How to not be scared of the paranormal
Most of the time, kababalaghan is only scary because we do not want to remember. We do not want to face the horrors of our own memory.
Many of us Filipinos were raised with beliefs about the supernatural. Whether we realize it or not, we carry with us passed-down knowledge about invisible forces that affect our everyday lives: “Ask for permission before crossing that grassy area or abandoned lot—you would not want to accidentally step on the duwende.” “Do not point at that old tree! There is a kapre there, and they do not like strangers bothering them. Make sure to bite your finger.”
“Did you hear something step on the roof? And what is that sound—tik, tik, tik? Maybe you should check on your pregnant wife and see if she is safe.”
Even urban folk have their superstitions
For globalized urban dwellers, these old stories might sound like the superstitions of those who subscribe to outdated beliefs. But even urban dwellers have their own folklore. See if these stories might sound a bit familiar:
- “You might hear someone crying in that washroom at night, even when there is nobody there. It is said that something really bad happened in one of the cubicles.”
- “I could swear that I saw someone in the backseat of the car when we passed by that street! Yes, people say that there is a white lady that haunts that area.”
- “Do not look now because something is looking right at us—there is a shadowy figure in the corner of the room.”
These stories of kababalaghan might feel scary, and TV shows often portray them in horror episodes. But speaking as a psychological researcher, I would say that kababalaghan is not something to avoid. It is something to understand.
The meaning of the paranormal
In my view as a psychologist, it seems that paranormal things represent important psychological events. Sometimes, kababalaghan can be the guilt people have about something they did that continues to “haunt” them. Sometimes, it is the horrific memory of something that really happened in a certain place.
In a weird way, these ghost stories are our way to remember the past, even when we do not have all the facts about what really happened.
Kababalaghan can also be our respect for the unpredictable powers of nature. This is probably why we need to ask for permission before we pass by the territory of spirits. Of course, we are living with these forces every day, and we should respect them, too. Otherwise, if we do not take care of nature, nature tends to be quite vengeful.
Throw too much trash in the river, and it will cause a blockage; when the rainy season comes, the village will be flooded. Cut too many trees on the mountainside, and you will have nothing to protect you from landslides.
When seasoned hikers and trekkers visit the mountain or jungle, they are careful to maintain a respectful silence. And forest guides will also tell you to avoid throwing your trash around.
When I went to a mountain recently, an old lady stopped us and introduced herself as a bantay (guardian). We offered her some spare change, and she let us pass. She explained that the reason she was guarding that area was that something happened some time ago: a visitor threw trash on the ground, and a boulder fell on him.
She wanted to make sure that something like that never happened again, so she was there to make sure that people treat the mountain well—and so that the mountain does not get too angry. The old lady was also an albularyo.
Remembering ghosts
The kababalaghan anecdotes we share with each other are usually the stories we tell about things we find meaningful. They are stories about our loved ones who have passed on, who still make their presence known to us. They are stories about abused people in the past who are still seeking justice. They are stories about how we live with, and take care of, Mother Nature.
Even though Halloween is a foreign celebration, it ties in nicely to Undas, a time dedicated to remembering loved ones who have passed on. “Halloween” comes from an old word that used to mean “holy.” But the word actually means holy evening.
Most of the time, kababalaghan is only scary because we do not want to remember. We do not want to face the horrors of our own memory. But for real investigators and researchers of kababalaghan, there is still a lot to learn about the mysteries of the human experience.
