SUPERSTITIONS abound in the folklore of Minalin, the remote town of about 30,000 God-fearing and peace-loving people with 20/20 vision. Minalin is also the place where a cross-eyed person could hardly be found and where Macky Pangan lost the silver spoon he was born with. In clinging to their superstitions, Macky’s town mates are as zealous as a gypsy with a crystal ball to gaze in. Even then, however, no one among them could tell what lies ahead. Hazarding a guess is the name of the game they played.
They start their guesswork on January 1, every year, immediately after the celebration of the Aguman Sandok. Thereafter, they watch the weather, if the rains fall on the ninth day, they will tell one another that the Siam-Siam (Nine days rains) will be in September, and if the migrating swallows from Capistrano, fly low, they will agree among themselves that the continuous rains in the ninth month will bring in the floods.
Some superstitions of Macky’s town mates relate to being lucky or unlucky. If the Sabungeros go to a cock fight and saw a Barag (Big lizard) coming their way, then they will turn back home. Barags are a sign of bad luck. Likewise, if they forget to bring a certain fighting cock or even money, they will not turn around to fetch it. Turning back is also a bad luck sign.
Other superstitions relate to bird songs and paying a visit. If the Tarat birds begin to sing tararatjinpotpot, then they will say the San Nicolas feast is going or over. And, if someone happen to drop by a friend’s house at lunchtime, then he will be forced to eat with the friend’s family, and if the visitor is in a hurry to leave, then they turn the plates around for him to avoid meeting an accident along the road.
Still other superstitions relate to a domesticated animal. If someone happened to see a black cat crossing his pathway, then he might as well not proceed to his destination. Black cats bring bad luck too. Otherwise, if the animal crossing the street is a pet dog, then that somebody will be lucky all day long. Dogs are good luck charms to Kapampangan for their being “Dugong Aso.”
All told, the Minalenos remain strong with their faith in Jesus who is their Lord and Savior. Stand-outs among these God-fearing and peace-loving people are Inquirer newshen Tonnete Orejas, and Architect Normandy Canlas and of course, Mayor Edgar Flores who keeps running the municipal government the way it should be ran.