Balian

/bəˈliːən/ noun

Definition

A healer or spiritual practitioner in Filipino culture, similar to a shaman or traditional medicine person.

Etymology

From Tagalog 'balian' or 'albularyo,' representing an indigenous Filipino spiritual and healing tradition with roots predating Spanish colonization.

Kelly Says

Filipino 'balians' preserve pre-colonial healing knowledge alongside Catholicism, creating a unique syncretic practice that shows how indigenous traditions survive cultural contact.

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