Babaylan

Babaylan were spirit mediums and healers among many peoples of the Visayas before Spanish rule. The same role had other names elsewhere, such as katalonan among Tagalogs, mumbaki among the Ifugao and walian among the Maranao. They held rituals to speak with spirits, healed, and made predictions. Women filled the role most often. Men called asog in the Visayas, or bayok in Luzon, who dressed as women also served. In a Spanish inquiry in Bolinao (1679 to 1685), 145 of 148 shamans were female.

Spanish friars called the babaylan witches or servants of the devil, and punished them. Several uprisings had babaylan as leaders. In Bohol, a shaman named Tamblot led about 2,000 followers in 1621 and 1622, and was defeated. In Leyte, Pagali and 81 other babaylan were burned after the Bankaw revolt. Later movements include Dios Buhawi and Papa Isio in the 19th century, and the Pulajanes in the early American period.

Today the babaylan's social role is mostly held by folk healers (arbularyo) and midwives. A Babaylan Festival is held in Bago City, Negros Occidental.