The 10 Most Common Love Rituals In The Philippines — #7 Might Shock You

The practice of love spells, often referred to as "kulam" or "gayuma" in the Philippines, is a deeply ingrained part of the country's folk magic tradition, blending indigenous animism with Catholic, Hindu, and Islamic influences.

It is crucial to understand that from both a cultural and ethical standpoint, these practices are widely considered manipulative, dangerous, and potentially harmful to all parties involved. Many Filipinos believe that interfering with a person's free will invites severe negative karma or "usog" (a form of spiritual backlash).

Here are 10 of the most common forms of love spells or rituals used in the Philippines, based on cultural accounts and folklore.

1. Gayuma (Love Potion)

This is the most iconic form of love magic. A potion or powder is secretly administered in food or drink (like coffee, wine, or water) to a target. The ingredients are believed to have mystical properties to attract or bind love and can range from herbs and oils to more esoteric and personal items.

2. Agimat o Anting-Anting (Charm or Amulet)

A physical object is enchanted through rituals and prayers to make the wearer irresistibly attractive or charismatic. For love, this is often a small bag (a bolsa) containing powerful items like roots, stones, or written prayers that a person keeps on their body to draw a specific person or general admiration.

3. Pang-akit / Panghalina (Allurement or Enchantment)

This involves rituals or spells designed to enhance one's own personal magnetism. This isn't always a direct spell on a man but a way to make the practitioner so alluring that the desired man cannot help but be drawn to them. This can involve anointing oils, special baths, or chanting specific prayers (orasyon).

4. Pagkakaisa ng Kandila (Candle Unity Ritual)

Two candles, representing the practitioner and the target man, are used. Their names are carved into the respective candles. The candles are then bound together with a red ribbon and burned simultaneously while prayers or intentions are chanted. The goal is to symbolically unite their fates and burn away any resistance between them.

5. Using Personal Concerns (Hair, Photo, Clothing)

Any personal item that carries a person's essence (ehersisyo) is considered powerful. A common spell involves taking a strand of hair, a fingernail clipping, or a piece of clothing from the target, tying it up in a special cloth, and hiding it while praying for the person to be bound to the practitioner. Photos are also commonly used in these binding rituals.

6. Bathing Rituals (Pampaligo)

The practitioner takes a bath infused with powerful herbs, flowers (like roses or sampaguita for their scent and symbolism), and other ingredients believed to possess attraction-drawing properties. The ritual is performed on specific days (e.g., during a full moon or a Friday) to wash away negativity and attract a lover.

7. Orasyon (Powerful Prayers or Mantras)

Orasyon are special prayers that are not from the standard Catholic liturgy but are believed to hold mystical power. A witch or mangkukulam would recite a specific love-drawing orisha (oración) repeatedly, often over an object or a personal concern of the target, to implant the desire for them in the target's heart and mind.

8. Sumpa (Oath-Binding)

This is a more severe form of binding, often considered a curse. It involves invoking higher (or lower) powers to "punish" the target if they ever leave or become unfaithful to the practitioner. It's a way to "keep" a man through fear of spiritual repercussions, illness, or misfortune should he stray.

9. Food-Based Spells (Pampaingat)

Similar to gayuma, this involves enchanting food. The most classic example is feeding a man a boiled egg that has been rolled over the practitioner's body (to transfer their essence) or chanting over the food before it is served. The act of the target consuming the enchanted food is believed to transfer the spell's intention directly into his body.

10. Diklamasyon (Declaration/Whispering Spell)

This spell is performed when the target is asleep or unaware. The practitioner whispers their intentions, desires, and commands directly into the ear of the man. The belief is that the words will bypass his conscious mind and enter his subconscious, making him dream of the practitioner and eventually believe the feelings are his own.

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Important Cultural and Ethical Warnings:

· Free Will: A core belief surrounding these practices is that manipulating someone's free will has dire consequences. The term "balik sa iyo" (it will come back to you) or "usog" signifies a powerful backlash where the intended spell rebounds onto the caster, bringing illness, misfortune, or a lifetime of unhappy relationships.

· Not a Monolith: Practices vary hugely from region to region (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao) and from one mangkukulam or albularyo (folk healer) to another.

· Modern Context: While these beliefs are still held in many rural areas, they are often mixed with or replaced by modern psychological manipulation. However, the cultural fear and belief in their power remain potent.