Albularyo
Encyclopedia
Albularyo sometimes spelled albulario, is a Tagalog
term for a folk healer or medicine men.
.
Alternative Tagalog names include Hilot (/hee-lot/), which literally means massage in Tagalog and Manggagamot (/mang-gâ-gâ-môt/) (trans. - "person who heals")
Manggagawa (/mang-gâ-gâ-wâ/)(trans. - "person who makes") -- a term found in both the Tagalog and Bisaya
languages—is also used, particularly in regions in the Visayas
(although this term has other connotations not found in the word albularyo).
Arbularyo, another variation of the word albularyo, is a misspelling often brought about by mispronunciation and is technically incorrect.
, a shamanic spiritual leader of the community.
On the onset of the Colonial era, the suppression of the Babaylans and the native Filipino pagan religion gave rise to the albularyo. By exchanging the native pagan prayers and spells with Catholic oraciones and Christian prayers, the albularyo was able to syncretize the ancient mode of healing with the new religion.
As time progressed, the albularyo became a more prominent figure in most rural areas in the Philippines. Lacking access to scientific medical practices, rural Filipinos trusted the albularyos to rid them of common (and sometimes believed to be supernatural) sicknesses and diseases.
However, the albularyo's role was slowly shadowed with the rise of modern medical facilities. Urbanization gave the masses access to more scientific treatments, exchanging the chants and herbs of the albularyos with the newer technologies offered by the medical field.
Still, albularyos flourish in many rural areas in the Philippines where medical facilities are still expensive and sometimes inaccessible.
, coconut oil, and other substances in their healing practices. In many cases, albularyos will also employ various prayers, chants and "supernatural" cures—especially for cases involving supernatural causes.
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Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
term for a folk healer or medicine men.
Etymology and Alternative Names
The word arbularyo derives from herbolario, a Spanish word meaning herbalistHerbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
.
Alternative Tagalog names include Hilot (/hee-lot/), which literally means massage in Tagalog and Manggagamot (/mang-gâ-gâ-môt/) (trans. - "person who heals")
Manggagawa (/mang-gâ-gâ-wâ/)(trans. - "person who makes") -- a term found in both the Tagalog and Bisaya
Bisaya
The Visayans are a Filipino ethnic group whose members are speakers of one or more Visayan languages, the most widely spoken being Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Waray-Waray. They live in the Visayan island group and in many parts of Mindanao. Some have migrated to other parts of the Philippines,...
languages—is also used, particularly in regions in the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
(although this term has other connotations not found in the word albularyo).
Arbularyo, another variation of the word albularyo, is a misspelling often brought about by mispronunciation and is technically incorrect.
The Albularyo in History
During the Pre-Hispanic periods, the function of an albularyo was part of the functions of a BabaylanBabaylan
Babaylan is a Visayan term identifying an indigenous Filipino religious leader, who functions as a healer, a shaman, a seer and a community "miracle-worker"...
, a shamanic spiritual leader of the community.
On the onset of the Colonial era, the suppression of the Babaylans and the native Filipino pagan religion gave rise to the albularyo. By exchanging the native pagan prayers and spells with Catholic oraciones and Christian prayers, the albularyo was able to syncretize the ancient mode of healing with the new religion.
As time progressed, the albularyo became a more prominent figure in most rural areas in the Philippines. Lacking access to scientific medical practices, rural Filipinos trusted the albularyos to rid them of common (and sometimes believed to be supernatural) sicknesses and diseases.
However, the albularyo's role was slowly shadowed with the rise of modern medical facilities. Urbanization gave the masses access to more scientific treatments, exchanging the chants and herbs of the albularyos with the newer technologies offered by the medical field.
Still, albularyos flourish in many rural areas in the Philippines where medical facilities are still expensive and sometimes inaccessible.
An Albularyo's Toolkit
Most albularyos use herbs, alumAlum
Alum is both a specific chemical compound and a class of chemical compounds. The specific compound is the hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate with the formula KAl2.12H2O. The wider class of compounds known as alums have the related empirical formula, AB2.12H2O.-Chemical properties:Alums are...
, coconut oil, and other substances in their healing practices. In many cases, albularyos will also employ various prayers, chants and "supernatural" cures—especially for cases involving supernatural causes.
See also
- HilotHilotHilot is an ancient Filipino art of healing, commonly used today to relax stressed muscles. Manghihilots as well as arbularyos are usually cheaper alternatives to medical doctors in the Philippines, especially in very deep rural areas...
, the Filipino massage therapist - KulamKulamKulam is a Tagalog word meaning "hex or "curse"." Often, the same word is used as a term for witchcraft.-Usage and Related Terms:Kulam is actually a Tagalog noun which literally means bewitchment or hex....
, or Filipino witchcraft - PagtatawasPagtatawas"Pagtatawas" is a ritual in psycho-medicine in Filipino Psychology where an affliction or psychological disorder is diagnosed by interpreting the form produced in a basin of water as heated alum or molten wax drop from a lighted candle.Earlier and in some rural areas in the Philippines, alum...
, or Filipino ritual for the diagnosis of illnesses - Folk medicineFolk medicine-Description:Refers to healing practices and ideas of body physiology and health preservation known to a limited segment of the population in a culture, transmitted informally as general knowledge, and practiced or applied by anyone in the culture having prior experience.All cultures and societies...
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