Cordova, Patrisha – Ivana

2009 – 29294

The talk that I’ve attended was that of Professor Odal Devora, this encompassed the
dance traditions and symbolisms used by groups of people belonging to different cultures. It
focused on the Philippine context of babaylans who are said to be the first dance instructors of
human civilizations. From previous history classes, I’ve learned that the babaylan is an
indigenous Filipino leader who functions as a healer, a shaman and a spiritual vessel of gods and
goddesses alike. Although the role of babaylan is open to both sexes, most babaylans are of the
female sex. The concept of babaylan could be traced way back the Spanish colonization. In fact
we can trace its concept to the ancestral beliefs and practices of Philippine tribes and ethnic
groups.

Initially I was hesitant to attend the forum because I have little interest on the subject
matter. For me, dance practices have no evident relevance to the way our societies work and
function today. Also, I do not know the speaker personally that’s why I did not know what to
expect. But as the talk progressed, I’ve come to realize that there is something magical about
unlocking certain things of the past. By studying the ancient dance traditions and images, we can
understand more of the present and we can justify some of the things that are hazy or confusing.
Much as we would like to pretend that we know a lot about the past, I am sure that only a few
people would dare to dig deeper. Prof. Odal Devora’s passion for ancient dance and beliefs are
very much evident as she was able to share the things she has learned about the said topic. Her
knowledge of the subject was indisputable.

From the talk, I’ve learned that different societies make use of various signs and
markings to express their beliefs. I’ve also found out that babaylans played an important role in
the lives of Filipinos, pre-Hispanic era. Moreover, unlike present day priests and monks,
babaylans play an important role in maintaining the overall state of the community. The high
regard for women is observed by their dedication to Mother goddess. In ancient times, dance
rituals are performed with the aim of becoming one with god and experiencing certain magical
things like the shaking of the Earth and floating in the sky. According to her, different dance
traditions across the world serve as a crossover between the modern society and the past, and that
different gods could express themselves in whatever form they prefer to be. In the thesis that she
presented, it was stated that South East Asian countries like the Philippines are hotspots for
shaman beliefs. Usually shamans are used to serve as messengers or decoders of the gods, and
their spirituality is often concealed by their commitment to prevent the commercialization of
their acts.

Though I find it hard to believe that babaylans or shaman can actually heal and commune
with gods, I find it interesting to know that some people ardently believes in them. Although I
was not ale to grasp much of the facts presented, I can honestly say that I learned a lot from the
talk. Moreover I realized that, it is important for us to know how to accept each other’s beliefs
without any form of discrimination and that we should learn to accept and understand our past.