Babaylan & Baybayin 2027 edition!

Greetings!  Welcome to Babaylan & Baybayin 2027 edition!  My name is Victoria (Vic) Magbanua (she/they/siya.)  I am a Filipino creative born and raised in the Philippines and a long time south Seattle resident with my partner Alma.  I am descended from Luzminda (Misamis and Ilocos) and Marcos (Bataan).  I also go by the name Golden Tara or @goldentara888 on You Tube and social media. 

In 2026, I retired from my EDI Dean position from one of the top health professions universities in the Northwest after 35 years of service.  In my career I worked with a diverse community of healers and healers-in-training from different tribes, racial and ethnic groups, countries, communities, queer and trans groups, and more.  From the teachings of the community to the teachings of my people, I've created this art series to help inform and provide a safer space for everyone, especially Filiqueernos - queer and trans Filipinos - who are looking for their people.

Babaylan and Baybayin - Gender and Ancestral Plant Medicine in Filipino Culture is an "Inspired Filipino" not "Filipino-inspired" project in which we will learn more about decolonized spiritual practices and the uses of some common plants as medicine, healing supports and creative expression.  This project comprises of six workshops where I will share my knowledge of healing and spiritual art - such as lavender, pandan, moringa (malunggay), jackfruit and more.

In Filipino culture, a Diwata is the spirit or deity of the natural world.  Everything that walks, floats, runs, swims, grows, flies, crawls, moves, on Mother Earth - Inang Lupa - has a diwata or a spirit.  "Diwataan" is the contemporary Filipino term we need to use today to describe the spiritual practice of honoring and respecting deities and the spirit in all things without culturally appropriating the tribal and indigenous rituals of our relatives.  The term Diwataan is the term given by elders from the Mamanua, Manobo and other tribes to describe this contemporary spirituality practice as opposed to "Diwatahan" which is the term that indigenous practitioners use.  Diwataan practices may include creating an ancestral altar, using palina (smudge), drying plants, and re-discovering some of our ancient spiritual ways.  My hope it to transform us into a community of intergenerational folks who are connected through our love of Filipino culture and our ancestral practices.

The workshops will begin in February 2027 and will be in person and requires participation from all who attend. This may look like bringing vegetables to the workshop, processing fruits on site, helping with set up and clean up and sharing your own knowledge about plants.

Please complete the application form https://forms.gle/vZajGom6c11PdMGu7 to participate in this intergenerational circle and receive details.  All workshops will be held in South Seattle and may be conducted in English and Tagalog.  Familiarity with Filipino culture or language is especially helpful.  Questions are welcome!

I am grateful to the 4Culture organization for funding this project!

Dr. Victoria

Please fill out the application form here: https://forms.gle/vZajGom6c11PdMGu7