In "For Every Tear, A Victory," a biography of (Philippine) President Ferdinand Marcos, Hartzell Spence wrote: "There was just enough documentation of the talisman’s existence to give it credence even among some of the sophisticated. Aglipay himself admitted his possession of it. A dozen alive men who, at one time or another, have vouched to newspapermen and even to serious scholars that they have seen the fetish, and have witnessed its powers work. They had known General Aglipay, on a great white Arab horse, to disappear from their camp, to reappear a moment later a half-mile away at the critical sector of the battle. The priest had even the charm to provide amusement. Several times he had descended from his mountain lair on a Sunday afternoon to mingle with the American soldiers at a village cockfight, knowing that the Americans had a price on his head. When he was recognized and the soldiers rushed at him, he vanished. Survivors also testified that once in the mountains Aglipay had fallen mortally ill of pneumonia or malaria, and for twenty-four hours lay dead. Preparatory to burial, his followers searched his pockets, and found the magic charm. They boiled it in a cup of water and poured the liquid down Aglipay’s throat. Instantly he revived."

It is said that the anting-anting passed to Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. Opined Franco: "A dying man with an amulet cannot breathe his last until he transfers the magi to someone else." It s described as a"..silver petrified medicinal wood imbedded in his spine." There’s no way, however, of finding out whether this is true or not. But in so many instances where his public rallies are soaked and the rain stops when it’s his tun to speak, Marcos saw in this intriguing coincidence an opportunity to jestingly claim that "it’s his anting-anting at work." And many are inclined to believe, explaining that coincidences can happen only some of the times and not all the time. Pressed, however, for a categorical confirmation or denial about the existence of the charm, Marcos just smiles.

That Aglipay had chosen to bestow the anting-anting to Marcos, if at all, is bolstered by their relationship; the latter is the former’s godson. Marcos doubtless possesses the necessary qualities of a deserving recipient. His brilliance and bravery may not have escaped Aglipay.