Talisman tales
October 24, 2004 | 12:00am
In the 1990s, department heads and myself would welcome constituents "en masse" in Tarlac for the weekly "open house".
We would entertain usual queries like, "Rabies injections, please?", Coule the Department of Trade teach us how to invest?", "Could the devolved Department of Social Welfare and Development give us some rice and sardines?", "Did the governor have sand and gravel to deliver?", "Could the teachers go on seminars?, and so on.
One time, I noticed a hunched man about 80 years old roaming the huge hall, and walking towards me. As near as his slippers could take him, he whispered in Kapampangan that he had no money to return to his town, Concepcion. I took out loose change from my pocket for his lunch and transportation and we went our separate ways.
Three months later, I was told an elderly man needed to see me personally. Complying, I saw the old farmer again, who seemed to have become thinner. With buri hat in hand, he indicated we move to a corner. With trembling hands he opened a package wrapped in newspaper. To my surprise, it was a coconut that had four eyes, a silver disc like the one used to weigh down a sipa, and an orasyon.
Most coconuts only have three eyes, not four. He told me this strange coconut safeguarded his family and home for years. All three were now for me to keep so no one could ever harm me. He was giving it to me as a present. Apparently, he was grateful for the help I extended to him when he was hungry and needed money. Now wouldn’t that make you cry?
The prayer which I couldn’t understand, the coconut and the disc, were his anting-antings which I had preserved in a plexiglass case. Somehow, these reminded me of man’s goodness.
Believers say an amulet or a talisman – both anting-antings – repel what is harmful and vitalize what is beneficial. Anything uncommon has to be special and therefore magical, and must be potentially charged with power that would enhance success. From a Moro in Zamboanga, I have small beige round beads – which are, in fact, ant eggs – that bring good luck. They are small anting-antings that should be carried in my person.
Objects used as amulets are supposedly beneficial. Its unique natural formation, further "strengthened" by prayers, bring down the caring action of a spirit, or of an invisible power. For who would want misfortune, disease or harm of either human or supernatural origin fall on oneself? Everyone wants to preserve and increase natural strength, even virility.
Amulets are also believed to guard against recurrent dangers such as plagues, pestilence, animal attacks, drowning and battle wounds. Each amulet has to have enough power to overcome the influence of evil spirits, which are thought to be harbingers of misfortunes brought down on us by our enemies and bad spirits. A word of warning: An amulet may lose its positive properties if any other man holds it or even lays eyes on it.
Another amulet I saw to ward off evil came from an old lady in Cavite who gave my friend, Celia Molano, a green bead on a yellow string to wear as a bracelet as a form of protection. Whispering, the old lady prayed over the amulet and blew on it.
Prayers or incantations are imbued with power. When recited over the object, the prayers make them protective amulets. Recited spells were first transmitted orally from one generation to another but throughout the years they have become written codes such as the ones seen in shirts from Banahaw and the Tausugs, as well as my tubao collection. An intense believer from Laguna gave me a T-shirt with prayers written by Pentel Pen in bold letters. He said the prayers were so powerful I should open my mouth before I recited it or my teeth would fall off!
The power of any object is actually brought to life by our own will power and faith – so I am told.
A green jade, a red tiny cloth with prayers inside pinned on the bra or on a man’s inner shirt, a bead with an eye, and other types of amulets are expected to cast a magic spell against our enemies’ ill thoughts.
Juli from Banahaw, a former Constabulary officer who became a mountain guru (God rest his soul) said upon entering one of my rooms, "The spirits here are not very good." The room was where sick people was isolated. Funny, it was my favorite room since it was beside a pocket garden. I thought the vibes of the room made me happy. Nevertheless, he posted on the door: Yehowah Yahweh Sator Areto Tenet... to either keep the bad spirits away or reform them.
Reciting other short prayers or orasyones that activate these amulets so men won’t betray you is, "Jesus Maria Soledom Curpos Miyom." An orasyon for protection so that no one will try anything nasty against you is, "Et Sene Iposo Factum Est Nihil Quod Factum Est." An orasyon to pray so no one will be angry with you is, "Mimurium Purtel Telio Suspindido Aduravit Diyora Eglolis Egulisnivit Pacguim Patterium Bulium Regit." Come to think of it, isn’t the Lord’s Prayer simpler to recite than the last three I quoted ?
Don’t brag about possessing amulets or your powers will be rendered useless. Also, one who fails to serve and thank the source of power behind the orasyon will lose its protection. Remember to say a prayer of gratitude to someone mightier than us. For the true origin of power behind the orasyon comes from God Almighty.
I thought orasyones and talismans in ages past were more potent. Not quite. Despite the advent of modernity and science, those ancient, charming beliefs are still being practiced in villages and provinces, and even urban areas.
In Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, last year on a research trip, I met Samal women wearing talisman for lack of medical attention. Fatima Hawani Israel, a day care teacher, said a coconut that does not have an eye protects anyone and makes her invisible during feuds or war time. Isn’t it amazing? Belief in the power of the coconut from the north and south!
A pregnant woman usually wears around her wrist a string with a small lead charm supposedly to safeguard her from the wak-wak or witch. A black thick bracelet made up of a bundle of threads is said to save a child from any epidemic. On the waist of a 20-year-old girl was a brown string with seven knots exactly the same as the one given to me in Jolo to protect me. The Samal women call this amulet habay and each knot is referred to as buko.
In ancient times, knots made from rattan signified commitments to keep. For example, it was used to finalize the agreement between the Timways of Bukidnon with the Manobos of North Cotabato and the Sultans of Maguindanao and Lanao. The ritual had each of the leaders of the provinces I mentioned tying a knot as a commitment to respect each one’s boundary. The knotted rattan was then cut in pieces and the leaders brought home a knot each to remind them of their peace pact. On the exact spot where this contract was forged, a bamboo was planted or a spear was thrust on the ground and left there to commemorate the brotherhood. In the same manner, knots on a string tied around the waist keep protection nearby.
We would entertain usual queries like, "Rabies injections, please?", Coule the Department of Trade teach us how to invest?", "Could the devolved Department of Social Welfare and Development give us some rice and sardines?", "Did the governor have sand and gravel to deliver?", "Could the teachers go on seminars?, and so on.
Three months later, I was told an elderly man needed to see me personally. Complying, I saw the old farmer again, who seemed to have become thinner. With buri hat in hand, he indicated we move to a corner. With trembling hands he opened a package wrapped in newspaper. To my surprise, it was a coconut that had four eyes, a silver disc like the one used to weigh down a sipa, and an orasyon.
Most coconuts only have three eyes, not four. He told me this strange coconut safeguarded his family and home for years. All three were now for me to keep so no one could ever harm me. He was giving it to me as a present. Apparently, he was grateful for the help I extended to him when he was hungry and needed money. Now wouldn’t that make you cry?
The prayer which I couldn’t understand, the coconut and the disc, were his anting-antings which I had preserved in a plexiglass case. Somehow, these reminded me of man’s goodness.
Believers say an amulet or a talisman – both anting-antings – repel what is harmful and vitalize what is beneficial. Anything uncommon has to be special and therefore magical, and must be potentially charged with power that would enhance success. From a Moro in Zamboanga, I have small beige round beads – which are, in fact, ant eggs – that bring good luck. They are small anting-antings that should be carried in my person.
Amulets are also believed to guard against recurrent dangers such as plagues, pestilence, animal attacks, drowning and battle wounds. Each amulet has to have enough power to overcome the influence of evil spirits, which are thought to be harbingers of misfortunes brought down on us by our enemies and bad spirits. A word of warning: An amulet may lose its positive properties if any other man holds it or even lays eyes on it.
Another amulet I saw to ward off evil came from an old lady in Cavite who gave my friend, Celia Molano, a green bead on a yellow string to wear as a bracelet as a form of protection. Whispering, the old lady prayed over the amulet and blew on it.
Prayers or incantations are imbued with power. When recited over the object, the prayers make them protective amulets. Recited spells were first transmitted orally from one generation to another but throughout the years they have become written codes such as the ones seen in shirts from Banahaw and the Tausugs, as well as my tubao collection. An intense believer from Laguna gave me a T-shirt with prayers written by Pentel Pen in bold letters. He said the prayers were so powerful I should open my mouth before I recited it or my teeth would fall off!
A green jade, a red tiny cloth with prayers inside pinned on the bra or on a man’s inner shirt, a bead with an eye, and other types of amulets are expected to cast a magic spell against our enemies’ ill thoughts.
Juli from Banahaw, a former Constabulary officer who became a mountain guru (God rest his soul) said upon entering one of my rooms, "The spirits here are not very good." The room was where sick people was isolated. Funny, it was my favorite room since it was beside a pocket garden. I thought the vibes of the room made me happy. Nevertheless, he posted on the door: Yehowah Yahweh Sator Areto Tenet... to either keep the bad spirits away or reform them.
Reciting other short prayers or orasyones that activate these amulets so men won’t betray you is, "Jesus Maria Soledom Curpos Miyom." An orasyon for protection so that no one will try anything nasty against you is, "Et Sene Iposo Factum Est Nihil Quod Factum Est." An orasyon to pray so no one will be angry with you is, "Mimurium Purtel Telio Suspindido Aduravit Diyora Eglolis Egulisnivit Pacguim Patterium Bulium Regit." Come to think of it, isn’t the Lord’s Prayer simpler to recite than the last three I quoted ?
I thought orasyones and talismans in ages past were more potent. Not quite. Despite the advent of modernity and science, those ancient, charming beliefs are still being practiced in villages and provinces, and even urban areas.
A pregnant woman usually wears around her wrist a string with a small lead charm supposedly to safeguard her from the wak-wak or witch. A black thick bracelet made up of a bundle of threads is said to save a child from any epidemic. On the waist of a 20-year-old girl was a brown string with seven knots exactly the same as the one given to me in Jolo to protect me. The Samal women call this amulet habay and each knot is referred to as buko.
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