Amulet?
By arbie bee
@brokenbee (11937)
Philippines
March 26, 2016 4:57am CST
I remember when I was a kid, during Good Fridays, at exactly 12 noon, my family and neighbor will go to our backyard to get the flowers of this particular plant.
After gathering those flowers, we pop them and get those seeds. We count 12 seeds and put them inside a small plastic bag then seal them. We repeat the process until we have placed all seeds inside those plastic bags.
One of our neighbors taught us to do that but as years passed by, we had already forgotten doing so until a few weeks ago when I had seen the same plant again at our backyard.
I made some.
Are you familiar with that plant? We call it "kupkupiyes" here in the northern part of the Philippines.
12 people like this
12 responses
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
so, is that the amulet? Can it attract love? hehehe!
4 people like this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
@ridingbet , I don't think it can. Maybe it will drive them away because they might think I am a witch. Hihihihihi 
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
@brokenbee waahhh! "mangkukulam" with those "anting-anting"? no, the men were scared of you because you are looking at them with those eyes like in your profile picture.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
@ridingbet waaaaahahaha what's with those eyes Ate? Hihihi
I am just staring at them. I think I have to wear my sunglasses too. LOL 
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@salonga Yup, and it pops when it's wet. Hihihi! Amazing plant.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
I think I know that plant. We still have that in our backyard. I hope I can take a photo of that next time. Hihihi We used to play with that when I was a kid.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
30 Mar 16
That plant just grows at our backyard. I think it's a weed. We just remove them when we see them grow there.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
31 Mar 16
They said it can protect you from evil spirits. Hihihi I was so young then when they taught us to do it.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37391)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
@brokenbee the seed has red and black color. Like meant to keep the baby away from witches :)
2 people like this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
@Lucky15 Oh no, I think that's another seed, we call "bugayong". Hihihi
This is another plant, and the seeds are smaller. The seeds are really so small but a little round.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
Really? You also make them as amulets but for babies. Hmmmmm Interesting. Hihihi
We call them "kupkupiyes" in Ilocano. Hihihihi
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
27 Mar 16
by the way, where can you find the seeds in that plant? all I can see are the dried leaves. Where are the seed pods, hija?
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
Those are not dried leaves, Ate. Those browns that you see are the flowers. Green when new, then they turn brown afterwards. You can find the seed pods inside those flowers.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
@brokenbee ha? I thought those are dried leaves. I better look closely now.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
@ridingbet Yup, they look like leaves but those are the flowers. They are neatly arranged. =)
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
Our neighbor just said that it can be a protection from evil spirits. Hihihi! I don't know. I was too young then.
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
26 Mar 16
I've never seen that plant before..What's the purpose of doing it on good Friday at exactly 12 noon?.. Is it part of Good Friday rituals?
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
I am not sure but maybe they thought it is powerful if it's taken during that time.
There is also another practice here before and I think some are still practicing it. They make coconut oil at 12 noon of Good Friday too. It is believed that it can cure certain illnesses.
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
27 Mar 16
this is the first time I've seen or heard this type of plant. I wonder how much is this sold in the market
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
I am not sure if they are selling this. It just grows in our backyard, like those other weeds that grow there.
I'm also not sure if it has medicinal properties.
@Iam_jauntyjen (5452)
•
26 Mar 16
It is interesting.I wonder where do you keep them so they wont rot.
Do you carry them in your purse or bag when you go out?
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
I can't remember if I carried them inside my purse. I just remember making them and then I forget where I placed them. Hihihi
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
I do not know that it can be used as an amulet. I love that plant which seemed rare now, we call it "puso-puso" (heart-heart) maybe because of the shape of the flowers.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
Really? It is called puso puso? Hmmmm thanks for that information. Yes, they used it as amulet before.
