Filipino Superstitions and Beliefs Tutorial

Summary

In this entertaining tutorial, Filipino creator Mikey Bustos explores various Filipino superstitions and beliefs, from wearing polka dots for prosperity to avoiding sugar on Good Friday for faster wound healing. He humorously challenges these beliefs, such as the idea that pointing at certain objects might anger spirits, and even shares personal anecdotes that bring a light-hearted touch to cultural myths. The video is a delightful dive into Filipino folklore, inviting viewers to share their own childhood superstitions and emphasizing the importance of critical thinking.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Filipinos have various New Year's superstitions, such as wearing polka dots and displaying 12 round fruits for prosperity, and jumping at midnight to grow taller.
• 🕊️ The speaker, Mikey Bustos, uses birds in his videos as a symbol of good luck, associating them with flying high and making noise.
• 🤕 Filipinos believe that getting a wound on Good Friday will take a long time to heal, which the speaker humorously questions.
• 👶 It's a Filipino belief that an itchy thumb signifies money coming one's way, which the speaker humorously connects to allergies.
• 👻 After a funeral, Filipinos practice 'bug-bug', avoiding going home directly to prevent a ghost from following them.
• 👎 In the Philippines, pointing at anything with an index finger is considered disrespectful and may anger spirits or 'twende'.
• 🌳 The speaker shares a personal anecdote about taking a selfie pointing at a tree, which his mother warned could anger 'duende', and subsequently getting sick.
• 💧 The speaker debunks the belief in 'duende' and explains the effectiveness of betadine for sore throats, killing viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
• 🤔 The speaker challenges superstitions by pointing at a tree and using betadine, proving nothing bad happened to him.
• 👵 The speaker's mother warns him about the consequences of not disposing of white hair properly, as birds using it could drive one mad.
• 📢 The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their own Filipino superstitions and beliefs in the comments section.

Q & A

What is the significance of wearing polka dots or circles and displaying 12 round fruits in a Filipino household at the beginning of the year?

Filipinos believe that wearing polka dots or circles and displaying 12 round fruits in the house at the start of the year leads to prosperity.

Why do Filipinos jump at the stroke of midnight on New Year's according to the script?

Filipinos believe that jumping at the stroke of midnight on New Year's will make them grow taller in the coming year.

What is the Filipino belief regarding getting a wound on Good Friday?

Filipinos believe that if you get a wound on Good Friday, it will take a long time to heal.

What does the speaker's mother tell him about an itchy thumb?

The speaker's mother tells him that an itchy thumb is a sign that money is coming his way.

What is the Filipino practice called 'bug-bug' after a funeral?

The practice of 'bug-bug' involves not going home right away after a funeral and instead eating somewhere or stopping by somewhere first, as it is believed that a ghost will follow you if you go home directly.

Why do Filipinos avoid pointing directly at objects or landmarks?

Filipinos believe that pointing at objects or landmarks might anger spirits, dwarves, or goblins known as 'twende' or 'duende'.

What did the speaker do to challenge the belief about pointing at a tree and the consequences?

The speaker took a selfie pointing at a big tree, and after his mother's advice, he bit his finger to avoid angering the 'duende'. He later got sick with a sore throat, which his mother attributed to the angered spirits.

What is the speaker's opinion about the belief in 'duende'?

The speaker is skeptical about the belief in 'duende', stating that there is no such thing as a 'duende'.

What does the speaker suggest for treating a sore throat?

The speaker suggests using betadine gargle to treat a sore throat, as it kills viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

What is the speaker's challenge to the belief about birds using white hair for nests?

The speaker plans to prove his mother wrong by pointing at a tree repeatedly and gargling with betadine to show that nothing will happen to him, challenging the belief that a bird using one's white hair for its nest will cause one to go crazy.

What is the final advice given by the speaker regarding the use of gargle for sore throats?

The speaker advises to only use betadine gargle for sore throats, emphasizing its effectiveness against various pathogens.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Filipino New Year Superstitions and Beliefs

The first paragraph introduces the video's theme of Filipino superstitions and beliefs, particularly focusing on New Year's traditions. The speaker, Mikey Bustos, humorously recounts various customs such as wearing polka dots for prosperity and jumping at midnight to grow taller. He also mentions the belief that wounds on Good Friday take longer to heal and the superstition about itchy thumbs signaling incoming money. Mikey then shares personal anecdotes, including a humorous job reference to touching a 'pussycat' and the Filipino practice of 'bug-bug' after funerals to avoid bringing home ghosts. The paragraph concludes with a playful challenge to these beliefs.

05:02

👻 Filipino Superstitions: Pointing, Duende, and Health

The second paragraph continues the discussion on Filipino superstitions, touching on the taboo of pointing at certain objects or places for fear of angering spirits known as 'twende' or 'duende'. Mikey shares a personal story of taking a selfie with a tree and the subsequent illness he attributes to having angered a duende. He also addresses health-related beliefs, such as using betadine gargle for sore throats, and humorously debunks the myth of the duende's existence. The paragraph ends with Mikey's intention to challenge these superstitions by pointing at the tree without ill effects, emphasizing the cultural richness of Filipino myths and beliefs.

Keywords

💡Superstitions

Superstitions refer to beliefs or practices that are based on irrational ideas, often involving luck, fate, or supernatural forces. In the video's context, the theme revolves around Filipino superstitions, which are deeply rooted in the culture and passed down through generations. Examples from the script include wearing polka dots for prosperity and jumping at midnight to grow taller.

💡Filipino Culture

Filipino Culture encompasses the customs, beliefs, and practices of the people from the Philippines. The video script highlights various aspects of this culture, particularly focusing on superstitions and beliefs. It demonstrates the cultural significance of these beliefs through the creator's personal anecdotes and the examples he provides.

💡Polka Dots

Polka dots are a pattern of round dots that are often used in clothing and design. In the video, polka dots are mentioned as a part of New Year's superstitions in Filipino culture, where wearing them is believed to lead to prosperity, illustrating the integration of visual symbols into cultural practices.

💡Holy Week

Holy Week is the week preceding Easter, observed by Christians as a time of reflection and commemoration of the Passion of Christ. The script mentions a Filipino belief that getting a wound on Good Friday will take a long time to heal, showing how religious observances are intertwined with superstitious beliefs.

💡Itchy Thumbs

In the video, an itchy thumb is associated with an impending financial gain, according to Filipino superstition. This belief exemplifies how everyday sensations can be imbued with predictive significance in cultural folklore, and it is used in the script to illustrate the pervasiveness of such beliefs in daily life.

💡Bugbug

Bugbug is a Filipino custom where one avoids going home directly after attending a funeral. The script explains that this is done to prevent a ghost from following one home, demonstrating a belief in the spiritual world and its influence on daily actions.

💡Pointing Etiquette

The script discusses the belief in the Philippines that pointing at certain objects or places with a finger can anger spirits or supernatural beings. This belief influences the etiquette of pointing, showing how cultural norms can be shaped by superstitions.

💡Duende

Duende, mentioned in the script, refers to a type of goblin or dwarf in Filipino folklore that is believed to inhabit certain natural features and can be angered by disrespectful gestures like pointing. The concept of Duende exemplifies the supernatural beings that are part of Filipino mythology.

💡Betadine

Betadine is an antiseptic solution used for disinfection and treating minor injuries. In the video, it is recommended for gargling to treat a sore throat, reflecting a practical application of a common household remedy that also ties into the video's theme of beliefs and their practicality.

💡Sore Throat

A sore throat is a common ailment characterized by pain and discomfort in the throat. The script uses the treatment of a sore throat with Betadine as an example to challenge traditional beliefs with practical medical advice, highlighting the contrast between superstition and science.

💡Mabuhay

Mabuhay is a Filipino word that means 'long life' or 'good health' and is used as a greeting or toast. In the script, it is used to close the video, signifying a positive and culturally resonant conclusion to the discussion of Filipino superstitions and beliefs.

Highlights

Filipinos have unique superstitions and beliefs that are creatively connected to daily life.

Wearing polka dots and displaying 12 round fruits on New Year's Eve is believed to bring prosperity.

Filipinos jump at midnight on New Year's to grow taller in the coming year.

Good Friday is avoided for getting a wound, as it is believed to take a long time to heal.

Itchy thumbs are considered a sign of incoming money.

After a funeral, Filipinos do 'bug-bug' to avoid bringing a ghost home by not going straight back.

Pointing at certain things with a finger is avoided to prevent angering spirits or 'twende'.

Using betadine gargle is recommended for sore throats as it kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

The speaker humorously challenges superstitions by pointing at a tree and gargling with betadine.

Throwing away white hair is believed to prevent madness if a bird uses it for its nest.

The video encourages viewers to share their own childhood superstitions and beliefs.

The speaker debunks the belief in 'twende' as a myth.

The importance of using proper medical remedies like betadine for health issues is emphasized.

The video concludes with a reminder to subscribe and a humorous note about the Duende.

The transcript showcases Filipino culture's interesting mix of superstitions, myths, and practical advice.

Transcripts

I don't know what is hola

Aaron Ola this is your Pinoy boy Mikey

Bustos bringing you another Filipino

tutorial now my mom

Lola's and relatives always used to tell

me some of the strangest things growing

up but now that I am older I know that a

lot of these things are just

superstitions and beliefs we Filipinos

are so creative when making connections

for instance did you notice that most of

my videos include a bird in some way I

love you it's because birds fly high and

make a lot of noise

just like my videos it's good luck and

so ladies and gents this tutorial is

about Filipino superstitions and beliefs

let us start at the beginning of the

year that is we Filipinos believe that

you have to wear polka dots or circles

and also display 12 brown roots in the

house they say it leads to prosperity

now Filipinos also believe that at the

stroke of midnight on New Year's you

have to jump so that you will grow

taller

every new year I am like a probe if this

were true I would be a basketball player

by now also with Holy Week coming up all

Filipinos know that you cannot get sugah

or a wound on good friday because

filipinos believe that it will take a

long time to heal the first time I heard

this I did this ok ready ready for

church you know my teeth I used to

always tell me that whenever your thumbs

gets itchy it means that money is coming

your way and if that were the case then

any Filipino with an allergy is blessed

because all they have to do is touch

what they are allergic to get itchy and

get pain so Michael John yeah Dan to

McGill pest ano Bustos um put in your

previous job would you say is relevant

work experience for this company well

for many years I used to touch pussycat

now you know it is always sad when I

loved one of ours departs and goes to

heaven after a funeral Filipinos cannot

go home right away we do what is called

bug bug and we go eat somewhere or stop

by somewhere first because it is said

that if you go home right away after the

funeral a ghost will follow you you know

if that were true I would just go to my

enemy's house and give him a gift to say

sorry and secretly drop up the ghost

there penelo

you know in the Philippines you really

have to watch where you point with your

finger you cannot just point at a tree a

mound a mountain a landmark actually in

the province you cannot point anywhere

Filipinos believe that there are spirits

or twende also known as goblins or

dwarves that will get angry if you point

their house in park that's probably why

we Filipinos point with our lips like

this and we say Tabata beep oh so we

don't anger that Duende you know last

month in the province I took a selfie

pointing at a big tree but then my mom

told me to bite my finger because it

might anger the Duende and to my

surprise I actually got sick and got a

sore throat and guess what my mom said

it's because that when they were mad at

you do not you know how powerful that

when day is Michael here gargle some of

this to kill the bacteria in your throat

so that you will be better I'm also

making salad Batna alright let's get our

box straight ok first of all there's no

such thing as a twin day in second call

me a nerd but 85% absurd roads are

caused by viruses not bacteria and

that's why you need to use betadine

gargle because it kills viruses and

bacteria and fungi and third there's no

such thing as a Duende ok let's move on

you know what I said I said mommy I will

prove you wrong tomorrow I will go to

that tree point that it like crazy and

then gargle with this betadine and watch

I will be fine nothing will happen to me

and I did yesterday

and look I'm ok Mykel it's because I

said capito people we Pilipinas have so

many beliefs what are some of the

Filipino beliefs and superstitions that

you are taught as a kid be sure to leave

it in the comment section and so whether

you believe in these strange things or

not we Filipinos will always have the

most interesting superstitions myths and

beliefs

see you again my friend goodbye barangay

aha got it okay mommy

I did it I'm going outside to play now I

pulled 100 white hair

Mykel remember if a bird gets one of my

white hairs and uses it for his nests I

will go crazy so make sure to throw it

all away in the garbage I don't think we

need a bird for that to happen

Mabuhay thanks so much for watching my

videos guys it really means a lot to me

don't forget to hit that subscribe

button and remember guys don't just use

any gargle for sore throats make sure to

only use betadine gargoyles rolling and

amel the Duende emil of course we