AN ARTIST in Bacolod City has offered a babaylan ritual to ward off the “evil spirits” believed to be influencing the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Louis Dormido, associated with the Black Artist in Asia, is a known practitioner of the Babaylan ritual.
He offered a ritual recently to induce healing of the sick and defeat the severe health condition caused by Covid-19.
Many people have endured and died due to Covid-19, including other health conditions. And for almost two years now, Covid-19 has continued to plague the community, nation and world, weakening people's health and the economy, he said.
Babaylan is a Visayan term referring to an indigenous Filipino religious leader who usually functions as a healer.
A babaylan ritual was a pre-hispanic and pre-colonial Filipino practice specializing in harnessing the unlimited powers of nature, which can help heal the sick, heal the wounded, ensure a safe pregnancy and childbirth and likewise pray for a good harvest with offerings to the various gods.
A babaylan, by practice, used herb lore to create remedies, antidotes and potions from various roots and seeds to treat the sick and perform it for good and ill intentions.
Dormido was among those who have developed a babaylan belief as he has experienced its intangible benefits.
"Nature has its unlimited power of healing the mind and spirit. Go to the forest and allow nature to permeate your mind. The supernatural powers of nature will typically give you serenity and healing," he said.
Dormido has a healing ministry where he helps heal some individuals suffering from stomach aches and other minor health conditions, using the power of touch.
Dormido began his appreciation of the Babaylan practice in the 1970s, where he and his fellows researched Philippine folklore and folk songs.
In his research, he read about Negrense hero Papa Isio [Dionisio Magbuela], a former Babaylanes leader in Negros who fought for freedom from the Spanish colonizers in 1896, and served as a former military chief of La Castellana, under the Cantonal Government of Negros in November 1898.
He likewise fought the American colonizers from 1899 to 1907, surrendered on August 6, 1907, and died at the Manila Bilibid Prison in 1911.
Dormido said he got his inspiration from practicing the babaylan ritual from the influence of Papa Isio. Likewise, the culture and tradition of the Filipinos way back when Christianity had not yet set foot in the Philippines archipelago.
He implores the High Heavens and to the power of nature to ward off the ills of Covid-19 and let the community and nation recover from its health risk.