Asia's only dedicated exorcism centre, the Saint Michael Center for Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism, located in Makati, Metro Manila, has been operating for five months, training not only Philippine priests but also clergy from across the region. The centre was established due to an increasing number of possession cases, according to Father Jose Francisco Syquia, who leads the centre.
Peningkatan kes mendorong penubuhan pusat
Father Syquia told AFP that trauma from bullying, sexual abuse, and family separation due to overseas work has opened doors to spiritual attacks. "We had to find a more permanent and secure and private place to pray over people," he said. The two-storey facility was built largely with donations from local families of the previously afflicted.
The centre functions as a school for exorcists, a unique feature globally. "I don't know of any other center in the world that trains exorcists," Syquia said. Priests from Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and India are already queuing for training. A key part of the training involves discerning psychological issues from spiritual problems.
Kerjasama dengan profesional kesihatan mental
Despite operating without strict Vatican oversight, the centre follows Church rules requiring mental health vetting. "We have clinical psychologists. We have a psychiatrist... There are also neurologists, so they work hand in hand with us," Syquia said. He claims to recognise demonic possession by behavioural changes and a different consciousness. "When it comes to the spiritual world, we need something beyond science," he added.
However, mental health experts express concern. Christopher French, a psychologist and emeritus professor at the University of London, warned that not recognising a condition as medical delays treatment. "It's more dangerous to accept the supernatural explanations," he said, noting conditions like schizophrenia were once seen as possession.
Stigma kesihatan mental di Filipina
The Philippines has about one psychiatrist per 200,000 people, according to the World Health Organization, with some provinces having none. Dr Kathryn Tan, a Manila-based psychiatrist, said many prefer exorcists over psychiatrists due to stigma. "It's a lot of stigma when somebody is brought to a psychiatrist," she said. "If it's an exorcism... you're a victim, but if you're brought to a psychiatrist, there's a lot of shame." Many patients visit indigenous healers before seeking psychiatric help.
Tan said alleged possessions often involve psychosis symptoms, and psychiatrists aim to bridge culture and science without competing with the Church. "It's about compassion and empathy and trying our best to understand without judgement," she said.
Keseimbangan antara sains dan kepercayaan
Both Tan and French agree that cultural sensitivities are important. French said treatments can be shaped to fit belief systems without endorsing them, conceding exorcisms might have a placebo effect. Tan keeps an open mind about the supernatural, seeing it as a way to control the unknown.
Father Syquia believes science and faith can coexist. "We're focusing on the spiritual dimension. But of course, the body is always part of that," he said. He acknowledged that better mental health care could reduce exorcism cases. "If psychology and psychiatry, if proper mental and emotional health are fostered in our country, there will be fewer cases," he said. "Science is a gift from God."
