Kulam? Is it for real?

Philippines
February 20, 2009 1:26am CST
Kulam is actually a Tagalog noun which literally means bewitchment or magic spell. Last week when my aunts visited our house, they told me they were bewitched or "kinulam" by other people. How did they know? Well, they hired an "albularyo" (a.k.a. folk healer) then this "albularyo" took out a triangular piece of metal. He pressed it to the pinky finger of my aunt then asked questions. My aunt told me that she knew what was coming out of her mouth but then she didn't have any control of it. My other aunts also tried the treatment. Each one of them has a certain someone who was bewitching them. I felt a little uneasy because they told me that when the triangular thing touched their pinky finger, they felt a burning pain running through their entire hand upto their elbow. They told me that one of my aunts was thrashing and saying curses during the session. I was starting to doubt the abilities of the folk healer because all of my aunts have "kulam". But when they asked one of my uncles to try it. He didn't feel anything! I was getting freaked out about their stories. Do you think "kulam" is for real? Or it's just one of those hoax thing so that they can earn money?
2 people like this
15 responses
21 Feb 09
i believe in kulam.....i have a lot of experience about it....and it doesnt only happens here in Philippines....its happening around the world....i have a friend in london...to make the story short...his aunt....went back here in philippines....and very sick....she was bewitched...(there's some insects coming out of her body..)..by a co worker...who is jealous about her...and it turned out this co worker is white european....born and raise in london....
21 Feb 09
not personally but people that i actually know....when i was a kid...it scared me....but when i grew up...it still scared me...but not too much.....its just people are mean....they think they will be happy in revenge...inflicting pain to other people.....or making them miserable....its not the answer....if someone made you feel bad...just forgive and move on....i think you'll be happier...cos i believe in karma...
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
__
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
If people doing kulam only thinks like that, then there won't be a term "kulam" to begin with! Which I guess is good. People will be more productive if they don't suffer from those human-inflicted spells. _
@aisaellis22 (6445)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Hello NaomiErin! You really amaze me with your story. I got scared because your story came from a real experience. Honestly, I don't know if it's real actually. I never experienced a person who got kulam (bewitched) or not. Maybe it's somehow true but honestly, it's hard for me to believe that human has a capability to do such magical thing.
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
It's actually a very frightening story. My brother was at my aunts' house at that time and he too confirmed that he heard them screamed and say curses. (He's too scared to see it for real so he went to one of the rooms and just pretended to do something else. _
• United States
20 Feb 09
oh my! But i hope they are okay now..
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
Thank God they're fine now. ^_^
@prasanta (1948)
• India
20 Feb 09
I do not know about it. But, I think, there is a trick. Or the triangular ring is so tight that the ladies got severe pain because of stopped blood circulation, which made them talk unusually.
@prasanta (1948)
• India
21 Feb 09
It is quite possible that the person knew a bit of hypnotism. He was not a master of the art. Thus, on weaker minds, his influence worked -- they talked in a different way. But the rigid mindsets of those male members did not undergo any change.
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
Actually, my mom doesn't believe that triangular thing also. She said that my aunts felt pain because the folk healer was pressing the triangular thing very hard on their pinky finger. _
@Erssyl (617)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
I have stories from my friends but was not able to see it in my own eyes.My friends husband die because his scrotum burst then came out plenty of worms and different kind of insects.He was in the hospital when it happened but doctors have no explanation for this. My other friends husband got very sick and almost dying the doctors cannot diagnose what he was suffering about.My friend consulted an albularyo and she was adviced to surrender him to a woman madly in love with his husband is doing the kulam.He got well after a while.I have not seen it with my own eyes but I believe because there is no reason my friends will tell me if it was not true.
@Erssyl (617)
• Philippines
22 Feb 09
In my own opinion,kulam is from the dark world.It always meant harm to others.But if you firmly believe in God,no powerful sorcerer can succeed or inflict us.Good always succeed from evil.
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
True! And its a first hand information because your friend actually experienced it personally. The more I hear about these stories, the more puzzled I am about kulam. Kulam seems to be intertwined with bad omen. Do you think there's good results in kulam? Or is it always bad?
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
Others may claim that magic spell is just a myth but no, this happens in the real world. It is just unfortunate that there are no records of people who have been dismissed in hospitals as "hopeless case" but were later healed by faith/folk healers. It is not also true that because you do not believe, "kulam" will not happen to you. Again, there are real life stories where one who don't believe at all were victimized by a "mangkukulam".
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
_
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
First, it's very wrong to think that "mangkukulam" is one who lives in a deserted place, wears black all the time, and have magic brooms to fly with. Those are the "by the fantasy book" witches. The "mangkukulams" here in the Philippines is no different from you and me. They are living a normal life but they have restless spirits. They are known for causing sickness to anyone by different means. Some say that they use voodoo dolls but most of the stories I heard is that they actually add something to the food or drink of someone they want to harm. Others may just pass you by and made you smell something or attached something to your clothes. One of my elder sisters shared to us what they went through in one of her bestfriends' house. There were three of them studying for their exam in the kitchen of the house one very late night. They were seated on a table reading their notes when all of a sudden something made them look under the table at the same time. There, they saw something like a cat's green luminescent eyes but larger, sharper. They all started crying and screaming until the father of the friend came and asked what's happening. The three friends could not stop, according to my sister, even when the father arrived, the green eyes are still under the table meanly looking at them. The father went out and knocked hard in the adjoining room where his mother (grandparent of my sister's friend) was sleeping. That's when the eyes disappeared. The three friends overheard the father scolding the grandmother and asking why she had to do such nasty thing again and to her grand daughter and her friends. The grandmother, who is in her late 70's but still strong only replied that she can not control her spirit. See, the three students did nothing wrong. But still, they experienced a horrible spiritual power. Obviously, that is something demonic and it chooses no one whom to hurt.
@paoxav (1382)
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
there are really some things that science cannot explain. I had a a personal experience of this but not on my personally but my uncle himself. hospital cannot cure him and cannot see any illness on their findings but it's very obvious on his looks that he's in deep pain. so we tried to consult to a famous folk healer and then, cured my uncle.. he recovered from the sickness and the folk healer told that he was bewitched.. and the funny thing is, he became well a day after he was cured by the folk healer but the well known and expensive private hospital in Quezon City failed to do in more than a week..
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
I'm glad your uncle is ok. Actually, sometimes I have my doubts in our hospital system. We don't have those high tech equipments that can confirm a diagnosis of an illness correctly. We solely based our diagnosis to signs and symptoms. And if ever we have some equipments, some people often resolved in using alternative treatment like going to a folk healer because it's cheaper and sometimes it works.
• United Arab Emirates
19 Jun 09
Pwede ko po bang malaman kung cno & kung saan ko matatagpuan ang folk healer? May problem po kc ang family ko regarding kulam, , We need to find a verygood folk healer to cure my mother & my aunties. . They are sufferring. . Pls I need your help. . Thank You.
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
Many believe in kulam and many "albularyos" take advantage of this belief. I once watched a TV program (I just forgot what was it) that showed about this kulam thing. i was surprised to know that some "albularyo" used some tricks to let people believe that they can cure those who have been bewitched.
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
Actually, I don't know how you'll be able to distinguish a real one from a fake. Maybe the fake ones had watched a real one then decides to imitate it for his own benefits? People can be quite creative sometimes. ^_^ And if it concerns money, other people would kill to get more. _
@bing28 (3795)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
Whether there's truth or not in this said to be "kulam" still can be get over by one's faith in God. I remember my brother who came to me looking thin and pale and seems to be so hopeless told me, he is dying. I was so shocked with his story that he came to see a quak doctor (albularyo)and told him somebody bewitched him (kinulam)thus he has allergy all over his face and body. He believed this as he hear the voice of the said albularyo in trans with the mangkukulam saying "I will kill him, i will torn him into pieces" So it's all in his mind that he's dying. I told him, "no one can defeat the power of God, just have faith in him". I brought him to Bro, Mike Velarde of El SHADDAI at the Amorsolo in Makati. We joined a long pile of sick people there waiting their turn to be sort of annointed with oil. There I saw heart patients in wheelchair escorted by their nurses all are waiting for bro, MIke. After the healing we went home, removing all those neclaces and other pinned in things given by the albularyo. I told my brother just pray and believe that God will heal you and continue applying the healing oil Bro.Mike gave you. Before the week ends my brother is totally healed, no more allergies (that can't be healed by any other med. My brother returned to his old joyful mood and look no longer thin anymore with all the inspiration to live. From then on he comes, with me attending Family Appointment with El Shaddai, every Saturday. El Shaddai is a catholic charismatic movement, people come to praise and worship God. Inspiring testimonials of blessings and healing are being heard from the people, then a mass will follow most of the time officiated by Bishop Ted Bacani. Bro. Mike will then come for the words of God, for the prayer requests and for the healing. My brother was healed because of his faith in God and brother Mike and the healing oil were just instruments. So I believed faith in God would outwit everything including Kulam.
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
Yes, I also believe that God can do everything. ^_^ Thanks for the share of your story. The albularyo that treated my aunts also told them that they should strengthen their beliefs in God. "Anting-anting" can only be physical instruments. What counts more is their faith in God. The more you believe, the better His works for you.
@cupcyke (363)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
hello naomi! kulam is not real, but because of our ancient people kulam is still famous now a days. if you give all your trust to God then it cant hurt you even a single. i believe those bad spirits but for those people who give all thier trust to god then there is nothing to worry.
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
hi cupcyke! That is very true! ^_^ Believing in the highest power that only He can protect and save us. Thanks for the share!
@CRIVAS (1815)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
Personally I am a believer of Karma and that includes bad Karma. I think that like good Karma, bad karma can also be passes so it could be true. However I think that this might be a little on the strange side of things. I have never heard of Kulam so I really couldn't say. Hopefully whatever is going on will be put back to right and your family will be happy again. Good luck.
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
Kulam is only a term we have in the Philippines that describes the used of magic spells, incantations, and other voodoo-like things in other countries to inflict bad things on the person they hate. Thanks for the concern! My aunts feel ok now. ^_^ I just wish that they won't be experiencing that again.
@LIENROSE (910)
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
HEY WE ARE in the science world, then why to believe on that,, afterall probably they are just being part of our culture that must be apart,,,,
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
Thanks for the response. ^_^ Science needs factual evidence. But some things are just too weird to make out of from science. Or maybe, these paranormal incidents are just waiting for science to be explained. ^_^
@online_jon (1476)
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
Hi NaomiErin? Good day to you my co-mylotters. Well as i know your correct which kulam is actually a tagalog noun which literally means bewitchment or a magic spell. Here in our country there is so many old people who know how to make a "kulam". All i know in kulam is it is really scary! Aw! My mother told me that if ever i do bad things to old people, there is a big chance that you will encounter a kulam. Well all i know in order for you to do not counter kulam just be good and make a good deeds to other people. So you will be away from danger! That's all my response to your forum topic entitled " kulam? Is it real?". Thank you and happy posting to you and earning. . . Good luck to our earning career here in this site! ! !
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
I heard a funny story from my grandma. She said that wearing a lot of jewelries will counter the "kulam". Haha! There's plenty of stories revolving around this subject. And I think you're right about being nice to others especially elder people. ^_^ "Do not do to others what you don't want them to do to you."
• China
21 Feb 09
it is like a mystery passed on from generations to generations, but if scientists do some study to unravel it, then maybe you will find out it is as simple as a one plus one question, to my konwledge, no scientists has done such research,
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
Is kulam in the category of paranormal science? I'm just wondering. Or is paranormal science being cast out by other sciences as well because its too hard to believe and to prove? _
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
If you ask me I believe this is real. Same as ghosts, dwarfs, tikbalang, manananggal. My sister had an experience with regards to those kinds of stuff. I don't know if it can be really placed in this kulam category but it was like gusto shang sapian. She was still a baby when this happened and it happened in our province. We came home from the beach and she just kept crying and crying and crying. Then we had this relative of ours who knows an albularyo and she came over the house. We lay my sister on the bed and the albularyo had this palanggana of water and a candle. Then she kept dripping the wax on the palanggana with water until it formed a figure. Eventually it did. Then she got the wax figure from the water, performed a prayer and eventually my sister stopped crying. Then the albularyo started explaining who the person on the wax figure was why was she following my sister til out house etc. First I really didn't believe these stuff but after what happened why not believe in it?
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
I hope your sister is not experiencing those things anymore. When my brothers and I were sick, my mom always brought us to a manghihilot that also do the candle thing. The manghihilot always told us that "nausog raw kami". I don't know if that was effective or it's just our immune system that got better..? We did got better though. After a few years now that we're now adults, we don't go to have those things anymore. I guess people change. _
@rsa101 (37966)
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
Yeah I haven't saw one but I heard stories similar to yours. I am just curious about how they really do it. Maybe they are true since there are unexplainable things that you've witness around there. I guess there's nothing wrong with it for as long as you use it for good.
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
Yeah, IF they used it for a good cause. __