(Because of the current number of stork visits that we at FMB have been receiving, I felt it appropriate to repost this article which I wrote, about a year ago, at my site. I am in the hope that this will serve some sort of purpose to my co-editors (and other mothers) who are now patiently awaiting the arrival of their bundles of joy.)
It actually started after my brother-in-law, ever the skeptic, said that he overheard one of the yayas mention another bit of folkloric advice. This got us to enumerating the different suggestions, both from family and friends, that we have received in the last couple of years. These suggestions have increased as of late due to the sudden arrival, back-to-back, of critters care-of myself and my kambal sisters (another story, right there!).
Personally, I admit that I am not entirely uncomfortable with the idea of following some of these pamahiins. To name a few of the ones I followed….
- bigkis
- bigkis with coins
- putting a string on the forehead for hiccups
- pwera usog (yep, with the whole “laway” bit)
- using my pajama as the baby’s blanket when I have to leave
.
Now here are some that my baby’s yaya followed and went unquestioned….
- saying “ahem” when the baby coughs (can’t say if my baby understands this but it works)
- blowing the baby’s head and swooshing away the spirit (?) when the baby chokes
- massaging the baby’s tummy with “Aceite Manzanilla” and having the “kabag” transfer to her
- singing an Ilocano lullaby (pukpukel, pukpukel, dardaras, dumakel!!) and massaging the baby’s legs to prevent “sakang”
- putting a coin on a bump to prevent “bukol”
.
And here are some suggestions that I flatly refused to follow…
- burying the umbilical cord in front of the house to keep the kids close to home
- keeping the umbilical cord in my wallet for luck (money)
- having the baby eat “pwet ng manok” to become “madaldal”
- using a book as the baby’s first pillow to make them smart
.
I am not saying that everyone should follow. I didn’t even try to convince my sister to follow my lead, considering that her husband is terribly against it.
I’m sure that there will still be a lot of suggestions, solicited and unsolicited, that will be coming our way in the not so distant future. I’m sure that I will follow some and laugh at the others.
This suggestion, however, I leave to everyone to think about. This is what got us discussing in the first place. Upon hearing this, my brother-in-law almost choked on a piece of siopao. I swear to God, this one is for the books.
- for grinding teeth while sleeping, buy a new pair of slippers and slap them across the grinders face to stop the grinding
.
Maybe it should be a pair of bakya just to get the job done well. That way, you can knock out the offenders teeth….thus, no more grinding!
10:31 am on February 12th, 2009
Hehehe interesting!! Thanks for this Cooks. Naku, nakikita ko na ang potential clash of the pamahiins once our baby arrives. My mom-in-law has some beliefs that I don’t buy since we’re not into pamahiin naman sa side namin so… bring it on. Haha! Let’s see what happens and I may add to your list too!
11:31 am on February 12th, 2009
Is this another case of only in the Philippines? =) Well, we’re not big on the stuff you put on babies or keeping umbilical cords, first cut hair, etc. But we do use that “ahem” when the child coughs, or that “pwera usog” or in Cebuano, “porya buyag!”
Interesting post, though!
3:42 pm on February 12th, 2009
My family isn’t really big on superstitions and it was difficult for me to adjust to my hubby’s family because they believe in so many pamahiins. Like when our tot vomitted 12 times last month and they wanted to bring him to a relative who supposedly caused the “usog” while I wanted to rush him to the ER. Aaargh! Turned out my son had acute gastroenteritis and had to be admitted for rehydration. *sigh* Darned pamahiin.
7:44 am on February 13th, 2009
LOL, I know in our ilocano culture, it’s not pwet ng manok that they give to kids to be madaldal…. hohum, hahaha. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.
I rarely followed any superstitions. As soon as I was strong enough to stand up after birth, I took a bath, hehe. I know some who would not bathe for 1 month! eeks.
12:34 pm on March 26th, 2009
these sounds interesting, Me and my hubby we are 100% no, no, to this pamahiins. Eventhough my parents would say we are too modern. In God’s graces until this moment my 4 year old son did not encounter any “usog”. Instead when people try to say “uy pwera usog” I utter a silent prayer to keep my son & daughter healthy and away from any sickness.