Body rituals on mental health and maladaptive behavior during the prehistoric Philippines

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

History

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Source Title

DLSU Research Congress 2015

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

The geography of the Philippine archipelago is a reflection of the cultural diversity present in the Philippines specially its pre-historic past. Each of the islands in the Philippines represents a unique culture which is not comparable to the other nation or belief. These systems of beliefs answer a specific problem of the Filipinos specifically on the mental health care during that period. The introduction of the Spanish colonial mental system disregarded the importance of these body rituals of the Filipinos because of the lack of scientific value which was present on the European nation. In this research, it will identify the different body rituals on mental health and maladaptive behavior during the prehistoric period. The researcher used historical data’s which describe the early rituals on healing mental illness and the implementer of these rituals. Also, the relationship of the different spiritual world- gods/deity, Babaylan & Filipinos will be emphasized on this study which has a great value on the creation of these body rituals. The research concludes, there is a clear structured system of mental health and maladaptive behavior rituals that was practiced by the prehistoric Filipinos, with the guidance of the babaylan/catalonan who can understand and interpret the sign and symptoms which the local gods/deities reply on the prayers of the babaylan/catalonan if the Filipino will retain/regain his/her sanity through the positive or negative sign on the internal organ of the sacrificial animal. Also the Filipinos had a clear idea of the possible medicinal plant to cure for this mental suffering of the Filipinos which is readily available on their environment to prevent to worsen the mental aberration. And these practices of body rituals on mental health sustains the peace and order on the barangay and give a harmonious relationship between the local gods/deity and its people.

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Keywords

Mental healing—Philippines; Mental health—Philippines—Religious aspects; Filipinos—Rites and ceremonies; Philippines—Rites and ceremonies

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