In the Philippines, traditional medicine has yet to fully emerge from the long shadow of “faith healing.”
In the 1970s to 1980s, faith healers skyrocketed to fame and controversy, with not just foreigners but newsmakers like political and entertainment celebrities seeking out Filipinos who claimed extraordinary powers to perform medical miracles.
Prominent among these so-called faith healers is Alex Orbito, who performed “psychic surgery” using only his fingers to excise tumors from terminally sick, often wealthy and influential patients.
Many of these faith healers were scrutinized by journalists and the authorities. Despite charges filed against many practitioners and denouncements exposing the scams carried out by quack doctors, charlatans and con artists, many Filipinos continue to follow and attest to the efficacy of alternative healing practices and their advocates.
Read the full Editorial at Sunstar