Buying your home for the first time can be a scary experience, especially since you’re not yet familiar with the home buying process. It can all the more be downright terrifying when you encounter an unexplainable thumping or writing on the wall, your kid tells you about an imaginary friend, or worst your furniture begins levitating in the house you’ve bought.
The belief in the supernatural and mystical is very pervasive in the Filipino culture, particularly in rural areas. Though mostly incorporated in religious rites, these beliefs also come into play when living in a new home. It is believed that a spiritual house cleansing should be done before a family moves in to ward off evil spirits and other unknown entities.
Here are some interesting ways that Filipinos ensure protection from spirits and ghosts:
1. Having a house blessing.
Having the house blessed is one of the most common practices done by Filipino families before they inhabit their home. For many, this is the first step to take to give the house good vibes. It is also a way to make sure that supernatural beings present will leave because the house will be purified. Aside from that it serves as the reception for the new homeowners.
When Filipinos do this, they invite relatives and friends. The blessing is performed by either a priest or a pastor. For Catholic rites, the former will walk around the house and sprinkle holy water in each room. He will also recite bible passages such as 2 Samuel 7:28-29,
Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever,
as he tours the entire place with the family and the guests.
2. Hiring spiritualist and paranormal experts.
There have been stories about homes being haunted in some places in Metro Manila. Some episodes in the now defunct Magandang Gabi Bayan have also featured personal horror stories of different families. As such, there are people who really want to guarantee that no evil spirits or ghosts lurk in any corner of their house.
To do this, they hire paranormal experts who claim to feel the presence of spirits and otherworldly beings. One of the most famous clairvoyant and go-to people in this field is Stargazer. She says that she can see spirits and communicate with them. Jaime Licauco is also another household name in the investigation of spiritual activities. He is a parapsychologist, someone who looks into psychic phenomena and other paranormal claims.
GMA Network’s Misteryo is a local TV show in the Philippines that featured paranormal experts exploring haunted places around Metro Manila. Rob Rubin, an experienced esoteric / occult investigator, was one of its former resident paranormal experts.
3. Following Feng Shui.
One of the most famous spiritual house cleaning practices done by Filipinos is using feng shui. This ancient Chinese art is used to create a positive home environment that will attract good luck. Similarly, it is believed that they will drive away bad luck and evil spirits if done properly (remember the bagua from Kris Aquino’s Feng Shui movie?).
Many notable personalities – both local and international – have already incorporated this in their homes and businesses. Some of them even claim that feng shui helped them succeed.
In the US, Donald Trump’s Trump International Tower and Hotel incorporated Feng Shui principles during its renovation. To do so, they called in the Master Tin Sun, a respected Feng Shui Master in New York, to advise the management on the right way to do it.
Here in the Philippines, there are several famous feng shui experts. One of them is Master Hanz Cua. He has been featured in different news publication and programs where he gives advices and forecasts on what will bring luck to people, particularly about business, career, love life, and more. Another feng shui master and psychic is Francis Gaw. He is known to use his extra sensory gifts to help drive away the negative energy brought about by dark spirits.
4. Offering animal blood for sacrifice or Padugo.
Padugo or blood-letting is often done before a house is constructed. According to popular Filipino beliefs, this will help drive away evil spirits that live in the land where they are building their home. Moreover, this practice would also prevent accidents from happening to the workers building the property. The ritual is usually done in the provinces. This practice involves slitting the throat of a white chicken and dripping it around the site.
5. Performing Pausok or Fumigation.
Known for their superstitious beliefs, another traditional method used by Filipinos to cleanse their surroundings is to perform pausok or fumigation. In this type of house cleansing, the one performing the rite uses medicinal herbs or censers, where incense is burned. They walk around the house and wave the censer in each room. The act is done by a priest or a shaman (albularyo), in the case of people living in remote places.
What other intriguing Filipino spiritual house cleansing do you know? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your comments below.
