Anna: Uy, Marco, don’t laugh, ha—but I finally hung garlic by my front door last night.
Marco: Huh? For cooking? Or are you starting a mini–karinderya?
Anna: Hindi, oy! To keep away evil spirits! My lola said it’s extra important when the ber months start because spirits roam more. I swear I heard weird noises outside last night.
Marco: Anna… those “weird noises” were probably just tricycles doing tambay outside your street again. Garlic won’t fix that.
Anna: No, it was different! Like a whispering sound. And after I hung the garlic—wala na. See? Effective.
Marco: Or maybe the wind stopped? Or the neighbor finally closed their gate? That’s not proof, Anna. That’s just coincidence.
Anna: But why do so many Filipinos believe in it? Even my tita puts garlic around her baby’s crib so spirits don’t bother the child.
Marco: Maybe because garlic smells so strong even humans don’t want to go near it. If I were a spirit, I’d avoid it too—pero not because it’s magical, just because it stinks.
Anna: Grabe ka. You’re saying I’m hanging deodorant for ghosts?
Marco: Pretty much! Look—garlic is antibacterial and good for your heart, but there’s zero scientific evidence that it scares spirits. If it really worked, hospitals would hang garlic instead of using security guards and CCTV.
Anna: Hoy, ghosts don’t visit hospitals. Too many people.
Marco: Exactly. They avoid crowded places. Just like you! But seriously—don’t you think fear sometimes makes us connect dots that don’t actually connect?
Anna: Maybe… but what about that story my lola told me? When she was young, her whole family kept having nightmares. Then someone told them to hang garlic, and boom—no more nightmares.
Marco: Or maybe they slept better because they believed the garlic would protect them. That’s called the placebo effect. Mind over matter.
Anna: You’re telling me my brain canceled the ghosts?
Marco: Yes. Your brain is basically your own barangay tanod.
Anna: Hala, powerful pala. But I still like the garlic. It makes me feel safe.
Marco: And that’s fine! If it comforts you, go ahead. Just don’t rely on it like it’s a supernatural force field.
Anna: So what do you suggest I hang instead? Scientific solution ha.
Marco: A doorbell camera. Very high-tech, zero garlic smell, 100% effective against trespassers—and probably 0% effective against ghosts, but at least we can prove that.
Anna: Hmm. Maybe I can hang both? Garlic on the left, camera on the right. Science and superstition together. Balance!
Marco: Ay naku. Whatever works for your peace of mind—just don’t ask me to cook with that garlic afterward.
Anna: Too late. I already used the extras in adobo. Protection and flavor!
Marco: Okay fine, that’s the only supernatural use of garlic I truly believe in.
Science Vs Superstition 
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