THE MYSTERY CAUSED BY “AGIMAT”

THE MYSTERY CAUSED BY “AGIMAT”

Amulet, in English is called 'amulet' and for others it is 'anting-anting'. This kind of thing is said to give unique powers and abilities to whoever owns or holds it.

Usually, the amulet is a stone of various shapes that hangs on a triangle-shaped, circle-shaped or cross-shaped necklace. It often has Latin words and symbols written on it. A talisman can also be a piece of paper with a Latin prayer that is often hidden in a purse or sewn into clothing. Crocodile teeth or dried fruits are also used as amulets.

It is said that when you have an amulet, you have strange powers to gain. These include having extraordinary physical strength, invisibility, strange senses, self-healing, elemental powers (for example controlling water), discharging electricity from the body, telekinesis, having the ability to predict what will happen next. , transfiguration, and having endless luck. There are also amulets for protection against accidents, to ward off fairies or to attract women and so on.

"Agimat" is a neologism word that comes from the Malaysian word "anting" or "Ju" which means "hanging" and in Javanese "antinganting" which means "ear pendant". The use of amulets is an old tradition of countries particularly in Southeast Asia. It was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards where the amulet images have Christian symbolism.

How do different things that are made into amulets give each other a unique power?

Through "oration", the said thing will have power. An oration is a short prayer that is whispered or written.

The talisman has different orations. There is something called a nail that paralyzes the enemy. Blinder, which grants invisibility ability. Armor and rope to resist any sharp objects and shield to resist bullets.

The oration is often done during semana santa, especially during Good Friday at the cemetery at 8 o'clock in the evening.

There are also stories that the amulet comes from the sky or maybe it comes from the heart of a banana (gem) that when you swallow it you will get its power. There are also traditional ways of obtaining the power of the amulet such as regularly drinking lambanog in a large jar with only a fetus at the bottom. It is also said that the power of the amulet can be obtained by eating mud.

Here in the Philippines, there are also famous people who use amulets. One of them is Emilio Aguinaldo whose amulet is called Santisima Trinidad. Katipunan Supremo Andres Bonifacio used the Santiago de Galicia/Virhen del Pilar amulet while General Antonio Luna carried the Virgen Madre. Also known are Tiagong Akyat, Nardong Putik, Macario Sakay and Gregorio Aglipay. Even President Ferdinand Marcos also used an amulet which was a long stick of wood stuck on his back before the campaign in Bataan.

Today there are movies showing the power of amulets.

Ramon Revilla is known for his movie Agimat:

Ang mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla in 1973 and his son Bong Revilla who also starred in a movie Agimat in 1999.

And just this 2010, there was a television series Agimat:

The Ramon Revilla's Legends starring Jolo Revilla, Gerald Anderson and Coco Martin.

Until now, Filipinos still believe in the power of amulets. Even though the context of the word "amulet" is changing, it still shows the unceasing culture and bias of people towards things that have no scientific explanation. Whether or not the power brought by the amulet is real, the strange mystery it brings will remain a mystery for a long time.