| Kulam | |
|---|---|
| Title | Mangkukulam |
| Description | Warlock/witch |
| Gender | Male/female |
| Region | Philippines |
| Equivalent | Shaman |
Kulam (/koo-lam/) is a Tagalog word meaning "hex or "curse"." Often, the same word is used as a term for witchcraft.
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Kulam is actually a Tagalog noun which literally means bewitchment or hex.
Although often used to mean "witchcraft," the proper term for witchcraft following Filipino grammar is Pangkukulam (noun).
Mangkukulam (noun) is a person employing or using Kulam. Kinukulam (noun) is the target of the Kulam. Nakulam (adj.) means someone or something experiencing the effects of the Kulam. Kulamin (verb) means to bewitch or to hex. Ipakulam (verb) to get to be bewitched or hexed. Makulam (verb) means to be able to bewitch or to become bewitched; hexed.
Kulam in the Philippines is said to be centered on the islands of Siquijor and Talalora, Western Samar and the province of Sorsogon, where many of the country's faith healers reside. Kulam also exists in many of the hinterlands, especially in Samar and Leyte.
The Mangkukulam (/mahng-khu-khu-lam/) is the Filipino version of witch or sorcerer, the name deriving from the word kulam. Other terms are brujo ('bruho' for warlocks) and bruja ('bruha' for witches ), which are from the Spanish language. The verb kulamin (/koo-lah-min/) means "to place a hex". And a curse in Filipino is a sumpa (/soom-pah/).
The mangkukulam recites spells and mixes potions. Modern influences have transformed popular perception so that the mangkukulam now also uses the equivalent of a doll. The mangkukulam's curses is mitigated by finding him/her and giving bribes.
Superstitious folks still attribute certain illnesses or diseases to kulam. This most often happens in the provinces, where an herbal doctor, albularyo (/al-boo-lar-yoh/), treats them. In some rural provincial areas, people completely rely on the albularyo for treatment.
In quite a few South Indian languages the word "Kulam" means a pond.