Explore Filipino beliefs about increased spirit activity during Good Friday, including stories from traditional healers.
Aside from All Souls’ Day, many Filipinos believe that Holy Week, especially Good Friday, is a time when unseen beings become more active. In many provinces, stories about creatures like tikbalang, kapre, and duwende often resurface during this day.
There are also stories about scarier beings such as aswang, tiyanak, manananggal, and tiktik. For years, people have passed down the belief that these beings appear more often on Good Friday, the day believed to mark the death of Jesus Christ.
“Nangangagat at kahit talagang maski bunuin ay kayang itikwal ‘yang kung ilan ang bumuno. ‘Yan po, isang tawag lang namin sa Panginoon, pakumbaba agad siya,” he said.
Some say the world becomes quieter and more open, allowing these unseen forces to move more freely.
A traditional healer named Dok Sebyu from Atimonan, Quezon, who has been practicing for over 20 years, shared that there are moments when he notices things that are hard to explain. He described brief sightings that seem to disappear in an instant, making him unsure whether they are real or just illusions.
He also shared that during Good Friday, these experiences seem to happen more often. Whenever he feels something unusual, he turns to prayer and calls on God for protection and guidance.
The healer believes that not all spirits are harmful, but some can be strong and difficult to handle, especially when they affect a person. He recalled helping individuals who seemed to act differently, as if something else had taken over them. He relies on prayer to calm the situation.
Even without claiming to have special abilities, he continues to practice his work with strong faith. He believes that trust in God is more powerful than fear.
“Wala po akong third eye. Ang sinasamba ko lamang ay iisa talagang ama. Kapag tinawag ko ang Panginoong Diyos, talagang lahat ng gagamutin ko dito ay talagang nagaling at nagpapakumbaba sila,” he added.
While these stories remain unproven, they continue to be part of Filipino culture, especially during Holy Week.