The culture of pamatbat and parapamatbat in the Central Philippines

ABSTRACT A pamatbat is a prayer used amongst Catholics in the Philippines to petition or give thanks to God, Mary or the saints through the assistance of a parapamatbat, or prayer leader. Utilizing an oral-history method, this paper delves into three aspects of this intangible culture. First, the practice of pamatbat and the existence of parapamatbat come under the auspices of the Catholic faith, and are still extant. The acquisition of the knowledge required to be a parapamatbat relies on the oral transfer of skills, and this report documents this practice. Second, the prayer leaders engaged in this activity normally do not charge fees for their services, though prudence dictates that those availing of their service repay them either in cash or in kind. In a way, there is an economic consideration in this practice, which becomes a form of livelihood. Third, some values – faith in God and helpfulness – are nourished through this religion. Praying is a form of religiosity and the bigger challenge is the conversion of religious actions into moral life. The continuous presence of pamatbat enhances these values and the Filipino culture as a whole.