USOG (EVIL'S EYE)

    You  won’t  even realize the  nature  spirits  are following you. These five superstition stories from the municipality of Buruanga will be an eye-opener for you because who knows? You may come upon this one along the way.

It was an average day for people trying to make a living, and this group of friends came upon a strange man loitering nearby, gazing them dead in the eyes. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. One of their friend afterward complained of severe abdominal pain. She feels a strange feeling about him. His appearance and vibe were eerily similar to something. They have no words to describe how they feel. They stumbled across a man who advised them to be cautious the next time they met a stranger.

Do you believe they’ll be able to avoid it if they knew about it beforehand?

    Usog is a Filipino superstition in which a stranger’s look might cause you to become ill or cursed. It mainly targets naïve victims, including people of all ages. In most cases, a new born or toddlers are vulnerable to this phenomenon.

    A stranger causes this disease by just lingering about his potential. This superstitious belief can be related to the Spanish “Mal de Ojo.”

    The “mal de Ojo,” or “evil eye,” typically affects children, with babies being particularly vulnerable. According to this supernatural belief, an adoring gaze or a stare can weaken a kid, causing ill luck, disease, and even death.

    When people experience being usog, they experience fever and pain specific parts of their bodies. Some traditions claim that the cure involves boiling the victims’ garments. Requesting that the stranger or guest apply some of his “laway” on the victim’s abdomen, shoulder, and forehead is another way to counteract the effects of usog.

    It’s a good thing that someone with the ability to “usog” understands what he needs to do, such as saying “pwera usog” before entering a house or touching people, especially new borns. On the other hand, to defend the child against usog, you might sew any protection charms or “panguntra to his garments.

MISTERYO SA DULOM

Sa ngadya nga mga adlaw,

hindi mo lon masiguro. 

Kung mong masublang sa dalan,

tuod gid man o kapakunwari nga tawo.

Mga istorya nga dati lang akon nabatian,

gina palampas at wala napatihan.

Mga gakatabo nga hindi masayran,

Hasta amon lamang namon imaw ya naagyan.

Hindi lon naton sanda ya malikawan,

dahil isa lang nga kalibotan ang atong natuntungan.

Imaw kinanglan gid nga mag dahan.

Dahil sa atong palibot may ga tulok, gapamatyag,

gatago sa dulom at sa imo gahulat.

-IGUIRON, CEDREYK