In an era defined by severe climate crises, unchecked deforestation of sacred spaces like the Sierra Madre and Sibuyan Island, and a deep public yearning for systemic accountability, many find themselves asking: Where do we turn when the systems meant to protect us fail? To find the answer, we must look to the rugged peaks … Continue reading From Mystic Outlaw to Spiritual Sovereign: The Modern Blueprint of Papa Isio and the Babaylan Legacy
Spirituality
Reclaiming the Sacred Touch: How the Hilot Academy of Binabaylan is Reconnecting the Filipino Diaspora to Their Ancestral Roots
When I was younger, I walked from door to door looking for work as a traditional Manghihilot (Filipino traditional healer). Every door slammed shut. The modern world dismissed my calling as "unscientific" and "not evidence-based." In a society deeply colonized by Western medical and religious systems, our indigenous ways of healing were marginalized, misunderstood, and … Continue reading Reclaiming the Sacred Touch: How the Hilot Academy of Binabaylan is Reconnecting the Filipino Diaspora to Their Ancestral Roots
The Unbroken Thread: How the Triumvirate of Panay Defied the Cross and Echoes into the Modern Altar
History is written by the conquerors, but the soul of a people is preserved by its vessels. In the late 16th century, between 1580 and 1590, the lush interior of Panay Island became the battlefield for one of the earliest, most sophisticated spiritual counter-offensives against European colonization. As Spanish Dominican and Catholic authorities aggressively rolled … Continue reading The Unbroken Thread: How the Triumvirate of Panay Defied the Cross and Echoes into the Modern Altar
The Dismembered Sovereign: Caquenga and the Triune Power of the Ancient Filipina
Centuries before colonial borders mapped the Cagayan Valley, the forests of Nalfotan (modern-day Rizal, Cagayan) echoed with a different kind of authority. It was a power held not by the edge of a steel blade, but by the rhythmic, healing press of human hands and the ecstatic trances of the spirit world. At the absolute … Continue reading The Dismembered Sovereign: Caquenga and the Triune Power of the Ancient Filipina
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.
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
Dambana ng Diwa: A Sacred Online Retreat for Spiritual Wellness
June 15, 2026 | A New Moon Gathering of Awakening and Renewal In a time when many are feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, and searching for deeper meaning, a sacred invitation arises—not from the outside world, but from within. It is the call of the Diwa. On June 15, 2026, under the quiet and powerful energy of … Continue reading Dambana ng Diwa: A Sacred Online Retreat for Spiritual Wellness
Spiritual Wellness: The Soul of Filipino Wellness Tourism: Reclaiming Ancestral Healing through WeTap and Indigenous Wisdom
In recent years, wellness tourism has evolved beyond spa treatments and leisure retreats. Travelers today are seeking something deeper—an experience that heals not only the body but also the mind, heart, and spirit. This shift invites us, as Filipinos, to rediscover an essential yet often overlooked dimension of wellness: Spiritual Wellness. For the Wellness Tourism … Continue reading Spiritual Wellness: The Soul of Filipino Wellness Tourism: Reclaiming Ancestral Healing through WeTap and Indigenous Wisdom
Birth of a New Faith: On Freedom, Naming, and the Pilgrimage to Paradise
Introduction: The Question of Beginnings The freedom to create and establish a religion is upheld by many nations and affirmed by international charters that safeguard human dignity and conscience. Yet beyond legal protections lies a deeper inquiry: What does it mean to bring forth a new faith? Is it merely an act of organization—a community, … Continue reading Birth of a New Faith: On Freedom, Naming, and the Pilgrimage to Paradise