Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur

College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail: unp_nursingvc@yahoo.com

EARLY PRACTICES OF EARLY FILIPINOS

(NURSING PRACTICES OF THE EARLY FILIPINOS)
!!!niya ditoy duwa beh kitam man dnbfashbdahaha!!!

In partial fulfillment of the final project for the subject

Readings in Philippines History

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Presented By:
Angeline Tacata
Julie Andrea Alejon
BSN - 1A

Presented To:
Mr. Stephen C. Tabios
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur

College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail: unp_nursingvc@yahoo.com

History is significant. Over the years, decades, and centuries, this remark must have been self-

evident. It is unavoidable. Far from being a dry and uninteresting subject, its breadth excites

beginners by connecting things throughout time and encouraging them to take a long perspective

of such relationships in order to have a deeper grasp of their chosen route. Nursing has a long

and intriguing history in the Philippines. The history of nursing in the Philippines may be traced

back to precolonial Philippines, when women, priests, and herbal doctors provided care. Despite

the fact that women did not have significant access to formal education in schools since only a

small number of Filipino women acquired primary education in Spanish-run charity institutions,

this tendency remained during the Spanish colonial period. During the Philippine revolution,

women were the primary caregivers for wounded revolutionaries. Filipino women were given the

opportunity to become educated as nurses during the American period in the Philippines, guided

by their American nurse and missionary mentors, until nursing became a full-fledged profession

in the Philippines, a professional career not only for modern-day women but also for men. The

emergence of nursing as a vocation in the Philippines was paved by the Filipino people's inherent
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur

College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail: unp_nursingvc@yahoo.com

caring culture. This was also true in villages prior to Spanish colonialism. The method health

care was delivered evolved as well.

Mysticism and Superstitions.

These were the early beliefs in the Philippines about health and illness. A disease was thought to

be caused by another person, usually an enemy, or a witch or bad spirits. For the sake of their

health, Filipinos used to be very careful not to disturb other people or malevolent spirits. People

thought health was directly related to many superstitions and legends. Back then, there were no

medical professionals and believe in special gods of healing, with the priest-physician also

known as word doctors acting as a go-between. Herbolarios were dubbed herbdoctors if they
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur

College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail: unp_nursingvc@yahoo.com

employed leaves or roots. Filipinos who became ill were normally looked for by female family

members or acquaintances at home.

As a result of these myths, we may better comprehend our forefathers' thoughts and become

acquainted with their way of life, which will expand our knowledge of ourselves as Filipinos.

Myths are just as significant today as they were in ancient times. Myths provide eternal answers

and act as a guide for each age. Thus, superstitious beliefs are strongly linked to financial risk-

taking and gambling habits, they can have a detrimental influence on people's social well-being.

No medical professionals but men known to practice magic and the supernatural.

In terms of health and disease, the early Filipinos believed in superstitious beliefs and rituals.

Herbmen were known as "herbolarios," which meant "witchcrafter." Unidentified ailments were

considered to be cursed by “mangkukulam/mangagaway” witches and wizards, while dangerous

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur

College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail: unp_nursingvc@yahoo.com

birthing and “pamao” were thought to be caused by “nunos.” The “mabuting hilot” or called the

good midwife was generally present during childbirth. Bad omens and wicked sorcerers were

supposed to be the cause if the birth got too risky. The evil omen is traditionally removed by

exploding gunpowder from a bamboo cane near the head of the person who is suffering. Then,

the first healers among the tribal societies of ancient Philippines were the Philippine shamans

also known as katalonan, babaylans, and other names in different languages. As Philippine

history has progressed, folk physicians and the training and deployment of genuine medical

practitioners have evolved. Medical personnel trained in Western medicine, such as Filipino

nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and surgeons, coexist with a still-thriving

group of traditional healers who lack formal education in scientific medicine and often serve

people in impoverished areas of the Philippines. Although shamans' or the first health care’s

repertoires vary from one culture to the next, they are typically thought to have the ability to heal

the sick, and some to communicate with the otherworld, and often to escort the souls of the dead

to that otherworld.

References:

Nurseslabs Contributor. (2020, September 25). History of Nursing in the Philippines. Nurseslabs.

Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://nurseslabs.com/history-nursing-philippines/

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur

College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail: unp_nursingvc@yahoo.com

J. (2022, June 15). Article: History of Nursing in the Philippines. Nurse Advocate. Retrieved

June 15, 2022, from http://filipinonurseadvocate.blogspot.com/2010/03/article-history-of-

nursing-in.html

A. (2009, February 10). HISTORY OF NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES. Nursing Crib.

Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://nursingcrib.com/nursing-notes-reviewer/history-of-

nursing-in-the-philippines/

PCHS. (n.d.). History of Nursing inThe Philippines. Scribd. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from

https://www.slideshare.net/nurse5616/history-nursing-of-the-philippines

Pusta, C. (2016). History of Nursing. StuDocu. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from

https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/west-visayas-state-university/bachelor-of-science-in-

nursing/history-of-nursing-and-timeline-2020/23042822