Netflix have surprised many people around the world specially the Filipino’s in Diaspora. It is because of their extravagant marketing strategy of their new series called Trese.
Last May, Jamee who is our Fellow Hilot Binabaylan who serves in Maryland, USA just recommend us to read the comics titled “Trese” which we could purchase through Amazons. But a few weeks later, Trese can now be seen through Netflix. I am really amazed specially knowing that one of the Lead graphics for the posters of the series is also fellow Hilot Binabaylan. No wonder why some of the words and graphics are familiar to me not only on the characters but also from the principles and philosophies that we can learn from that series. With these, let me share my thoughts and opinion in accordance to the teachings of Luntiang Aghama.
Tabi Tabi Po Vs. Tao Po
On this series, we often here Alexandra Trese utter words “Tabi Tabi Po” to invoke the presence of the Nuno and make some offerings of Choknut which is a Peanut Butter Candy Bar whom Filipino Kids Love. The word “Tabi Tabi po” in the series becomes a words to utter to call the attention of the Nuno which is a Laman Lupa.
Nuno is a commonly form of Dwende or Dwarfs that lives on the Earth. They are literally a Laman Lupa or Dweller of the underground. But Nuno is an ancestor which is part of Filipino Family that is an Elder that is why most elderly are called Nuno or Ninuno specially when they died. But calling for the Ninuno and unseen spirits must not be called through the phrase “tabi tabi po” but instead they use “TAO PO” signifying that a Living Human wants to communicate with the unseed.
“Tabi Tabi Po” is used when you as a person go to unfamiliar place such as a forested area. It is a sign of respect to the unseen spirit and signalling your intention to pass through their teritory. The exact meaning of Tabi Tabi po is Excuse me, may i pass or Get to the side and may i pass safely that i may not step on to the unseen. Tabi Tabi Po is a prayer of protection that nothing harm will happen to you when you go to unfamiliar place with the aid of the unseen spirits.
Gibberish Baybayin
And another thing that has not escaped to the critical eyes of the Filipino’s specially to the Baybayin Advocates are the Baybayin Characters that are presented through out the show.
And the most special one that i have seen that been debated on some Baybayin Facebook Group is this:
I’ve seen some commented it as Gibberish and some want to call the attention of Netflix Trese’s Arts and Marketing Department to correct the errors of writing Baybayin in the said series. Though again, the Inner Demons of the Filipino’s has attacked again by becoming Holier than Thou to the Netflix Series. Though in terms of Academic Usage of the Script they may be right that Netflix have used Baybayin into a Gibberish manner. Though the usage of Babayin script is not limited in human communications alone. Since The Series highlighted Alexandra Trese as Mandirigmang Babaylan, the Usage of Baybayin here does not pertains to human communication but instead of Ritual Usage.
Long before Baybayin been used as a form of written communication before it was lost due to the colonization; Babaylan already have used Baybayin as a form of implements in their ritual tools. Such as the Calatagan Pot where we can found a Baybayin inscription on the side of its mouth. At first Glance, the scripts may form a Gibberish words but with persistence and perseverance, the discoverer have managed to ask expert on what does the baybayin symbols means and have found different messages formed as combinations of the baybayin characters.
Many people of today only think of the mundane aspect of every matter. But when it come to spirituality, Luntiang Aghama have strives to decipher the cultural and spiritual heritage of our ancestors. Like in Prayer as we have discussed it in our weekly meetings, it can be silent or loud. These delivered prayers are projected to different beings when used. Such as the Audible Prayer which you can Hear, it aims to be delivered to the Person who has Ears to hear; while silent Prayers which is inaudible are being said before the presence of the Great Divine Spirits.
In using Baybayin as ritual implements of Prayer, each symbol of Baybayin has 4 interpretations depending on its position according to the teaching of Sibulan Adlaw Tala Mystic Oracle. It is not only the Symbol that has meaning but also the positioning of the symbol whether it was written north, east, south or westward.
The Ritual Usage of Baybayin can be learned through the Initiation Workshop of Lakay Magbaya Aghama on June 25, 2021. In this workshop you will learn the proper way to read and write using Baybayin Script for Human Communication as well as on how to read Baybayin Script as a Divine Message by the Spirits whether coming from the Divine, Elementals or Ancestral Spirits.
To sign Up, Kindly fill up the form by clicking the link Below.
Dambana ng Luntiang Aghama 