A couple of weeks ago when I arrived early in my office , a Subanon utility worker assigned in our building approached me and reminded me to be extra careful in accepting any drink offer (may it be a “tuba” or water) from community folks in Sta. Maria (a small coastal community in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte). This was after he learnt that I’ll be frequently visiting the area due to my new work assignment. Curiously, I asked immediately our utility worker for some explanation behind his warning. Quite hesitant, he responded and said: “Daghan man hiloanon didto Sir!” (There are many hiloanon in that place, Sir).
That was not the first time that I heard of ‘hiloanons’ and the warnings about them. I’ve been hearing several stories about the hiloanons in my three years of stay in the mountains of Canatuan. Those stories are really creepy to the point that they look unbelievable in this modern time, more so when you look at it in the point of view of Science.
However, in my desire to uncover some truths on hiloanon, I seized the nature of my work - of visiting the community every day and talking to the people - as an opportunity to gather bits and pieces of information about this phenomenon. Let me share what I’ve got.
Knowing the Hiloanon
Hiloanon is a Bisayan term used by the locals referring to a person in the community who have the skills and the power to poison someone in a concealed manner. In bisayan term “hilo” means poison. They are ordinary people like us except that the community perceived them to have specialized knowledge of killing someone without the victim knowing it.
The hiloanon used to put an unseen object in the food or beverages that once you have eaten or swallowed it, you will feel a sudden difficulty in breathing and dumbness in your whole body that will cause your death in just a few minutes. No one has given me definite information about this object that the hiloanon is using for poisoning a person. However, one Subanon woman has told me that it is the ash out of the liver of a certain snake that a hiloanon hide in his/her fingernails.
Specialization
There are many types of hiloanon based on their skill and power. There is an hiloanon whose skill is poisoning a person, as discussed above. There are also hiloanon who can cause sudden illness and even death to someone just by tapping him/her at the back. Finally, the most powerful hiloanons ever considered by the locals are those who can bring you unknown illnesses just by looking at your eyes.
Motives
There were no clear motives as to why the hiloanon do what they are doing. Based on stories, these people use their power when they merely likened (“nakatuwaan”) someone. Sometimes they used it to protect themselves and kill/punish their enemies. However, those that I have interviewed believe that the hiloanon get sick when they haven’t performed their power for a longer period of time and this is the reason why even their children, wives or close relatives regularly fell as their victims too.
“Lana” – The cure
Of course, this is something that I did not forget to ask to those who have knowledge about hiloanon. The most common and accepted cure or “pangontra” for the hiloanon is called “lana”. This is a special kind of oil placed inside a tiny bottle. If someone has this with them they will be protected from any hiloanon. I learnt that lana boils and comes out from its bottle (even if it’s tightly sealed!) to give you warning that someone near you is an hiloanon. Only few have the knowledge to make lana. Sadly, most of them are hiloanon as well.
The story of hiloanon is only one of the many unexplainable realities in this world that are hard to explain and can be accepted as truth. However, as a development worker, I view the story of hiloanon as part of a multifaceted way of life of the community where I am now and has special reason why such reality exists.
I may not entirely believe on those stories about hiloanon, but I’m very willing to carry a lana with me even in the city.
That was not the first time that I heard of ‘hiloanons’ and the warnings about them. I’ve been hearing several stories about the hiloanons in my three years of stay in the mountains of Canatuan. Those stories are really creepy to the point that they look unbelievable in this modern time, more so when you look at it in the point of view of Science.
However, in my desire to uncover some truths on hiloanon, I seized the nature of my work - of visiting the community every day and talking to the people - as an opportunity to gather bits and pieces of information about this phenomenon. Let me share what I’ve got.
Knowing the Hiloanon
Hiloanon is a Bisayan term used by the locals referring to a person in the community who have the skills and the power to poison someone in a concealed manner. In bisayan term “hilo” means poison. They are ordinary people like us except that the community perceived them to have specialized knowledge of killing someone without the victim knowing it.
The hiloanon used to put an unseen object in the food or beverages that once you have eaten or swallowed it, you will feel a sudden difficulty in breathing and dumbness in your whole body that will cause your death in just a few minutes. No one has given me definite information about this object that the hiloanon is using for poisoning a person. However, one Subanon woman has told me that it is the ash out of the liver of a certain snake that a hiloanon hide in his/her fingernails.
Specialization
There are many types of hiloanon based on their skill and power. There is an hiloanon whose skill is poisoning a person, as discussed above. There are also hiloanon who can cause sudden illness and even death to someone just by tapping him/her at the back. Finally, the most powerful hiloanons ever considered by the locals are those who can bring you unknown illnesses just by looking at your eyes.
Motives
There were no clear motives as to why the hiloanon do what they are doing. Based on stories, these people use their power when they merely likened (“nakatuwaan”) someone. Sometimes they used it to protect themselves and kill/punish their enemies. However, those that I have interviewed believe that the hiloanon get sick when they haven’t performed their power for a longer period of time and this is the reason why even their children, wives or close relatives regularly fell as their victims too.
“Lana” – The cure
Of course, this is something that I did not forget to ask to those who have knowledge about hiloanon. The most common and accepted cure or “pangontra” for the hiloanon is called “lana”. This is a special kind of oil placed inside a tiny bottle. If someone has this with them they will be protected from any hiloanon. I learnt that lana boils and comes out from its bottle (even if it’s tightly sealed!) to give you warning that someone near you is an hiloanon. Only few have the knowledge to make lana. Sadly, most of them are hiloanon as well.
The story of hiloanon is only one of the many unexplainable realities in this world that are hard to explain and can be accepted as truth. However, as a development worker, I view the story of hiloanon as part of a multifaceted way of life of the community where I am now and has special reason why such reality exists.
I may not entirely believe on those stories about hiloanon, but I’m very willing to carry a lana with me even in the city.
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