cognizancejournal.com MICHAEL B. BIBON, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.1, Issue.8, August 2021, pg. 17-33 ISSN: 0976-7797 ©2021, Cognizance Journal, cognizancejournal.com, All Rights Reserved 17 ACQUISITION OF FOLK HEALING PRACTICES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY GROUNDING THE EXPERIENCES OF PARASANTIGWAR IN CAGRARAY ISLAND, PHILIPPINES MICHAEL B. BIBON, Ph. D. Cawayan National High School, Bacacay, Albay, Philippines, 4509 Department of Education-Albay Division michael.bibon@deped.gov.ph DOI: 10.47760/cognizance.2021.v01i08.002 Abstract: For many years, folk medicine has been the resort of many less privileged families who do not have access to modern health care facilities. A parasantigwar is a term coined to a folk healer in Cagraray island, Philippines, a native version of a doctor trained in traditional manner providing indigenous medicinal help in the locale. This study aimed to ground the lived experiences of these parasantigwar on their acquisition of folk healing skills. Phenomenology approach was conducted by immersion and interview to 8 identified parasantigwar through referral sampling technique. Result revealed that (1) apprenticeship to a folk healer in the family and (2) life setbacks of families were grounds which opted the parasantigwar to resort into traditional healing through cultural transmission and motivation by needs deficiency. This resulted to the parasantigwar’s acquisition of practices through (1) passed knowledge and (2) aggregated learned skill. It was concluded that family plays an important role in the assimilation of the folk healing skill where this immediate environment is responsible for the transmission of the observed culture and development of motivation to suffice needs. Further studies need to be conducted to understand healing practices especially to the surrounding islands showing similarity in origins of folk healing practice. Keywords: cagraray island, phenomenology, folk healer, lived experiences, parasantigwar, cultural anthropology Introduction Cagraray Island is located on the eastern coast of Bicol Region, Philippines with a population of approximately 69,000 based on the recent 2015 census. Most of its land mass is a sovereignty of Municipality of Bacacay connected by a bridge spanning on the narrowest portion of Sula channel (Bacacay, Albay Profile, n.d.). The immersion of Bibon (2021) in the locale revealed the abundance and reliance of its people to folk medicine brought by many shortcomings in the access to quality and modern health care system and facilities. Folk medicine has been the alternative for the majority especially for locals living in the isolated areas of Cagraray. Instead of buying expensive synthetic medicines, they resort to herbal concoctions and prayer-based therapies as prescribed by their native folk healers. Though accounts were documented on calling folk healers as parabulong referring to a generalist healer, oftentimes they were called as parasantigwar specifically pertaining to the ones performing healing rituals (Bibon, 2021). This culture of traditional healing was subjected to many challenges yet managed to survive compounding the foreign medical system and education brought by American occupation through globalization, and the cruel control of Spanish colonizers. In fact, these historical events of traditional healing brought significant