Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions

442 Pages·2010·19.17 MB·English

by  Virgil Mayor Apostol

eISBN: 978-1-58394597-1
Copyright © 2010 by Virgil Mayor Apostol. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except
for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the
written permission of the publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books.
Published by
North Atlantic Books
P.O. Box 12327
Berkeley, California 94712
Cover photo from the Filipinas Heritage Library Photo Collection
Cover design by Suzanne Albertson
Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions is sponsored by
the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a nonprofit educational corporation whose
goals are to develop an educational and cross-cultural perspective linking various scientific,
social, and artistic fields; to nurture a holistic view of arts, sciences, humanities, and healing; and
to publish and distribute literature on the relationship of mind, body, and nature.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:
Apostol, Virgil Mayor, 1964–
Way of the ancient healer: sacred teachings from the Philippine ancestral traditions / Virgil
Mayor Apostol.
p.; cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Mental healing—Philippines. 2. Spiritual healing—Philippines. 3. Shamanism—Philippines. I.
Title.
[DNLM: 1. Spiritual Therapies—Philippines. 2. Medicine, Traditional—Philippines.
WB 885 A645W 2010]
RZ400.A787 2010
615.8’5209599—dc22
2010000640
v3.1
To our ancestors whose past has created our future.
To all my teachers whose knowledge and wisdom helped shape the core
of my being.
To my children Vance Austin, Cyril James, Christina Joy, and Caylina
Joy who carry in them the blood of our ancestors and descendants … my
lineage that carries our family and cultural traditions.
Acknowledgments
nspiration and influence on my research came to me through various
I
individuals. They are listed below in no particular order. Others are
named throughout the text.
My parents, Vidal Santos Apostol, Sr., (1912–2005) and Anselma
Miguel Mayor, as well as Uncle Aurelio “Dinong” Miguel Mayor (1923–
2009), Uncle Proceso “Siso” Miguel Mayor, Sr., and Auntie Christeta
“Titay” Miguel Mayor Pablo, have helped in the preservation of
traditional healing and folk practices by sharing their knowledge. Uncle
Siso provided numerous stories and experiences relating to Ilokano and
amianan (northern) culture and folklore and scrutinized the Iluko
terminology and contents of the manuscript.
My brief but meaningful meeting with Hollywood screenwriter and
script analyst, the late John Sherlock, gave me the opportunity to have
him review my work and provide me with invaluable direction on my
writing style. His statement in a letter that followed, “It’s an important
book, one we need,” gave me the inspiration and courage to reveal my
teachings and inner thoughts.
Filipinas Heritage Library and Gameng Museo Ilocos Norte both
provided archive photos.
Benjamin Rodriguez Abiog, Jr., of KülEye Productions meticulously
worked for hours with photo enhancement.
Jessica Bryan, freelance editor and author of Psychic Surgery and Faith
Healing: An Exploration of Multi-Dimensional Realities, Indigenous Healing,
and Medical Miracles in the Philippine Lowlands, edited the manuscript
during its prepublishing phase.
An important ally throughout my years of writing and research is Lane
Wilcken, author of the book, Filipino Tattoos: Ancient to Modern (Schiffer
Publishing, 2010), who has been there to exchange thoughts and ideas
and share his wisdom on many different levels.
And finally to everyone who participated toward the success of this
book by contributing their knowledge and wisdom, or allowed the use of
personal photos, I am forever grateful to you all.
Araraw
O, Apo a Namarsua a Mannakabalin-Amin
A nagtaudan ti espiritual nga angesko
Manen immayak iti daytoy a lubong
Tapno maammuak ti naindaklan a pinarsuam
Ken tapno kenka mangted iti panagyaman
Gapu iti naruay a bendisionmo.
Sapay ta iti kaaddak ditoy daga
Ket agbalin nga instrumento ti lawagmo.
Sapay ta dagiti amin a yad-adalko
Ket mangted iti lawag
Kadagiti agbirbirok iti adal ken laing.
Sapay ta ti bileg nga intedmo kaniak
Ket sagidenda dagiti makasapul iti panagsagidmo.
Ket iti daytoy a biag,
Ayudaannak iti pagturongak
Ta siaammoak a sinaysayaatko
Ti panangasikasok iti bagi
Ken iti amin a pannakilangenlangenko.
Parteak ti naindaklan a pinarsuam.
Ti espiritual nga angesko ket agsublinto kenka.
Invocation
Oh, Great Creator and Most Powerful of All From whom my spiritual
breath comes Once again, I have come into this world To learn of your
great creation and to Give gratitude for your bountiful blessings.
May my presence on earth
Be a channel of your light.
May all my teachings enlighten those Seeking knowledge and wisdom.
May the power bestowed upon me
Touch those who need your healing touch.
And in this lifetime,
Please guide me to my destiny,
Knowing that I have done well
For myself and all my relations.
I am part of your great creation.
My spiritual breath will return to you.
Virgil Mayor Apostol
Kalihi Uka, Honolulu, Hawai’i, 2007
(Translated into Iluko by Aurelio Solver Agcaoili, PhD)
Blade presented to Virgil Mayor Apostol on January 16, 2003, by T. David Reyes (friend
and associate) to continue the healing traditions for which this blade was used and set
forth by the original owner, Fidel Sacs (Filipino national, World War II guerrilla fighter,
member of Caballeros de Dimas-Alang, and healer).
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
LIST OF COLOR PLATES
PREFACE
Introduction:
ANCESTRAL JOURNEY INTO THE FUTURE
The Gift of Healing Revealed
No Doctor in the House
In My Blood
The Archipelago’s Early Names
Animism and Spirit of a People
The Challenge in Categorizing Animistic and Healing Practices
Spirit Mediums and Shaman Priests
Chapter One:
ORIGINS OF FILIPINO ANCESTRAL HEALING
Tracing the Roots
Further Migration into the Archipelago
Austronesian Roots and Indigenization
World Influences in Southeast Asia
Indian
Islamic
Chinese
Japanese
Spanish
American