“Mawi…Mawi...! Lumawig! Wake up. It is time for you to start your training as a babaylan.” Lumawig who was sound asleep was woken up by lolo Gani.

Lumawig, still woozy from being awakened from his deep sleep, walked towards their bedroom door and into the living room of their nipa house. He was about to complain to his lolo when he noticed that it was still dark outside. He then looked at their wall clock dangling on the living room wall, the clock’s long hand is at 12, and the short hand is at 3. Lumawig rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not seeing things and it is really 3 o’clock in the morning.

“Lolo, why are we waking up this early?” Lumawig asked in confusion.

“Apò, did I not tell you that I will start your babaylan training today? Well, we will start today.” Lolo Gani answered. Unlike Lumawig, there is no trace of sleepiness in lolo Gani’s eyes.

Still confused and a little bit sleepy, Lumawig asked

“Why does it have to be three in the morning?”

“Because it is during this time that the spirits are most active. You will be able to sense their presence more easily as compared to the other times of the day. This way, you will be able forge a connection with them. Now hurry up, let us go the balete tree where I usually pray. I have already prepared everything there.” Lolo Gani patiently explained.

After explaining and urging Lumawig, the grandfather and grandson duo made their short journey towards the balete tree. Along the way, Lumawig could feel the cold morning air, there is no fog, but the ground feels damp. Periodically, he can also hear howls of dogs, and bats clicking in the distance. The sound of crickets can be also heard, sometimes loud other times, soft. This was the first time that Lumawig woke up this early, even when he was helping his lolo during the planting season, he would usually wake up around 5 am, while his lolo would wake up at 4 am. For some reason, even though he could only hear animals, Lumawig feels as if someone or something is looking at him. It made his hairs stand on its end.

“Do you feel something Mawi?” lolo Gani probed.

“Yes lo, I think that someone or something is watching me.” answered Lumawig.

“That’s a sign that your powers as a babaylan is being awakened. On normal circumstances, you would not even feel their presence, much less feel them looking at you.” Lolo Gani assured Lumawig, but deep in his eyes, a sharp light appeared though only for a moment. As he was walking slightly ahead of Lumawig, his apò was not able to see anything amiss on his face. Only lolo Gani knew that what he told Lumawig was a lie. He knew that unless one undergoes the ritual they are about to do, one could not feel the presence of any spirit, even if one of them is directly in front of a person. Only lolo Gani knew that there are other beings aside from the spirits watching on the sides, however, he could not tell Lumawig, as he was afraid that it may affect his apò’s state of mind. Within a short time, Lumawig and lolo Gani reached the balete tree.

“Here, sit cross-legged on this spot, hold these two items and close your eyes. I will be here with you and instruct you on what you will do, so you can be rest assured. Whatever happens, DO NOT OPEN your eyes.” Instructed lolo Gani, he then gave the librito and the triangular agimat to Lumawig.

Lumawig did as he was told and kneeled in front of the balete tree on the spot indicated by lolo Gani. Holding the librito with his right hand and the agimat on his left, Lumawig then closed his eyes. As soon as Lumawig closed his eyes, the agimat became hot. Unlike last time however, Lumawig already knows that this agimat has mystical properties so he was not surprised.

Seeing that Lumawig has closed his eyes, lolo Gani went to his apò’s back and stood there, then he put his right hand on top of Lumawig’s head, while his left hand is holding his own agimat. After that, lolo Gani closed his eyes as well and began chanting, the chanting started softly, then after thirty breaths the volume got louder, and then after another thirty breaths it went softer again.

This cycle repeated five times, and on the sixth time, orbs of light could be seen floating around the area where the maglolo are located. These orb of lights varies in sizes, some are big while some are small; the smaller ones are at least thirty times bigger than the orb of light a firefly produces, while the biggest ones are as big as an adult’s fist. There are at least a hundred of these orbs floating around the balete tree and around the maglolo.

At this moment, lolo Gani has just finished the tenth cycle of his chanting and stopped. Then with a soft voice he started talking to Lumawig.

“Mawi, try to feel the presence of the spirits. Nod your head once if you have felt their presence.” Lolo Gani instructed. After three breaths Lumawig nods his head, signifying to lolo Gani that he has felt their presence.

“Now try to establish a connection with them. You can try establishing a connection when you feel a spirit’s presence that is greater than the others. I’ll know if you were able to establish a connection with them, so just concentrate and do not think of anything else.” Lolo Gani told Lumawig.

Hearing his lolo’s instructions, Lumwaig went back into concentration. He tried to feel the spirits’ presences again, after a few breaths he was able to feel their presences. At this point, Lumawig tried to sense which presence he feels more, a couple of minutes later, he furrowed his brows, all their presence feels the same to him. He can only ask his lolo.

“Lo, all their presences are the same. I can’t seem to find which one has a greater presence.”

“That is normal apò, as your dungan is still on its half-awakened state. You are only able to feel the spirits but not connect with them.” Lolo Gani answered. The two of them are still on their initial positions and are talking in hushed tones.

“We humans have two souls we call Gimokud. Gimokud is divided between the good gimokud which resides in your right hand and the evil gimokud that resides in your left hand. These two are in perpetual conflict and balance at the same time. For you to fully awaken your Dungan, you must know first which of the two gimokud that you have has a stronger sway in you. You can do this by knowing which of your two hands is the dominant one, once you have done this, slowly raise your dominant hand and let the spirits come to you.” Lolo Gani instructed.

Hearing lolo Gani’s instructions, Lumawig then went back into concentration. After a long while, he slowly raised his two hands, and opened his palms. If lolo Gani was seeing his actions he would be shocked as he has never heard of a person raising both of their hands during this process. Even his Inang Selia who was a powerful babaylan only raised her right hand, additionally, since there was no record of an ambidextrous babaylan, there was no telling what effects will this even have in the future. Of course, lolo Gani is unaware about all this as he does not see Lumawig’s actions.

Going back to Lumawig, as he opened his palms, he waited for a while until one of the larger orb of light went into his left palm, and another orb of the same size went into his right arm. This event signified that Lumawig has successfully established a connection with the spirits, this also signifies that his dungan has fully awakened. This means that from now, even if he did not do this ritual, he will still be able to feel the spirits especially the two which he has a connection. Lolo Gani, almost at the same time felt that Lumawig has established a connection with a spirit, but he could not tell the number of spirits he made a connection with; after all, in his knowledge, a person can only establish a connection with one spirit, and that spirit will be that person’s “partner”.

“Good job apò! You have now officially started to tread the path of the babaylan. Nurture your connection with the spirit you have established a connection with, it will help you on the next parts of your training and your life in the future. Just like with other babaylans as well, it will serve as your bridge to the other entities in the Spirit Realm.” Praised lolo Gani, he was satisfied with Lumawig’s progress.