Among the many rituals of Holy Week ('Semana Santa') are the pilgrimages, usually to mountains. In particular, traditional healers visit the mountains to gather medicinal plants, amulets (anting-anting), and charms (gayuma). On the darker side, some of the trips are made to gather ingredients to make potions for sorcery, and the same healers also gather materials to make countersorcery potions. The more popular destinations for these medicinal plants pilgrimages are Mount Banahaw and Siquijor, the latter having become a tourist come-on with a government-sponsored Healing Festival.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/162158/healing-week

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