In the mountains of Oton, Panay, in the year 1663, a charismatic, gender-crossing shaman (asog) named Babaylan Tapar launched an extraordinary spiritual rebellion. Stripped of their ancestral ways by the relentless march of Spanish colonization, Tapar and his followers executed a striking tactical maneuver: they built a secret temple in the wilderness and created a … Continue reading From Camouflage to Consciousness: How Babaylan Tapar’s 17th-Century Legacy Culminates in Templong Anituhan
The Guardian of the Animist Cosmology: Reclaiming the Landas ng Lahi with Babaylan Estrella Bangotbanwa
In the modern world of concrete, screens, and constant noise, a quiet but powerful longing is stirring in the hearts of many Filipinos. It is a yearning to reconnect with the soil, to speak to the ancestors, and to remember a time when the world was alive with spirit. To find our way back, we … Continue reading The Guardian of the Animist Cosmology: Reclaiming the Landas ng Lahi with Babaylan Estrella Bangotbanwa
The Forgotten Pillars of the Tamblot Uprising: How Five Babaylan Weaponized Pre-Colonial Spirituality Against Spain
Mainstream Philippine history textbooks often paint the Tamblot Uprising (1621–1622) as the singular act of one charismatic Boholano shaman. But behind Tamblot’s prophetic declarations was a highly organized, regional network of spiritual leaders who turned the rugged interior of Bohol into a fortress of native resistance. When Jesuit missionaries began forcing the indigenous population into … Continue reading The Forgotten Pillars of the Tamblot Uprising: How Five Babaylan Weaponized Pre-Colonial Spirituality Against Spain
From Diwata to Agimat: How Datu Bankaw’s Rebellion Birththed Philippine Occultism and Folk Catholicism
When we look at the colorful tapestry of modern Filipino spirituality, we see a fascinating paradox. Millions of devout Catholics simultaneously cross themselves, whisper Latin-sounding oraciones (magical prayers), and carry brass agimat (amulets) for protection. In the esoteric underground, masters of the Lihim na Karunungan ng Dios (LNKD) utilize sacred pocketbooks to heal illnesses or … Continue reading From Diwata to Agimat: How Datu Bankaw’s Rebellion Birththed Philippine Occultism and Folk Catholicism
Guardians of the Fire: The Legacy of Bae Ulang Udig and the Rise of Templong Anituhan Inc.
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 … Continue reading Guardians of the Fire: The Legacy of Bae Ulang Udig and the Rise of Templong Anituhan Inc.
Reclaiming the Sacred: The Revolutionary Legacy of Babaylan Pagali and the Future of Templong Anituhan Inc.
For centuries, mainstream Philippine history textbooks have relegated early native uprisings to mere footnotes of Spanish colonial chronicles. But beneath the colonial ink lies a rich, spiritual tapestry of resistance led not just by tribal chieftains (datus), but by spiritual mediums who refused to let the Diwata be erased. Among these legendary figures is Babaylan … Continue reading Reclaiming the Sacred: The Revolutionary Legacy of Babaylan Pagali and the Future of Templong Anituhan Inc.
Reclaiming the Staff and the Blade: The Living Legacy of Babaylan Tamblot
In the heart of the Visayas, long before the concrete roads of modern Bohol were paved, the rustle of bamboo carried the chants of a revolution. The year was 1621. As Spanish steel and Catholic crosses sought to systematically dismantle the spiritual and social foundations of indigenous Philippine society, one figure stepped out of the … Continue reading Reclaiming the Staff and the Blade: The Living Legacy of Babaylan Tamblot
The Forgotten Prophetess of Bohol: Remembering Babaylan Karyapa and Reclaiming the Old Path
In the heart of Sikatuna Village in Quezon City, a quiet street bears a name that most commuters pass by without a second thought: Karyapa Street. To the untrained eye, it is just an urban road. But to those who listen to the whispers of our history, that name represents a monumental figure of pre-colonial … Continue reading The Forgotten Prophetess of Bohol: Remembering Babaylan Karyapa and Reclaiming the Old Path
True Healing Is Not Violence: Reclaiming Compassion in Spiritual Practice
In some spaces today, there is a growing misconception that pain equals healing—that the more intense, forceful, or physically painful a ritual is, the more “effective” it becomes. Some even justify the use of harsh methods or tools—such as striking or whipping with objects like buntot pagi—as part of spiritual cleansing or deliverance. This perspective … Continue reading True Healing Is Not Violence: Reclaiming Compassion in Spiritual Practice
Crossing into June: A Call to Peace Weavers
A Reflection on the Global Peace Situation and Our Sacred Responsibility As we stand on the threshold between months, we now arrive at the final day of May 2026. With grateful hearts, we pause and give thanks to the Divine—Bathala, the Source of Life—for guiding us through the fullness of this passing month. May has … Continue reading Crossing into June: A Call to Peace Weavers
Dambana ng Luntiang Aghama 