Tuob as Indigenous Knowledge: Aligning with the Elements of Nature

As an apprentice for the bobo maker I listened to every word he says. After the weaving sessions that took around several days of 'chop-chop' (segmented) demonstration of  'bobo' weaving steps, Inggo, explained that the process of integrating the object to the sea has in fact not yet commenced.

"This is my old bobo and this one (lifting the other bobo)is the newly woven one. I cannot just immerse this new bobo fish trap into the sea. I have to follow my accustomed rituals as taught to me by an old parabolong (medicine man cum village shaman).

The same items used for the traditional tuob as commonly practiced, the 'kamanyang', 'oliva' palm leaves from the recent 'hosana' are to be utilized in the tuob ritual. The additional material and the most important in this particular tuob specifically done for my bobo fish traps are the pieces of pandan leaves gathered near the shore as the final ingredient in the 'tuob' explained Inggo. The numbers must be in the odd number never in the even. 3, 5 and 7 are odd numbers.

Tuob is a ritual of cleansing and blessing at the same time. It bestows the object a sense of invulnerability to bad luck and to shoo away unfriendly spirits that will cause it to not function properly in the tasks ahead. It aligns it to the good elements of nature and attracts the good chi and thus more fishes will lend itself to be caught in it. This is in sum the purpose of the ritual the way I understood  Inggo.

"I prepare these items when everyone is asleep and I see to it that there are no people in my route to the sea so as the remaining embers of  the tuob materials will be able to float freely to the sea unencumbered free from the prying eyes of curious onlookers. In a 'bagol' (half coconut shell) the materials are earlier made into a fire to produce the thick smoke so important for the tuob process. The smoke must bathe the newly woven bobo fish trap entirely for several minutes.

After the ritual, the remaining embers are brought to sea as quickly and secretly as possible to be floated unto the vast unending sea inside the same 'bagol' used in the tuob.. This I believe is a symbolic act that pays homage to the spirits of the sea.

"One must not look back after the tuob's remaining glowing fragment is set to float to the sea. You must go back as quickly as possible leaving the embers in the half coconut shell floating to the vastness of the ocean with its remaining smoke finally extinguished by the ocean breeze."


Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Durian in Pili land

Two weeks ago, Bulusan sa'ud yielded a surprise. Durian. A farm from San Roque, Bulusan sold several items of ripe local grown durian probably a first in its history.

Was fortunate enough to buy the last item. The event that followed was our durian 'party' in a room hideaway in our second floor bodega  away from my mother who loathed the smell.

It was a feast with my sis-in-law. Durian is our mutual favorite. Oya Choleng was genuinely puzzled to our delight. "Nano ini langka? (Is this a kind of jackfruit?) . No one answered. Everyone was busy devouring the extremely delicious local-grown durian.


Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Bulusan's strong folk religiosity

Religious occasions like fiestas are good days for buying items like novena prayer booklets, handkerchiefs with religious images/prayers and rosaries in Bulusan. The vendors usually make these items available in  makeshift stalls located near the church yard.

Bulusan has a strong Catholic tradition that dates back to the Spanish colonial period. The Parroqia being founded year 1630 is one of the four oldest towns in the province of Sorsogon.

I used to have the San Benito bronze medallion with me to ward off bad spirits. These were the times when a friend of mine was struggling from a disease and I can only watch helplessly in the process. San Benito medal acted as a security blanket in some strange ways.

Today, I still have this habit of checking these items and asking the vendor what are the available novena booklets and checking the folkloric designs of the bronze medallions and some 'agimat' (amulet/talisman) looking items.

In this year's Bulusan town fiesta, the Saint James the Greater novenas were all sold out attesting to the town's devotion and love  for the saint. No hurry though, I can have my copy of the novena next fiesta. I am a regular resident now of this truly awesome town.

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines