A Visit To A Real Witch Doctor

Pea visits an albularyo (traditional Filipino witch doctor/folk healer) in a rural province to experience his healing ritual firsthand and learn about his practice. She frames the visit not as debunking or endorsing the albularyo's powers, but as exploring why so many Filipinos believe in folk healers — and the real-world health consequences when people seek magical cures instead of medical treatment.

What's Covered ​

• What an albularyo is and why they matter

  • Albularyos are traditional folk healers who have been around for centuries in the Philippines
  • They supposedly cure everything from evil spirits to acne
  • Pea's key point: whether you believe they have magical powers is less important than the fact that a majority of Filipinos do believe in spirits, magic, and witches with healing abilities
  • This has drastic effects on public health — many people seek medical care from rural magic practitioners instead of trained healthcare professionals
  • The government has begun cracking down on albularyos to redirect people to actual doctors
  • However, many Filipinos simply can't afford to see real doctors, so visits to albularyos aren't decreasing anytime soon

• Finding and interviewing the albularyo ("Tata Elan")

  • Pea had difficulty finding one willing to talk on camera
  • The albularyo agreed on the condition that she change his name and not reveal his specific location
  • She calls him "Tata Elan" (Tata is a respectful term for an elder)

• Tata Elan's background and qualifications

  • He's been an albularyo for 45 years, starting at age 25 (making him about 70)
  • He inherited the knowledge from his father, who was also an albularyo
  • No formal schooling required — anyone can become an albularyo as long as they study healing techniques
  • He believes his healing gift comes from God
  • When Pea asks about biblical prohibitions against casting spells and using magic, he deflects by saying Jesus healed people with ailments, so it's fine

• His healing methods and claimed abilities

  • Primary technique: blowing air on top of the client's head while uttering a healing spell (in Latin)
  • For serious cases like poisoning: provides a magic oil with a spell cast on it
  • Also claims to make love potions
  • Says he can feel the presence of fairies, dwarves, and other supernatural beings

• The dwarf story

  • Tata Elan's most memorable case: a client who was cursed after accidentally disturbing a dwarf's mound (duende)
  • The dwarf cast a spell on the person, and Tata claims he cured the client with his own magic spell
  • Tata himself has a scar on the back of his head — he says a dwarf slashed him because he destroyed the dwarf's mound
  • He showed Pea the injury as evidence

• His practice and economics

  • Sees about 20 patients per month
  • Most of his neighbors come to him instead of going to a doctor
  • He doesn't charge a specific amount — patients give whatever they can, sometimes money, sometimes rice
  • Most albularyos in rural areas operate similarly, understanding that people come to them precisely because they can't afford to pay for medical care

• Government pushback

  • The government doesn't allow albularyos to offer services to the public, encouraging people to see real doctors instead
  • Tata Elan's workaround: he denies being an albularyo to government officials, but if someone personally seeks his help, he'll still treat them

• Pea's firsthand experience with the healing ritual and love potion

  • She visits Tata with two complaints: headaches/insomnia and a request for a love potion
  • The love potion backstory she gives: her mom thinks she should fall in love with a particular guy, so she figures she'll try it
  • Healing ritual: Tata blows air on top of her head while uttering a Latin spell, then repeats it on the side of her neck
  • Love potion preparation: Tata writes a love spell on a piece of paper (Pea isn't allowed to see what he writes), casts a spell on it, and places the paper in a glass of water
  • Pea drinks the water on camera

• Comedy ending

  • After drinking the potion, Pea "feels different" and immediately starts browsing Tinder, finding every man attractive
  • She gets a match and says she'll call him later
  • The joke: the love potion worked too well — instead of falling for the one specific guy, she's now in love with everyone

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