the other day my husband and i came home and found our son complaining loudly "subay!" subay is the ilonggo word for ants and that was one of the first words he learned to say since he learned to walk. because he liked to play on the beach, he was prone to getting bitten by ants.

but the other day was different, he had rashes even on his tummy and on his back and the itch was unbearable, apparently, for he couldn't stop scratching himself and had trouble falling asleep that night. he did not want us to put calamine lotion and just complained again and again of the itch.

finally, my mother-in-law told me to slap my hair on his body seven times, which i did and surprisingly, my son stopped complaining and was able to play for a while and sleep soundly afterwards.

my mother-in-law explained that what she told me to do was the best remedy for higad, the hairy worm that victimizes unsuspecting children (and adults) who just happens to be under a tree that plays host to the buggers. i have often been a victim in my childhood and i remember distinctly that applying vinegar on the rashes was the best cure for the itch.

i used to scoff at quack treatments such as this one but i cannot help thinking that if only we had known of this barrio remedy, my sisters and i should never have had to endure the pungent smell of vinegar on our skin.