The barefoot fire-dancers of Alfonso, Cavite

In the town of Alfonso, Cavite, a man sprinkles gas on a pile of dried wood, murmuring incantations under his breath.  He lights a match, drops the burning stick onto the pile, and watches while the flames lick and crackle on the ground.  He then utters a few more prayers, takes a sip of what looks like kerosene, gargles, and then proceeds to eat fire. This is all part of a ritual called Sanghiyang, performed by Apo Florito, leader of a group of fire dancers.  When Apo Florito is done praying, the group then takes their cue: one by one men and women walk, some gyrate, across the burning heap of wood and coals.  All of them are barefoot.  They dance atop burning coal, these fire dancers who are impervious to pain.  Flames of fire lick the skin on their feet. Yet none of them grimace from the intense heat.

Apo Florito attributes this phenomenon to their “anting-anting” or amulets, trinkets that hold great power and shield them from pain.  The unique, fascinating ritual was captured on camera by the crew of “Motorcycle Diaries,” a GMA News TV travel documentary program hosted by awarded journalist Jay Taruc. The elderly man explained to Taruc why the anting-anting is an integral part of Cavite’s culture: “Nagsimula pa ito sa aming mga lolo. Pinanghahawakan natin iyan at pinagyayaman, dahil ito’y isang kultura ng aming bayan… at kinilala ito sa ibang bansa.” There is an anting-anting for every man’s need, it seems.  Even the mayor of Alfonso, Cavite owns a few. “May iba't ibang klase ng anting-anting. Mayroong anting-anting sa babae, mayroong anting-anting sa negosyo, para maswerte. Mayroong anting-anting pangontra sa mga gustong gumawa ng masasama sa ‘yo,” shares Mayor Virgilio Varias. The feature on Alfonso's mysterious fire dancers forms Part 1 of "Motorcycle Diaries'" two-part series about Cavite province.  Part 2 of the special will be shown on Friday, June 15, 8 PM on GMA News TV. -Arla Fabella/PF, GMA News TV Follow the program "Motorcycle Diaries" on Facebook and Twitter.