Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

Mapping of Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Category: Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe

NAME OF THE ELEMENT: MANANAMBAL

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

TYPE: [ ] Traditional ecological wisdom [x] Traditional healing system, rituals,

beliefs
[ ] Indigenous knowledge
[ ] Initiatory rites
[ ] Knowledge about local flora and fauna
[ ] Possession rites
[ ] Subsistence technology (Identify if
[ ] Shamanism
farming, fishing, hunting, food preservation,
[ ] Cosmology
gathering)__________________
[ ] Other
__________________________

PHOTO:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

(Photo Courtesy: Lina G. Rivero,30 March 2021)

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND RANGE OF THE ELEMENT: (Describe the place where intangible heritage is
practiced, even including the extent of the practice in neighboring areas or places)

Catigbian is a landlocked municipality in the island province of Bohol, lying north of Balilihan, south of
Sagbayan and Tubigon, east of San Isidro and west of Batuan and Carmen. It is approximately thirty-five
(35) kilometers away from the capital of the province, Tagbilaran City. Its land area is 113.33 square
kilometers which constitutes 2.35% of Bohol’s total area. Catigbian is a 4 th class municipality in the
province of Bohol, under the first congressional district. It is politically subdivided into twenty-two (22)
barangays namely: Alegria, Ambuan, Baang, Bagtic, Bongbong, Cambailan, Candumayao, Kang-ras,
Causwagan Norte, Hagbuaya, Haguilanan, Libertad Sur, Liboron, Mahayag Norte,Mahayag Sur, Maitum,
Mantasida, Poblacion, Poblacion Weste, Rizal, Sinakayanan and Triple Union. People living in this town
still practice this means of treating illness.

RELATED DOMAINS OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE: (Tick appropriate box/es.)

[ ] Performing arts
[x] Social practices, rituals, and festive events
[ ] Oral traditions and expressions
[ ] Traditional craftsmanship

II. DESCRIPTION OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

A. Summary of the element

(Description of the history of the practice, occasion/season, processes involved, procedures, beliefs associated,
settings, aims, social functions, cultural meaning, and other pertinent data)

A mananambal or folk healer is a local medicinal doctor who resorts to indigenous means of treating
patients who are in pain or have long suffered from various forms of illness caused by supernatural
factors. The mananambals or folk healers’ function as one of the links between the physical world and

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

the spiritual world. They also reinforce the Filipinos belief of the mystical and how one could experience
harm or wellness depending on the results of the interactions between the invisible and the visible
world.

People who have illness can visit folk healers any days of the week but locals usually visit them during
Tuesdays and Fridays for these are the days that are believed to be holy for the mananambals or folk
healers. Folk healers perform their ritual in healing in their homes but there are times that they also visit
the homes of those sick people. Good Friday is also a significant day for the folk healers. During this day
they are obliged to go to church. They considered this day as the most sacred day among all other days.
It is also during Good Fridays that they prepare the different folk medicines that they will use in curing
different kinds of illness.

Locals (Catigbianons) believe that not all illness can be cured with the aid of technologies and other
medical means. That’s why they seek the help of the folk healers in treating their different illness
especially those illnesses that can’t be explained through medical terms or those illness which are
influenced by spiritual aspects or other supernatural factors.

Folk healers are seen in the community as alternative doctors. Their ability to apply spiritualism and
herbalism in curing various illnesses is perceived by the locals as an intervention for formal medical cure.
They are considered (by the local community) as being competent to provide health care using plant and
mineral substances and certain other techniques based on social, cultural and religious backgrounds.
They become instruments in ensuring that the locals or those who are living near their place receive the
health care they need regardless of their gender and social status.

The folk healing practices reflect the Filipino psyche that includes its culture, folklore religion,
superstitions alongside saints and mythological creatures. There are intricate processes and procedures
involved in the folk healing by mananambals and these practices still hold relevance in the Catigbianon’s
culture today. According to Manong Pacito, one of the known folk healers in town, before reciting the
oracion (a prayer recited in Latin), he first blows the aliimpo or hair whorls of the patient while saying
Oracion nga gikan sa Dios Amahan (Oracion from God the Father) then he blows the back part of the
patient’s body, to the neck, then to the patient’s chest. He always reminds the patient not to take a bath
after the treatment. These are the first procedures he usually does whenever someone asks for his help,
whatever the illness may be.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

If a patient is bitten by poisonous insects or animals, the mananambal or folk healer sips the venom of
the poisonous substance secreted by these animals to prevent it from flowing to the blood and worst
reaches the patient’s heart, which is considered to be very dangerous and fatal. Before doing this, the
mananambal or folk healer writes the oracion on a piece of paper. While writing, he asks for guidance
from spirit guides and he ends it by saying Amen. He then folds the paper and asks the patient to eat it
for him/her to be cured. Just as the first two procedures, he reminds the patient not to take a bath
within 24 hours because if he/she does, it will trigger the poison/venom to worsen that could wear out
the patient.

These are just some of the common ways of curing illness from a mananambal or folk healer’s
perspective. The researchers may not directly understand some of their ways but they just have to
believe them because they have been doing these since then.

B. Culture-bearer/s and practitioner/s of the element

(Description of person/s or people practicing the intangible heritage)

Manong Pacito, 67 years old, from Poblacion, Catigbian, Bohol. A very well-known mananambal or folk
healer in the aforementioned municipality who sips venom or the poisonous substance that are bitten
from poisonous insects or animals like snakes, scorpions, spiders, dogs, cats, and many others.

C. Mode of transmission (Describe how the knowledge and skills related to the element is passed on)

Manong Pacito is one of the known mananambal or folk healers in the town of Catigbian. The go-to
mananambal or folk healer to those who are bitten by poisonous insects or animals like snakes,
scorpions, spiders, dogs, cats, and many others. In curing them, he uses various methods such as
praying, reading incantations from the oracion book. These prayers and incantations are accompanied
by materials such as lana (a coconut oil) and garlic.

But how did Manong Pacito end up as a folk healer?

His desire of becoming a folk healer started when he witnessed a lot of locals bitten by poisonous
snakes and centipedes a few years ago. He wanted to help them and the only way for him was to
become a mananambal or folk healer . He claimed that he obtained her healing abilities through a
dream. This was the line he recited in his dream, Dios Amahan nga maoy makatabang (God the Father
who helps...) and when he opened the palm of his hands, he saw a book shown like a beam of light.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

Latin words were written on the book and then he put the book inside his pocket. The next night, he had
the same dream and he was told that he needs to read and memorize the words written in the book for
him to become a true mananambal or folk healer. He was doubtful at first but he was told that being
mananambal or folk healer is his mission for him to help people.

D. LIST OF SIGNIFICANT TANGIBLE MOVABLE HERITAGE USED/ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELEMENT:

None

E. LIST OF SIGNIFICANT FLORA/FAUNA USED/ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELEMENT:

Name of Flora/Fauna Photo Use of the flora/fauna in the

practice

The inner flesh of the mature

seed will be shredded and
Coconut tree extracted used as
(Cocos nucifera) “lana”coconut oil.

(Photo Courtesy: Lina G. Rivero,30 March 2021)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

Garlic

(Allium sativum) The garlic bulb is a folk

(Photo Courtesy: Chika Almerol,17 October 2021 medicine used and applied to
the infected part.

III. STORIES/NARRATIVES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELEMENT

The practice of folk medicine is taught by the forefathers and has existed for a long year until now in the
town of Catigbian. The roots of traditional medicine appear to have originated from the practices of the
ancient Filipinos, our great-great forefathers. Folk medicine is predominant in places or rural areas
where there is little influence of new technologies. Folk/traditional healers, locally referred to as
mananambal existed up to the present years.

Good Friday is a significant day for the mananambal or folk healer. As mentioned by Manong Pacito,
during this day he is obliged to go to church. He considered this day as the most sacred day among all
other days. It is also during Good Fridays that he will make lana or coconut oil which is a very important
folk medicine he uses when treating patients.Manong Pacito is among the many mananambals or folk
healers who are visited not only by sick people but also those who wanted to express their gratitude for

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

being able to receive effective treatment from him. He is known in the locality as an effective
mananambal. Manong Pacito and all the other mananambals are considered as part of our culture that
we can be proud of in the municipality of Catigbian and who are considered heroes in their own little
ways.

Being a mananambal, he experienced a lot of challenges. There was one time, he said that he had
experienced death from seven in the evening until dawn. After what he went through in the huge field
(in his unconscious state) he went back to live. This happened in 1979.

Moreover, mananambal or folk healers service are affordable, services are motivated by trust,
availability and accessibility, recommendations from relevant other and believe in the supernatural
causation of illness.

IV. SIGNIFICANCE

Indicate type of significance, e.g. historical, aesthetic, economic, social, socioeconomic, socio-political, spiritual and then explain

AESTHETIC

SOCIO-ECONOMIC - Even up to the present times, with the advent of technology and the existence of
sophisticated biomedicine, folk healers are still sought out because of some reasons. First, they are
known to the patient as relatives, neighbors, friends, and friends of friends. These personal linkages are
important to us Filipinos for they provide a basis for trust about the effectiveness of known healers.
Second, patients still prefer folk healers to treat them because of their low fees. Third, the mananambals
function as a reminder to the Filipino people about the importance of linkages. Most of these
mananambals do not really ask for payment for their service; instead, they claim that this is heartily
given and in the service to God. This is a reflection of how Filipinos value people more than wealth. It’s
just up to the patient to give money or not. Paying the mananambal is either not necessary or cheap. It
can also be in the form of trade for livestock and food. However, there are also few mananambals who
have standard payment for their service. And if they do exist, they only ask for a lesser amount which
everybody can afford, much less than the expenses we can have if we are admitted to hospitals. They
are true of great help most especially to those who are financially unstable.

HISTORICAL - Folk healers, “mananambal” in our own dialect, do not have formal education in scientific
medicine. They often cater to people living in impoverished areas of the Philippines. Mananambals
obtained their healing abilities through supernatural means. Others inherited their healing
paraphernalia from their grandparents who are also folk healers. There are some who got their healing
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

abilities through a spirit guide called an abyan, while some confessed that they obtained their healing
abilities through apparitions. But Manong Pacito obtained his healing ability through a dream, which
then started his mission for healing.

SOCIAL - Catigbian is not only rich with huge fields and other beautiful sceneries that are visited by
many people, but also blessed with people who are considered a significant part of our culture and are
considered heroes in their own little ways. They may haven't receive proper education but their way of
helping and curing people of their illness is beyond measure. They are our folk healers or the so-called
mananambals. Manong Pacito is among the many mananambals or folk healers who are visited not only
by sick people but also those who wanted to express their gratitude for being able to receive effective
treatment from him. He is known in the locality as an effective mananambal. Thus, Filipinos should
value the contributions of the mananambals because, in their existence, they were able to save lives
most especially during the times when our country isn't that modernized and technologies in curing
people aren't available yet.

SPIRITUAL - In Catigbian, both affluent and poor individuals seek consultation and alternative treatment
from mananambal or folk healers. Most of them are usually professed Christians just like Manong
Pacito, Good Friday is a significant day for the mananambal or folk healer. As mentioned by Manong
Pacito, during this day he is obliged to go to church. He considered this day as the most sacred day
among all other days. It is also during Good Fridays that he will make lana or coconut oil which is a very
important folk medicine he uses when treating patients. He believed that their healing power or oracion
comes from God the Father through ecstatic states and trace-contact with a Christian Holy Sipirit.

To achieve the utmost effect of the whole process, the mananambal or folk healer writes the oracion
asking the guidance from the spirit and saying “Amen” in a piece of paper, fold it and ask the patient to
eat for them to be cured. Moreover, using one’s strong faith in God through prayers, manage and
application of traditional medicine to cure or to heal diseases.

V. ASSESSMENT OF THE PRACTICE

A. CONDITION/STATUS OF THE PRACTICE

“Mananambal” practice is ongoing into the present. In fact, in 1997, the Philippine government enacted
the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) legalizing the use of indigenous medicine. Patients
that seek help from mananambals are commonly found in the low-income class and are in remote areas
because of the payment options. Even in Catigbian, there are still a lot of mananambals who are still

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

practicing folk/traditional healing. Many locals prefer to go to “tambalan” when someone suffers from
an illness that does not have a scientific explanation. As part of Filipino Culture, folk healers will still exist
even now.

B. CONSTRAINTS/ THREATS/ ISSUES/ CHALLENGES: (Reasons for the condition/status)

“Mananambals” already existed even before the pre-Spanish era. Our ancestors believed in the power
of mananambals in curing different kinds of illnesses. However, due to the prevalent use of modern
treatments, the number of people who go to these folk healers has significantly decreased. Because of
this, the folk healers are placed on the fringes of Philippine society and culture. As time passes by, the
belief in folk medicine and its practice is already slowly diminishing. Because of new inventions in
medicine brought about by modernity, many people rely more on professional medical practitioners
who use science or modern medicine to cure diseases.

C. MEASURES AND DESCRIPTION OF SAFEGUARDING MEASURES TAKEN:

Tick one or more boxes to identify the safeguarding measures that have been and are currently being
taken at the level of the community, provincial, and/or national with regard to the element
[ ] transmission, particularly through formal education
[ ] transmission, particularly through non-formal education
[ ] identification, documentation, research
[ ] preservation, protection
[ ] promotion, enhancement
[ ] revitalization

Description of Safeguarding Measures Taken:

There are no safeguarding measures taken.

VI. REFERENCES

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION: (Tick appropriate box/es)

[ ] Audio/video recording
[ ] Photographs and sketches
[ ] Others (e.g. Music notations etc.) __________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

KEY INFORMANT/S:

(Include basic information on the informant’s background)

● Pacito A. Rulida

67 years old

Culture bearer

● Felisa N. Rulida

65 year old

A resident of Poblacion, Catigbian, Bohol

REFERENCE/S AND OTHER RESOURCES:

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled: (1997, December 09). REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8423. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from
https://wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/ph/ph050en.pdf

Crisol, L. G. D., & Efren Jone J. Oledan. (n.d.). The Mananambals and Their Functions in

Philippine Culture. Vol. 7, 2016-2017(2016-2017), 84-85. Retrieved October 17, 2021

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

https://www.msuiit.edu.ph/academics/colleges/cass/research/langkit/2017/Article%205.pdf

NAME OF MAPPER/S: Lina G. Rivero

DATE PROFILED: March 30, 2021

Submitted by:

_______LINA G. RIVERO______ ____APRIL 7. 2021___

(Full Name of Municipal Mapper) (Date)

Review and Editing

A. MUNICIPAL LEVEL

Remarks: Reviewed and edited.

Reviewed/Edited by:

____________MAE L. MIGRINO_________________ APRIL 9, 2021

(Full Name of Municipal Mapping Coordinator/Editor) (Date)

B. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LEVEL

Remarks:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII
Form 4D series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

Reviewed/Edited by:

Jose C. Nazareno October 21, 2021

(Full Name of Congressional District Editor) (Date)

C. PROVINCIAL LEVEL

Remarks:

Reviewed/Edited by:

___________________________________________ ____________________
(Full Name of Provincial Editor) (Date)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Significant Intangible Cultural Heritage

Municipality of Catigbian
Province of Bohol
Region VII