Bro. James’ Live Healing: Watchbait but Effective?

- Sandra B. Ceribo
Healing gone online.
When the sick cannot find solutions, healers just need a bit of advertising. This is what
Bro. James Vicente, a healer of all sorts, does. He is a faith healer who is also a Youtube vlogger
and has gone viral with his online videos showing his live footage of healing sessions. Living in
Pasig, Metro Manila, he has a quite handsome amount of healing devotees and clients which
fairly increased with the help of his online fame. Brother James takes on various mysterious
cases.
Brother James’ unusual ability manifested when he was 8 years old. At the time, he was
surprised when he instinctively sensed and healed her teacher who was having stomache-ache
and from that moment on, he started with his career as a healer. He uses his talent to help the
ones who needs spiritual healing.
“Kailangan kong gamitin itong kakayahang ibinigay sa akin ng Diyos upang makatulong
sa mga nangangailangan,” said Brother James
One of these is Chichi’s case. She is a 13-year old girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy
which made her incapable of walking. Lynith Delfino, her mother, decided to resort to Bro.
James healing due to their financial shortage for her husband’s medical fees.
Lynith said, “Kailangan na naming mapagaling si Chichi kasi hindi na siya mabubuhat
ng asawa ko kapag nabulag siya. Kailangan na lang namin ng himala.”
While being recorded online, Chichi’s healing proceeded. Mistifyingly, she became able
to stand after Brother James massaged and put her knee caps into place and used his powerful
tool, the Siete Bertudes – a mysterious piece of wood that costs P1500 that is said to be home to
supernatural beings and is used to fend of malicious paranormalities.
Despite this healing’s success, this has only been seen as a physical therapy to Dra.
Joselyn Eusebio, a behavioral and developmental pediatrician. According to her, “Para sa akin,
ang ginawang healing ay isa lamang form of physical therapy na hindi dapat ginagawa nang
biglaan kasi delikado.”
Many other cases of possessions, weird abnormalities and sickness have been believed to
be cured by the online healer. While many of Brother James’ online and actual fans continue to
support and believe his healing, some professionals disagree with it.
Shedar Jocson, a Professor on the Philippine Studies and Culture, said that the culture of
seeking quack doctors like Brother James originates from the people’s inability to afford
expensive professional medical services.
Regardless, Brother James also believes that the doctors opposing his healing are not
wrong and he is just doing what he can to use his powers through conventional and safe means.
 As a matter of fact, he refuses to take payments from his clients, although as an active
and famous Youtube vlogger, he gains money from his healing videos depending on the number
of views. As his healing and online recognition continues, Brother James hopes to share more of
his talent to the ones who need it.
But as also warned by Fr. Jojo Zerrudo of the Diocese of Cubao, “Paalala lang sa mga
tumatangkilik ng mga serbisyo ng albularyo, ang mga kapangyarihan nila ay hindi
nanggagaling sa Diyos.”