Amulet Hist52B
Doris R. Ferrolino
Hist 52 - B
AMULET
One particular thing that caught my attention in the museum was the amulet. Nostalgia hit me, and I perfectly remembered when I was in my second grade, I was given by an old woman a red amulet, and told me that I would be blessed every time I would wear it. My mom, a believer of “pamahiins,” pinned the amulet in my school uniform, because they believe it would guide me to ace the exams.
In the Philippines, the local amulet is called agimat or anting-anting. According to folklore, the most powerful anting-anting is the hiyas ng saging(directly translated as pearl or gem of the banana). The hiyas must come from a mature banana and only comes out during midnight. Before the person can fully possess this agimat, he must fight a supernatural creature called kapre. Only then will he be its true owner. During holy week, devotees travel to Mount Banahaw to recharge their amulets.
There existed a belief that amulets known as anting-anting gave the possessor unique powers, or made them invincible. One of the commonest powers of the anting-anting is to protect one from iron weapons. During the spanish colonialism, katipuneros were hardly well trained and equipped. Amulets were typically a part of their revolutionary arsenal which the bearer could marshal his own protection and survival. They could either be worn as clothing, or placed in one’s mouth during battles.
The anting-anting, once empowered will protect its owner from danger, and misfortune but that depends on what amulet or anting one have. It could be one that protects its bearer from misfortune and harm, one that provides health, and luck. Or it could be one that provides its wearer invincibility from thundering bullets, and shade its owner from sharp knives. I also had learned of an anting that enables its wearer an easy fishing.
Hist 52 - B
AMULET
One particular thing that caught my attention in the museum was the amulet. Nostalgia hit me, and I perfectly remembered when I was in my second grade, I was given by an old woman a red amulet, and told me that I would be blessed every time I would wear it. My mom, a believer of “pamahiins,” pinned the amulet in my school uniform, because they believe it would guide me to ace the exams.
In the Philippines, the local amulet is called agimat or anting-anting. According to folklore, the most powerful anting-anting is the hiyas ng saging(directly translated as pearl or gem of the banana). The hiyas must come from a mature banana and only comes out during midnight. Before the person can fully possess this agimat, he must fight a supernatural creature called kapre. Only then will he be its true owner. During holy week, devotees travel to Mount Banahaw to recharge their amulets.
There existed a belief that amulets known as anting-anting gave the possessor unique powers, or made them invincible. One of the commonest powers of the anting-anting is to protect one from iron weapons. During the spanish colonialism, katipuneros were hardly well trained and equipped. Amulets were typically a part of their revolutionary arsenal which the bearer could marshal his own protection and survival. They could either be worn as clothing, or placed in one’s mouth during battles.
The anting-anting, once empowered will protect its owner from danger, and misfortune but that depends on what amulet or anting one have. It could be one that protects its bearer from misfortune and harm, one that provides health, and luck. Or it could be one that provides its wearer invincibility from thundering bullets, and shade its owner from sharp knives. I also had learned of an anting that enables its wearer an easy fishing.