An Ethnocultural Study on the Medical Practices of ‘Magtatambal’ in Tagkawayan, Quezon

• Main Authors: Adulta, Arnel Lenra M., Adillo, Angeline A.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: ‘bolo’; ‘Magtatambal’; ‘tambal’; medical practices; ethnocultural
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2021/paper_lcs/1; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/1691/viewcontent/Adulta_and_Adillo.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

‘Magtatambal’ is a faith healer who specializes in curing animal bites. They have preserved medical cultures and practices in Tagkawayan, Quezon. This study used an ethnocultural type of qualitative research by utilizing interviews and observation. The subjects of the study were composed of three ‘magtatambal’: (1) ‘magtatambal’ in Barangay Aliji, (2) ‘magtatambal’ in Barangay Bamban, and (3) ‘magtatambal’ in Barangay Sta. Cecilia, Tagkawayan, Quezon. They were purposively selected because of their differences in the method of treating animal bites and are specifically identified as experienced ‘magtatambal’. In the light of the findings, the researchers found out that ‘magtatambal’ 1 performs her medical practices by saying a Latin prayer, blowing air, and patting the body part bitten of the patient. ‘Magtatambal’ 2 performs her medical practices by washing the wound caused by the animal fangs using the ‘tambal’ (alcohol) and letting the victim drink one shot of the ‘tambal’. Lastly, ‘magtatambal’ 3 conducts theirs by putting a boiled ‘bolo’ (bamboo stalk) to the wound that will extract the venom from the victim’s body. The subjects encountered difficulty in handling patients who are already experiencing the effect of the venom. Passing the knowledge and the procedure is the subjects’ way to preserve their practices.