Datu Kamandag's Venom

When someone is sick, members of the Manobo tribe in Surigao go to one person--Datu Kamandag. Aside from being a Manobo chieftain, Datu Kamandag or Rosalio Culit (his real name) is known to cure the sick through the help of pit vipers. Twenty years ago, according to him, pit vipers started entering his house. Because these snakes did not harm him nor any of his family members, he just let the vipers roam around his house. Today, almost 20 vipers can be found inside Datu’s home--on the ceiling, in the kitchen area, inside cabinets and even on top of their drinking glasses and mugs.  

Doc Ferds Recio witnessed how Datu Kamandag’s day went one time. After a tribe meeting, he attended to a number of “patients.” A local with a suspected urinary tract infection went to Datu Kamandag for the first time, hoping to be cured. The Datu reached for a juvenile pit viper and let the local be bitten on his arm once. He said it felt like an ant-bite. Another frequent “patient” who has a heart problem attested that the viper’s bite is effective. “Hindi na ako ulit inatake simula nang magpakagat ako,” she said.  


 

Datu Kamandag uses only juvenile vipers because according to him, these possess only a little amount of venom. Pit vipers are known to be venomous and aggressive that many are afraid to go near them.

However, Datu Kamandag not only uses the venom of pit vipers; he also uses fermented wine with dead snakes, which are stored in jars. He let his “patients” drink from them. But according to medical experts, there are no studies yet to prove that snake venom can cure any sickness. Dr. Allan Dionisio, a toxicologist, explained that snake venom is dangerous because it can liquify the muscles, blood vessels and nerves.  

Since Datu Kamandag’s house is near the forest, Doc Ferds decided to check whether the area is really abundant with vipers. True enough, after a few minutes of walking, our vet was able to spot vipers, both juvenile and adult ones. Because Datu’s house is so close to the vipers’ habitat, it was not surprising to learn that snakes could indeed make their way to human homes.  

Many criticize the way Datu Kamandag uses the vipers. But Datu would just shrug his shoulders whenever he hears any adverse comment. “Basta nakakatulong akong makapagpalakas dahil sa kagat ng ahas, ayos lang,”  he said. And unlike in other areas where snakes are treated as pests, in this place, Datu Kamandag and the locals have a big respect for the snakes and do them no harm. “Normal lang sa amin kasi madalas namin ‘yun makita. ‘Di namin ‘yan pinapatay. Bawal kasi,” a resident said. ---Richelle Figueroa/KG, GMA News