Current Beliefs in Malolos, Bulacan: Difference between revisions

Manila

November 12, 1924.

LOCAL BELIEFS IN MY TOWN, MALOLOS, BULAKAN

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Most of our people thought that when it rains on all Saint’s Day, there would be a good harvest of the season.

When there is an eclipse of the moon, the people pay close attention observing it because of their four that some great disaster is most likely to occur.

The extraordinary appearance of planets, for example, a comet— almost all the people are fearful of the coming pestilence, or epidemic. Sometimes, they return praying the whole night for the prevention of the coming pestilence.

It is also believed that when one is sleeping, the rays of the moon must not be allowed to shine or fall on his face because he is subject to contracting cold. However, according to some authority, this belief is scientifically true.

In connection with religion, the people believed that the burning palm  leaves which are blessed during the Holy Week will prevent the disastrous effect of the thunder and lightning, or the lightning and thunder would stop.  

It is a common practice among a few people, especially those devoted to religion to hurt their bodies on Good Friday.  This is done by the people who, during their sickness, promised to hurt their bodies (penitencia) if they get well.  I have seen this practice in our town and saw that they uncover their bodies and their backs are slightly dotted with sharp metals just enough to make them bleed.  Once in a while they lie down on the ground to be whipped by their companions until they arrived to a river where they took baths.  This practice is especially done in the Barrio of Raiñgin to the river of Kapitangan.   

While I was a small child, I was asked by my father to jump up as high as possible on the Resurrection of Christ so that I would grow up strongly and easily.  If one is short and unable to jump up higher, he is held in the chin to be raised higher.

Some people believed in going to houses and chanting the song of dead in the evening of All Saints Day.  They are thought to represent the souls of dead so that they give money in return for their song.   

When I was just a small child, I had not seen people using sleepers and umbrellas nor riding in carromatas on Good Friday.  This was believed to be bad,  however, it is not very commonly practiced now.   

When an owl happens to alight on the window pane of a house,  some disaster may be met by the people of that house.  

It is a common practice that a feast is held on the 3rd and 9th day after the death of a member of the family because it is believed that the acule of the dead man comes back on the 3rd and 9th night to the house where he dies.   

Most people believed that the causes of sickness is not due to disease germs but only the heat and wind. They do not believe in germs because they could not see them.  

The assuang are believed to appear in the form of pigs which stay under the house of the pregnant woman at night waiting the chance to get hold of the baby yet unborn.  

When the full moon, while rising appears to be in an inclined position, the belief is that it will rain the next day.  

When a black-butterfly is soon flying over you, especially when you are in bed,  it is a sign of the death of a member of your family.  

Dogs barking at night signifies the approach of some disaster.