This is one of my few “pahabol posts” before the year ends. I made this lengthy post on FB last July and I gained quite a lot of comments plus that was the time I found the dress I am wearing on my current profile picture (Lovely dress, wouldn’t you agree? 😉 ), so I would like to share it here:

Last weekend, after going to some shops and trying on dresses, I felt really sick and nauseous. I tried at first to fight it mentally by still walking slowly and buying a mango shake and taking two small sips and taking a tiny bite off a shawarma that Abie bought for me. But alas, my situation worsened after a minute and I had to sit on a bench in the small park for probably 30 minutes, trying to feel better by applying Vicks Vaporub on my temple and nape. It didn’t help. The noise of recorded outdoor shops selling wares even made me feel worse. (Imagine hearing “Ate, Kuya, tempered class, singkwenta lang, libre palagay” thousands of times.)

I was thinking it was because of exhaustion accumulated in the past days. But it was sudden, so my mom said it was because of “usog” or “sibang” in the Bicol language. I am only half-superstitious so not sure if this is true. But many people attest to this, that there are people who can make other people sick literally, because they have “sibang.” What can you say about this?

Also, I’m so glad that Abie was with me that time, since I am used to being alone when I do my errands. I imagine if I were alone then, feeling so sick and helpless, and so dizzy that I emptied my stomach on the pavement, what could have happened? What I observed was that the security guard of the nearby establishment noticed me but did not even come near; even when Abie accompanied me towards the Grab car step by step with my eyes closed most of the few meters, which seemed so far. I again retched a bit just near the exit even when there was nothing any more from my tummy, but the guard just moved the orange barrier and returned to his station without even inquiring about my situation.

Abie offered a sobering reply, when I finally regained a bit of my strength to talk properly in the car. She said that the guards are used to seeing crowds of people day by day, so they are already immune and have been desensitized.

Btw, I’m okay now so no more worries. That was just a recent “scary” experience that made me reflect.

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And here are three (3) of the substantial comments I received:

“Ang alam ko kasi dyan if someone has some sort of higher energy than the person n nausog, natatalo nya yung energy ng inusog nya. It can be from simple greeting lang tapos pangit n yung effect s pakiramdam mo later. This is especially true pag let’s say down yung spirit mo or energy mo, wala k p breakfast or something then out of nowhere may bumati sayo n ganda ng buhok mo or whatever. Later parang sasama pakiramdam mo. Ang usual na pinapagawa sa nausog ay recall sino pwede bumati then kung Kilala at alm kung nasaan papakiusapan na krusan ng laway nila Ang tyan ng nausog and parang magically nawawala yung discomfort. Nangyari na yan kay ____ several times before. Talagang pinupuntahan ang nakausog. Most often alam nung nakakauspg n may usog sya, kung naniniwala sya sa usog ha, so it’s not difficult to ask for that laway thing. But these days with covid still lurking somewhere oj the corner, parang medyo dubious ang paghingi ng pagkrus ng saliva ng ibang tao. “

“One of my nurse caregiver felt really bad (chills, headache, nausea) just as she left my house and turned over her duty to my other nurse caregiver. The first nurse had to come back to my condo unit because she really really felt terrible. My maid said it was usog. Then my second nurse admitted that she has “balis”(?) which is the power (?) to cause usog especially if hungry. Old folk remedy: she wet her finger with her saliva and made the sign of the cross on the tummy of the nurse who felt sick. Almost within a few seconds the sick nurse felt much better like nothing happened!!!“

“The first nurse was an unbeliever but even she could not explain what happened. My other nurse, my naid and I all agreed it was usog and agreed on the remedy. According to my friend’s mother, if it happens that you don’t know kung sino yung nakausog sa iyo (esp. with babies and kids na binabati ng kung sinu-sino like in a mall), siyempre walang magbibigay ng remedy. Solution: remove what you’re wearing, soak in water, then boil the water (w/o the clothes!). Use the boiled water to wipe the tummy.“

“Yes I believe in “sibang”…some people are more sensitive to energies than most people. I think “sibang” is equivalent to “psychic attack” but I could be wrong. It would be good to see a trustworthy spiritual healer. Seeing a doctor could also benefit you.”

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I would not consider myself a superstitious person but these comments are real accounts. Also, there were several who commented that I should have a medical check up and/or eat properly and I must say, I also acknowledge their concern. 

What say you?