A Childhood Memory of Unknowingly Entering a Rice Granary
Eulalie Dulnuan shares a childhood memory of unknowingly entering a rice granary believed to be inhabited by bululs, protective spirits in her Indigenous community, which led to a sudden and painful ear inflammation. Her mother traced the cause back to the granary—an area traditionally marked with knotted reeds as a “keep off” sign that children often ignored—and treated the ailment using a cultural remedy made from chewed rice bits applied to the affected area. Through this personal story, Dulnuan highlights the importance of spiritual beliefs, traditional healing practices, and community warnings surrounding sacred or restricted spaces.
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Rice granary guardian male and female figures (bululs)
Attributed to the carver Taguiling
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PERSON

Eulalie
Dulnuan
Tourism and Cultural Officer
President of the Ifugao Intangible Heritage and Performing Arts Society
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THEMES
