(Top Bicolano Superstitions)

Bicol has a dazzling array of ingenious beliefs and traditions alongside its colorful and brilliant history. Below is the list of some Bicolano unique features which you may have heard of or you have seen being practiced right now in your town especially by the elders as sighted by Danilo Borjal(1967) in his essay Bikol Superstitions. See if you are still bound by them!

Magarao- If a child strikes an elder, his hand will shrivel up.

Minalabac- If a child answers back his parents; he will be unable to speak unless the spirit that punished him forgives him for the misdeed.

San Miguel Bay- It is bad to point at scenic spots when riding on a boat because the spirits of that place may get mad and drown the passengers (if the boat is small and everyone points at things naturally, there will be excitement and thus much movement on the part of the passengers which might cause the boat to capsize.

Naga- If a child goes near the side of the river, the spirits, may push him into the water to drown him; Cutting fingernails at night will bring you bad luck; Whistling at night will cause the death of one member of the family; Before you throw rocks at night, you must say “Tabi po” lest you hit or offend a spirit.

Goa- If a farmer sharpens his bolo at night, he will find his palay eaten by rats in the morning.

Pili- If the skull of some dead relative is placed in a box near the door and a stick is placed on top of the box, the stick will move by itself and whip anyone who has the intention of robbing the house.

Daet- If you make fun of the skull, the spirit of it will find the way to frighten you.

Camarines Norte- If the skull is burries separately from the body, the corresponding soul will not have tranquility.

Sipocot- On the wife’s death anniversary, the husband drinks wine from her skull.

Buhi- Before cutting a tree, you should have first your axe lean on the trunk overnight. If you find the axe on the same position as before, the spirits want the tree cut, but if you find the axe has been moved, the spirits forbid the cutting of the tree.

Polangui- If you are lost in the forest, you invert your clothes and you will find your way out.

Marriage Superstitions

Pili-before entering the house of the couple, they must first take ateaspoon of sugar so that their love for each other will remain.

-If you are being wed to your wife-to-be, you must step on her weddinggown in order to make sure that you will have complete authority overyour bride.

Minalabac- after the wedding ceremonies, the one who steps out of the church first will very likely to dominate the other.

Iriga- whenever a woman is still eating, do not pile the dishes because that woman will have more than one husband.

Goa- when a snake comes to you after your marriage, you will be lucky.

Health Superstitions

Camarines Norte- to kiss the feet of the baby will result in the baby’s habit to answering back the parents when he grows up.

Goa-before placing the dead man into the sepulcher, people believe if theytouch the corpse, they will be immune to physical sickness.

Labo, Camarines Norte- one who has played with spirits will remain feeble-minded or a lunatic forever.

Naga City- to sleep with your hair wet will result o insanity.

Camaligan- cure your wounds so that the food you have eaten will not pass through them.

Burial Superstitions

Cabusao- if a dead person’s coffin is too big for him, it is believed that one member of the family will die next.

Magarao-when the coffin carrying the dead person near the cemetery, the coffinbecomes heavier, that means that spirits are riding on the coffin.

Amulets Superstitions

Tinambac-the clothe used in lowering the “angel” during the allelujah rites isgood to be worn by a pregnant mother for she will suffer less painduring her labor.

Buhi- the cut umbilical cord of a newly-born baby is wrapped and hung at the door or at the window to lengthen the life of a baby.

To be continued…