Cultural Healing Rituals and Practices Used by Ati Traditional Healers
Leonor Rosales, Victoria Gepty
Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies December 3, 2022 DOI: 10.32996/jhsss.2022.4.4.26 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Ati Indigenous People in Numancia, Aklan, Philippines, including one Sorhana (traditional healer), a chieftain, two community elders, and two Ati members |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | The study reports that the Ati Indigenous People continue to believe in the Sorhana as a traditional healer guided by tamawo and kalag, with authority to perform healing rituals including Pagbagting, pag-orunungon, pagpatupad, pagpalupad, pag-anagas, pagbutbot, and pagtabog. The authors also report that the Ati are animistic while believing in a supreme being, and that acculturation has occurred through adoption of Roman Catholic celebrations such as Semana Santa. |
Abstract
This study aimed to establish the healing rituals and beliefs of Ati (Indigenous People) traditional healers in Aklan, Philippines. The study was anchored on interpretivism, which seeks to comprehend and interpret human activity and participants' experiences. The research used narrative analysis as a qualitative method of research. The study was conducted at Numancia, Aklan, Philippines. This included six (6) participants; the Sorhana (traditional healer) was the main participant, while the chieftain, two elders of the community, and the two Ati members served as validators to the answers of the Sorhana (traditional healer). An interview guide, observation notes and audio–visual materials (photography, video and audio recordings) were used to gather data. The result revealed that the Ati (Indigenous People) continues to believe in Sorhana as their traditional healer who was guided by the tamawo (spirits that guide) and kalag (spirits of the dead) and has the power to diagnose illness and fight mystical invisible elements. The Sorhana (traditional healer) has the ability and authority to perform healing rituals in the Ati (Indigenous People) community. The healing rituals in the Ati (Indigenous People) community were; Pagbagting (beating of the agong), pag – orunungon (paying in exchange for healing, pagpatupad (appointing of the traditional healer), pagpalupad (releasing of chicken), pag – anagas (renaming of the sick), pagbutbot (eliminating diseases), and pagtabog (expelling the evil spirits). The Ati (Indigenous People) are animistic while also believing in a supreme being. Acculturation happened in the culture of Ati (Indigenous People) by adopting the Roman Catholic celebration like Semana Santa (holy week) and believing in the resurrection offered by Jesus Christ.