Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition

By Eden K. Nasayao, PhD

At the time of a womans conception, she should avoid eating eggplant. The color of the
eggpant might be the color of the babys skin. WenceslaoAgento, 70, Talisay, Camarines
Norte.

An expectant mother should not have her picture taken or her child will die at birth.
Veracion Padilla, 64, Labo, Camarines Norte; Nina Cruz, 72, Sorsogon City.

A very close relationship between the mother and the child starts with breastfeeding.myra
Lactao, 47, Buhi, Camarines Sur; Maria Botiquin, 64, Daet, Camarines Norte.

Children get kabag when they eat camote. Parents should avoid giving this to their children
especially for supper. Irene Arcena, 68, TalisayCamarines Norte.

Babies are not to be given ice cream as they will have weak lungs. They are not to be given
any cold food. IreneArcena, 68, TalisayCamarines Norte.

At thirteen, a child can take care of his siblings and can be entrusted with money. Victoria
Aluzan, 70, Paracale, Camarines Norte.

Children, especially teen-agers, are required to be home before sunset or before chickens
start to perch on branches. Corazon Aben, 73, Talisay, Camarines Norte.

Children are taught to do household chores at seven or eight years old. They cook rice, wash
dishes and sweep the floor. Aurora Andal, 64, San Vicente. Camarines Norte.

At a very early age, the child is taught politeness with words especially when answering or
greeting parents. The child learns that because of the age gap, he has to give his parents due
respect. Yolanda Aquino, 43, Labo, Camarines Norte.

When a child does a misdemeanor in the presence of visitors, he is punished soon as the
visitors leave. Punishment may be a smacking of his buttocks. Rolando Acerado, 76, Vinzons,
Camarines Norte.

When the old and young walk together, the younger ones should walk a few steps behind
the older people. Irene Arcena, 68, Talisay, Camarines Norte.

A young ladys Sunday attire should be a skirt with a hemline below the knees. Her dress
should be sleeved and not transparent. BenedictoAmores, 73, Paracale, Camarines Norte.

A mosquito net as wedding gift brings bad luck. On the other hand, arinola will bring
prosperity. Anita Arines, 50, San Vicente, Camarines Norte; L oudesMarilos, 60, San
Fernando, Masbate.

If the coffin is custom-made, no relatives should help. Onay is not advisable because another
death in the family will follow. ZanaidaDoremdes, 62, Sorsogon City. Blesilda Muoz, 29,
Daet, Camarines Norte; Fe Lomerio, 50, Daraga, Albay.

One should not ask for anything from a person who is about to leave or who has just arrive,
because it will bring bad luck. Vicente Apelar, 60, Labo, Camarines Norte.

After a meal one should rest first. If he bathes right after eating, his belly will grow large.
Cornelia Jacinto, 44, Panganiban, Camarines Norte.

Stairs, when facing east, keeps the members of the family healthy. Vivian Baltazar, 40, Daet,
Camarines Norte.

A sick perso n will die soon if a relative buy him clothes. Dominador Cortes, 64, Paracale,
Camarines Norte.

No one should try to clean the table while others are still eating. This willbad luck to those
who still do. ErlindaBaltazar, 48, Talisay, Camarines Norte.

When one accidentally wears his clothes inside out, he is soon to receive money. Placido
Perez, 52, Masbate City; Virginia Lafuente, 55, Camarines Norte; Dominica Ables, 47, Legaspi
City.

Whether a husband comes home early or late does not matter much. What matters is that
the husband comes home. Virginia de Leon, 58, Labo, Camarines Norte.

When one gets lost in the forest, he should take-off his clothes and wear it inside out so that
the playing spirit will stop playing tricks. Brigida Roche, 62, Panganiban, Camarines Norte;
Mari Beth Azagra, 38, Legaspi City.

Lending money or paying debts should never be done in the evening or on Mondays because
his resources will start to drain. CelestinaAbando, 58, Paracale, Camarines Norte.

A woman should never mend her clothes while she is wearing it. She will find it hard to
deliver her baby when time comes. Leticia Alto, 61, Daet,Camarines Norte; Beatriz Collado,
48, Goa, Camarines Sur.

A person who sees his friends headless in his dream should drape a black cloth over his
friend the next day. LucreciaAgaton, 70, Labo, Camarines Norte

Spirits reveals themselves in dreams. They may tell you their names, intentions, or tell you
about your coming fortune. Presentacion Luna, 58, Panganiban, Camarines Norte.

An ant is seen on a sick person is a sign that he is dying. Felipe Apo, 60, Talisay, Camarines
Norte.

A person who breaks an egg and finds two yolks inside will become rich. Evelyn Sosimo, 50,
Daet, Camarines Norte; Presentation Loveno, 43, Daraga, Albay.

Santelmo is believed to be a condemned soul. It usually appears after a rain, or during a bad
weather. Lilibeth Antorjo, 49, Labo, Camarines Norte.

The ananaggal has bat-like wings. It is a beautiful woman at day, but a monster at night.
Florencio Catajan, 70, Nabua, Camarines Sur; Cecilia Paraiso, 69, Labo, Camarines Norte.

An engkanto is any enchanted creature and much like human beings, they vary in form,
attitudes, and powers we can never understand nor fathom. They inhabit our world, can see
us, but more often than not, we are unable to see and mingle with them unless they allow us
to do so. Marina Nebres,63, Camalig, Albay; Eusebio Daopan, 59, Aroroy,Masbate; Nemesia
Facundo, 55, Paracale, Camarines Norte; Ariston Pante, 66, Pandan, Catanduanes.

An engkanto is white and good looking. They vanish when they hear people curse or see
people in bright-colored clothes. Gloria Isidro, 67, Talisay, Camarines Norte.

An kapre is making its presence felt when you smell tobacco, when you hear the rustling of
the leaves even if there is no strong wind, when you hear a mans laughter, when no one is
there. Leo Carandang, 62, Bacon Sorsogon; Crispulo Ferrer, 66, Labo, Camarines Norte;
Monica Casais, Lindong, Albay.

The patiyanak is an aborted babys spirit in limbo as it cannot enter heaven. It cries for
prayers. Cecilia Paraiso, 69, Labo, Camarines Norte.

The patiyanak is an offspring of an aswang and the devil. It looks like an innocent happy
baby but when a human being gets near it, it reverts to its original form and devours the
human fast, and so viciously. Crispulo Ferrer, 69, Labo, Camarines Norte; Nenita Sayson, 41,
Ligao, Albay.

The tikbalang is a horse-like man. This tall creature has long bony limbs that are
disproportioned. When squatting, its knees are taller than its head. It has clawed feet and
long hair, with large mouth, teeth and huge testicles. Corazon Tabora, 68, Tabaco Albay;
Wenceslao Castor, 59, Bato, Catanduanes; Crispulo Ferrer, 66, Labo, Camarines Norte.

The tikbalang is a culprit behind people who get lost in the woods or in the forest. When
tikbalang misleads people in the forest, they are, more often than not, not found again.
Crispulo Ferrer, 66, Labo, Camarines Norte; Ronaldo de Leoz, 78, Pilar, Sorsogon.

Source: Nasayao, Eden K., Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition, 2010,
Hablong Dawani Publishing House.