Doctor Saliva

DOKTOR LAWAY*

Evil eye. When someone even without knowing looks at something or someone with excessive or extreme admiration, there is something bound to happened especially when unconsciously there is an envy on his or her heart, they are known to be the green-eyed monsters.

It is a common occurrence in Bikol Region wherein children are mostly the victim of what is they called USOG, SIBANG or NONOT, although there are adult who succumb to the malady.  A child who is somewhat put under a spell will suffer a stomach ache or headache and will cry unceasingly, will never be comforted until the saliva of the culprit is smeared on the navel or around it of the victim.  What is amazing is that usually they slept instantly as if nothing has happened to them.  Who needs a medical doctor when Doctor Laway will do.

Just like anybody else, I don’t just believe something that cannot be explained until my sister have succumb to the evil eye.  One day when my sister was about three years old, our mother don on her a pink robe with red lace and proudly paraded her on our way home.  That evening, my sister become ill, so my mother was so alarmed and brought her to a doctor, but days passed by the illness worsen and her head was covered with wound so putrid that makes my cry because every time she cringed.  Again the doctor will just prescribed an ointment.

An old lady came over and advice my mother to go to see Chayong, who might be the cause of the malady.  So my mother without hesitation hastily brought my sister to the woman.  Believe it or not, after a number of days the wound was cured.  I asked my mother what the woman have done, she told me that Chayong just masticated some betel and massage it on the head and the body of my sister, that is all.

Still I don’t believe.  But when my aunt told me what happened when she brought Chayong to be our house helper, I was convinced that she possess the evil eye.  While they were travelling, Chayong saw a mango tree laden with fruits and she just said “wow.” When my aunt passed by the place where the mango stood she saw the mango tree was blackened as if it was hit by a lightning.

What powers she possesses, I don’t know, I only wish I have the courage to ask.  All I know is that the essence of her saliva was the probable answer; the use of betel is just an added measure. Of the mango tree I am at a loss.  Later, I heard that she have a stall under the LRT somewhere in Metro Manila she is known as Doktor Laway.

*Laway - saliva

PASMA, BELIEVE IT OR NOT

To astound or bewilder is the meaning of Spanish word PASMAR, in Bikol it is a word that connotes an illness that astonishes a medical practitioner, it is therefore an apt term for such a malady.  I believe that this is not a unique illness for us Filipinos, others might feel the same physical discomfort but they have a different approach in healing.  Also, it might be true to other tropical places where coconut is aplenty.

Others have a putative answer to explain this illness, they claim it is a just a folk belief, others explains the imbalance of the yin and yang from the Chinese belief and other reasons that makes it more complex and hard to understand.  However, for me, who have suffered and been cured, I can very well explain not with authority but with sincere testimony of my own experience.

There’s a saying in Bikol “An hayat nakakapasma” meaning, wanting but taking just a bit of something to eat can make you ill.  The number one cause of PASMA is by eating a bit or drinking of young coconut on an empty stomach.  Much better if you eat with gusto until your stomach is full and you will not get sick.

One early morning while I was so busy working in the farm, I feel so thirsty that I asked our farm helper to get me a young coconut.  I just drink the coco water to quench my thirst and do not bother to eat the young tender meat.  When I was home and taking a rest, I feel so dizzy and I feel as if my head would fall off, I even tied a kerchief on my forehead to give me balance.  But later, I feel so weak with a headache and then the chill.  I was brought to a medical doctor and gave me some medicine, but there was no improvement whatsoever, again they brought me to another doctor but something happened, it worsens.  Then before they decided to bring me to a hospital, they brought me yet to another doctor but again I don’t feel any better.

I told my grandmother that I don’t want to be hospitalized because of my past traumatic experience with hospitals, so they decided to fetch a local traditional healer.  The healer asked me some question where I been before I got sick, then after the interview, she requested for a young coconut, to heat a stone on the fire while she gather some herbal plants.  When everything was ready, I was covered with a blanket and little by little she scoops the coconut water and pours it on the heated stone with some herbs.  The steam makes me sweat profusely, later she let me sip a dose of the young coconut water then gave me a thorough massage.  In about half an hour, I was up and walking with my friends looking for a green mango to stimulate my taste bud.

Imagine, I was bedridden for more than a week with all the medication given by the three medical doctors, but with the help of simple healer I was instantly relieve of my illness, so should I believe. Her only advice is for not to eat young coconut on an empty stomach, better still eat until sated.

But beware; there is other form of PASMA wherein when you does not follow the simple fact of life, you will surely suffer the consequences.  Like when you wash your hand and feet when it is tired and hot, the effect will come later.  An aromatic steam bath will surely cure a sweaty hand or feet even those that became paralyzed because of PASMA. In my experience, a nice cup of rice coffee on a regular basis will cure the headache I’m suffering if I miss my eating habit schedule a number of times.   Believe it or not.

Bagyo Con Sili

BAGYO CON SILI
Para sa mga Katood kong bakong Bikolano

Bikol Region is known as “orinola kan kinaban” or bedpan of the world because it is frequently visited by strong typhoon unlike other region. If you plot the typhoon path for the past twenty years you will surely understand the expression. Maybe this is one of the reasons why agricultural development cannot be sustained. Lately, it was observed that typhoon have visited other regions, but why? Because the typhoon loved so much the Bikolanos that it pursues those who migrated in other places, this is just a joke.

Related to this is an anecdote that Bikolanos tend to care for his “siling labuyo” plant even before he attend to his own house during the coming of a typhoon. Some don’t see the logic, but the violent outburst of wind and rain during a typhoon everything becomes soaking wet including clothes and firewood that are essentials to keep the body warm. The siling labuyo therefore is the only saving graces to keep you survive the chilly weather. Now, you understand.

Even farmers claimed that before they go to their field in the early morning, they take a dose of vinegar soaked with siling labuyo [CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS Linn] to keep their stomach warm until he goes home to take his breakfast.

Although the supposed Sili King originated form Bikol, it does not mean however that every Bikolano munch a sili every meal, in the same token that not every Ilokano smoke their native cigar. Perhaps this notion can be applied to Bikolanos who lived far from
the sea or those who are in “iraya” meaning upland, because they used to have fresh water fish. Unlike those who lived near the sea “ilawod” or down stream wherein they have a plenty supply of salt-water fish that needs no additional seasoning. This fact was validated when I was assigned in the Rinconada area where I was forced to eat “siling labuyo” to make my viand palatable.

However, Bikolano cuisine would never be famous without the “siling labuyo.” To name a few our mouth watering local dish, we have the “gulay na natong” mainly taro leaves cooked in coconut milk with dried fish and of course, the siling labuyo. “Bikol express” as it is known is simply “gulay na lada” or making use of chili as main ingredient cooked in coconut milk with fermented small shrimp [balaw] and pork fat. We also have the “kinunot” and the main ingredient is ray fish [pagi] or shark [pating] meat and leaves of horseradish tree [kalonggay] cooked in coconut milk. If Russia have their caviar, Bikolanos have “dinailan” or fish cake cooked in coconut milk and lots of chili.

If somehow you are lured into eating any of the hot dishes and you cannot bear the pungent taste of siling labuyo, you can either sip some milk to help your taste bud recover from the heat. As a word of advice, please do not eat your hot dish by not letting the tip of your tongue touch the food to avoid the burning sensation and ruin your meal.

Bagyo con sili go together in the lives of Bikolanos.http://bikolanonglayas.blogspot.com/2007/12/bagyo-con-sili.html

Heal thy life for a healthy life