The Psychic Healing Phenomenon in the Philippines and in Other Countries: Selected Five Filipino and Five Foreign Writers on Psychic Healing

By Ernesto A. Logarta

Filipino writers, in dealing with the psychic healing phenomenon in the Philippines, have utilized varied and diverse approaches to the practice of the native healers: naturalistic, psychological, medico, sociological, historical, anthropological, and occult. Foreign writers on the psychic healing phenomenon are more advanced in their approaches and techniques. Their emphasis is on paranormal reality, extra sensory perception (ESP), psychic diagnosis, altered states of conciousness, and salutary effects of love.
Implied in the writings of some Filipino authors on psychic healing are the positive effects of the results of their researches on future education. Education can help the students make use of the herbal medicines in health preservation, disease prevention, and cure. Furthermore the impact of psychic healing in education can enhance positive states of the mind conducive to efficient learning.
Lastly, the teacher who has access to the powers of the mind can be led to discover the salutary effects of love to maximize thinking abilities in so far as they relate to teaching and learning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 12, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465325013

Ernesto A. Logarta

Ernesto A. Logarta is a holder of an AB degree in Philosophy from San Beda College in Manila, an MA degree from Cebu Normal College, and an Ed.D. degree from the University of the Visayas, Cebu City. When he went to the United States in 1958, he lived, studied, and worked in the area near Santa Monica College and UCLA. In the campus of these two great schools, he encountered various discussion groups such as the UCLA International Society, the Newman Club, and the Young Christian Students. His exposure to these groups enabled him to come in contact with the writings of Freud, Jung, Adler, and the French and Russian existentialist writers. He is now a freelance writer and speaker on Philosophical issues and he is also a curator of his familyowned museum.

Book preview

THE PSYCHIC

HEALING

PHENOMENON

IN THE

PHILIPPINES

AND ABROAD

SELECTED FIVE FILIPINO AND FIVE

FOREIGN WRITERS ON PSYCHIC HEALING

60361-LOGA-layout.pdf

ERNESTO A. LOGARTA

Copyright © 2009 by ERNESTO A. LOGARTA .

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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60361

Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

ENDNOTES

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM, SCOPE, AND DEFINITION

OF TERMS USED

INTRODUCTION

It may seem ironic that medical science which grew out of folk medicine should begin the task to turn full circle back to acknowledge the validity of some of the practices of folk medicine that had long been relegated to the pre-scientific stage. One reason for this is explicitly stated by Makalintal:

. . . they are forced to avail themselves of the services of the arbularyo who prescribes cheaper medicines. Moreover, this local specialist appears to be more approachable as compared to the cool, professional attitude of the doctor… it looks like he is a better psychologist than the professional doctor because he can easily gain the confidence of his patients.¹

Taking this factor into account, it is clear that the role of the arbularyo² deserves deeper appraisal. A newer insight must be developed in order to establish its legal and scientific integration into the health practices of the medical profession. Besides, it needs further assessment in the light of existing preference and availability among the rural folk and the increasing number of educated and learned people who have availed of it. This investigation must be anchored on the framework of traditional and customary habits of the people. It is observed:

. . . that causes of diseases in many places in the Philippines are defined in terms of their social and cultural context. Thus the arbularyo appears to be a better psychologist since he operates within the cultural framework of his group.³

The Department of Health needs to look into the possibilities whereby folk medicine and other forms of healing alien to the standards of the Philippine Medical Association may be exploited.

But while medical societies may still be officially opposed to all forms of folk medicine, including psychic healing, there are already a number of physicians, among them the celebrated neurosurgeon C. Norman Sheally, who are willing to give psychic healing the benefit of the doubt.

The fundamental psychological, physiological, and phenomenological resurgence of the secular mind of the paranormal relating to states of consciousness and control of the subconscious have been explored and widely practiced among psychologists and spiritists. To understand properly this dynamism, one should also understand the altered states of consciousness or ASC. Father Bulatao gives a very enlightening dissertation on this subject in his speech, thus:

"In the Philippine situation, let us look at those cases where ASC is induced… as the first step in the healing process. The faith healers comprise those who practice psychic surgery.⁴

But Bulatao does not seem to be convinced of the verity and authenticity of this practice. According to him, only those who are convinced see the positive cure of hypnotherapy. In some, like the espiritistas⁵, the healing takes place as a cause of faith and the belief that the body has natural processes for self-healing.

To some healers, the use of ASC becomes obvious even to those who have limited practice of clinical psychology. From the clinical psychologist’s viewpoint, the medium’s performance is a simple case of self-induced ASC. The circumstances surrounding this activity are purely speculative. From this viewpoint, this dissertation attempts to exploit the feasibility of establishing a closer link or even that of integrating psychic healing into the realm of science and medicine.

This is reinforced by Valentine by stating that Western medicine is realizing its mistake of over-compartmentalization; it is now going to holistic medicine. As such, the Filipino faith healer even goes beyond the psychosomatic because he includes the social, the environmental, and the spiritual in his therapy.⁶ Medicine must look into this with a fresher vigor and newer insight.

In the Philippines, psychic healers have been reported as primitive from the time when Magellan discovered the islands for Spain. But only since the 1960s have these psychic healers gained sufficient publicity to attract the interest of foreign parapsychologists. This was partly due to the internationally-sensational psychic surgeon, Tony Agpaoa.

It has been felt and seen that Tony Agpaoa, as a psychic healer, draws the attention of people here and elsewhere. His psychic surgery does wonders and he has been widely accepted and believed simply because he plays right into the emotional fiber of his patients and audience.⁷

The concept of psychosomatic or holistic medicine has gained widespread scientific acceptance today but most scientists still reject, or at least, question the validity of parapsychological concepts like psychokinesis (PK). This alternative medicine induces a change in matter, such as external motion (through the sole agency of the mind) known as extrasensory perception (ESP) and the existence of disembodied spirits, concepts which are of special relevance to the matter of psychic healing. Worse still, there are scarcely any formally-trained native parapsychologists to conduct the controlled experiments needed to confirm the reality of psychic healing for the scientific community. Parapsychology is a budding science that gained the official recognition of the American Academy for the advancement of science barely nine years ago, and one that is yet to come on its own in Philippine universities.

It is against this interesting popular background and mixed confusing views on psychic healing that an appraisal of this phenomenon on the basis of available works – local and foreign, on the subject is important. Not only is the study long called for in view of the subject’s intrinsic interest but also because of its significant role and implications for education.

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

This study aims at studying psychic-healing concepts by selected Filipino and foreign writers and their implications to education. Specifically, the study seeks to investigate the following facets of the core problem:

1. What fundamental aspects of psychic healing are conceptualized by selected Filipino writers?

2. What fundamental aspects of psychic healing are conceptualized by selected foreign writers?

3. How do the concepts of selected Filipino and foreign writers relate to education?

4. What are the implications of the study to education?

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

Today the thrust of education as conceived by the Department of Education is countryside development through formal and non-formal education. It is aimed at the total uplift of man and the improvement of the socio-economic and health conditions of the people in rural areas. This study provides a basis for the re-evaluation of the content of the social sciences to include the innovative advances in the realm of holistic medicine as integrated in the social problems confronting the rural area.

To the planners and implementors of curriculum design, the study can provide insights into the socio-psychological value of folk medicine as a supplemental training for our country’s medical and nursing professions.

Administrators and teachers may gain some insights on the nature of psychic healing and understanding of the practices of psychic healers as described and presented by Filipino and foreign writers. It could possibly make the teachers and administrators realize the tremendous power harnessed through a better understanding of basic principles that explain psychic factors.

The orthodox sector or even the learned physician may gain insight on the Filipino patients who are seen primarily as persons. This insight is significant for holistic medicine to be acceptable in the Philippines.

A thorough appraisal of the literature of psychic healing written by five selected Filipino writers may be beneficial to the guidance counselors and even to classroom teachers.

The chemotherapeutic and pharmacological value of the researches of Jocano and Galvez-Tan is very much in line with the introduction of herbal medicine as part of the curriculum. Licauco’s theory of energy field may help teachers and guidance counselors identify people for their capacities and directions to pursue a meaningful life. As educators and guidance counselors learn about the energy fields, they will discover the potential of their students as well as their own. Furthermore, the concept of the love and caring attitude of the healer to the healee will be a revolutionary idea for future education. Future education will require people to really love and care for each other.

The holistic approach of Filipino shamans⁸ may further enlighten counselors and psychologists in adopting a changed attitude as regards their clients as human beings. This study may develop greater awareness and sensitivity in school administrators and guidance counselors to enable them to devote a kind of dedication and commitment by developing proper attitudes to values attached to it and a zealous attitude in their work.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

The scope of this research is delimited to the literature on psychic healing by Bulatao, Jocano, Demetrio, Galvez-Tan, and Lichauco – all representing Filipino writers; and Sherman, LeShan, Fuller, Hammond, and Sheally, as representatives of foreign authors. The selection of these authorities on psychic healing, both Filipino and foreigners, was based upon the availability of materials and the reputation they have established for themselves in psychic healing. Commentaries will be drawn specifically on psychic healing practices