Mangkukulam

Mangkukulam (noun) is a person employing or using Kulam. Kinukulam (noun) is the target of the Kulam. Nakulam (adj.) means someone or something experiencing the effects of the Kulam. Kulamin (verb) means to bewitch or do low magic Ipakulam (verb) to get to be bewitched, blessed or hexed Makulam (verb) means to be able to bewitch or to become bewitched; blessed or hexed.

Source: Inquirer.net

Kulam in the Philippines is said to be centered on the islands of Siquijor and Talalora, Western Samar and the province of Sorsogon, where many of the country's faith healers reside. Kulam also exists in many of the hinterlands, especially in Samar and Leyte.


The primary methods employed by a mangkukulam are candle ligthing ritual,scrying or tawas,recitation of spells, and concocting potions. Modern popular culture also depicts the mangkukulam as using either photographs or the equivalent of a Voodoo doll.

A typical belief of mangkukulam curses is mitigated by finding the caster and bribing them to lift the curse. Superstitious people still attribute certain illnesses or diseases to kulam. This most often happens in rural areas, where an herbal doctor called analbularyo (/al-booLAR-yoh/), diagnoses a victim using a divination method called pagtatatawas and helps the victim cure their malady.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulam