USOG

Usóg is a Filipino superstition that attributes an illness to the greeting of a stranger. It is believed that young children are susceptible to usóg.

If after encountering a stranger, a child develops a fever, the stranger is sought out and asked to wipe his or her saliva on the child’s forehead, chest or abdomen.

Filipino parents worry when they catch a stranger expressing fondness for their child or even just looking fondly at their child. If the stranger senses this, the stranger will sometimes say Pwera usog… (“excluding usog“) meaning he/she understands that the parents are worried of usog.

If parents get really anxious, they will ask the stranger to lawayan ang bata (place saliva on the child) para hindi mausog (in order not to be victim of usog).

MGA KAHULUGAN SA TAGALOG

usóg: kalagayang sumasakít ang tiyan na pinaniniwalaang dalá ng isang táong bumati sa kapuwa, lalo sa isang sanggol

usóg: sakít ng tiyan na dulot ng isang yerba na ganito ang pangalan

úsog: sakít o lagnat na dulot ng lupa

nausog, uusog