Mangkukulam

 

Unlike those mystical creatures mentioned with scary and unusual features, the mangkukulam is just an ordinary person in looks; however, do not let your guard down—after all, they succumb to evil and do evil things to people, usually out of vengeance. They employ the art of "kulam," which means to bewitch or place a hex. The mangkukulam, as with their western counterpart “the witches” or “sorcerers” can recite spells and mix potions. They are also known to use dolls and needles to remotely hex a victim. Until this day, they are known to exist and could be found in the rural areas of the Philippines.

           Kulam uses beetles, effigies, poppets, a boiling pot, or some other type of representation of the target victim. These are usually "linked" by including bodily exuviae like hair or nail clippings. And these are activated by chants, spells, or symbols (sometimes syncretized with Christian or Muslim rituals).

            The only way to stop the curse is to counter their spell with an alburalyo. An alburalyo is known to have the knowledge to help and cure the person who has been under a spell. They usually treat it with sumbalik (counter-spells or antidotes). They purportedly deflect the effects of the curse and return it to the caster. And in extreme cases, sumbalik can kill the caster.

            Mangkukulams keep themselves isolated from everyone. They often avoid people in the streets in the daytime. It is also believed that they could pass their powers to their family so long as they possess a strong belief in magic. However, when an old hag randomly touches your back in the middle of the night---be aware---for they could choose anyone who they want to inherit their powers, by just a tap. For Filipinos to avoid their inheritance, they make sure to tap them back---fastly.