Taga-Amo
courtship: A
courtship practice in Pangasinan
Various
forms of courtship and marriage practices have been noted among Filipinos.
There are eight
modes of courtship common to Pangasineses and these includes serenading,
reciting verses, writing of love letters, sending of gifts, flowers and other
symbolic objects like two carved hearts held by an arrow, visiting, go between
and involves an object known as Taga- amo which means potion or drink.
Taga-amo courtship should be taken to mean courtship by means of charm and its
Tagalog term is Panggayuma.
Taga-amo is not only meant to be drunk but it can also be
in a form of oil dipped in herbs. When the oil is rubbed on a woman’s skin, it
is believed that this woman will be a slave in love even if she hates the man
at first. Pangasinan is located at the foot of the Mountain Province; that’s
why it seems that the sources of the love potions are the Igorots and other
tribes in the Mountain Province.
Taga-amo could be related to the strictness of the parents. No touch policy of parents is not
merely towards conservatism or puritanism but to avoid the danger of one’s
daughter falling to the evil charms of the Taga-amo. This practice has no
scientific basis yet, but the fact that it was widely believed in the province
provides a reason that it is true and effective.
Courtships don’t always result to tragic situations wherein
the lover threatens to commit suicide because usually she confesses her feelings.
It is only after marriage that suicide is discovered to be a palabas or put on an act. There’s no choice
but for things to happen that way because the girl who immediately reciprocates
is looked upon with low standards.
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