Isebel So... (Sara'y Alimaong): A compilation of local superstitious beliefs

ISEBEL SO..../SARAY ALIMAONG

(A Compilation of Local Superstitious Beliefs)

Old wives' tales or superstitious beliefs have been held by all cultures throughout the world and throughout history. They are a human response to the unknown and unknowable--the mysteries of life in this world. From a cultural or practical perspective, they give a glimpse into the deepest hopes and fears of residents of a given locality, and what is fear of the unknown if it is not universal?

Even though they run counter to, or are not sanctioned by, the religion of the majority of residents, these beliefs persist up to the present for some compelling reasons. This somewhat jibes with the fact that, most Filipinos, even indeed born and raised as Catholic and openly profess to be one, have strong tendency toward syncretism, the belief system that cherry-picks elements of otherwise contentious faiths and fuse them into an eclectic set of elements that somehow find themselves coexisting in seeming harmony.

For example, the indigenous practice of offering "atang" to the dearly departed is animistic. Karma is in everyday language, though it is Buddhist. Feng shui and the strong belief in "malas" and "suwerte" are strong Chinese influences. Belief in past lives and reincarnation may not be that prevalent, but these are not too foreign either, as are New Age influences that have crept up in the Filipino psyche.

According to a research by a local resident, Danny Sagun, these superstitious beliefs were created by old folks in order to frighten and impose their rules on the people around them, especially children. Nonethelless, these beliefs persist despite being contrary to facts and downright unscientific. They persist even despite the promise of high hilarity among modern-day non-believers -- a testament to the tenacity of the indigenous belief system they must have originally sprung from, such that no aspect of local life is left untouched by this belief system.

Listed here are some of the most commonly held superstitious beliefs in this town, most of which have endured up to this day, despite the lack of basis in fact or any scientific explanation, despite their history of imposition. We who compiled these were amazed at the encyclopedic number of beliefs we had to list down, and believe that we have just scratched the surface.

Good Luck/Bad Luck

· Don't sweep the floor at night. You will drive away good luck.

· Don't sell needles at night because it is bad luck.

· If you are about to leave home and accidentally break a glass, it's a bad omen. Don't leave. Or break another glass to dispel bad luck.

Seeing an owl, ground lizard, or black cat cross your path means bad luck.

· Don't accept cash payments at night, or you will always lose money.

· If you cup your palm on your chin and cheek, your life will be malas, filled with misfortune or full of burden.

· Kapag mukhang malas ang katabi sa sugal, paalisin ito.

· Kapag nanaginip ng ngiping nabunot, ikagat ang ngipin sa unan pagkagising upang makontra ang kamalasan.

· Say pusan taloray kolor to, swerte.

· No walay oleg ya andeket ed abong, suwerte.

· No makasabat kay pusan adeket no walay laen mo, agka la untutuloy ta malas.

· No makanengneg kay basakay, kontram na "Pwera bwisit, pwera malas.

· Ikdan moy kuros na bulsa so pitakam pian suwerte.

· Huwag mo sasabihing mabigat ang pagkain o mga bilihing dala-dala o bitbit, dahil malas yun.

· Say pitaka dapat walay kuros na bulsa (token paper money or loose coins) to piyan suwerte.

Weather

· Pag sobrang maalinsangan o mainit ang panahon at walang kahangin-hangin, magtawag ng hangin sa pamamagitan ng pagpito gamit ang nguso (nang walang ginagamit na pito).

· Kapag masama ang panahon at may importanteng kaganapan, mag-alay ng mga itlog sa altar, magsampay ng pulang damit, magsampay/magsabit ng damit sa lugar, iwagayaway ang walis tingting sa ere, o magsunog ng balahibo ng manok.

· Pag kumikidlat, bawal magsuot ng pulang damit o magdala ng pulang payong.

Giving or Receiving Gifts

· No regaluan da kay panyo, bayaran moy piso piyan agka unakis.

· Alimaong so regaluay sapatos ta singa da ka gagatin-gatinan.

· Never give a handkerchief as a gift, or the receiver will weep a lot. If someone gives you one, buy it back with PhP1.

· Suwerte so orinola ya iregalo ed balon kasal.

Body/Body Positions

· No aketket to may dila to may too, pan iistoryaan da ka.

· Say ak-akualen to'y duaran dakulap to, mangiras.

· No akasinkaling tan uwab lan uwab, mangiras.

· Makakaraeg no akabalaybay so twalyan baleg ed beklew mo anggano aga manames.

· No manparutpot so ugaw a melag (their lips making sound like a propeller), wala'y unsabin bagyo.

· No man-galaw ya palpaltugan iray ogogao, manpapaniring ira na unsabin giyera.

· No akaampat ka, mangiras ka. O no akaampat ka, bwisit o malas ed bilay. (This may be a Chinese influence.)

· No am-ampatot moy ulom ya akadukol, walay nagawan aliwa.

· No mangan kad paway na labi, napiwis so sungot mo.

· No mangan kay atang, napiwis so sungot mo.

· Ang buhok na ginupit ay dapat itapon sa kanal o lugar na basa upang mabilis tumubo o lumago ang buhok.

· Ang naalis na ngipin ay dapat na ihagis sa bubong, yung matunog, upang mabilis tumubo ang ngipin ng nabungi.

· When someone is having a hiccup, one should say, "Nantakew ka'y iknol?" (Did you steal an egg?) so the hiccup will stop.

· No say kakampuyo et walad silong na mata, manangibalo.

· No rapas ka, makapatey kay too. (If you have one straight line crossing your palm completely from end to end (instead of the usual two that run up to just after the middle of the palm), it's a sign that you'll kill a person someday.)

- Pregnancy

• Maglagay ng asin sa bintana upang hindi mahirapang magbuntis.

• Bawal tumayo o umupo sa may pintuan upang hindi mahirapang manganak.

• Bawal haplusin ng haplusin ang tiyan baka makatulog ang bata kung manganganak na.

• Kapag lumindol, kailangang maligo ang mga buntis ng suka para hindi sila makunan.

• “Aga nayari so unirong ed takayan no malukon ka.” (Don’t sit on the staircase if you are pregnant.)

Someone who often sat on the staircase while pregnant had a difficult labor as a result. It took time for her to give birth to her child.

• “Aga nayari so mangay dakel” (Don’t eat a lot if you are pregnant.)

Someone who ate a lot whatever and whenever she desired had a difficult labor and had a hard time giving birth due to complications.

• “Aga nayari ya mampuyat so malukon.” (Don’t sleep late at night if you are pregnant.)

Remecia C. Junio blames her habit of sleeping late at night for not going through labor and for having a one-week delay in her due date.

• “Aga nayari so unsilip ed inatey no malukon.” (Don’t glance at the dead if you are pregnant.)

Marde V. Dy said it’s forbidden to glance at the corpse of the dead because because there’s a possibility of experiencing a difficult birth.

• “Aga nayari so unnusok no malukon.” (Don’t bend your body if you are pregnant.)

Mrs. Marcelina's grandmother told her when she was pregnant not to bend her body because there’s a possibility that the child would someday grow without teeth.

• “Aga nayari so unsaklang ed motor no malukon.” (Don’t ride a motorcycle if you’re pregnant.)

Mrs. Rita remembers her mother telling her when she was pregnant not to ride on a motorcycle even if she was only 2-3 months pregnant because there’s a possibility that she would lose the child. 

 

Mappers: Andre-Yam Espiritu, Mickaella Agbuya, Jackie Lyn Balanag, Patricia Dy, Lee Diane Garcia, Kristine Ross Montil, Cindy Valdoz
 

- Menstruation

· Bawal kumain ng maasim dahil hihilab ang tiyan.

· Kung first time mong magregla, yung tubig na pinaghugasan ng panty ay ihilamos sa mukha para hindi magkapimple.

Children and Child Care

· After the christening/baptism rite at the church, parents should run to the door with their baby as fast as they can and be the first to get there, to ensure the baby will grow stronger than the rest.

· Don't give the baby a haircut until it turns one year old, and be sure to place inside a book the first sheaf of hair that was cut, to ensure the child will grow up intelligent.

· Wet with your saliva the new baby you just visited before leaving, or the baby (or you) will fall ill inexplicably.

· When a baby is having a hiccup, take a thread from the hem of his or her clothes or from his/her balkes (cloth belt), and wet it, then ball it and place it on top of his/her forehead, so the hiccup will stop.

· No say ugaw pakaney baoy baboy, umbaleg ya malabir

· No siopa so unaan ya nankatliy buwek na ugaw, sikatoy natawir ton ugali.

· No amilos so ugaw, pakanen na baoy baboy piyan underetsoy tongtong to. Isabit ang pusod ng bagong panganak sa bintana para mataas ang marating ng bata at tingalain siya pagdating ng panahon.

· Ikdan moy pakemkem so sakey ugaw no nanengneng mo ed unaan ya panbisita to. (Bigyan mo ng pakimkim ang sanggol kapag makita mo ito sa unag pagkakataon. Give a little cash gift (money) to a baby that you see for the first time.)

· No say ugaw et walay duwaran alimpuros to, paweg o pilyo. (Ang batang may dalawang alimpuyo o puyo ay pilyo o pasaway o matigas ang ulo. A child with two hair whorls is naughty or hard-headed.)

· Nengneng moy tenger na ugaw ya kapananak piyan naaantaan mo no say unsublay ya agi to et bii o laki. No walay mautok, laki. (Check out the nape of the baby to determine the gender of the next child after him/her.)

· No say alimpuros na ugaw et walad beneg na ulo to, dudukulan toy kuwarta. (If the hair whorl of the child is found right at the back of his/her head, he/she is lying on money.)

· No walay lungaw na tenger to, masiblet. (Kapag may butas ang batok, madamot. When the nape has a hole, he/she is stingy.)

· Kapag nagpabinyag, ang kukuning ninong o ninang ay iyung matalino para maging matalino ang bata.

· Ang unang gugupit sa buhok ng bata ay dapat matalino, at dapat ay iipit sa libor ang ginupit na buhok, upang maging matalino ang bata.

· Naming children-No masakit (o lanang ya mansasakit) so sakey ugaw, salatay ngaran to, tan saliwen may daan ya ngaran na piso. Variation: Say ugaw ya masanting so ngaran to, masakit, katon salatan so ngaran to.

Eating and Cooking

· No niparukan ka habang mangakan ka, walay akanunot ed sika.

· No naplag so kutsara, say bisita yo bii; no tinidor, laki.

· No manluluto ka, agka kiwal lan kiwal ta naelew so mangan.

· Itelek so plato no walay umpikal habang mamangakan kayo ta piyan iwas risgo (disgrasya o anto ka man ya mauges).

· If you leave home after finishing your meal while the rest of the family are still eating, they should rotate all their plates so you will avoid meeting an accident along the way.

· During meals, the serving spoon or rice ladle should never point at you, or people will falsely accuse you of theft.

· When washing the dishes, do not scrape the ladle with a spoon, or family members will end up in a serious quarrel.

· Never let the rice dispenser run out of rice, or the family would run out of it for a very long time.

· Don't eat in a dark place. If you don't share your food with the unseen spirits, they will harm you.

· Don't jump after eating, or you might have appendicitis.

· Don't eat atang (food offering for the spirits), or you will become kabaw (forgetful).

· When cooking ampalaya (bitter gourd), smile, and avoid talking, so the dish won't be bitter.

· No mangan kay keran panangan na malukon, makakaugip ka. (Kapag kumain ka ng tira ng buntis, aantukin ka. If you eat a pregnant woman's leftover food, you will feel sleepy.)

· No wala kad arapay dalikan, agka mankakansyon ta balo so naasawam.

· Ipaliis moy ikol na balaok no akaturo ed sika piyan agda ka pan palpalsaen ed aray nababalang.

· No ikaway moy balaok ed toon unalis ed abong ya misugal ed paway balbaleg so tiyansa ton natalo.

· Kapag may nakalunok ng tinik, tawagin lang ang pangalan ng isang kakilala sa ipinanganak na suhi (suni), o magpahilot dito ng leeg upang matanggal ang tinik.

·No laki ka... Agka mangakan na balikuleng ta naiyar ka. (For boys: Don't eat chicken gizzard or you'll catch jock itch.)

·Kung iinom ng alak (alcohol), magtapon ng kaunti sa lupa para sa mga hindi nakikita o para hindi malasing. 

· Huwag palipat-lipat  ng upuan kapag kakain, dahil balang araw, papalit-palit ka ng asawa.

 

Local beliefs and practices when cooking for feasts

Huwag magsisigarilyo para di mahulugan ng upos yung niluluto at baka mapanis.

Huwag tapik-tapikin ng itak ang karne upang di madaling mapanis ang ulam.

The one to serve the food should be someone who si makaaklo -- someone who can feed a lot of people.

Put ice in bagisen or dinuguan to tenderize the meat. 

Doing Grocery

When carrying groceries, particulary food, never say they are ambelat or heavy because that would be malas. A counter-spell would be to say, "Pwera bwisit!"

Ghosts

· Agka untutuktok no labi ta say unebat anyani.

· No mantagloong la ray aso, amot ka la ta makakanengneng iray añani kono.

· No mayamaya o tayaketek ed oras na mansirunget, unsisirum iray kakamarerwa o añani.

Friday Taboos

· No mannailcutter kay biyernes, nabalusiksikan ka

· Don't clip your nails on a Friday, or you'll get the skin on that area below the nails peeling and curling up?

Good Friday, Easter Sunday

· It's bad to take a bath during Good Friday.

· If you get wounded on Good Friday, the wound will never heal.

· On the morning of Easter Sunday, jump as high as you can, so you will be as tall. (As told to young kids)

Birthdays and Weddings

· During birthdays, serve rice noodles for long life.

New Year's Day

· Kailangan say utang mo, nabayaran mon amin balo man-Balon Taon, ta piyano agka nalener ed utang ed untumbok ya taon.

· Agka manhahanday manok ed Balon Taon ta piyan agka mankakaykay ed irap na bilay diad untumbok ya sakey taon.

· On New Year's Eve, prepare 12 round fruits to attract good luck the whole year through.

· Wear red or polka dots for the same reason.

· Mansibuwag kay sinsilyo ed abong piyan suwerte. (Throw coins around the house for the same reason.)

· Hang a bunch of 12 pieces of grapes by the door, etc. for year-long prosperity.

· Para media noche, dapat dakel so handa piyan masanting? so panagbilay ed sakey taon. Manhanda ka ray arom ni ran tibukel: sakey bigaon tikoy, latik, etc.

· Dapat walay ansakket piyan malet so aroay pamilya.

· Dapat walay pancit piyan andukey so bilay.

· Kasabi'y alas dose ed pegley labi na Balon Taon, onlukso kay atagtaragey piyan: no ugaw ni, untagey tan aga napandak; no matakken la, piyan maksil so laman to ya sakey taon.

· Aga nayariy mangan na manok no Balon Taon ta say aliling na manok "isang kahig, isang tuka" (ed Tagalog). / Agka manhahanday manok ed Balon Taon ta piyan agka mankakaykay ed irap na bilay diad untumbok ya sakey taon.

· Kailangan say belasan nakno, piyan aga naerasan ya sakey taon.

· Kailangan say utang mo, nabayaran mon amin bago man-Balon Taon, ta piyan agka nalener ed utang ed untumbok ya taon.

· Iwasan moy mangaway anto ka man ya trabaho ya ampano sakey taon mo met ya gawaen.

· Mangawa kay ingal piyan unarawi ray mauuges ya ispiritu.

· Tangtang mo ray batya tan palanggana. Mantorotot ka. Patugtog moy radyo, iswitch moy TV ya makmaksil. Manpapaputok ka. Paandar moy motor, tricycle, kotse ya mapalakapak.

· Bukasan mo ray amin ya puwerta tan bintana piyan unloob so suwerte.

· Manselsel na lusis. Isilew mon amin ya silew. I-on mo met iray amin ya appliances piyano suwerte.

· On New Year's Eve, prepare 12 round fruits, wear polka dots, throw coins, hang a bunch of grapes by the door, etc. for yearlong prosperity.

· Aga nayari mangan na manok no Balon Taon ta say aliling na manok "isang kahig, isang tuka" (ed Tagalog).

· Kasabiy alas dose ed pegley labi na Balon Taon, onlukso kay atagtaragey piyan: No ugaw ni, untagey tan aga napandak. No matakken la, piyan maksil so laman to ya sakey taon.

Clothes

· Don't mend your clothes while you're wearing it, or you might get stitched too (undergo operation).

· Don't cut anything on your clothes while wearing them, or you might get operated on.

Animals

· No say kuwago tinmoon ed krus na kapilyay sementerio walay unsabin sakit o epidemic.

· Say kolayot buwisit.

· No initdan da ka na pusan kuting salatan moy dagum piyan masebeg ya manerel na otot

· Don't refer to an otot (daga, mouse or rat) as an "otot," or don't use swear words when referring to it, or it will wreak havoc on your things. Call it "mabait" (kind) instead.

· No narengel yoy tiki ed dalem na abong yo ya mankik-kik, walay bisita ya unsabi.

· No say pusa et mandidilamos ya aka arap ed pertay abong, sakey ya miyembro na pamilya so manbiyahe ed arawi.

· No say pusa mandidilamos ya akabeneg ed pwertay abong, walay unsabin bisita. No gabay yon nasura piyan aga natuloy so isabi to, idepak yoy daiset piyan napigar.

· No walay sinmabin kumpapey or ___ (moth) ya siber-siber, walay inatey na binmisita. (When a strange butterfly or a butterfly or moth comes flying around for no reason, it is the soul of the dead visiting.)

Taking Exams

· No man-exam ka, mangibulsa kay pison baleg tan agat, iyan mod supot na ice candy ta piyan pampasuwerte.

House

· If you open an umbrella inside the house, a centipede will fall off and land on your head.

· Place a thorny plant by your door/garden to drive away witches or prevent them from harming you.

· No akaibong kay asin, buntokan moy asin met so kawigin takeb mo piyan nabulag may demonyod kawigim.

· Agmo ititilak so anto ka man ya makdem (katli, kutsilyo, etc.) ya akaturo ed sika piyan ag ka napalsaan. (Huwag mong iiwang nakaturo sa iyo ang kahit na anong matalim para di ka mapagbintangan. Don't leave anything sharp to be pointing at you so you won't be false accused.)

· No walay laen mon importante agka umpapawil-pawil ed nanlapuan mo ta agmo nasabi so pegdat mo.

· Masama o malas ang nababasagan ng salamin. (Joey Ferrer)

· "Termites (anay) will not enter the house if the bottoms of all wooden posts are first charred."

 

- Using Something for the First Time

(This one seems peculiar to Pangasinenses.)

· When someone uses something (like any gadget for the house) for the first time, make sure a strong male uses it first so that the object will surely last long or be sturdy.

- Night-time Taboos

· Bawal so mandait na labi, ta ampano walay naoperahan ed pamilya.

· Bawal so manpaway na kuwartay labi (bilang bayar o pautang) ta malas.

· Bawal so man-nail cutter no labi.

· Agka manasaliw na dagum na labi piyan aga milalati.

· Don't sweep the floor at night. You will drive away good luck.

· Don't sell needles at night because it is bad luck.

Little Panagsura Rituals to Avert an Impending Rain

Rain is a blessing, but it is also a curse when it falls on the chosen date of any big event, such as wedding, christening, or anything that requires a major gathering of relatives, friends, and the community.

If a big event is threatened by an impending rain, locals resort to these simple counter-spell strategies (panagsura rituals) on the day before the major activity:

Hang outside the shirt that you will be wearing to the occasion, or

Wave a broom or broomstick at the sky, and/or

Offer raw eggs to saints on the altar.

Another panagsura ritual to forestall the bad weather (such as an impending thunderstorm) is performed on the big day itself:

Burn cloth (any used cloth, for example) and shake the burning cloth under the floor of the house.

Yet another ritual that residents in Hermoza routinely do to dissuade, as it were, the impending rain from falling on their parade is as follows:

Once it rains while everyone is inside the house, draw a sun on a piece of paper, have it colored, and show the drawing to the sky.

6. But before it rains, draw a picture of the sun right on the soil.
Draw

Other Beliefs and Practices Related to Rain, Thunder, and Lightning

When there is thunder, do not wear red, or lightning might strike you.

Kung kumikidlat, magwilig ng suka sa mga bintana at pinto.

Maglagay ng palaspas sa pintuan o bintana para pangontra sa kidlat.

Pag kumukulog, huwag maingay dahil naglalaro ng bowling si San Pedro.

Manames ka ed perprimiron oran na Mayo pian arawi kad sakit. (Maligo sa pinakaunang ulan sa Mayo upang malayo ka sa sakit.)

If the day is hot or humid and you want it to rain, give your cat a bath.

Huwag gumamit ng payong na kulay pula o may patusok na bakal sa tuktok baka makidlatan.

Takpan ang mga salamin pag kumukulog at/o kumikidlat dahil tinatamaan ng kidlat ang salamin.

Make the sign of the cross and say, "Jesus, Maria, Joseph," whenever there's heavy rain, lightning and thunder as protection.

Business Enterprise

Gumamit ng orinola na lalagyan ng mga bayad ng mga bumibili sa tindahan para swerte.

Sources: Joey Ferrer, Melchor Orpilla, Danny Sagun, Resty Odon, Valentine Garcia, Vernaliza M. Ferrer, Luz B. Cayabyab, Bernabe I. Mercado, Dennis Flores, Sharlene Gravidez-Gonzales, Clarita F. Tagab, Macario Garcia III, John Marc Flores, Perfecto Beltran, Carmencita Pacis

Notes:

A separate article expounds on local beliefs and rituals surrounding death.

Another article discusses the belief called "salachado" (salatsado?), a belief regarding birth order of one's children. It seems peculiar to Pangasinenses.

 

Reference:

 

Filipino Building Beliefs by Architect Ernesto R. Zarate url: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-sca/architecture-and-allied-arts-2/filipino-building-beliefs/