Virgil Mayor Apostol - Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions

eISBN: 978-1-58394-597-1

Copyright 2010 by Virgil Mayor Apostol. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the written permission of the publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books.

Published by
North Atlantic Books
P.O. Box 12327
Berkeley, California 94712

Cover photo from the Filipinas Heritage Library Photo Collection
Cover design by Suzanne Albertson

Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions is sponsored by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a nonprofit educational corporation whose goals are to develop an educational and cross-cultural perspective linking various scientific, social, and artistic fields; to nurture a holistic view of arts, sciences, humanities, and healing; and to publish and distribute literature on the relationship of mind, body, and nature.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:

Apostol, Virgil Mayor, 1964
Way of the ancient healer: sacred teachings from the Philippine ancestral traditions / Virgil Mayor Apostol.
p.; cm.
Includes bibliographical references.

1. Mental healingPhilippines. 2. Spiritual healingPhilippines. 3. ShamanismPhilippines. I. Title.

[DNLM: 1. Spiritual TherapiesPhilippines. 2. Medicine, TraditionalPhilippines.
WB 885 A645W 2010]
RZ400.A787 2010
615.85209599dc22

2010000640

v3.1

To our ancestors

whose past has created our future.

To all my teachers

whose knowledge and wisdom

helped shape the core of my being.

To my children Vance Austin, Cyril James, Christina Joy, and Caylina Joy who carry in them the blood of our ancestors and descendants my lineage that carries our family and cultural traditions.

I nspiration and influence on my research came to me through various individuals. They are listed below in no particular order. Others are named throughout the text.

My parents, Vidal Santos Apostol, Sr., (19122005) and Anselma Miguel Mayor, as well as Uncle Aurelio Dinong Miguel Mayor (19232009), Uncle Proceso Siso Miguel Mayor, Sr., and Auntie Christeta Titay Miguel Mayor Pablo, have helped in the preservation of traditional healing and folk practices by sharing their knowledge. Uncle Siso provided numerous stories and experiences relating to Ilokano and amianan (northern) culture and folklore and scrutinized the Iluko terminology and contents of the manuscript.

My brief but meaningful meeting with Hollywood screenwriter and script analyst, the late John Sherlock, gave me the opportunity to have him review my work and provide me with invaluable direction on my writing style. His statement in a letter that followed, Its an important book, one we need, gave me the inspiration and courage to reveal my teachings and inner thoughts.

Filipinas Heritage Library and Gameng Museo Ilocos Norte both provided archive photos.

Benjamin Rodriguez Abiog, Jr., of KlEye Productions meticulously worked for hours with photo enhancement.

Jessica Bryan, freelance editor and author of Psychic Surgery and Faith Healing: An Exploration of Multi-Dimensional Realities, Indigenous Healing, and Medical Miracles in the Philippine Lowlands, edited the manuscript during its prepublishing phase.

An important ally throughout my years of writing and research is Lane Wilcken, author of the book, Filipino Tattoos: Ancient to Modern (Schiffer Publishing, 2010), who has been there to exchange thoughts and ideas and share his wisdom on many different levels.

And finally to everyone who participated toward the success of this book by contributing their knowledge and wisdom, or allowed the use of personal photos, I am forever grateful to you all.

Araraw

O, Apo a Namarsua a Mannakabalin-Amin

A nagtaudan ti espiritual nga angesko

Manen immayak iti daytoy a lubong

Tapno maammuak ti naindaklan a pinarsuam

Ken tapno kenka mangted iti panagyaman

Gapu iti naruay a bendisionmo.

Sapay ta iti kaaddak ditoy daga

Ket agbalin nga instrumento ti lawagmo.

Sapay ta dagiti amin a yad-adalko

Ket mangted iti lawag

Kadagiti agbirbirok iti adal ken laing.

Sapay ta ti bileg nga intedmo kaniak

Ket sagidenda dagiti makasapul iti panagsagidmo.

Ket iti daytoy a biag,

Ayudaannak iti pagturongak

Ta siaammoak a sinaysayaatko

Ti panangasikasok iti bagi

Ken iti amin a pannakilangenlangenko.

Parteak ti naindaklan a pinarsuam.

Ti espiritual nga angesko ket agsublinto kenka.

Invocation

Oh, Great Creator and Most Powerful of All

From whom my spiritual breath comes

Once again, I have come into this world

To learn of your great creation and to

Give gratitude for your bountiful blessings.

May my presence on earth

Be a channel of your light.

May all my teachings enlighten those

Seeking knowledge and wisdom.

May the power bestowed upon me

Touch those who need your healing touch.

And in this lifetime,

Please guide me to my destiny,

Knowing that I have done well

For myself and all my relations.

I am part of your great creation.

My spiritual breath will return to you.

Virgil Mayor Apostol
Kalihi Uka, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2007
(Translated into Iluko by Aurelio Solver Agcaoili, PhD)

Blade presented to Virgil Mayor Apostol on January 16, 2003, by T. David Reyes (friend and associate) to continue the healing traditions for which this blade was used and set forth by the original owner, Fidel Sacs (Filipino national, World War II guerrilla fighter, member of Caballeros de Dimas-Alang, and healer).

Contents

Introduction:
ANCESTRAL JOURNEY INTO THE FUTURE

Chapter One:
ORIGINS OF FILIPINO ANCESTRAL HEALING

Chapter T WO:
SHAMANIC AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND BELIEFS

Chapter Three:
AMULETS AND OTHER SYMBOLS OF POWER

Epilogue:
UPHOLDING OUR ANCESTRAL JOURNEY

Appendix:
ABOUTRUMSUA

Color Plates

. Poitan monolith

. Atang

. Blessing and invocation

. Blessing and invocation

. Early Philippine trade scene

. Philippine tektites

. The author and Apo Allang

. Philippine freshwater crocodile

. Kinarayantextile

. Linglingowith crocodile tooth

. Altered state

. Bunton(ant hill)

. Ablon manual medicine