Try to visit the Mount Banahaw area just near the Metro Manila... there are healers and religious groups there which you maybe found interesting. The popularity of SIQUIJOR as the island of witches is associated with a certain kind of witchcraft known as "PAMBABARANG / MAMBABARANG" which generally uses insects or crawling critters to do harm to you.
I was rather surprised when I took my Javanese wife to the Philippines, whom they all assumed to be Filipino. They were positively hostile towards her and I. Based on living in Indonesia I can only suspect that the warm welcome is partially a welcome to strangers, tinged with a belief that foreigners are ATMs with legs. Given what you have said about Siquijor I would suggest that in much of Indonesia (yes outside southern Bali) you would find more of what you were looking for. Certainly, in my village in Gunung Kidul about a third of all males would be dukun and many females would also have some practice. It would not be uncommon to find people like my brother-in-law who had formally trained for over seven years across Java in the magical arts.
@@RuneSoup Plenty of Catholics in Indonesia (around 11mn). You would find exactly what you talk about in the eastern islands (Flores and Timur), but also around Yogyakarta especially Slemen. Indeed, my own guru is a Catholic and whilst slightly removed from the animistic traditions, he does have a good understanding of them. Certainly he is an expert herbalist. Also you might be surprised at the similarities between Islam, especially in Java, and Catholicism, at least at the spiritual level. Sunan (Saints) are massively important to us and their graves are venerated and important shrines. Especially those we call the Walisongo, who it is claimed brought Islam to Java. Jimat (amulets) related to the Walisongo are very common, especially those containing soil from the grave of a Walisongo. Prayers directed to the Sunan would also be common and prayers tend to be the basis of 'spells' for want of a better description. I know that you are far too well educated and sophisticated to fall for the colonialist categorisation of religions and their divisions. But the syncretism within Indonesia is always a welcome discovery. Whilst much of this Islamic spiritualism is seemingly removed from other Abrahamic traditions, Hindu and Buddhist beliefs are all too evident. This is especially powerful when it comes from the Shaivism tradition.
I lived in Makati for two months. In some housing estates they all sit outside at 2pm on a weekday singing karaoke - about 100 people sat outside a block. They love Manny Pacquiao also - pound for pound the best boxer of all time. The hotel girls would always call me 'Sir Chris'...
Try to visit the Mount Banahaw area just near the Metro Manila... there are healers and religious groups there which you maybe found interesting. The popularity of SIQUIJOR as the island of witches is associated with a certain kind of witchcraft known as "PAMBABARANG / MAMBABARANG" which generally uses insects or crawling critters to do harm to you.
Yes I was actually forewarned about the insect sorcerers actually 😂
Are you referring to a new book that is coming out?
I was rather surprised when I took my Javanese wife to the Philippines, whom they all assumed to be Filipino. They were positively hostile towards her and I. Based on living in Indonesia I can only suspect that the warm welcome is partially a welcome to strangers, tinged with a belief that foreigners are ATMs with legs.
Given what you have said about Siquijor I would suggest that in much of Indonesia (yes outside southern Bali) you would find more of what you were looking for. Certainly, in my village in Gunung Kidul about a third of all males would be dukun and many females would also have some practice. It would not be uncommon to find people like my brother-in-law who had formally trained for over seven years across Java in the magical arts.
Probably not if I'm looking for a Catholic blend with underlying customs. But yeah it can be found most places. That's part of the underlying thesis.
@@RuneSoup Plenty of Catholics in Indonesia (around 11mn). You would find exactly what you talk about in the eastern islands (Flores and Timur), but also around Yogyakarta especially Slemen. Indeed, my own guru is a Catholic and whilst slightly removed from the animistic traditions, he does have a good understanding of them. Certainly he is an expert herbalist.
Also you might be surprised at the similarities between Islam, especially in Java, and Catholicism, at least at the spiritual level. Sunan (Saints) are massively important to us and their graves are venerated and important shrines. Especially those we call the Walisongo, who it is claimed brought Islam to Java. Jimat (amulets) related to the Walisongo are very common, especially those containing soil from the grave of a Walisongo. Prayers directed to the Sunan would also be common and prayers tend to be the basis of 'spells' for want of a better description.
I know that you are far too well educated and sophisticated to fall for the colonialist categorisation of religions and their divisions. But the syncretism within Indonesia is always a welcome discovery. Whilst much of this Islamic spiritualism is seemingly removed from other Abrahamic traditions, Hindu and Buddhist beliefs are all too evident. This is especially powerful when it comes from the Shaivism tradition.
I lived in Makati for two months. In some housing estates they all sit outside at 2pm on a weekday singing karaoke - about 100 people sat outside a block. They love Manny Pacquiao also - pound for pound the best boxer of all time. The hotel girls would always call me 'Sir Chris'...
Not even any footage, what a waste of time