A Documentary and Survey

Filipino Cultural, Superstitious and Folk Beliefs

Media and Information Literacy

Presented by:

DE CHAVEZ, MICHAELA P.
CAPONPON, SHELLO MAE
LINATOC, CZARINA MAE M.
ARIDA, GERI LOU Y.
JARON, NICOLE ANN M.
GUTIERREZ, IMEE B.
RECILLO, JHON RENZO M.
FRIVALDO, JOYCE ANGELINE D.
ONG, ANGELA G.
DE CASTRO, CHRYSTAL B.

Grade 12 FRANKLIN

Presented to:

MS. JIREHLYN EZRA

(Media and Information Literacy Teacher)

LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY- LAGUNA

CALAMBA, LAGUNA

SY 2017-2018
 Filipino Classic Belief System & Cultural Practices

Superstitious Beliefs (Pamahiin) | Folk Beliefs (Paniniwala)

- They form the peoples value system and culture.

- Cicero, Greek Philosopher, derived the term Superstition from
supertiosi literally refers to left over or the survivors, the
descendants.
- This makes our rich cultural values survive and making ourselves
peculiar among others.
- Proverbs (Kasabihan ng Matatanda) | Riddles (Bugtong-Bugtong)

I. Interview (Encode)

So here are the several Folk and Superstitious beliefs we have gathered from the
people who have experienced it themselves, have seen it right before their eyes or have
heard it from other peoples old time stories:

1. It is bad luck to sweep the floor at night. Aside from sweeping away the wealth
in the house, it will also cause centipedes crawling on the ceiling to fall down.

Interviewer: It is bad luck to sweep the floor at night. Aside from sweeping away the wealth
in the house, it will also cause centipedes crawling on the ceiling to fall down.

Respondent: Oo masama talaga yung ano.. yung ganun. Dahil Ayon sa pamahiin na
kapag nag walis ka ng gabi eh.. ano..ibig sabihin nun winawalis mo yung swerte kaya
ipinagbabawal ang pag wawalis ng gabi nung araw.

2. If a woman looks pretty during pregnancy she will give birth to a girl, whereas if
she looks ugly she will give birth to a boy. In the same vein, if the womans
stomach is rounded, it will be a girl; but if the stomach is pointed, the baby will
be a boy.

Interviewer: Naniniwala po ba kayo na kapag ang isang babaeng buntis ay ang hugis nang
kanyang tiyan ay bilog ay ibig sabihin ay babae ang magiging anak, at kung ito naman ay
hugis patusok o ito ay lalaki?
Respondent: Oo, dahil yun ang kasabihan ng nakararami, ngunit hindi lamang ito ang
senyales na kung babae o lalaki ang magiging anak.
Interviewer: Maaari po ba kayo magbigay pa ng ibang kasabihan na inyong pinaniniwalaan.
Respondent: Gaya na lang na kapag ang isang babaeng nagbubuntis ay palaayos ibig sabihin
daw nito ay babae ang anak at kapag naman daw ang batok ng isang babaeng nag aayos ay
maitim ibig sabihin daw nito ay lalaki ang magiging anak, isa rin ito sa mga pinaniniwalaan
ng mga nakakatatanda tungkol sa mga nagbubuntis.

3. Wear a polka-dot shirt or dress to prosperity on New Years Eve to attract

prosperity the whole year round.

Interviewer: Magandang umaga po, ako po si Czarina Mae Linatoc maaari ko po ba kayong
tanungin o interviewhin tungkol sa isang kasabihan pero bago po iyan maaari po ba kayong
magpakilala.

Respondent: Ako si Celerina Masa.

Interviewer: Eto po ang aking katanungan, alam niyo po ba yung kasabihan na kailangan
magsuot ng mga tao ng polka-dot na damit sa gabi ng bagong taon?

Respondent: Oo, dahil ang bilog bilog ay simbolo ng pera para ang buong isang taon ay
maging maswerte dahil iyon ay simbolo ng kasaganaan sa buhay.

Interviewer: Maaari po ba kayong magbigay ng dahilan kung bakit kailangan magsuot ng

mga tao ng polka-dot tuwing bagong taon?

Respondent: Oo, dahil ayun nga ang sabi ng mga matatanda na yung polka-dot sa damit na
bilog bilog ay ayan daw ay simbolo na ayun ay pera ang dala.

Interviewer: Ahmm, naniniwala po ba kayo sa kasabihan na ito?

Respondent: Oo, naniniwala ako dahil maganda naman ang nagiging takbo ng buhay sa loob
ng isang taon sa mga hanap buhay, ang pag pasok ng pera ay masagana.

4. A black butterfly flitting inside the house will bring death in the household.

Interviewer: Naniniwala ka po ba na pag may butterfly na black na pumunta sa bahay basta

ganon e magbibring po ng death sa family?

Respondent: Awww hindi naman baka may dumadalaw lang

Interviewer: Edi ate, ano experience mo non pag kaka kunwai may nakikita kang butterfly na
nagsstay sa bahay nuo or nadalaw ganon?
Respondent: kase iniisp ko dinadalaw kami ng kapatid ko namatay

Interviewer: Parang feel nyo po na andon po sya binabantayan kayo?

Interviewer: Ask mo nga kung naniniwala sila sa pag may black na butterfly e magdadala ng
death sa bahay
Respondent: Ang pamahiin pag daw may black na paro paro
May mangyayari daw na masama Or pag may black na pusa na lumiban

Interviewer: ano experience nya about don? If ever na ganon nga.

Respondent: Tinanong ko kung may naranasan siya sabi daw pag daw malaking langaw.
Wait hirap ikwento hahaha nung gabi daw may dumating na malaking langaw, yung
maingay Basta. Namatay daw inay niya nun.

Interviewer: seryoso yon?

Respondent: kapitbahay namin yun eh. Namatay nga dati yung inay nya.

---

Respondent: Yung kaibigan nya daw noon sa college. Nakasalubong daw ng paru paro na
itim tapos kinabukasan daw namatay yung nanay daw nung kaibigan niya

Interviewer: hala totoo talaga yon?

Interviewer: daddy, pag ba may butterfly naniniwala kayo na parang may kaluluwa yung
dala non? Kunwari mga relative snyo ganon?

Interviewer: Dati sabi nung mga matatanda pag may patay ayon may butterfly na nalipad,
sila yon. Sabi ng mga matatanda andyan ang mamay, ang lolo.

5. Right before the coffin is lowered in the grave, the children of the dead person
are made to step across the coffin while adults throw flowers into the open grave
so the spirit of the departed kin will not haunt them.

Interviewer: Naexperience nyo na yung inilalakdaw yung bata sa kabaong ng patay.

Respondent: Oo. Simula pa pagkabata ko ganon na ginagawa ng nga tao.

Interviewer: Bakit?
Respondent: Ay para, kumbaga hindi lapitan o galawin ng kaluluwa ng mga patay.
Kumbaga kaparehas din siya nung pagpapasuot ng pulang damit sa bata kapag may patay.
Ganon din yung dahilan non.

6. A spoon that accidentally drops on the floor means that an unexpected female
visitor will arrive. If it is a fork that drops means that the surprise visitor will be a
man.

Interviewer: Alam niyo po ba yung kasabihan na kapag daw po nahulog yung kutsara sa
sahig ay may dadating na bisitang babae, tska kapag po nahulog yung tinidor sa sahig ay
may dadating daw pong bisitang lalaki?

Interviewee: Ang kasabihan na iyan ayan madalas marinig hindi lang noon pati ngayon.
Ano bang kailangan niyo malaman tungkol dyan?

Interviewer: Ito na nga po yung unang tanong, bakit po kayo naniniwala sa kasabihang
iyan?

Interviewee: Siguro dahil na din yun sa kasabihan ito o paniniwala na talaga sa atin. Tska
mula pa sa mga matatanda noon, mas matanda pa sakin e ganoon na talaga paniniwala nila.
Parang nagsalin-salin na at pinaniniwalaan ng nakararami kaya naman naniwala na din ako
atsaka may mga pagkakataon na nangyayari nga naman yaong ganoong pangyayari. Kung
minsan nga e nalaglag talaga yung kutsara e may dumating na bisitang babae biglaan tapos
ganoon din sa tinidor may lalaki din na dumating. Minsan pa nga e madami ang nalaglag,
madami din pumunta.

Interviewee: Pwede niyo po bang ikwento yung karanasan niyo tungkol sa kasabihang iyan?

Interviewee: Pwede naman, noong dalaga pa ko mga hayskul ata noon may sakit ako hindi
ako pumasok. Tapos noong nagligpit ako ng kinainan naming nalaglag yung ilang kutsara at
tinidor. Habang nakikinig ako sa radio nagsidatingan yung mga kaibigan ko para daw
dalawin ako kasi nalaman nilang nagkasakit ako. Tsaka biglang dumating yung tiya ko
noong minsang nalaglag yung kutsara ng kapatid ko habang nakain kami.

Interviewer: Pero naniniwala po kayo na kaya nangyari yun e gawa ng pagkalaglag ng

kutsara at tinidor?

Interviewee: Totoo naman na may mga senaryong may dumating talaga pero hindi sa lahat
ng panahon nangyayari yun. Paniniwala lang naman iyon pati ng matatanda pero ang
nakakatuwa kasi minsan nagkakasabay yung pngyayari. Di ako tunay na naniniwala kasi
kasabihan lang naman ito, hindi katotohanan. Diba ang kasabihan di naman
napapatunayang ganap yung ibig sabihin kasi nga sabi-sabi lang ito noong unang panahon.

7. If one accidentally bites his tongue people are talking about him.
Interviewer: Do you believe in the sA: Do you believe in the saying that when a person
accidentally bites his tongue, someone is talking about him?

Respondent: No, I don't believe in the saying that when one bites his tongue, people are
talking about him.

Interviewer: Why do you say so?

Respondent: Kase kung ganon, edi sana marami ng tao na putol ang dila because nowadays
chismis or talking about other people is a normal thing. You have bitten your tongue maybe
because you talk too fast or you were shocked or maybe simply because it just accidentally
happened, not because of any other reason. It's just a superstitious belief. It has no
connection, no scientific explanation, no relevance for that matter. It just don't make sense.

Interviewer: Have you had experiences o biting your own tongue? Had it come to your mind
that maybe it was because someone is talking about you?

Respondent: Yes, I've experienced that a lot of times but didn't come to my mind that it was
because other were talking about me because it's just a saying and I don't see any point in
believing it that when a person accidentally bites his tongue, someone is talking about him?

Interviewer: No, I don't believe in the saying that when one bites his tongue, people are
talking about him.

Respondent: Why do you say so?

Interviewer: Kase kung ganon, edi sana marami ng tao na putol ang dila because nowadays
chismis or talking about other people is a normal thing. You have bitten your tongue maybe
because you talk too fast or you were shocked or maybe simply because it just accidentally
happened, not because of any other reason. It's just a superstitious belief. It has no
connection, no scientific explanation, no relevance for that matter. It just don't make sense.

Interviewer: Have you had experiences o biting your own tongue? Had it come to your mind
that maybe it was because someone is talking about you?

Respondent: Yes, I've experienced that a lot of times but didn't come to my mind that it was
because other were talking about me because it's just a saying and I don't see any point in
believing it.

8. Dont take a bath on Good Friday and Black Saturday.

Respondent: Talagang bawal maligo kapag biyernes santo at sabado de gloria dahil ikaw
daw ay mamalasin sa araw na iyon at ang kasamaan ay darating sa inyo. Kapag tinanong
kng bakit bawal, ang sasabihin nila ay hindi masama maniwala o kaya naman ay
sumumunod ka nalang. Kailangan daw natin isaalang-alang ang pagkamatay ni Kristo dahil
siya ang naglistas sa atin sa ating kasalang mana.

9. If a bad spirit (tikbalang) tries to confuse and mislead a traveller, reversing his
shirt will enable him to reach his destination safely.

Interview: Do you know any stories about the tikbalangs?

Respondent: I know a couple of people who had tikbalang stories. One of them is my father.
When he was a teener living in Antique he mentioned one particular night when two of his
brothers were quarreling and socking each other outside their hut after a late evening drizzle.
You can hear shouts and a dull thud here and there. After sometime, their mother broke up
the fight and asked them to sleep away their tempers and change their clothes for the night.
The two grudgingly obliged. A few hours later, there were dull thuds all over again, this time
however, the sound shifted from one side of the house to the other. Father said the last time he
checked, both his elder brothers were fast asleep, tired from their fisticuffs earlier. Who or
what could be making the sound outside? He tried to sneak out of the back door to check but
his mother, who was still awake and sitting near the window, stopped him and told him
nonchalantly that he should stay inside as theres a tikbalang outside. He obeyed and made
sure that everyone was inside at the time. My father was the 7th of nine siblings by the way,
and everyone except for himself and my grandma was fast asleep already.

Still the dull thud-thud-thud continued, one at a time on each side of the house. He describe
the sound as akin to the sound of the heavy pestle used for separating the rice chaff from the
grain. He was forbidden even to sneak a peak at the window so he can only imagine what it
looked like. Apart from the dull thuds, there was no other sound to hear except the
stridulation of crickets and cicadas. He fell asleep to the sound of the tikbalang jumping
like crazy outside.

10. A baby greeted and kissed by a stranger will get sick (balis).

Interviewer: Totoo ba na pag nahalikan or nabati ng di kilala yung baby ay magkakasakit?

O yung balis na tinatawag

Respondent: yung balis pamahiin ng matatanda unang panahon pa yon, iba na ngayon
praktikal na mga tao ang iba di na naniniwala sa balis salita lang yan ng tao walang
kinalaman sa kalusugan.

Interviewer: Pero may kakilala ka na nabalis na?

Respondent: Oo dati, pero dati lang yun pag mahigpit ang paniniwalang totoo yun
nagkakatotoo nga. Pero nagkakataon lamang yun na ganon.
 II. Identifying the Sources of Information:

Information can come from virtually anywhere: personal experiences, books,

articles, expert opinions, encyclopedias, the Web. The type of information needed will
change depending on its application. Individuals generate information on a daily basis
as they go about their work. In academic institutions, staff and students consult various
sources of information. The choice of the source to consulted is usually determined by
the type of information sought. The three types of information sources are:

Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Tertiary Sources

In this activity, the type of Information Source used is the Primary Source. Students
are introduced to this project and the concept that each individual creates and
contributes. They study the transcript of an interview, learn how to conduct an
interview, and conduct and record the interview with his or her grandparent or elder.

Interviews may be conversational, but they are not casual conversations. Organization
is essential, as is attention to detail and a firm will. The process also begins well before
you talk with the other person, be it face to face, on the telephone or over the Internet.
The intensity of your preparations may vary depending on the gravity and importance
of the interview. The first thing to determine is your goals: Do you want to obtain
specific information? If so, what? Even if youre working on a long-term project and are
just interested in learning more, do your best to determine what youd like to learn.

This document, a transcript of an oral interview, may be printed and distributed

to students for homework. It is best if students write out the answers to the questions in
the lesson. The interview transcript is used both as a model of interviewing and as part
of the lesson on primary sources.

the interview as a primary source in the study of history or past experiences;

the skills of interviewing, accessing, interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating the primary
sources of oral history;
the ways to pose questions in interviewing; and
the process of conducting an interview.

III. Analysis of Data

 The proponents asked 10 students from the Senior High School Department to
answer the questionnaire about Filipinos Cultural Superstitions and Cultural Beliefs.
Out of 10 respondents the results are:

1. It is bad luck to sweep

the floor at night. Aside
from sweeping away the
wealth in the house, it will
also cause centipedes 2 respondents said that it is bad luck to sweep
the floor at night, that you are sweeping away the
wealth in the house, it will also cause centipedes
2
crawling on the ceiling to fall down. The other 8 says
8
otherwise.

YES NO

2. If a woman looks pretty

during pregnancy she will
give birth to a girl, whereas
2 respondents said that if a woman looks pretty if she looks ugly she will
during pregnancy she will give birth to a girl, whereas if she give birth to a boy. In the
looks ugly she will give birth to a boy. In the same vein, if
the womans stomach is rounded, it will be a girl; but if the 2
stomach is pointed, the baby will be a boy. The other 8 says 8
otherwise.

YES NO

3. Wear a polka-dot shirt or

dress to prosperity on New
Years Eve to attract
prosperity the whole year
round.

4 6 respondents said that if you wear a polka-

6
dot shirt or dress to prosperity on New Years Eve

YES NO
 to attract prosperity the whole year round. The other 4 says that it is not true.

4. A black butterfly flitting

inside the house will bring
death in the household.

2 respondents said that if a black butterfly

2
flitting inside the house will bring death in the
household. The other 8 respondents said that it is not
true
8

YES NO

5. Right before the coffin is

lowered in the grave, the
children of the dead person
are made to step across the
coffin while adults throw
5 5
YES NO
5 respondents said that right before the coffin is
lowered in the grave, the children of the dead person
are made to step across the coffin while adults throw
flowers into the open grave so the spirit of the
departed kin will not haunt them. The other 5 says
otherwise.

6. A spoon that accidentally

drops on the floor means
that an unexpected female
5 respondents said that if a spoon that visitor will arrive. If it is a
accidentally drops on the floor means that an fork that drops means that
unexpected female visitor will arrive. If it is a fork that
drops means that the surprise visitor will be a man.
5 5
The other 5 says that it is not true

YES NO
 7. If one accidentally bites his
tongue people are talking
about him.
5 respondents said that if one accidentally
bites his tongue people are talking about him. The
5 5
other 5 says that it is not true.

YES NO

8. Dont take a bath on Good

3 respondents said that dont take a bath Friday and Black Saturday.
on Good Friday and Black Saturday. The other 7
says that you should or you can.
3

YES NO

9. If a bad spirit (tikbalang)

tries to confuse and mislead a
traveller, reversing his shirt
will enable him to reach his
6 respondents said that if a bad spirit
destination safely.
(tikbalang) tries to confuse and mislead a traveller,
reversing his shirt will enable him to reach his
4 destination safely. The other 4 says that it is not true.
6

YES NO
 10. A baby greeted and kissed
by a stranger will get sick
6 respondents said that if A baby greeted (balis).
and kissed by a stranger will get sick (balis). The
other 4 says that it is not true.
4

YES NO

Given ten (10) belief to be asked to the respondents, the proponents ranked those
corresponding belief, basing on the statistics on how many knows & believes it, ranking
them according to their popularity. The graphical representation of that ranking is as
shown below:

6 6 6
5 5 5

3
2 2 2

Series 1

And also shown in a tabular representation ranking them from first to last:
 Ranking (Popularity) Belief

1st Belief no. 3, 9 & 10

2nd Belief no. 5,6 & 7

3rd Belief no. 8

4th Belief no. 1,2 & 4

IV. Conclusion
Concluding that among the 10 beliefs given the belief that talks about the polka-
dot outfit during New Year, wearing the clothes you are wearing the other way around
and when an infant was greeted by a stranger, are the most popular and well known
beliefs. Second in ranking is about the jumping of a child above a coffin, when a spoon
fell on the ground a girl is coming and vice versa and when you bit your tongue
someone is talking about you. Third in place is the belief that you must not take a bath
during good Friday and black Saturday. the least popular corresponds to the belief that
say when you sweep the floor at night it is not good, when you are pregnant you are
beautiful if it is a girl and a butterfly flitting into the house causes death to household.
Overall, 3 out of 10 makes in the most popular belief among the given beliefs to the
respondents.