The modern re-emergence of the “Old Path” (the indigenous, animistic spiritual traditions of the Philippines) is not an accidental trend; it is the fruit of deliberate, courageous work by ancestral gatekeepers who refused to let the old gods sleep. Chief among these spiritual architects was Bae Ulang Udig (born Paul Escubido Cabalfin), a revered binabaylan (shaman) whose vision effectively bridged the gap between ancient, oral traditions and the realities of modern practitioners.

Through his foundational teachings and his direct ties to the formative history of Templong Anituhan Inc., Bae Ulang Udig left an indelible blueprint for what it truly means to carry the medicine of the ancestors into the contemporary world.

The Code of Babaylan: An Ethical Compass

Before Bae Ulang Udig codified his teachings, the ways of the babaylan were largely decentralized, preserved only in oral epics, regional folk practices, or hidden mountain rituals. By setting forth the Code of Babaylan, he gave a scattered generation of modern practitioners an anchored, comprehensive spiritual code built upon five pillars:

Earth Attunement: The mandate to live strictly by the planet’s natural rhythms. Practitioners are called to celebrate the bounty of the harvest and deeply respect the seasons of scarcity, honoring the environmental spirits (anitos and diwatas) that oversee the land.
Deep Connection: The practice of intentional relationship building. This requires regular introspection, shared community dialogues, and communal rituals designed to foster deep, spiritual cohesion among seekers.
Subtle Activism: The understanding that a practitioner cannot separate spiritual work from social justice. A true modern babaylan must act as an active warrior and protector of the community, standing against oppression, corruption, and systemic greed.
Ecological Healing: The direct invocation of ancestral medicine, sacred dances, and elemental rituals specifically targeted to restore balance, nurse a bleeding planet back to health, and defend endangered natural environments.
Cultural Pride: The fierce choice to live daily life through a lens of decolonization. It demands a radical reclamation of Philippine history, national heritage, and an unyielding, revolutionary love for one’s country and ancestors.

The Message to Modern Practitioners: “Awaken the Warrior-Healer Within”

If Bae Ulang Udig were to speak to today’s practitioners of the Old Path, his message would be a clarion call against empty mysticism and superficial spirituality. He would warn against treating the ancestral paths as mere “trends” or tools for purely individualistic gain.

He would remind us that the ancestral babaylan was the heartbeat of the barangay—a multi-faceted leader who filled the roles of sage, physician, political adviser, and frontline warrior. To walk the Old Path today means accepting a duty to protect the disenfranchised, shield the remaining forests and rivers from ecological destruction, and heal the collective cultural trauma left behind by generations of colonization. True magic, he would remind us, is found in the physical labor of community organizing, the restoration of emotional well-being (ginhawa), and the unapologetic preservation of indigenous identity.

Bridging the Past: Templong Anituhan Inc.

Bae Ulang Udig’s far-reaching vision did not exist merely on paper; it directly fueled the developing history and foundation of Templong Anituhan Inc., a dedicated non-profit organization established to revive, preserve, and cultivate the wisdom of Philippine indigenous spiritual traditions.

The name itself reflects the sacred synthesis he championed: Templum (a consecrated, open space) and Anituhan (the union of Anito, the ancestral spirits, and Tuhan, the ancient Austronesian name for God). As an entity dedicated to providing formal religious education, spiritual service, and a living framework for Binabaylan philosophy, Templong Anituhan Inc. stands as a physical manifestation of Bae Ulang Udig’s lifelong dream: a centralized, protected container where Filipinos can safely re-align their katawan (body), kaluluwa (spirit), and diwa (consciousness).

Invocations and Blessings upon Templong Anituhan Inc.

In honor of the foundations laid, the ancient fires kept, and the ancestral lines unbroken, we lift our words to the spirit world:

“We invoke the enduring presence, guidance, and blessing of Bae Ulang Udig upon the leaders, teachers, and seekers of Templong Anituhan Inc.

May his unwavering spirit of Subtle Activism light the temple’s sacred hearth. May his dedication to Earth Attunement keep the temple deeply rooted in the soil of our ancestors, fiercely protective of our native lands, and always aligned with the whispering winds, the sacred waters, and the great Tuhan.

We pray that his blessing shields this holy, consecrated ground from division, ego, and external storms. Let Templong Anituhan Inc. forever be an open refuge for the weary, a beacon of decolonized Cultural Pride, and a training ground for the spiritual warriors of the new age.

As it was written in the Code, so let it be lived in the Temple. Mayari Na! PagAsatin!