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MARANAO: THE SUPERSTITIOUS TRIBE
From sweeping at night to singing while cooking or fearing to face the mirror when lightnings are striking, one or the other, we still believe in it. We still believe in the superstitious beliefs our grandmothers told us which their grandmothers told them and their grandmother’s grandmother's told them too. It’s a fact.
In the Lanao area, as in all other places in the Philippines, there are many beliefs, considered superstitious, that you didn't even know existed. These beliefs however, are historically passed down from generation to generation, some are sensible make-believes and some are just teachings on values and attitudes to live a good and prosperous life.
In the Lanao area, as in all other places in the Philippines, there are many beliefs, considered superstitious, that you didn't even know existed. These beliefs however, are historically passed down from generation to generation, some are sensible make-believes and some are just teachings on values and attitudes to live a good and prosperous life.
Brace yourself and have a quick peek. Make sure you are not alone.
TONONG - supernatural spirits who live in lakes and other places. Mipato is a tonong from Lake Dapao. He looks like a big carabao with golden horns.
DROPPING COINS - Maranaos drop coins or other metallic objects, like nails into lakes or big rivers whenever they cross it, in the belief that if they failed to do so the tonong inhabitants might drown them as they crossed.
WITCHES - Maranaos also believe in witches that fly around and cast spells on familiars called pantak, that can also fly and kill an enemy upon the order of their witch-master.
FAMILIES FROM EVIL SPIRIT - Maranaos also believe that there are families who are descendants of evil spirits and who can order a snake to kill their enemies.
NONOK - is a tree that grows to great size, as also believed to be inhabited by spirits who prey on people.
KOKOK - Just like the nonok, kokoks can get you confuse of roads or places, making you see repetitive destination or spot. Sometimes kokok can appear differently and will take you to their king.
EATING OUTSIDE - it is a common belief that eating outside a house or in an open air is not good, because evil spirits would share the food and therefore you can never be satisfied.
CARRYING PILLOW - nobody should carry a pillow without a pillow case. It is believed that a ghost would be attracted to it and would run after the one holding it.
TAPPING ONE'S STOMACH - tapping one's stomach at night will attract ghosts to come and suck out one's internal organs.
FULL MOON - During a full moon, one should not look at the moon, because if one saw a cat on a tree, one would become crazy. And if the moon had a crown of light around it, that meant a beautiful and famous woman in a clan would die.
RAINBOW - If a rainbow appears on sunlight, it is a sign that a Datu or a famous person would die. For children, they may not point at the rainbow for they may cut their fingers accidentally.
SICKLY CHILD - A sickly child should have a chicken or a rooster named after him, which will become valuable property. If the rooster is killed by someone, he must pay a large sum of money. If it is a hen, he must pay for all the eggs it could have produced for the rest of its life if it lived.
CHICKEN - Chickens are not allowed to enter the house for it is believed to be a bad omen. When it enters the house, therefore, anyone has the right to kill it, no matter who owns it and it can be eaten without any objection from the owner.
MINDING BEAUTIFUL UNUSUAL THINGS - If one appreciated, commented or disturbed something unusual; things, events, and others. It will cost your life. Death will come after few days.
WHISTLE - It is prohibited to whistle at night because a bad spirit will whistle back.
NO NAME - A popular evil spirit in Lanao which his name should never be mentioned or spoken because it will come instantly to eat you.
SOUND - When you hear a weird, loud “squeaking” sound of a bad spirit it means it is very far but if the sound and soft like a whisper, it means, it is very close.
SPOON - It is a common belief that if a spoon or ladle fell to the floor, someone's coming, visiting or arriving.
TAKING A BATH IN LAKE LANAO - If a child takes multiple bath at the lake, he will grow more than one head here in this world or in the hereafter.
MOVING WHEN EATING - A child is not allowed to move from one place to another when eating, for it would mean that when the child grows up he will never have a permanent home.
DREAMS - If one dreamed of losing his teeth, it means a forthcoming death of a close relative. If surrounded by big water, means death. If a lizard fell on ones' hand, it would be an announcement of the death of one's father or mother. If a girl dreamed of being bitten by a snake, she is near to be engaged.
ADAN - It is believed that if one climbed a tree while the azan (call of prayer) is being sung, one might fall and break his bones. This phenomena is called "naas" because of its connection to Islam.
LIZARD SOUND - If one hears a lizard's sound at night, it means there is another unusual person or spirit within in a room or a house.
ANIMAL CALLS - It is believed that if a dog cries at night or horse neighs unusually, they were seeing bad spirits.
ITCHY HAND - If one's hand is itchy, it means a big sum of money will come to him.
MAKAWGIS - Is a big man who flies and takes people, mostly children who have bunch of kotos (lice).
MARIALABO - Is a woman who takes bad, ill-mannered and disrespectful children.
OMACAAN - Is a very old giant who lives in Lake Lanao. He once one an ally of the people of the lake.
FAMILIES FROM EVIL SPIRIT - Maranaos also believe that there are families who are descendants of evil spirits and who can order a snake to kill their enemies.
NONOK - is a tree that grows to great size, as also believed to be inhabited by spirits who prey on people.
KOKOK - Just like the nonok, kokoks can get you confuse of roads or places, making you see repetitive destination or spot. Sometimes kokok can appear differently and will take you to their king.
EATING OUTSIDE - it is a common belief that eating outside a house or in an open air is not good, because evil spirits would share the food and therefore you can never be satisfied.
CARRYING PILLOW - nobody should carry a pillow without a pillow case. It is believed that a ghost would be attracted to it and would run after the one holding it.
TAPPING ONE'S STOMACH - tapping one's stomach at night will attract ghosts to come and suck out one's internal organs.
FULL MOON - During a full moon, one should not look at the moon, because if one saw a cat on a tree, one would become crazy. And if the moon had a crown of light around it, that meant a beautiful and famous woman in a clan would die.
RAINBOW - If a rainbow appears on sunlight, it is a sign that a Datu or a famous person would die. For children, they may not point at the rainbow for they may cut their fingers accidentally.
SICKLY CHILD - A sickly child should have a chicken or a rooster named after him, which will become valuable property. If the rooster is killed by someone, he must pay a large sum of money. If it is a hen, he must pay for all the eggs it could have produced for the rest of its life if it lived.
CHICKEN - Chickens are not allowed to enter the house for it is believed to be a bad omen. When it enters the house, therefore, anyone has the right to kill it, no matter who owns it and it can be eaten without any objection from the owner.
MINDING BEAUTIFUL UNUSUAL THINGS - If one appreciated, commented or disturbed something unusual; things, events, and others. It will cost your life. Death will come after few days.
WHISTLE - It is prohibited to whistle at night because a bad spirit will whistle back.
NO NAME - A popular evil spirit in Lanao which his name should never be mentioned or spoken because it will come instantly to eat you.
SOUND - When you hear a weird, loud “squeaking” sound of a bad spirit it means it is very far but if the sound and soft like a whisper, it means, it is very close.
SPOON - It is a common belief that if a spoon or ladle fell to the floor, someone's coming, visiting or arriving.
TAKING A BATH IN LAKE LANAO - If a child takes multiple bath at the lake, he will grow more than one head here in this world or in the hereafter.
MOVING WHEN EATING - A child is not allowed to move from one place to another when eating, for it would mean that when the child grows up he will never have a permanent home.
DREAMS - If one dreamed of losing his teeth, it means a forthcoming death of a close relative. If surrounded by big water, means death. If a lizard fell on ones' hand, it would be an announcement of the death of one's father or mother. If a girl dreamed of being bitten by a snake, she is near to be engaged.
ADAN - It is believed that if one climbed a tree while the azan (call of prayer) is being sung, one might fall and break his bones. This phenomena is called "naas" because of its connection to Islam.
LIZARD SOUND - If one hears a lizard's sound at night, it means there is another unusual person or spirit within in a room or a house.
ANIMAL CALLS - It is believed that if a dog cries at night or horse neighs unusually, they were seeing bad spirits.
ITCHY HAND - If one's hand is itchy, it means a big sum of money will come to him.
MAKAWGIS - Is a big man who flies and takes people, mostly children who have bunch of kotos (lice).
MARIALABO - Is a woman who takes bad, ill-mannered and disrespectful children.
OMACAAN - Is a very old giant who lives in Lake Lanao. He once one an ally of the people of the lake.
DIRECT HANDLING OF A CHILI - If one handed a chili directly to other one's hand, they will soon become enemies unless they tightly or painfully pinch each other skins before parting off.
SINGING WHILE IN THE BATHROOM OR WHILE COOKING - If one loves to sing while cooking or taking a bath, he or she is destined to marry an old person.
SWEEPING - If one sweeps at night using broomstick or dropping the trash outside the door or corners it in the corners of the house, their family will meet downfall or will become poor.
ACCIDENTALLY BITING THE TONGUE - If one accidentally bite his tongue, it means there are people back biting him or talking ill behind his back.
EATING BURNT RICE - If a child eats burnt rice, he will become a brainer in school.
REVERSING GARMENTS - If one lost in a forest or in an unfamiliar place, one should reverse his/her shirt to find his way back. It is believed that a spirit is just blinding one's eyes.
CUTTING NAILS - Cutting nails at night is prohibited for it will destroy your nails like a monster grind it or worse a cockroach or a frog.
MIRROR - One should cover the mirror when it is raining or the lightning are striking because an evil spirit will appear on it.
Many more.
...
The arrival of Islam and the teaching of science greatly dispelled many wrong attitudes and beliefs among the Maranaos.
So, which Maranao Superstitious beliefs you still believe in? Tell us in the comment and if you believe there are still superstitious beliefs that are not mentioned here, kindly drop it in the comment. That would be a great help for us. Thank you.
SINGING WHILE IN THE BATHROOM OR WHILE COOKING - If one loves to sing while cooking or taking a bath, he or she is destined to marry an old person.
SWEEPING - If one sweeps at night using broomstick or dropping the trash outside the door or corners it in the corners of the house, their family will meet downfall or will become poor.
ACCIDENTALLY BITING THE TONGUE - If one accidentally bite his tongue, it means there are people back biting him or talking ill behind his back.
EATING BURNT RICE - If a child eats burnt rice, he will become a brainer in school.
REVERSING GARMENTS - If one lost in a forest or in an unfamiliar place, one should reverse his/her shirt to find his way back. It is believed that a spirit is just blinding one's eyes.
CUTTING NAILS - Cutting nails at night is prohibited for it will destroy your nails like a monster grind it or worse a cockroach or a frog.
MIRROR - One should cover the mirror when it is raining or the lightning are striking because an evil spirit will appear on it.
Many more.
...
The arrival of Islam and the teaching of science greatly dispelled many wrong attitudes and beliefs among the Maranaos.
So, which Maranao Superstitious beliefs you still believe in? Tell us in the comment and if you believe there are still superstitious beliefs that are not mentioned here, kindly drop it in the comment. That would be a great help for us. Thank you.
By Bin Nur A. Magangcong
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Yung DUCK SOUND? Nung maliit kasi ako tapos nag-Quak-Quak po ako tapos sinuway ako ng mga nakakatanda? I'm a Maranao by the way
ReplyDeleteAno po ibig sabihin po nun?
DeleteBawal mag Whistle pag gabi. Napagalitan ako. Hahaha
ReplyDeletePantakot sa akin nong bata ako si Makawgis. Hahahaa
hala grabe, naaalala ko talaga si Makawgis. Tapos meron pa, bawal mag tagu-taguan pagkatapos ng Maghrib o pag gabi na, kukunin daw ng Shaytaan.
ReplyDelete