Part 1 of 2 In Barangay Blocon, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, the traditional practice of tandok persists, particularly in remote areas where medical services are scarce. Tandok involves using animal horns to create a vacuum over small incisions made near the site of an animal bite, purportedly extracting blood carrying the rabies virus. This practice, passed down through generations, is currently performed by Romeo Piñonal, 55, who learned it from the Borja family. Piñonal uses a small white stone to detect the spread of the virus and performs the procedure by sucking air from the horns to create suction. Patients are advised to avoid certain foods and activities post-treatment. Despite its popularity, animal bite treatment centers warn against relying on tandok, as it does not eliminate the rabies virus and may increase the risk of tetanus. Rabies is almost universally fatal once symptoms appear, and post-exposure prophylaxis is recommended. The cost of vaccines, ranging from ₱1,250 to ₱1,800, often drives residents to seek cheaper alternatives like tandok, which costs only ₱15 to ₱30 per horn. Health officials emphasize the importance of seeking medical treatment and warn against the false sense of security tandok provides. While no tandok-related deaths have been reported, rabies treatment requires full vaccination to ensure safety. This story is published with the support of Canal France International under the Media for One Health program. Tomorrow: Rabies treatment and prevention underfunded.
