these things,” he told The STAR.

But Castro stressed that it is just one possible explanation.

“One other possible explanation is that they do indeed exist. Who are we to question people’s beliefs, especially those who saw it?” he said.

He, however, cited a possible psychological explanation, saying people tend to believe what they want to believe: engkantos, angels, gods and other supernatural beings.

“There is no particular bias against any religion,” he said.

Voices, contusions

“It’s really unusual. Sometimes I hear voices of males calling my name. I don’t really know why I have to be in this situation,” she told The STAR.

Rosemary said she found contusions in different parts of her body, prompting her mother to bring her to a doctor when she was 16 years old. The family doctor, however, failed to determine the cause of the symptoms and simply prescribed a tranquilizer to fight the pain caused by headaches and dizziness.

But her unusual experiences did not stop.

“I feel someone is looking at me every time. I feel I have company. I hear voices and there was a time that I heard snoring, but no one is beside me,” she said.

Rosemary said there is a constant smell of cigarettes, even while taking a bath.

“Once, when I finished taking a bath, I (noticed) several bruises on the left part of my arms… It wasn’t there before I took a bath,” she recounted.

She also cited instances when she survived “freak accidents.”

“I had three accidents. But it’s like someone is with me all the time that I was saved from them,” she said.

Recently, Rosemary was shocked to see a reddish bruise on her upper right leg with what appeared to be a face of a man. This prompted her to consult a popular healer in Rizal, undergoing the ritual commonly known as “tawas.”

Rosemary said the result was clear: she was being haunted by an engkanto, who has followed her from her old house to the condominium where she now lives with her daughter.

Upon learning of the engkanto, the healer told Rosemary to spill agua colonia in her restroom to make the elementals leave.

She also received what is commonly known as pangontra to counter the elemental.

But only time can tell if this will solve Rosemary’s problems. For now, the mystery remains.

Castro noted that stories about the supernatural tend to increase in times of calamities as people look for something to blame or to trust in.

Belief in good spirits is also prevalent in instances when people ask duwende (dwarf) for numbers to bet in a lottery.

“Filipinos always want to be sure, so when someone is sick, we go to the doctor. But we also ask the opinion of a local healer, pray in the Church and offer incense to the Buddha,” he said.

“This is who we are, we want results, regardless of the process,” he added.

Elementals in the 21st century

But Castro said that as societies become more technologically advanced, it is possible that belief in the supernatural may diminish as previously unexplained phenomena are now understood by science.

“But admittedly, there are still things that, up to now, can’t still be explained by science,” he said.

The anthropologist noted that the advances in mass media, particularly the Internet, are a contributing factor in the continuing proliferation of urban legends and stories about supernatural beings.

He cited instances when a video supposedly showing students being possessed, which has recently gone viral, has enriched the discussion on these concepts, regardless of whether they believe the claim or not.

Media – with the quick transfer of information from one society to another through films, among others – also play a role in the “borrowing” of culture.

He cited the Hollywood interpretation of vampires and how they are likened to the local aswang, even as these are relatively different creatures.

“I don’t look at cultural borrowing as something totally negative,” he said. “But having said that, we should be critical of what is being borrowed, what we should not borrow.”

He noted the lack of a national consensus on this matter, citing cases when various groups try to lobby against practices involving the supernatural, for instance when an Aswang Festival was held in Capiz.

Throw away the belief?

Castro stressed that there is nothing wrong in having an agenda to change the current belief system.

He, however, cautioned advocates to be careful in doing so as it could create a vacuum that may have negative results.

The anthropologist cited the case of believing in engkantos, who are known to be guardians of the forests.

“The belief was helping the environment. Before, cutting trees is not something that you can do (because you are afraid of the elementals). Now people do not hesitate to cut trees,” he said, calling it an unintended effect of having such beliefs.

“We hope that anthropologists can provide explanations on why people believe these (things). What are the unintended effects and benefits of these practices,” he added.

Belief in the supernatural has a place in the Philippine society, Castro noted.

For instance, our fascination of horror movies and experiences contribute to strengthening the bond between friends and families.