Health Services

HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN THE PHILIPPINES

          The historical backdrop of medicine or health services in the Philippines talks about the people restorative practices and medicinal applications utilized as a part of Philippine society from prehistoric times.

figure 1.1. A babaylan (holy woman)
performs healing, prayers and
sacrifices. (photo from pinterest)

          Babaylans were the first healers within the tribal communities of ancient Philippines. According to a sociologist and anthropologist a babaylan is a woman mystic who is a specialist in the fields of culture, religion, medicine and all kinds of theoretical knowledge about nature. Their primary role in the society is to cure spiritual and physical ailments. The end of the babaylan erabegan in the 16th century when the Roman Catholic religion was introduced into the country. In ancient Filipino society, the babaylans are believed to be a woman who had been possessed by a spirit, or a woman who had dreams or had encountered life-altering experiences. Despite the fact that babaylans were mostly women, there were also male babaylans, which were men taking on the appearance of ladies to have the capacity to act the part of the female babaylan.

FOLK DOCTORS

figure 1.2. photo from a blog

          

          In the rural areas, by traditions and because of chronic economic constraints, the albularyos are the general practitioners and the primary dispensers of health care. The albularyo uses plants to cure illnesses. The common fold diagnosis is that patients become sick due to supernatural illness-causers such as duwende, nuno, or a kapre. Albularyos usually include forms of prayers, such as bulong or orasyon. They claim to draw healing powers from supernatural sources.

figure 1.3. photo from an anonymous
blogger

          Manghihilot uses massaging techniques to treat sprains, fractures, and other similar conditions, including ligaments. They are folk specialists who performs massage and mending sessions. Hilot is a specialization, but in isolated rural areas, many of the albularyos have a familiarity in the use of this modality. The skills of hilots are recognized by many people, including the authorities of the Department of Health. DOH conducts training to enriched their knowledge

figure 1.4. photo from a blog

          Mangtatawas or tawas is a popular diagnostic ritual performed by most alternative healers that serves in providing clues as to the nature and cause of the illness. This traditional practitioner uses candles, egg, mirrors, plain paper, cigarette rolling paper, and alum to diagnose the cause of sickness associated by prayers and incantations. 

          Mangluluop is a specialist that determines the cause of an illness through the ritual of luop. The ritual paraphernalia consists of a freshwater or saltwater, salt, benditang palaspas, charcoal made from a coconut shell, a coconut midrib and a tin plate. After the diagnostic ritual, the shell is powdered, and with this, while praying, a sign of the cross is performed on the patient's forehead, both palms and both feet. The ritual paraphernalia are thrown under the entrance stairs to prevent the evil spirits from reentering the house.

          Mambabarang or barang can be caused by sorcery or mangkukulam and it is quite diverse and high. Mambabarang is a Filipino version of a sorcerer/sorceress.

- Zabala, Jeanella Shaine C.