Last 27th of December i receive text message:
The word in the text is in Tagalog Language and i want to make distinction about the word Hula. If i am going to translate the literal meaning of that sentence into English, the person is asking me if:
Hello! Do you do Guessing?
But what actually that person want to know is:
Hello! Do you do Divination?
Ever since when i receive awareness of the world, people will use to say MANGHUHULA to a person who do Divination reading. English words has many terms to refer to the work of an Oracle and that includes word Fortune Teller, Soothsayer, Psychic Reader.
But as a Filipino, it seems we lack words to describe the work of telling a persons fortune. Though most likely we do give advise in accordance to the guidance of the Spirits whom we serve. But let us see what is the difference between a Guesser and a Diviner. So with that let us ask everybody friend Mr.Google. First let us ask the meaning of the word Guess:
In this definition, we can understand that everyone could make a guess. This reminds me of a game in a Popular Noon time show in the Philippines which is Eat Bulaga and the Game Show Title is Pinoy Henyo.
Pinoy Henyo is a Guessing Game hosted by Eat Bulaga. 2 players are needed to play the Game. The facilitator will provide them time frame such us for 3 minutes to make guesses alternately. On one player, a card board will be placed on the forehead without knowing what is in the board then that person will guess what was written on it by asking conformation to the other player. The other player is not allow to tell the guesser the right word except for the answer: Yes, No or Can be. The guesser must guess the word and has the ability to say pass, and when it does they will shift turn on Guessing. Anyone can play the Game as it is a Guessing Game. But on Divination, one must have the right tool to evaluate and analyze the situation of the person in order to land in a sound counsel.
According to Merriam-Webster, Divination is the art or practice to foresee or foretell future events to discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers. And according to the same dictionary, Art means as a Skills acquired by experience, study or observation. With that the Art of Divination requires skills that been acquired through experience, study or observation. And like guessing anyone can acquire this skills with a condition that a person performing this art must have experience or study it.
The work performed in Divination by experience is not just like an ordinary guessing Game. As i perform it, I apply some procedures in order to provide Divinatory Reading or Counseling to a person. Indeed that I use this Art as a tool to make a person open up their thoughts and emotions that I could gather some information to analyze. In doing this we collect certain information and use some medium to perform certain ritualistic gesture in order to tap to the subconscious mind of an individual seeking for guidance. And through that act or ritual, I can connect to the inner self of the person and analyze the situation they have.
Our work as a Diviner can be likened into the work of a Weather forecaster who observes the behavior of the wind and clouds to foretell if there is coming rain. By observing the past behavior we can foretell future possibilities of what is going to happen to the life of the person who is undergoing the process of Divination.
In the West, most of the Diviner are called as Psychic or Spiritual Counselor. But in our country, we lack term for that word that we call the Diviner as Manghuhula. But that term is not appropriate name for the Job of the Diviner. As we dig down our History, Culture and Tradition; the word Magtatawas or Manhihimalad is more appropriate name to call the Diviner.
Tawas is an Art of determining the Cause of Illness of a person during the pre colonial time. It is known as Spiritual Diagnosis as our ancestors believe that the illness of a person has two cause: one is the Physical Cause and the other is the Spiritual Cause. By doing Tawas, the Manghihilot can determine what kind of treatment procedure to perform. Though aside from being a diagnostic procedure, Tawas can also be a form of Psycho-Emotional release that allows the patient/client to voice out what they are keeping inside their mind and their heart that bothers them.
In the Visayas region, the Word Panghimalad literally means to See the Palm. Kapalaran and Panghimalad is derived from the root word Palad which means Palm. In other words Panghihimalad is an Art of studying the structures and contents of the Palm which Kapalaran is learned. Kapalaran means fate or fortune. The other word we as Filipino knows is the word Mapalad which in English means Blessed.
Dambana ng Luntiang Aghama 