10 Superstitions You Still See In Today’s Philippines

Superstitious beliefs are widespread in the Philippines. It is a country that is full of legends and myths, which have been passed down from generation to generation. Most Filipinos believe in these stories because they were told by their parents, grandparents, or other relatives.

Superstitions are part of Filipino culture and can be found everywhere in the Philippines. These beliefs may seem illogical and silly to outsiders, but they have been around for many years. They are still being practiced today by some Filipinos. 

Scientific thought views superstition as a form of cognitive bias to explain an “unexplainable” event. Most likely, superstitions are nothing more than coincidence and paranoia. However, we still have so much to understand about the world around us that most folks go with what they know rather than getting inquisitive. 

Religion plays a huge role in the Philippines. This is no surprise to anyone who has spent some time traveling around the islands since practically everywhere you go, you will find a church or a mosque. However, many superstitious beliefs are widely practiced around the country. 

Let’s talk about some of them:

The steps of staircases in the house should not be divisible by 3

In the Philippines, it’s believed that the steps of staircases should not be divisible by 3. This superstition has many reasons behind it. One is because the number three is considered unlucky. It’s associated with death and misfortune. Second, it is said that if you have a staircase with steps divisible by 3, all negative things might happen. Finally, the number three is linked to magic. This means that having a staircase with steps divisible by 3 will bring bad luck. 

Oro, Plata Mata is the traditional Spanish Filipino architectural superstition that a staircase in the house as one of the design elements should not end in a multiple of 3. The first step of the stairs will start as Oro(gold), followed by the next Plata (silver) and Mata (death or bad luck). After that, the process will continue until it reaches the last step. The stairs should not end with Mata, but instead, Oro or Plata for a stroke of good fortune. 

After attending a wake, go somewhere else first before going home

Included on the list of 10 superstitions you still see in today’s Philippines is not going home immediately after attending a wake. This is done because it is believed that death follows wherever you go after a wake.

The superstition has been around for a long time, and many people still follow it. Some people would even say that you should not go home for at least an hour after attending a wake.

This belief is because the dead person’s spirit remains behind for a short time after death and will follow you home if you leave before it has departed. Although not really true since it’s a superstition, still it is scary, right?

Marrying the same year as your sibling will bring both of you a bad luck

“Sukob” or conflict in English is a superstitious belief that warns couples to marry during a year in the case of one or both of these events. First, it is bad luck when siblings (sisters) marry within the same year. Second, it is also bad luck to get married within the same year as the death of an immediate family member. 

The reason for “sukob” in siblings marrying within the same year is that the luck for the married couple will be divided into two (for both sisters) instead of getting plenty of luck. In the second case, when an immediate family dies in the year, and the couple still pushes through with the wedding, it is said to bring bad luck to their marriage. 

Pancit or noodles serve during celebrations for long life 

Pancit is a noodle dish commonly served during celebrations in the Philippines. It’s often served on birthdays as a way of wishing for a long life for the person celebrating. This superstitious belief is based on the fact that noodles are long and thin, symbolizing longevity.

Pancit is essential to Filipino culture because they believe it brings good luck and protects them from sicknesses. Filipinos also think it will bring them prosperity!

“Usog” or “bati” or giving compliments, especially to kids can make children ill 

5th on the list of 10 superstitions you still see in today’s Philippines is “usog” or “bati“. In the Philippines, there is a popular superstitious belief that if you complement children too much, they will get sick. This is called “usog,” and it’s believed to be caused by the evil eye.

This is a superstition in the Philippines that has been passed down for generations. It’s a belief that giving compliments to children will make them sick, and parents should avoid doing so as much as possible. The reason for this superstition is that it’s believed that giving compliments to children interferes with their development.

For instance, if a child hears praise from a parent or another adult, they may get the wrong idea about what they’re capable of, and they might not try hard enough to achieve their goals.

This superstition is mainly used in children, but there are variations for adults. Some people believe that if you compliment someone too much, they’ll stop being motivated to work hard and succeed in their life goals. This is a strange concept because most people would agree that compliments are generally motivating rather than demotivating!

Sleeping when your hair is wet is bad 

Another superstition of Filipinos is the belief that sleeping with wet hair can make you blind, crazy, or have massive headaches. 

This belief may have its roots in the fact that many Filipinos are afraid of getting sick. They believe that if they get sick, they will have to pay for the medicine themselves or go to the hospital without being able to pay for treatment.

The fear of being sick can lead people to do things that make them feel safe from catching an illness, such as sleeping with their hair dry or wearing a surgical mask when they go outside.

Turning one’s shirt inside-out when you are lost

Filipinos believe the most common superstition is turning your shirt inside out when you’re lost. 

If you’re traveling around the Philippines, you might notice a lot of locals turning their shirts inside out when they get lost or when they’re confused about something. It’s believed that this will bring good luck and help them find their way home faster or figure out what they want to do next.

According to Filipino superstition, turning your shirt inside out will help you find your way home when you find yourself lost. You just have to believe it!

This particular superstition is also believed to work because it’s an act of desperation. The desperation leads to clarity of thought and helps you figure out what to do next. So if you’re ever feeling lost or confused about something, try turning your shirt inside out!

Dreaming about losing teeth is a bad luck

One of the 10 Superstitions You Still See In Today’s Philippines is dreaming about losing teeth. Dreaming about losing teeth is a harmful luck superstition in the Philippines. For some, dreaming about losing teeth means having many problems can be traced back to ancient times. While for others, dreaming of losing teeth implies the death of a family member. 

The superstition goes back to ancient times when people believed that dreams were messages from spirits or gods. They believed these spirits could predict the future by showing what would happen in dreams. If someone lost their teeth in a dream, it was thought this would happen in real life.

When someone would lose their teeth, it was believed that they had been cursed by an evil spirit or witch. This often led to them being excommunicated from their community and losing all hope for the future.

However, this superstition isn’t true at all! In fact, dreaming about losing your teeth is just a dream and nothing more. It doesn’t mean anything will happen unless you act out what happens in your vision. So don’t worry—you’re safe from bad luck by simply waking up from your imagination!

A bride-to-be should not try wearing her wedding dress 

As a bride, you are probably excited to wear your wedding dress. But you should know that there is a superstitious belief in some parts of the Philippines that if you try on your wedding gown before the big day, you will never get married. This is because if you try on your dress before the big day and something goes wrong, it will be bad luck for you and your future spouse. 

This superstition dates back to colonial times. People believed that if they tried on their clothes before the wedding day, their clothes would be stolen by evil spirits or bad luck would come their way.

Should I be worried when visiting the country?

The Philippines is known for its superstitious beliefs and practices. However, don’t let that scare you away from visiting this beautiful country. In fact, there are many things about the Philippines that make it one of the most welcoming places on Earth.

Superstition is a belief that there is supernatural control over the outcomes of events. This belief clearly shows ignorance about the science behind them. Superstition occurs in different cultures as a religious practice or folk magic. It may involve some form of divination or applied to an outcome that a person has little control over.

Possible that at least some of the more popular superstitions stem from a more extensive belief system; it’s hard to deny that they’re widespread and ingrained in Filipino culture. With that in mind, you can expect most Filipinos to take their superstitions seriously, whether or not they believe in them.

Whether or not you put stock in superstitions, it’s always good to know what to expect when traveling to a new country. After all, knowledge is one of the best forms of protection!

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What other superstitions do you know? Let us know in the comments below!