Juan Osong

 Pages are blank because the translator got harassed by a Canadian man, posting the translator's underaged photos online.

Santigwar

 In the Bicol region of the Philippines, the term "santiguar" refers to a traditional practice deeply rooted in indigenous beliefs and Spanish influence, often associated with the term "ipapatawas." This ritual is a form of faith healing aimed at diagnosing and curing ailments believed to be caused by unseen beings or spirits.

The word "santiguar" comes from the Spanish term meaning "to bless" or "to make the sign of the cross." It has been adapted into Bicolano culture to describe at least two distinct practices of talado (divination). These practices are typically embedded within larger healing rituals, which aim to identify the supernatural causes of an illness and to offer remedies to the afflicted person.

Two Forms of Santiguar:

1. Egg Divination: In this form, the healer begins by offering prayers and invoking guiding spirits. The ritual involves an inverted latok (wooden plate) or an old white pinggan (porcelain plate), upon which an egg is made to balance on its end. This delicate balance is sometimes aided by an old coin placed under the edge of the plate. As the healer silently utters various possible causes of the illness, the moment the egg balances is taken as an indication of the correct cause. To further confirm this, the egg is cracked open into a glass of water, and the healer reads the formation and consistency of the egg's contents. This reading helps determine the specific steps required to heal the person or appease the offended spirits.

2. Lambon Ritual: The second form of santiguar involves the use of a lambon, a shroud that covers the sick person. The individual extends a hand out from beneath the lambon, and if the illness is believed to be due to a spirit dwelling within the person, the healer presses a key or other pointed object into the tip of the forefinger (tammudo). During this process, the healer engages in a dialog with the spirit, which is believed to speak through the person covered by the lambon. Following this interaction, the healer administers the necessary remedies to expel the spirit or cure the illness.

Santiguar is more than just a healing practice; it is a reflection of the Bicolanos' deep connection to both their indigenous roots and the Spanish colonial influences that have shaped their spiritual practices. It embodies the community's respect for the unseen forces and the belief that harmony must be maintained with the spirit world to ensure good health and well-being.

In modern times, while some may view these practices as mere superstition, they continue to play a significant role in the cultural and spiritual life of many in the Bicol region, preserving a link to the past and offering comfort and hope to those in need of healing.

Si Bulusan nan Si Aguingay

 Aguingay, or Agingay, is a legendary figure from the folklore of Bulusan, Sorsogon, known for her beauty and fair skin. She is a central character in the epic tale Si Bulusan nan Si Aguingay, which tells the story of love, tragedy, and conflict between her and her beloved, Bulusan. This tale is believed to have been passed down long before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, making it an important part of the region’s pre-colonial heritage.

Aguingay was born into a powerful neighboring tribe and was admired from a young age for her grace and striking beauty. Her fate was intertwined with Bulusan, the brave son of a great warrior, to whom she was betrothed. Together, they formed a legendary bond, and Bulusan’s bravery became so well-known that the town was later named after him, symbolizing his heroism and their destined love.

Long ago, in the ancient land of Bulusan in Sorsogon, there lived a brave and handsome warrior named Bulusan, who had just wed the beautiful and kind Agingay. The couple lived happily beneath the towering shadow of a mighty volcano. However, unknown to them, an evil force lurked in the form of Casiguran, the envious son of Apu Juban, the respected village chieftain. Though Casiguran already had a loyal and loving wife, Irosin, his heart burned with jealousy toward Bulusan, wishing to take Agingay for himself.

When Apu Juban passed away of natural causes, Casiguran saw his chance to destroy Bulusan. Driven by envy, he falsely accused Bulusan of murdering his father. To make his lie believable, he threatened and bribed the village soothsayer, Putiao, to bear false witness against Bulusan. Under this false testimony, Bulusan was brought before the village elders, the Gurang Donsol, Gurang Matnog, and Gurang Bacon. In their judgment, they sentenced him to be fed to the fearsome Mampak, a giant, man-eating bird that terrorized the village.

Despite Agingay’s tearful pleas, Casiguran’s heart remained as cold as stone. With no mercy, Bulusan was taken to the summit of the volcano, where the Mampak devoured him, leaving nothing but sorrow behind. But Casiguran’s hatred was far from satisfied. He ordered that once Agingay bore Bulusan's child, the newborn would be cast into the fiery heart of the volcano, ensuring no trace of Bulusan's legacy would remain.

Terrified and grief-stricken, Agingay climbed the volcano, her newborn son cradled in her arms, following Casiguran’s cruel command. Meanwhile, Irosin, who had long seen through her husband’s wickedness, confronted Casiguran, but he only sneered at her defiance. As guilt consumed Putiao, he confessed his false testimony to the village elders. Shocked and enraged by Casiguran's treachery, the elders, along with Irosin and the villagers, rushed to the volcano to save Agingay and her child.

Bulusan nan Si Aguingay

On the way, they discovered the lifeless body of Putiao, brutally slain by Casiguran's minions to silence him forever. When they reached the volcano’s crater, they found Agingay lying lifeless, her heart shattered by grief. She had taken her own life after casting her infant son into the fiery depths, unable to bear the weight of her sorrow. Casiguran, hiding nearby, was seized by the furious villagers and was thrown into the same fiery crater where he had condemned Bulusan and his son.

With heavy hearts, the villagers carried Agingay's lifeless body down the slopes of the volcano. Their tears, mixed with the blood of Bulusan and the sorrow of Agingay, flowed down the mountainside, forming two beautiful lakes. These lakes, born of tragedy and love, became known as Lake Bulusan and Lake Agingay. The mighty volcano, which had witnessed both the love and sorrow of Bulusan and Agingay, was forever called Mt. Bulusan

Early Years

Aguingay was born into a powerful tribe neighboring Bulusan’s village. From a young age, she was renowned for her beauty, her fair complexion, and her graceful demeanor. It was said that her beauty was so striking that her fate was sealed early on—she was betrothed to Bulusan, the son of a great warrior. Bulusan was known for his bravery and strength, and together, they formed a bond destined to become legendary in their village. In time, Bulusan's name would be immortalized as the name of the town, a symbol of his heroism and their fated connection.

The Mampak Bird

During Aguingay’s time, a terrible threat loomed over Bulusan in the form of the Mampak, a giant, monstrous bird that terrorized the region. The Mampak, with its massive wings and deadly talons, wreaked havoc on the village, killing countless tribesmen and leaving destruction in its wake. Just before Bulusan and Aguingay were to be married, the Mampak attacked the northern tribes, spreading terror.

When the giant bird approached Bulusan’s village, Casiguran, a rival chieftain from the western tribes, led a group of warriors to aid Bulusan and his people. In a fierce battle, the tribes united to fight the Mampak, ultimately mobbing and killing the beast. It is believed that they dragged the creature’s enormous body to the sea, where they cast it into the waters, sealing its doom. The villagers held this moment as a victory, and many places around Bulusan gained their names from the struggle against the Mampak. For instance, the town of Barcelona, Sorsogon, is said to be named "Tagdon," meaning "landing," where the Mampak first touched down. Other nearby places, such as Layog ("flight"), are linked to the bird’s desperate attempts to escape its pursuers. Some stories claim that the blood of the wounded Mampak formed Bulusan Lake when it finally fell at the foot of the mountain, while the nearby island of San Bernardino is said to be the final resting place of the creature's remains.

Casiguran’s Jealousy

After the defeat of the Mampak, Casiguran, emboldened by his role in the battle, claimed that his tribe was responsible for slaying the beast. Driven by pride and jealousy, he demanded Aguingay’s hand in marriage as a reward. However, Bulusan fiercely protested, for Aguingay was promised to him. Casiguran, unwilling to accept defeat, challenged Bulusan to a duel to settle the matter.

The two warriors met at noon on the battlefield of Punta Tawog. The clash was intense, but in the end, Bulusan emerged victorious. Casiguran and his men were defeated and forced to retreat to the western lands. With his victory, Bulusan was hailed as a hero, the warrior who saved the village from both the Mampak and his envious rival. He and Aguingay were finally free to be together, and their union was celebrated throughout the region.

Tragedy Strikes

However, their happiness was short-lived. A village princess named Dayang Buhang, driven by her own desire for Bulusan, sought to steal him away from Aguingay. Dayang Buhang’s infatuation turned into obsession, and when she learned that Bulusan and Aguingay were to be married, she was consumed with jealousy. Determined to claim Bulusan for herself, she plotted to destroy the couple’s happiness.

Fearful of Dayang Buhang’s wrath, Bulusan and Aguingay fled to the dense forests, hoping to escape her vengeance. But the princess, enraged by their defiance, sent her soldiers to track them down. Her orders were clear: capture Bulusan and kill Aguingay if necessary.

In a final, fateful confrontation, the soldiers found Bulusan and Aguingay deep in the forest. A fierce battle ensued, but the couple, outnumbered and desperate, fought valiantly. Tragically, both Bulusan and Aguingay were killed in the struggle, their love story ending in bloodshed. Upon hearing the news of their deaths, Dayang Buhang was stricken with guilt and sorrow. She ordered her men to give them a majestic burial, constructing their tombs high on the slopes of the mountain, so that all who passed could see and remember them. Thus, the legend of the two mountains was born, with the mountains symbolizing Bulusan and Aguingay's eternal love and tragic fate.

Reynaldo T. Jamoralin's Version

In another version of the story, retold by Reynaldo T. Jamoralin, the rivalry between Bulusan and Casiguran takes a darker turn. In this telling, after Apu Juban, Casiguran's father, dies, Casiguran falsely accuses Bulusan of murder, driven by jealousy and a desire to claim Aguingay for himself. Through manipulation and treachery, Casiguran has Bulusan sentenced to death by the giant Mampak bird, a creature that regularly terrorizes the village. Bulusan is devoured, and Casiguran, not content with Bulusan’s death, orders Agingay to throw their newborn child into the mouth of the volcano.

Overcome by grief and fear, Agingay complies, but in the end, unable to bear the loss, she takes her own life at the volcano’s edge. In a final act of justice, the villagers, enraged by Casiguran's cruelty, throw him into the fiery crater of the volcano. Their tears of sorrow and regret mix with the blood of Bulusan and Agingay, forming the two lakes that now sit quietly on the mountain’s slopes—Lake Bulusan and Lake Agingay.

Si Bulusan nan Si Aguingay Festival

In modern times, the tale of Si Bulusan nan Si Aguingay continues to live on through an annual festival held in the town of Bulusan. The festival takes place the day before the town’s fiesta on July 25, the feast day of St. James the Greater. During the celebration, the epic story is reenacted through a colorful parade and street dances, with participants dressed in traditional costumes, portraying the characters from the legend. The festival is a vibrant display of local culture, preserving the memory of Bulusan and Aguingay for future generations.

YASAW

VISAYAN GODS, BICOLANO MONSTERS

In the old days the Bicolano and the Visayans had some conflict because most of the Visayans practised raiding by sea and by land . They also raided and attacked Ibalong, the fierce Visayan raiders clad in gold and tattooed. Before alliances by marriage and trading the Ibalong and the Visayan colonies were at discord. The people of Ibalong viewd the Visayans to be evil and worshipped demon gods. These gods were intertwined in the Bicolano mythology as their gods were interwoven into the Visayan mythology.