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

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 Gods 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, thats 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

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 patients 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. 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

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon

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. b. c. d. Name Age Occupation Gender

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon e. f. g. h. i. j. k. 2. 3. 4. Birth date/Birthplace Educational Attainment Marital Status Name of Parents Organization City/Provincial address Religion

To determine the lifestyle of the Filipino Spiritual Healers To determine the psychological state of the Filipino Spiritual Healers. To determine the similarities and differences of the Filipino Spiritual Healers

5. 6.

To determine the communication styles of the Filipino Spiritual Healers 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

ASSUMPTIONS:
1. Filipino Spiritual Healers still exist even in urban areas.

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon

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 beyond what people

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon

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 verbal communication communication, factors. URT was developed to describe the interrelationships between seven important factors in any dyadic exchange: 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 anothers 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 more

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon personal data, the personal stage begins. During this phase,

8 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 ones 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

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon

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.

Figure 1 Uncertainty Reduction Model Source: Heath & Bryant (1999)

(Planning future interaction plans, avoiding communication)

(LESS TO NONE)

EXIT PHASE

INFORMATION

Communication

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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 becomes a

Communication Guided by Rules and Norms

Communication More Freely and Less Rules

(ATTITUDES VALUES AND BELIEFS)

PERSONAL PHASE ENTRY PHASE

DEMOGRAPHIC

INFORMATION

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11

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

Figure 1.2: The Uncertainty Reduction theory showed the process on the process of minimizing the uncertainty of the society to the Spiritual Healers. In the model it showed the information that this research will acquire for to have a better understanding on the practice of spiritual healing and determine the answer to the problem stated

Exit Phase

Role of media in uplifting the image of the Spiritual Healers

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE
Practices Rituals LIFESTORY

LIFESTYLE

Contribution in Philippine Society.

Communication Styles

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Personal Phase

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 Gods 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. The concept of Spiritual Paradigm will help the research in

understanding ho w Spiritual Healer communicate with entities or spirits whom

1. Name 2. Age 3. Occupation 4. Gender 5. Birth date/Birthplace 6. Educational Attainment 7. Marital Status 8. Name of Parents 9. Occupation of Parents 10. Organization 11. City/Provincial address 12. Religion

Application to the Study:

Entry Phase

Demographic profile

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13

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 Gods 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. 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.

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14

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 Mans 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) 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

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon

15

(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

The Explication of Terms

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon Case Study contemporary when the boundaries context are not clearly this is an empirical study that investigates a

16

phenomenon within it real-life context, between the phenomenon and its evident.

Filipino Spiritual Healers Being. Contribution -

these are people who heal using the power

that they believe was given to them by an unseen Supreme

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 or procedure, utilizing a variety of materials: candles, eggs, mirrors, plain paper, cigarette rolling-paper, and alum.

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon God-the-father -

17

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 Spirits presence, they can heal better. Beliefs this is something that the healers believe in while theyre 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. Gift - this pertains to their ability that was given to them by the Father Almighty.

Chapter 1: The Phenomenon Ancestor -

18

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.