Long before the Spanish set foot in the Philippines, the islands embraced gender fluidity as a sacred aspect of society. The revered babaylan were spiritual leaders of pre-colonial times who often traversed gender boundaries, a tradition that modern LGBTQIA+ advocates in the Philippines are now passionately reclaiming. As noted by Oxfam, these healers have become emblematic for activists striving to outlaw discrimination, serving as a poignant reminder of the deep-rooted queerness in Filipino heritage.
The Revered Tradition Almost Lost
The narrative of the babaylan is compelling because they thrived outside the gender constraints introduced by colonial powers. As detailed by The Suflyer, there was an absence of rigid gender roles or binaries before the interventions of Spain, Japan, and the United States. Male babaylan, sometimes called asog or bayoc, wielded spiritual influence, and some embodied both masculine and feminine traits. They were conduits to the spiritual world, officiating marriages, healing illnesses, and were vital to their communities.
This harmony was disrupted by colonization. The Spanish Catholic Church perceived the babaylan as threats, powerful, nonconforming, and uncontrollable. According to Imperial College Union, these leaders faced persecution; their practices labeled as “pagan,” their influence dismantled. What once was considered divine was rebranded as diabolical. What was celebrated became vilified.
Transforming History into Activism: Reclaiming Our Heritage
Today, the spirit of the babaylan is invigorating the activism of Filipino queer communities. Oxfam points out how groups like the Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY) are relentlessly pursuing gender-inclusive policies at both the local and national levels. They’re infusing the holistic and integrative spirit of the babaylan into contemporary activism, recognizing that true freedom spans beyond personal rights to transform society as a whole.
The juxtaposition is striking: from revered pre-colonial figures to current challenges. Yet this contrast fuels determination. Each time a queer Filipino activist gathers a crowd, champions anti-discrimination efforts, or simply lives authentically, they pay homage to the babaylan legacy. They affirm: We were once revered. We were leaders. We shall rise again.
Though the babaylan may seem to have vanished, they have merely transformed. Today, they exist in activists, organizers, and healers within our communities, continually reminding us that Filipino feminism, queerness, and spiritual strength are intertwined facets that have always been part of our identity.
