“Babaylan Filipino Shaman”

Filipino shamans, commonly known as Babaylan, are shamans of the various ethnic groups inhabiting the Philippine islands. These shamans specialize in communicating, appeasing, and harnessing the spirits of the dead and the spirits of nature. Often they are women or feminized men known as asog or bayok. They are believed to have spirit guides by which they can contact and interact with the anito and diwata deities in the spirit world. Their primary role is to serve as mediums during pag-anito seance rituals where they utilize the arts of healing and herbalism, divination and sorcery.

The unCAGEd Series: An explosion of color and wild conceptual art pushing creativity toward far-reaching limits. A mind-shift leaping toward extremes jointly created by renowned nomadic photographer, Glen Allison, in collaboration with Southeast Asia’s premier conceptual artist/costume designer/body-painter, Eric Estampador Cabales.

unCAGEd: C = Cabales, A = Allison, G = Glen, E = Eric

This series was photographed on location in the Philippines at pristine locales, including cascading rivers, geologic rock erosions, driftwood formations, and haunted houses eaten by decay and abandonment.

Model: Shelwin Thai Kho Stylist/body-painter: Eric Estampador Cabales Photo: Copyright © Glen Allison Location: Altuquero, Naisud, Ibajay, Aklan, Philippines