M I S C E L L A N E O U S T H E R A P I E S
The procedure is usually preceded by a bath in the river (believed to decreased the amount of bleeding) and the chewing of a handful of bayabas leaves. The cut on the prepuce is performed using a barber's blade (labaja) or balisong (fan-knife). The cut is guided by a "lukaw," a wooden contraption carved from a branch of the bayabas tree, one end of which is staked to the ground . The other end, shaped to fit between the penile prepuce and head, is put in place with the lad sitting and straddling the lukaw. The blade is then carefully placed on the prepuce for the dorsal slit and a single blow is delivered by hand or a wooden branch. Immediately, the mouthful of bayabas leaves being chewed is spit out and applied to the wound; this is believed to facilitate healing and prevent infection. A piece of soft cloth, about 5x5 inches, preferably white, with a small hole in the middle to allow for urination, is wrapped around the penile head and tied with cloth-strings. The dressing is changed daily, after washing the wound with a decoction of bayabas leaves. Some apply fine scrappings from the outer coconut shell to the daily wound care. Recently, it has become common practice to apply pulverized penicillin tablets (obtained without prescription) to the wound. In some rural areas, if unusual swelling (kinamatis) occurs, a termite is placed on the swelling to produce a puncture and subsequent draining. If infection occurs, a dog is made to lick off the dried pus, blood and debris. Another practice is the stringing off of dried pus and debris. Cost for the circumcision procedure: Usually free or a pack of cigarettes. |
In
the rural Philippines, "pagtutuli " or circumcision is a pre-adolescent
or adolescent rite of passage, performed on small groups, traditionally
on Holy Saturday (Sabado de Gloria). It is performed, not by the physician
or village doctor (albularyo), but by any lay person with expertise
in the procedure: a group or village elder; rarely it is done on one's
self.
