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CHAPTER 1
THE PHENOMENON
Introduction
Many have been asking questions on what spiritual healing is. Are the
patients healed for real or is it just the saying “mind over matter?” What is
the importance of their existence in the society? Where did it start? Those
questions are up to now ask by many. All of us are still in the phase of
embracing their existence in our society. (John C. Snider, 2004)
There are a lot of spiritual healers in the Philippines and because
of that it attracts the scientists in the Western country and around the world
to come here and see for themselves if it is genuine or not. Multiple studies
are conducted by them, they usually stay here for years or some came back
for further research studies. (Licauco, 1982)
Several Filipino spiritual healers have occurred in our society
nowadays. They claim that “the gift” was given to them by God the Father or
Jesus or Mama Mary or the Holy Spirit who show themselves to them and give
them healing powers. They said that they are guided by the spirits whenever
they are healing. And so researches about them were born. The researchers
developed curiosity regarding the spiritual healers because we all agreed that
people should put their health on top of everything. The researchers ask the
same questions like everyone else and want further understanding of the
lifestyle of Filipino Spiritual Healers and how they heal. It is also the
researchers’ interest to know why faith healers continue to emerge through
times even if there are already doctors in the Philippines. (Advanced pranic
healing)
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 2
Today, many illnesses have been occurring in our society. Especially
that economic crisis can be felt by more than half of the Filipinos and not all
of us can afford to go to hospitals for check-up. So as another option of
medication, many people have been depending on the capabilities of spiritual
healers. In addition, Filipino people patronize this kind of treatment because
they are afraid of the exposed malpractice of medicine by doctors and would
rather undergo spiritual healing which they think is safer for them. Some
people especially in rural areas consider the capabilities of spiritual healers
because they believe that some illnesses cannot be treated by doctors and
those illnesses are made by the entities around them and only spiritual
healers can help them. (Montepio, 1986/1987)
Spiritual healing is believed to have started among the ancient Greeks
and Romans, who believed that Asclepius, the god of medicine, might appear
in the dreams of sick people who slept in the temples devoted to his worship,
and that the god then cured them or prescribed a routine of treatment for
them to follow. In contrast, the Old Testament has few references to spiritual
healing. The most specific occurs in 2 Kings 5:1-14, where Elisha cures
Naaman of leprosy by a ritual washing in the Jordan River. In the New
Testament Gospels, however, are perhaps the most famous spiritual-healing
stories of all time. In the stories of Jesus’ miracles of healing, illness is
regarded as the sign of the presence of evil spirits, and Jesus’ power to heal
is proclaimed as evidence that God’s kingdom has come in his person.
Nowadays Spiritual Healing has been viewed as a malpractice and
illegal. The Philippine Medical Association has officially stand that spiritual
healing is mere trickery and should be stopped because some of them
perform surgeries without licenses and therefore people may suffer from
them. Some people treat this practice as an insanity and waste of time.
Sometimes it is also considered to be dangerous, that’s why this research
aims to give way to the spiritual healers to be known not as a cult but as
traditional doctors of the Filipino. (Licauco, 1982)
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 3
It is in our tradition that such spiritual healers emerged. According to
Western researches, spiritual healers cure their patients without payment, all
they ask is that their patients trust them and have faith in God because the
healing power came from Him and He will be the real one that will cure them.
A lot of modern cure are also derived from our traditional medicines and
healing practices. Medicines nowadays contain herbs which were originally
used by our spiritual healers to cure their patients. (Mckenzie and Chrisman,
1977)
The researchers would like to give attention and to give credit to
spiritual healers that are now beginning to extinct. We should not be negative
about spiritual healers especially that they provide a lot of help in our
country.
Japanese researcher and author Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama analyzed blood
samples taken by Filipino healers from patients and declared them to be
genuine. Moreover, people assisting healers during psychic surgery feel the
strong energy from the healer and patient. Sometimes, healers allow them to
insert their fingers in the opening of the patient’s skin to see for them its
genuineness. ( Licauco 1982 ).
This research will tackle the lifestyle of selected Filipino Spiritual
healers and their importance in our society, not only in the society but also in
preserving the culture of the Filipinos. Just like how other countries trust their
traditional alternative medicines. That instead of Filipinos going to abroad for
modern cures it is the foreigner that will go here for our traditional
medication. This will also help our economy through tourism. The researchers
would also like to discover methods of healing through observation of
selected Filipino spiritual healers.(Martin Caoli, Vice President of the Baguio
Healers Association)
The researchers would also study their process of healing and when
their power of healing is available. We would deeply enter their world to have
a better understanding of their way of healing.
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 4
This research assumes that the Filipino Spiritual Healers have their
own way of living and history about their practice. We all want to have a
better understanding with their lifestyle and why they heal so we can accept
them in our society.
The researchers would like to show that this study will also help these
healers to be known and help the society to have an alternative medication.
This research would like to know the effectiveness of Filipino Spiritual healers
and what they can contribute in our society.
According to the Folk Medicine in a Philippine Municipality, the
important thing is that the healer has to have faith in his prayers or they will
not work in his favor. The patient, in turn, has to have faith in both prayers
and the healers; otherwise, healing becomes a difficult process. It is in this
reciprocal faith between healers and patients that folk medicine finds
appropriateness, strength, and continuity in the lives of the peasants in Bay.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
The researchers develop curiosity in the lifestyle of Filipino Spiritual
Healers. Thus, the researchers came up with the question: What are the
lifestyle of Filipino Spiritual Healers and the importance of their existence in
Philippine Society?
OBJECTIVES:
1. To determine the socio-demographic profile of the Filipino Spiritual
Healers in terms of:
a. Name
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 5
b. Age
c. Occupation
d. Gender
e. Birth date/Birthplace
f. Educational Attainment
g. Marital Status
h. Name of Parents
i. Organization
j. City/Provincial address
k. Religion
2. To determine the lifestyle of the Filipino Spiritual Healers
3. To determine the psychological state of the Filipino Spiritual Healers.
4. To determine the similarities and differences of the Filipino Spiritual
Healers
5. To determine the communication styles of the Filipino Spiritual
Healers
6. To determine the contributions of the Filipino Spiritual Healers in
Philippine Society
7. To determine the role of media in uplifting the image of the Filipino
Spiritual Healers in Philippine Society
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 6
ASSUMPTIONS:
1. Filipino Spiritual Healers still exist even in urban areas.
2. Filipino Spiritual Healers have their unique lifestyle.
3. Filipino Spiritual Healers are psychologically balanced.
4. Filipino Spiritual Healers have similarities and differences.
5. Filipino Spiritual Healers have their own way of communicating with
the source of their ability.
6. Filipino Spiritual Healers are the alternative medicine givers that cure
different kinds of illness.
7. Media has a significant role in mainstreaming the Filipino Spiritual
Healers.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Philippine Spiritual Healers are one part of the society of the
Philippines. There are a lot of meaning and interpretation that are always
attached with their names. Many also have been trying to go inside and
understand their behavior and beliefs. In this study the research will also go
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 7
beyond what people can only see about the Filipino Spiritual Healers in order
for the study to find the answer to its problem.
Our society has been very dependent to all the new technology and
medicinal treatment that already exist nowadays. High prices of medicine
and hospital fees are also one of the most debatable issues in our economy
that needs to be taken care of. For years our government has been trying to
find solution on how to comply with this issue and it has also been years that
most Filipinos are just bearing the pain just to resist from seeing a doctor.
Behind those issues there is a little voice that can help resolve this big issue
in our society.
The researchers decided to use the uncertainty reduction theory that
was originated by C.R. Berger and Calabrese in 1975; they were drawn on the
work of Heider (1952). The researchers understand that this theory will
support the views we have and assumptions. This theory will further explain
the research points in coming up with the spiritual healers.
Uncertainty reduction theory (URT) was initially presented as a series
of axioms (universal truths which do not require proof and theorems
(propositions assumed to be true) which describe the relationships between
uncertainty and several communication factors. URT was developed to
describe the interrelationships between seven important factors in any dyadic
exchange: verbal communication, nonverbal expressiveness, information-
seeking behavior, intimacy, reciprocity, similarity, and liking.
Uncertainty is unpleasant and therefore motivational; people
communicate to reduce it. Uncertainty reduction follows a pattern of
developmental stages (entry, personal, exits).
During the entry stage information about another’s sex, age, economic
or social status, and other demographic information is obtained. Much of the
interaction in this entry phase is controlled by communication rules and
norms. When communicators begin to share attitudes, beliefs, values, and
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 8
more personal data, the personal stage begins. During this phase, the
communicators feel less constrained by rules and norms and tend to
communicate more freely with each other. The third stage is the exit phase.
During this phase, the communicators decide on future interaction plans.
They may discuss or negotiate ways to allow the relationship to grow and
continue. However, any particular conversation may be terminated and the
end of the entry phase. This pattern is especially likely to occur during initial
interaction, when people first meet or when new topics are introduced later in
a relationship.
Besides the stages in uncertainty reduction patterns makes Berger a
distinction between three basic ways people seek information about another
person: (1) Passive strategies - a person is being observed, either in
situations where the other person is likely to be self-monitoring, like watching
a healer performing a healing session for the first time. (2) Active strategies -
we ask others about the person we're interested in or try to set up a situation
where we can observe that person (e.g., trying to look further in the process
of spiritual healing and started to get interested in it). Once the situation is
set up we sometime observe (a passive strategy) or talk with the person (an
interactive strategy). (3) Interactive strategies - we communicate directly
with the person.
In this theory the more you look deeper to one’s personality the more
you trust and understand this person. Spiritual Healers had long been
misinterpreted by the people. They have always been associated with cult,
false prophecy and demonic. This paper will use the uncertainty reduction
theory to make the people fully understand the reality behind the Spiritual
healers. Using the URT the people will be able to look deeper on the belief
and profiles of the supposed to be first doctors of the Philippines.
This theory will be supported by the Spiritual Paradigm concept of Dr.
Ma. Lourdes D.P. Garcia. In the concept of Dr. Garcia it showed the
communication ways of man with spirits and with God. This will give the
EXIT PHASE
INFORMATION
(LESS TO NONE)
Communication
(Planning future interaction plans,
avoiding communication)
EXIT PHASE
INFORMATION
(LESS TO NONE)
Communication
(Planning future interaction plans,
avoiding communication)
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 9
research a better understanding in the process of communicating and
methods of healing
With the use of the Spiritual Paradigm, The Uncertainty reduction
theory process will be a lot faster and easier to achieve.
Fig
ure
1U
nce
rtain
ty R
ed
uct
ion
Mod
el
Sou
rce:
Heath
& B
ryant
(19
99
)
ENTRY PHASE
DEMOGRAPHIC
Communication Guided by Rules and Norms
ENTRY PHASE
DEMOGRAPHIC
Communication Guided by Rules and Norms
PERSONAL PHASE
INFORMATION
(ATTITUDES VALUES AND BELIEFS)
Communication More Freely and Less Rules
PERSONAL PHASE
INFORMATION
(ATTITUDES VALUES AND BELIEFS)
Communication More Freely and Less Rules
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 10
Who is this healer? Is he person that accepts the work of spirit souls or
spirit doctors. The healer allows himself or herself to become an instrument
for the wonderful work of spirit to be carried out through. What are the
reason behind their healing. This are just basic question of people about
spiritual healers. (Spiritual Healing;The Hidden Truth and
Misconception;Joseph Ghabi B.Msc)
In our world of today, healing, just like anything else has been abused.
Some healers are taking advantage of this gift by misrepresenting the
benefits of it. It seems to have become a way of overly charging their patient
financially and in some cases providing them with false hopes. When healing
Communication Styles
Contribution in Philippine Society.
Role of media in uplifting the image of the Spiritual
Healers
Communication Styles
Contribution in Philippine Society.
Role of media in uplifting the image of the Spiritual
Healers
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 11
becomes a business, how do we know that healing is genuine after all? If the
healing gift is used only as a means of survival for the healer where do we
draw the line between what is a true healing and what is a mere attempt of
making money based upon the needs of the person who has come to receive
healing? This is why uncertainty also grew to the society about this people
and in this theory the research will be able to lessen that uncertainty
(Spiritual Healing - The Hidden Truth and Misconception)
A 1996 poll of 1,000 adults found that 79% believed that spiritual faith
can help people recover from disease. 18. (McNichol T. The new faith in
medicine. USA Today, April 7, 1996, p 4.) This idea is also popular among
physicians. Although many studies have found associations between various
measures of religiosity and health, no well-designed study has demonstrated
that religious beliefs or prayer actually benefit health. (Sloan RP, Bagiella E,
Powell T. Religion, spirituality and medicine. Lancet 353:664-667, 1999) In
fact, one well-designed study found just the opposite. The study involved
patients whose progress was followed for nine months after discharge from a
British hospital. (King M, Speck P, Thomas A. The effect of spiritual beliefs on
outcome from illness. Social Science & Medicine 48:1291-1299, 1999.Through
this theory we will be able to know the difference in both studies
Exit
Phas
e
Figu
re 1
.2: T
he U
ncer
tain
ty R
educ
tion
theo
ry s
how
ed th
e pr
oces
s on
the
proc
ess
of m
inim
izin
g th
e un
cert
aint
y of
the
soci
ety
to th
e Sp
iritu
al H
eale
rs. I
n th
e m
odel
it s
how
ed th
e in
form
ation
that
this
rese
arch
w
ill a
cqui
re fo
r to
have
a b
etter
und
erst
andi
ng o
n th
e pr
actic
e of
spi
ritua
l hea
ling
and
dete
rmin
e th
e an
swer
to
the
prob
lem
stat
ed
Demographic profile 1. Name2. Age3. Occupation4. Gender5. Birth date/Birthplace6. Educational Attainment7. Marital Status8. Name of Parents9. Occupation of Parents10. Organization11. City/Provincial address12. Religion
Demographic profile 1. Name2. Age3. Occupation4. Gender5. Birth date/Birthplace6. Educational Attainment7. Marital Status8. Name of Parents9. Occupation of Parents10. Organization11. City/Provincial address12. Religion
LIFESTYLE
LIFESTORY
Rituals
Practices
PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE
SIMILARITIES AND
DIFFERENCES
LIFESTYLE
LIFESTORY
Rituals
Practices
PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE
SIMILARITIES AND
DIFFERENCES
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 12
The research used Spiritual Paradigm of Dr. Garcia wherein it shows
that the spirits are the ones guiding the healers in their practice. The Spirits
on the other hand was created by GOD to help man in order to create God’s
Ideal Society.
In the study of Dr. Garcia, it showed that spirits (including angels,
entities etc.) was from God. Even before the Spaniards came to the
Philippines most of the native Filipinos already believe in Spirits including the
ones whom they believed was the guardian of “karagatan, kapatagan,
kabundukan, kalawakan, kalangitan and all the entities that we just thought
are our imagination.
Entr
y Ph
ase
Appl
icati
on to
the
Stud
y:
Pers
onal
Pha
se
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 13
The concept of Spiritual Paradigm will help the research in
understanding ho w Spiritual Healer communicate with entities or spirits
whom they said enter their body and help them and help them in their
healing practice.
In the model, it showed that God attempts to communicate and talk to
man. The line that connects man to God, and God to man are the Spirits that
God created to help man and the Society in creating an ideal Society. (Garcia;
Spiritual Paradigm)
The research used the Spiritual Paradigm model shows the line that
connects God to man and that same line helped man in healing that will be
used in their practice.
According to Dr. Garcia, all the spirits that exist in our environment are
all created by God even the malevolent or evil one. Spirits that will help man
to make a better society, a God’s Ideal society
This study will also help this research in understanding the personal
and process on how man communicates with God through Spirits. This will
help the First theory of this research which is the uncertainty reduction
theory in lessening the doubt and confusion a person to Spiritual Healing
Practices.
In the application of the model to the study maintain God in the top of
the model for it is said that he is the real source of their ability. (Montepio
1986/1987) then the line that connects man to god remained as the Spirits
and the levels depending on their spirits whom they said helped them in
healing. This including saints, angels and all other type of entities that they
said exist in our society.
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 14
Those Spirits guide the Spiritual healers in their practice or their said
devotion. With Guidance of the said Spirits the healers will be able to cure
illnesses and help people in their struggle in life.
Before Spiritual Healers be able to do that, they will still first need to
trust the healers because the methods of their healing is unexplainable that
is why this concept stands as a support to the uncertainty reduction theory. It
is for the people to understand the process on how their ability came to
them. With the use of this concept people and the society will be able to see
that Healers and other people has the same belief that there is God
regardless of their religion that will help them in time of need so they need
to unite in making an ideal society because man is useless if left alone but
healers and society united as one can produce an ideal and divine society
(Garcia, Spiritual Paradigm for Man’s Existance).
That is one reason why this research chose this theory in order to show
the importance of Spiritual Healers. How they perform their practices and
their contribution to the society nowadays. Just like in Uncertainty Reduction
Theory there is still process for the society to fully understand what the real
mission of the spiritual healers is. Using the URT their beliefs and life will be
a lot easier to understand.
The word "spiritual" refers to the divine nature of the energy, which
healers agree comes from one external, invisible intelligent source. The
healing energy from this source is available to all. Healers see the body mind
and spirit as one interdependent unit and believe all three must work in
harmony to maintain positive health. Any problem - be it a broken leg or
depression needs the power of healing to restore the balance of the whole
person. It is felt that sickness often starts in the mind, or at the deeper level
of the spirit, and it is often here that healing begins. This is one of the things
that might help the society in achieving the ideal society of GOD. (Spiritual
Healing http://1stholistic.com/prayer/hol_spiritual_healing.htm#What)
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 15
Uncertainty Reduction Theory has been applied to new relationships in
recent years. Although it continues to be widely respected as a tool to explain
and predict initial interaction events, it is now also employed to study
intercultural interaction (Gudykunst et al., 1985), organizational socialization
(Lester, 1986), and as a function of media (Katz & Blumer, 1974). Gudykunst
argues that is important to test theory in new paradigms, thus adding to its
fortitude (Gudykunst, 204).
This theory has been used in the interpretative research that allows
fully understanding and explaining the reason behind a phenomenon. This
theory is used to reduce uncertainty that will help lessen the conflict and
misconception about a certain people or situation. Trust is one of important
word and main goal of URT that needs to be reached.
This research theory can also be used in qualitative which is the
method of this study. Interpreting and knowing the importance of their
existence is the purpose of the study and this is also the main reason why
this theory is the most suitable theory for this research.
Limitation of the Study
This study focuses particularly on the selected Filipino Spiritual Healers
that still exists in our society performing healing session with the use of
unexplained methods of healing and non-technological medicines. The
research was taken only in Luzon and was conducted on the following
Spiritual Healers:
a. Elizabeth Oropeza
b. Tony Vera Cruz
c. Ester Pacheco Banigid
d. Enriquito T. Colon
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 16
The Explication of Terms
Case Study – this is an empirical study that investigates a
contemporary phenomenon within it real-life context,
when the boundaries between the phenomenon and its
context are not clearly evident.
Filipino Spiritual Healers – these are people who heal using the power
that they believe was given to them by an unseen
Supreme Being.
Contribution - these are the things that the Filipino Spiritual Healers can
give to the society in terms of their healing ability. These
things may affect the beliefs of the society and their
appearance towards the healers.
Philippine Society – this refers to the population that could benefit from
this study.
Spiritual Healing - this refers to the way the participants heal. They
use their ability which is not common in medical healing.
Such as prayer, mental practices, spiritual insights, or
other techniques to prevent illness, cure disease, or
improve health.
Magtatawas – Tawas is a popular diagnostic ritual performed by most
spiritual healers that serve in providing clues as to the
nature and cause of the illness. Pagtatawas originally
derived its name from to its chemical nature - alum, an
astringent, crystalline double sulfate of aluminum and
potassium - and early on, was used exclusively in the
diagnostic ritual. Today, tawas refers to a diagnostic ritual
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 17
or procedure, utilizing a variety of materials: candles,
eggs, mirrors, plain paper, cigarette rolling-paper, and
alum.
God-the-father - spiritual healers say that He is the one who guides them
with whatever they have to do with their patients. They
claim that their healing power came from Him and he
shows Himself to them for better understanding of the job
given to them.
Supernatural being – a term used by the researchers to describe other
beings that reside in our world. They are not human and
they usually possess powers that enable them to protect
themselves and sometimes used against people who
offended them to teach them a lesson.
Holy Spirit – the pure spirit as the healers call it, who may enter their
body if it wishes to so it can guide them with the healing
process they will perform to their patients. The claim that
with the Holy Spirit’s presence, they can heal better.
Beliefs - this is something that the healers believe in while they’re
healing.
Communication Style – this refers to the way the healers communicate
with their source of ability and their patients.
Psychological State – it is the part of the study wherein the researchers will
assess whether the participants are in their normal state of
mind.
Inherit - this refers to the passing of the ability from the ancestors
to their descendants.
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon 18
Gift - this pertains to their ability that was given to them by the
Father Almighty.
Ancestor - these are the people from the family background of the
healers that has the same ability that they have.
Religion - this is an organization where the healers belong and
believes in one god. In this organization, they follow some
doctrines and morals according to their teachings.
Tradition - these are the practices that the healers pursue which they
inherited from their ancestors.
Rituals - these are the things the healers do before, during and/or
after healing their patients.
Practices - these are the things that the healers habitually do when
they heal.
Uncertainty Reduction Theory – this is the theory that this research use to
represent the study in Spiritual Healers to be able to
convey the doubts and misinterpretation on them.
Spiritual Paradigm – concept created by Dr. Ma. Lourdes D.P. Garcia that
illustrate the relationship of Filipino Indigenous Religious
Movement
Qualitative Research – this is used in this study to gain more information
and go deeper in the profile of the selected participants.
Instruments – these are methods used to gather information from the
participants of this study.