Rituals on the Ancestral Land

Fluid Gold Journal extends our deep gratitude to the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO) for granting us permission to share and publish two of their rituals. The following rituals have been translated from the ATI Community local dialect.

Our culture in the past was rich in numerous rituals. While we still teach our children about the various types of rituals, the process of performing them is no longer passed down. Due to the influence of Catholicsm and the establishment of the church, it is now rare to find medicine people, healers, or shamans, and many rituals are no longer practiced. A shaman is considered more powerful than a healer. Many of the shamans from earlier times have passed away, and only one healer, Tay Johnny, remains. As a result, we now seek the help of a shaman from a different province and also go to the hospital when we are sick. Despite this, we still believe in the value of our rituals, as they have the power to save lives and cure illnesses that Western medicine cannot.

Palubad
This ritual is conducted to determine if supernatural entities reside on the land. A hole is dug to plant a coconut seed. After three days, the hole is re-excavated to inspect the seed. If the coconut shakes, it indicates a negative presence on the land. If it remains still, the land is deemed safe for use and settlement.

Sanag
This ritual is for a newly constructed house. The father of the house or head of the household will conduct the ritual where the house will be built using stone or money. Plant the coins along the perimeter of the house in order to buy the land from supernatural entities.