LUCKY
STONES
“Ding, ang bato!”
This catchphrase was popularized by Darna, a Philippine television show based on Filipino comics. Narda, the lead role in the show, utters these words to her brother whenever she feels the need to transform into a superheroine. As what is shown in the story, the power of Narda comes from this small magical stone which helps this simple woman perform marvels. Just like Narda, many Filipinos believe that simple stones have their power. Unlike Narda who swallows the stone, these Filipinos wear these objects as protection from harm especially from bullets and knife wounds. There have been multifold stories told about these men who have been saved from danger by wearing these mere stones.
BATONG ALOG, which have the promise of good luck, available in the market of Quiapo
Due to this people’s belief in the power of these objects, the market of Quiapo has teemed with vendors of different stones and seeds. There are birth stones which come in different sizes and crystal stones which are sold with the promise of healing and good luck. These stones and petrified seeds, which had been made into bracelets, were all sourced from a supposedly mystical seventh mountain in Bulalacao town.
THE WORLD of charms, potions, amulets, Video by Inquirer.net on Youtube
Aside from the birth stones, the following stones are believed to work wonders in Quiapo: jackfruit stone which brings good luck to businesses and attracts people, sinukuan stone (with jade) which protects one from sorcery, red coral which prevents bad luck, problems, diseases, and chaos, sand stone which gives one a fair skin, blood stone which promises good health and tiger eye which can be worn for successful job application. Among these numerous stones, the bestsellers now are the coconut stones (niyog na bato) which drive a person away from any harmful metals, knives, bombs, and other metallic shrapnels, and the fangs of thunder (ngipin ng kidlat) which have the power to distort the direction of any sharp metal objects away from the wearer.
THE FANG OF THUNDER “ngipin ng kidlat” which is for protection from bullets, and the coconut stone “niyog na bato” which is for supposed invisibility. Photo by Lyn Rillon.
Nowadays, these two stones, according to the stories of the vendors, are becoming known as “batong kontra tokhang.” Tokhang, a Philippine lexical item, is a present phenomenon in the country, which means to knock on a suspected drug trafficker or drug addict's home to persuade them to surrender and stop their illegal activities. This year, a project of Philippine National Police (PNP) called “Oplan Tokhang” , a national law enforcement project was implemented all over the country to warn illegal drug traffickers and users to stop their activities.
In order to prevent being caught by the policemen, these menfolk seek salvation from the perceived magic of invisibility available in the makeshift shops around the Quiapo church. One of the stone vendors, Erica, said that there were about 20 male clients before who were looking for stones that promise invisibility and protection from bullets. These men have come to her seeking stones called “niyog na bato” or coconut stone, or “ngipin ng kidlat” or fang of thunder. However, she had refused because she knew that these stones could help them evade Tokhang and continue with their evil deeds.
ANTING-ANTING contra 'Tokhang,' Video by ABS-CBN News on Youtube
Aside from this “kontra-tokhang” stones, healing stones which can treat rabies are on sale in the market. This just shows that folk remedies still hold sway in the country; consequently, this hampers the attempts to eradicate rabies in the Philippines. This problem was highlighted when a youngster died after using a "tandok", a stone believed to absorb the rabies virus when held over the wound. Due to this incident, the department of health warns the Filipino folks to be careful with these practices.
With their beautiful promises, these different stones continue to charm the Filipino people who pin their hopes into these mere items. This reality makes Quiapo today a place of profanity as it is boulevard of these objects.
WORKS CITED
See, Aie Balagtas “Vendors offer amulets in the time of Tokhang.” Inquirer. Net. 20 Feb. 2017 www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/873145/vendors-offer-amulets-in-the-time-of-tokhang, Accessed 02 Nov. 2017.
Wallerstein, Claire. “Healing stones hinder Manila's rabies effort”. World News. 16 Aug. 1999. www.theguardian.com/world/1999/aug/16/philippines. Accessed 02 Nov. 2017.
The Promise of Remedy and Invisibility:
Quiapo's Marvelous Stones
Carlo D. De Dios | November 3, 2017