![]() ![]() ![]() People accused of black magic were often subject to ostracization and in many cases, violence. In most cases however, accusations of this type of black magic are often borne out of paranoia, moral panic, or mass hysteria against disliked or mistrusted members of the community, similar to the European witch-hunts. ![]() Some of these purportedly sorcerous powers may be explained by the use of poisons ( hilo or lason) and sleight of hand. These include the ability to kill another person instantly with magic spells, the ability to cast curses or the evil eye, the ability to "abduct" a person's soul, or the ability to send evil spirits or familiar animals to possess or harm the victim. This type of sorcery was documented as early as the 17th century by Francisco Combés. For example, adding seawater to a boiling pot "linked" to a victim is said to cause the victim's belly to swell and ache in time with the tides. In some instances, the ingredients of the ritual themselves determine the effects. The sorcerer then either harms the effigy to cause corresponding harm to the victim, or physically "sends" objects into the victim's body (which can range from insects, stones, to pins). These are activated by chants, spells, or symbols (sometimes syncretized with Christian or Muslim rituals). These are usually "linked" by including bodily exuviae like hair or nail clippings. This type of sorcery uses beetles, effigies, poppets, a boiling pot or some other type of representation of the target victim. Despite the differences in terminology, the methods are almost identical across the Philippine islands (and indeed, across Southeast Asia). This is known by various names like kulam, gaway (Tagalog) barang, hiwit, lágà (Visayan) tanem, tamay (Ilocano) and pantak ( Moro). One of the most common kinds of black magic is a malevolent use of sympathetic magic. The latter type of sorcerers are often conflated with the evil supernatural beings capable of appearing human, like aswang and manananggal. Unlike healers, they do not consider the justice of their actions. There are also "true" sorcerers who are said to have hereditary sorcerous powers. Their targets are usually "wrongdoers" like thieves, adulterous spouses, or land grabbers. Healer-sorcerers who practice this kind of sorcery usually justify it as a form of criminal punishment, as a widespread belief is that black magic does not work on people who are innocent. Visayan: barang, hiwit, lágà, haplit, paktol, anyawįilipino witches are believed to have powers that cause harm to other people covertly. ![]() Terminology Įach ethnic group in the Philippines has their own terms for witches. Witchcraft also exists in many of the hinterlands, especially in Samar and Leyte, however, witchcraft is known and occurs anywhere in the Philippines. Today, practices are said to be centered in Siquijor, Cebu, Davao, Talalora, Western Samar, and Sorsogon, where many of the country's faith healers reside. Witchcraft has been present throughout the Philippines even before Spanish colonization. įilipino witches practice a kind of black magic, specifically a malevolent use of sympathetic magic, which is associated with Indigenous Philippine religions. The curses and other magics of witches are often blocked, countered, cured, or lifted by Filipino shamans associated with the indigenous Philippine folk religions. They are completely different from the Western notion of what a witch is, as each ethnic group has their own definition and practices attributed to witches. They include a variety of different kinds of people with differing occupations and cultural connotations which depend on the ethnic group they are associated with. Filipino witches are the users of black magic and related practices from the Philippines. ![]()
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