Sabado, Marso 31, 2012

Bleeding-heart pigeon mysterious appearance at Nonoc tree

In our village, there was a large Nonoc tree also known as balete tree. It was a huge tree with a hollow center. At its center there was a lagoon that was  connected to an underground spring.

When the tree bore fruits on its season, various types of bird flocked to the tree and consumed its fruits. I always waited this  fruiting season to hunt birds that foraged on its fruits.I stayed below the tree armed with an air gun.

One day, while I'm tying the sack where my catch of birds was held, a flock of pigeon arrived. they happily ate the fruits of the tree. So I decided not to go home and prepared to shoot the birds.

One of the pigeon I spotted was bleeding at its breast.Its breast was full of blood. I thought it was hit already by another hunter. It was big and beautiful so I decided to shoot it. but I only hit the bird on its wing and immediately it flew away leaving the flock.

The next day I could not move my right hand. It was swollen and too painful to move.
The shaman diagnosed my ailment as a punishment of the supernatural tamawo to me for I had shot and wounded his pet pigeon.He said that if I had killed his pet, surely I will die too.

To appease him the shaman performed rituals at the tree to appease the the tamawo. We also offered unsalted foods and meat at the tree.

Later I was cured. After that, I never hunted birds anymore.

From the oral account of Filomeno Orquiola of Tapaz, Capiz

Miyerkules, Marso 21, 2012

Flash Rider and Treasure finder pet; Magical Sigbin

In our town there was a wealthy man named Don Valintin. He was in his early seventy's and his house was the biggest stone-house in our island The islanders respected this man for they believed that he was the lord of an occult animal called Sigbin. Most of the land on the island belongs to him for he purchased it from various owners even in great price. The islanders believed that the basement of his house were stockpiled with gold of antiquity. Gold from Chinese junks that sank at sea a long time ago, gold from galleons in early Spanish time, and buried gold stashed by the pirates.

The islanders believed that the old man found this sunken and buried treasures because of the magical power of the animal  called Sigbin that was in his care. This man also has a wide plantation of squash and this fact bolstered the beliefs of the islanders for the favorite food of the Sigbin were squash flowers and young small fruits of this plant.

They said the Sigbin can trace the element of gold even if it was buried and will pinpoint its exact location to its lord.So, the islanders believed that the old man had found a lot of gold for his forefathers were just  poor fishermen like those of the islanders.

The islanders also believed that the old man can travel from the island to Manila which is 20- hours away distance by boat travel, in few minutes only because the Sigbin was his personal magic transporter that carry him to other places that he wished to go. It was proven to the islanders when he brought home a newly published newspaper  from the city within that day. It was a mystery for us for we have no airport to where a plane can land in order to bring that newspaper.

So, the beliefs of the islanders about this creature magnified and everyone believed that the old man indeed has this kind of magical pet.

From the oral account of Eugenio Conanan of San Jose Island, Romblon, Philippines.

Biyernes, Marso 16, 2012

Angels,Sea God,Occult rites for TITANIC baptism disregarded on launching

For thousand of years our forefathers christened their ship with rituals so that it will not ran of bad luck. In ancient times blood of animals were spilled. Later, bottle of champagne was poured over the bow to appease the sea god, King Neptune, for good luck and safe voyage. A branch of green leaves of olives placed on the deck to ensure safe return.

For angels to guard the ship, an object of artistic value must be placed outside the ship to attract  the angels to dwell on the ship. The small boats of  fishermen in a group of islands in the Pacific, sacrificed blood of animals mostly  of black pigs were spilled on the deck of the boat to ward off sea demons who will haunt the boat.

At the launching of Titanic, not one of these rituals  mentioned were  performed.
Nothing to be lost if we observed this beliefs, in fact the reward of practicing it, is safe  life and happiness.

Miyerkules, Marso 7, 2012

Singing Ghost, Demon's Mimicry of Human form.

I was the night-shift guard of an old four-story building. One time while I was roving at the third floor I heard a voice of a woman singing. She was humming a high pitch tune. I was thinking that the woman was the caretaker of the building who resided at the room on the end of the corridor.
I came nearer to the room. It was indeed the caretaker who was singing. She was washing clothes at the lavatory. She was facing the wall so his face was concealed from the door. I know her complete appearance, her chubby body and her long hair. She was still wearing her favorite dress. I greeted her, complimenting her nice voice, but she never answered back instead she turned off the light.

I knew that she wanted to be left alone so I went down.

I went back to the entrance of the building and stayed there until dawn. Later somebody knocked at the the door. I staggered when I saw the caretaker in front of me. She told me she went  out that night to visit her  sick relatives. I told her that I saw her washing at the third floor that night.

"Impossible" she blurted out.

I learned later from my colleague that the building has resident ghost who imitated the voice and form of the occupant whom they wanted to replicate.

From the oral account of Erik Sampiano. Quezon City, Philippines.