aith healing – curing sickness without the aid of implements or drugs – was practiced in the Philippines especially before the advent of medical science. It was the domain of the babaylan (“BA-BY-lun”), or priestess, and later the herb doctor. Modernization did not eliminate faith healing. Filipino who cannot afford to go to a hospital or clinic still turn to faith healers, who normally do not charge for their service for fear of losing their gift. Some faith healers claim to be guided by Catholic saints and may even have medical knowledge.

            One form of faith healing is prayer – healers exorcise spirits of disease. Healers may also cure by touch, simply laying their hands on the sick person or using herbal concoctions and oils.

            Most faith healers cure while in trance. The most dramatic, most controversial form of faith healing is psychic surgery. The healer using just the hands, opens up the body of the sick person and extracts a tumor or any diseased part. No anesthesia is used because apparently no pain is felt.

            Reports of successful operations have raise intense debate. Medical doctors who remain unconvinced claim it is all a sham, that the psychic surgeon conceals in his hand a bloodied cotton ball an the extracted tissue is actually the liver of a chicken or pig.