Pagtalado

Pagtalado-a traditional healing practice of the Ilocanos in Echague, Isabela. This is one of the beliefs of some people here, a healing ritual about illness and spirits. In this ritual, they use an uncooked egg and a centavo coin. The egg is on top of the centavo coin inside a plate, while the healer tries to make the egg stand up and recites a sacred prayer while talking to the spirits in the other world according to their beliefs. 

The healer prays sincerely with respect, asking for guidance. If the egg stands upright on the centavo coin, it's a sign that the ritual is working and they will know what and who caused the person's illness. It could be a dead loved one of the sick person, a spirit, or even a living person you want to know who is giving bad energy or a curse. 

Sometimes, the reason for the illness is that a deceased close relative has a request, be it food, cigarettes, alcohol, snacks or a mass at the church. The sick person must give the request that is believed to be helpful so that they can be cured. 

"Pagtalado" is not just a simple healing ritual that anyone can do because this ability is rarely passed down to close relatives. This shows the deep beliefs, traditions, and belief in the hope of healing that Ilocano's and even other ethnolinguistic groups believe in such traditional healing practices that have been tried and tested by many. 

You may watch the video of the interview about Pagtalado. The one being interviewed is Rosalina "Tessie" Corpuz, who is my beloved grandmother. In this video, she shares her own way of healing through Pagtalado, a traditional practice passed down through ancestor.