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