Pagtatawas

Okay kiddo, I’ll explain pagtatawas in super simple terms for you. Pagtatawas is a Filipino traditional method of using a piece of glass called banga or baso, and water to determine if someone is under a bad spell or curse that is causing them illness.

Here’s how it works:

First, the person who is sick lies down on a mat or a bed. Then, the person who is performing the pagtatawas gets the banga or baso and fills it up with water.

Next, they hold the banga or baso above the sick person’s body and start reciting a prayer asking for help from God and the saints. They’ll also ask the sick person if they’ve done something to offend anyone or if they’ve interacted with anything that might have caused bad luck.

While they’re doing this, they’ll observe the water in the banga or baso. If the water forms bubbles, turns cloudy, or changes color, it’s a sign that the person is under a curse or has an evil spirit inside them. If the water stays clear and doesn’t show any signs, then it’s likely just an ordinary illness, and the sick person can be treated with medicine like normal.

Pagtatawas is usually done by a traditional healer or albularyo, and it’s thought to be a practice that’s been passed down for generations. It’s important to remember that pagtatawas is just one way of looking at illnesses, and it’s not a substitute for modern medical treatment.