In the precolonial society, there is one person in the barangay who wielded a very influential role in the community. The people call her babaylan and it is said that they have the power to contact and interact with the spirits called anito or diwata, elementals, and the spirit realm. They can also appease, or harness the spirits of the dead and the spirits of nature.
Babaylans specialized in healing and herbalism, divination, and sorcery. Such was their influence that the datus or the local chieftains would consult them in matters concerning leadership, warfare, agriculture, and virtually everything that runs from the earthly to the spiritual. This is their story.

#babaylan #philippines #philippinehistory #precolonial #philippineculture

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