"House Blessing" and "Pang Pang" thoughts

[Queenie O.]

The "House Blessing" ritual in the Philippines, is performed by a priest as a way of spreading blessings through a new house, and maybe scattering supernatural beings from the place by purifying the dwelling. This usually includes family, friends and possibly neighbors participating by following the priest through the house as he leads prayers and sprinkles holy water in each room and area in the house. Participants also will carry lit candles and scatter coins and candy (provided by the hosts/ owners) I guess to ensure prosperity and sweetness through the house for years to come. A feast for all involved will follow the blessing ceremony afterwards.

While a decent thing to do I guess, I'm struck that these ceremonies are usually done by people that can afford such a ritual for their new house. I wonder that if poorer folks built a house or dwelling that they would be "less blessed" than the more affluent people in their new place? Just a thought..

Before our house by the sea was completely built, the foreman was approached by workers from our house that a Pang Pang ritual would be good to be performed. Let me preface this by saying that our house in by the sea and rests on a kind of rocky limestone cliff or "pang pang" with small caves and many wild dakit trees, that are thought to be the dwelling places of spirits. This town is particularly known for it's peoples' beliefs in the supernatural. We were in the country at the time for vacation, and could agree to this rite. We were asked to approach a shaman or albularyo to perform this rite. It's believed that a pang pang ritual will ask the many supernatural spirits dwelling on the land and new place will be appeased, and welcome the new inhabitants (us) with their good vibes and protection. It made sense to us. so we hired a neighborhood albularyo (who is also a practicing Catholic) to perform the ritual. This included the slaughtering of a pig whose blood was then scattered around the unfinished house and surrounds. The pig was cleaned and it's body was divided into four distinct parts, and then boiled in a huge pot till cooked. No spices were allowed to be added to the pot. After the cooking the albularyo spread the four pieces on banana leaves and we were asked to sit surrounded by the many participants, as he performed a short ceremony including a recitation or "oration" that none of us could really hear or make out the words to. After the ceremony, the participants--family, friends, neighbors, workers shared the pig with cooked rice. I suggested Filipino catsup to make the flavor more lively, so bottles were passed around and shared. Drinking was involved too.

To us it made sense as a good omen--a different kind of "house blessing" and so far we've enjoyed a peaceful coexistence with any potential supernatural beings here at the house and yard. Being in the path of super typhoon Yolanda, at the time we were also spared but a little damage, but not sure if that had any part in this ritual either, but was glad anyway. Since then people have asked us if we will have a "house blessing" but maybe they're just hopeful for another afterparty:) For us the pang pang was good enough.:)

Have any of you been involved with either these practices or similar ones? Some areas of the Philippines have different but related rituals. Please feel free to share any that you've experienced or participated in.

Queenie 

 

[scott h]

40 minutes ago, Queenie O. said:

Have any of you been involved with either these practices or similar ones?

Yes Queenie, when we broke ground on our new house, I was told to go buy two live white chickens which were sacrificed and the blood scattered over the foundation. Guess it worked, didn't have any major injuries during construction.

After the house was completed we invited some friends and family over and I went to the cathedral on a pedicab to gather the priest. He said some prayers and sprinkled holy water inside in every room and outside also. House is still standing so who is to say otherwise .

Doesn't stop there either, when we had our cars body work repaired, we attended mass at a local church. After the mass I pulled the car around back with three others, opened the hood, trunk and all four doors and the priest walked around all the cars blessing them.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

My wife and her uncle took care of any of that silliness, when we built our house.  They knew not to involve me because my laughing would have bothered them. 

[mogo51]

I'm with you Tim.  Queenie/Robert really?

[Old55]

My folks had their Priest sprinkle Holy water and hold a short service for their new home. Nothing was sacrificed or blood let. 

 

[Queenie O.]

29 minutes ago, mogo51 said:

I'm with you Tim.  Queenie/Robert really?

Well Mogo and Tim,  Regardless of what our own beliefs might have been, we felt that it was important to enough people including the shaman, that we thought as a respectful bow to them and the cultural practice, it wasn't a lot to ask. Good vibes and joy all around.:)

[Queenie O.]

1 hour ago, scott h said:

1 hour ago, scott h said:

Yes Queenie, when we broke ground on our new house, I was told to go buy two live white chickens which were sacrificed and the blood scattered over the foundation. Guess it worked, didn't have any major injuries during construction.

 

Hi Scott, I've heard that this popular ritual is called "Padugo", a form of bloodletting.

 

[Jack Peterson]

 We put Sea salt in the Foundations and a Time capsule in the Corner Column  by the water pump, Our Nephew a Lay priest, blessed the Build and we have had good Fortune all the way so far, BTW the water Pump has never run Dry 

[Larry45]

I tried convincing our neighbor that it was required of us to sacrifice their noisy dogs as part of our new home blessing.  They actually thought about it for a while, then realized we are just renters, and had a good laugh at the dumb foreigner who knows nothing about home blessings.  

[Kuya John]

Good topic, come to think about it

I have only been to one house blessing here in UK,

But after a long conversation to Philippines, a couple of years back my wife prepared a ritual which included the burning of charcoal.

She then set off around the house entering every room with a candle in one hand and the burning charcoal in the other!

Asking for God's safe keeping and mighty protection.

Apart from all the  smoke on my newly painted ceilings, when we opened the doors it looked like a house fire!

Like a lot of traditions these practices no longer take place here. I can not recall a Priest blessing/visiting the new home of any of the English church goer's for many years. But we do have a sign on the wall saying "God bless this house" (Made in Philippines )

At New Year, especially in Scotland tradition is to be the first to enter the house at the stroke of midnight carrying a piece of coal and bread.

( hard to find coal in UK these days) to bring food and warmth to the family.

Another Filipino tradition is, before taking a long journey we pray for God's protection.........so Amen to that.