A whispered diagnosis, prayers over a sick child, and leaves believed to have healing powers. For generations, the albularyo has held a place in Filipino folklore and everyday life. But what really happens during a visit, and where does traditional healing end and modern medicine begin? Read more »
An anthill, a swollen foot, and a trip to the albularyo. In Filipino folklore, disturbing a tiny elder’s home can bring mysterious illnesses, while a simple “tabi-tabi po” may help you avoid offending unseen spirits. Here’s the story behind the nuno sa punso, how it differs from the duwende, and what traditional beliefs say about usog. Read more »
It sounds like an abandoned infant crying in the dark. Here’s what the tiyanak is said to be, where the belief came from, what old folks did to break its spell, and how a grieving mother’s ghost became a movie monster. Read more »
It walks backward with its head between its legs, drinks from shadows and, in some stories, hides inside a clay jar in a wealthy family’s home. Meet the sigbin, one of the Philippines’ strangest and most unsettling creatures of folklore. Read more »
The “Gift of Life” program in Legazpi City, has drawn praise from Bishop Joel “Bong” Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi, who said the initiative could provide meaningful assistance to mothers and babies, particularly those from less fortunate families. Read more »
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Region 7’s total fertility rate fell to 1.7 children per woman, dropping below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain population growth. Read more »
