Mananambal (healer) Cosing Akay a practitioner of bolo-bolo
(bulo-bulo)

A practitioner of bolo-bolo generally uses clean and clear water,

a drinking glass, a small black magic stone and a bamboo tube

about six inches long.

In this case the patient was plagued with chronic headaches

. Manang Akay first poured water inside the glass (with the magic

stone). Then she started to blow air into the bamboo tube while

moving around the head of the patient. After a few moments the

water magically became murky. She threw out the water and repeated

the procedure. The second time the water was still unclear and

dirty. Manang Akay had to repeat the procedure four times before

the water remained clear. This was a sure sign that the patient

was cured and that all the bad elements and spirits were removed

from his body.

I first thought that there was dirt in the bamboo stick but there

couldn’t be enough filth inside the bamboo to repeat the procedure

with four other patients.

Having some back pain from riding my motorbike I asked Manang

Akay if she could cure me. She told me she would try and she put

first some “magic oil” on my painful lower back while mumbling

things I didn't understood. Then she started the bolo-bolo procedure

as described above. To my horror the first glass of water turned

into extremely dirty water. Luckily after the third time the water

remained clear. To be honest I felt much better and my back pain

disappeared for several days. Maybe it was just a placebo effect.

I really don’t know but honestly I felt better.

Manang Akay’s patients come from all over the Philippines. Some

are diagnosed as having natural disorders and are send to medical

doctors. Other have problems caused by spirits or sorcery. Bolo-bolo

is very effective against skin disorders, headaches and body pains.

Click image to enlarge.

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Comments

[Cléa]

This is by far the best of the series. And the second portrait typifies it beautifully.

[osselin]

Youir blog is fantastic. I add it to my "Webs favoritas". This way I will be able to visit you in a more comfortable way.

[Eone]

Good experience and thank you for sharing :). You can't explain everything in life right ?. Some are better left unsaid and all you need is just believe.

[sandyz]

I LOVE this post and photos.!!!

thanks for sharing....wow!!!

[petitlouis]

Fascinant reportage avec de belles photos !

[donG hO]

Wow! astig post! pero astig nga talaga siya kasi colt 45 pa ang baso.

nice post! galing!

[daguldol]

Visiting your blog is always an educational trip for me.
Fascinating stuff
Great pictures

daguldol

[Ashish Sidapara]

It just keeps getting better!

[Kyels]

I don't think it's senseless and irrational to believe in such things b/c it does help when Western medicine doesn't.

(:

[AC]

You know, there are so many things we are still ignorant about! I had never heard of this system of practice till today. Great snaps showing the system of treatment.

[Otto K.]

Fascinating, Sidney!

[Panaderos]

Some scientist or medical professional should study the entire process closely to determine what's causing the water to go murky and for the patient to feel "cured". We need to know what combination of chemicals and/or procedures are at play here. Who knows? Manang Akay might be on to something.

Great post as always, Sidney. :)

[bw]

Good pics Sidney :)

There's something quantum about the effects of healing through this kind of procedure and even as you alluded to, the placebo effect.

Strange but looks like it worked :)

[petra]

very interesting. I learn from your blog, thanks!!

[Ferdz]

Wow! This was what I failed to see last time. I actually wanted to find one to cure my cough at that time.

Great documentation and a personal account as well.

[Abaniko]

So Cosing Akay's method of removing body pains is much better than any therapeutic massage, huh? Too bad Siquijor is too far from Manila.

[acey]

wow, you witnessed an entire session with a healer. interesting, very interesting. i'm amazed with the clear water turning murky...

[Mandaragat]

Interesting (as always) Sidney!

[L.Reis]

Faith has its ways...believing is just the first step but a powerful one, when its roots are spread from generation to generation. A fascinating story with great documentary photos.

[nash]

Sidney!!!!!!!!!!! Superb! Good shot of the healer with the off-focus calendar in the background! I wanna have that!

[luna miranda]

Perhaps I should pay Manang Akay a visit soon! hahaha

There have been a lot of stories about the healing powers of faith healers---curing patients with simple belly ache to terminal diseases. I have a friend in Cebu who swore she saw roaches coming out from her father's lesions during a healing session. I wished she took some photos!:D

[haggis basher]

Amazing!!

I had a similar experiance and felt good the day after.

Excellent images Sidney.

[Kevin from OrganicPIX.com]

Fascinating! Love the photo documentary of this procedure.
There are many things I do not totally understand 'how' they work, but sure glad they do!

[Luke]

amazing portraits!

[Michael Rawluk]

I love the use of Colt 45 in the healing process.
That top shot is such a cool composition.