“Nung eka mangan mangalug ya ing Kaladua mu keng cusina”, are the words uttered by my Apung Ingga (grandmother). Translation: “If you do not eat tonight, your soul will go to the kitchen in search for food (in a literal sense your soul will leave your physical body in search for food in the kitchen, thus creating some commotions in your food storage, fridge and dining utensils). In Kapampangan word, KALADUA deriving from two words, “kalâ” means soul, and “aduâ” means two (twin). In the English Language, “KALADUA” means TWIN SOULS. When I was little, I really couldn’t comprehend the context of what my grandmother was telling me. I thought it was to scare me off since I know that couldn’t be true, for my belief is for the soul will only depart our body once we die and proceed to either heaven or hell.
Upon writing this short reflection and researching the Kapampangan culture’s folklore, I realized a more profound and broader context of what does “KALADUA” really means.
The “kalâ” (the soul) in Kapampangan belief consists of two souls, which every person has. The first is the “lagyû” being the personal soul, and the second is the “nû” which sustains life and returns to earth when this life ceases and dies. The first one has three abilities since it can detach itself from the host body (soul projection) while asleep. The 1st ability is the “mangalug” when the earthly body is hungry while asleep, it will resort to finding food to getting satisfied. The second ability is the “kambubulag”, which is the power to take the form of a butterfly in search of help to travel to distant locations to find friends and relatives or send a message that he is in danger or severely ill or nearing death. The third ability is the “mangkukusim” which is the most powerful and dangerous that can harm their enemies inside their houses.
The second, the “nû,” is the soul given by “Indung Tibuan” (mother earth). The one that sustains life inside, the blood that flows through the veins, the nourishment coming from the land’s produce. When a right person dies, the KALADUA (the twin souls) splits. The first soul goes to be a part of the White Rock on Bunduk Aláya (Mount Arayat). It becomes one with Apung Sinukuan (The Sun King). The second soul, the “nû,” his soul returns to Indung Tibuan(mother earth).
Now I understand my grandparents and their elders were so attached to our land in Pampanga. Even the lahar brought by Mt. The Pinatubo eruption devastated the land; they were willing to die and be buried in the land where they were born. The Indung Tibuan in Kapampangan, through the richness of its soil, water, and air, gives food and life to everything. Twin Souls’ belief is also present in other parts of the world called Soul Dualism.
Source:
https://siuala.wordpress.com/2006/08/29/kapampangan-spirituality/
https://kathangindio.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/indung-tibuan/
https.://thephilippinestoday.com/who-is-aring-sinukuan/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Arayat
https://space.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/explorations/article/contemplating_soul_projection
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