Have you seen a black cat? Does it mean bad luck?
Affiliation of Superstitious Beliefs to Ilocanos
Pacris stated that Ilocanos have an elaborate network of beliefs and practices which he applies when he deals when the people around him.
Superstitious beliefs are unlikely to be erased in the lives of Ilocanos. An excerpt from Encyclopedia Brittanica explains that superstition is a belief, half-belief, or practice for which there appears to be no rational substance. Those who use the term imply that they have certain knowledge or superior evidence for their own scientific, philosophical, or religious convictions. An ambiguous word, it probably cannot be used except subjectively. With this qualification in mind, superstitions may be classified roughly as religious, cultural, and personal.
In a wider scope, the Philippines, like no other country has their own set of superstitious beliefs that they have inherited from their ancestors. In an article, Flores (2006) also cited his three hypotheses on why Filipinos are superstitious. The following are: (1) many Filipinos superstitions beliefs hark back to the pagan beliefs Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Spanish conquistadors half a millennium ago, (2) the influence of the ethnic Chinese starting with our immigrant ancestors who traditionally practiced so many colorful superstitious beliefs, and (3) a conspiracy theory: perhaps the ruling political and social elite of the Philippines concocted and spread all sorts of superstitions as well as numerous aswang/kapre/dwende/tiyanak/mananaggal/ tikbalang/multo horror tales as part of social control, to manipulate and mesmerize the oppressed masses into acquiescence.
Rev. Fr. Robert Somera discussed that there are superstitious beliefs that can help, and there are also those that do not. Sometimes, people can perform those beliefs as long as it won’t affect and contradict Christianity, because there are some superstitious beliefs that do not help in keeping faith. When people can give a finer view and perception in understanding the things that they do, it would be better. For example, the log that is ignited when there’s a burial, or the tem-tem, its history is not about driving away the evil spirits or a sign that there’s a burial, but the need of our ancestors of fire in using tobaccos. As time passes by, people added religious aspect out of it; it became a superstitious belief and a part of the practice of Ilocanos whenever there is burial. In businesses, it is also observed that some business owners use the picture of Jesus Christ as a décor in their business and as a part of their belief when in fact some of them do not even attend masses and perform unnecessary behaviors to their customer. Some of the beliefs are good but others are not actually helpful especially in terms of faith.
Furthermore, Rev. Fr. Navarro stated that superstitious beliefs are adverse, and therefore in contrary to the faith of people in God.
Relevancy of Superstitious Beliefs to Business Owners
According to Dagnall , superstitious derive from the assumption that a connection exists between co-occurring, non-related events. This leads to the notion that charms promote good luck, or protect you from bad luck.
Moreover, Brake (2018) said that superstitious beliefs around the world have a tangible effect on business and on the motivation of workers. Scientists at the University of Cologne in Germany conducted a set of experiments and found out that superstitious beliefs can help boost performance. According to Kaul (2011) businessmen are extremely superstitious.
On the other hand, an article from the University of Chicago: Booth School of Business mentioned that even smart, educated, emotionally stable adults believe in superstitious beliefs that they recognize are unreasonable. Rigby (2013) stated that even if you do not believe in luck, it may be that people you work with or do business with do – in which case, the beliefs of others may affect both your own behavior and general outcomes anyway.
Though, some are against to superstitious beliefs, others execute these beliefs in to their businesses due to their fear of the things that might happen and because of their hope of getting something.
Utilization of Superstitious Beliefs
Several superstitious beliefs related to business were cited by Arrieta: (1) not to sell salt at dusk, (2) not to sell rice at night, (3) avoid agreeing to debts of your customers every first of the month and on the first day of the week because it will lead to bad luck, and; (4) not to sell water at night because it will become rustic. She employs the said superstitious beliefs to her business.
Another set of superstitious beliefs that are being utilized in business were specified by Udani: (1) before building the business, there should be an atang; (2) in selling for the first time, it must not be in debt; (3) in building the business, the windows must be built in the right places; (4) at dusk, there must be no debt in buying rice. According to her, she got those superstitious beliefs from their ancestors. She believes in them because it is a part of the tradition of the Ilocanos and nothing will be taken away from her if she performs the aforementioned beliefs.
Nonetheless, everything will depend on what we really believe in. As long as we do not harm others, there's nothing wrong in believing in superstitious beliefs.
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