Harmonization Process of Hilot in PITAHC with TESDA

Yesterday, we are so blessed to be given an opportunity to be present in the Inter Agency Meeting of the Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) with Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) which are both Government Owned Corporation from Department of Health (DoH) and the later from Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The concerns of the meeting is with regards to the Certification of Hilot Practitioners in the Philippines which has become a source of confusion among the students on where to be certified.

It was 2008 when the training regulation of TESDA on Hilot Wellness Massage NC2 was formulated and through that Regulation, i was assessed, certified as practitioner and accredited as Trainer and Assessor in Hilot. But on 1997, the law establishing PITAHC was created mandating to promote Philippine Traditional Medicine which is Hilot. In promoting Hilot, education is necessary as well as the Certification of its practitioners. Since there were 2 government agencies that provides the assessment and certification of Hilot practitioners, confusion comes in on where to be certified and with that our presence comes in.

For more than 2 years now, I am working with the Former Secretary of Tourism in the Person of Dr. Mina Gabor (which i consider this work as a Legacy Project on which many Manghihilot will benefit from our efforts.) and now we can actively participate in the policy making as i was chosen and appointed to become a member of Technical Working Group in conducting review to the TESDA Hilot Training Standards to align it with PITAHC Standards and Regulation on Hilot.

With these another flame has been set into a blaze where we as members of Luntiang Aghama and Hilot Academy of Binabaylan can showcase of Light and expertise on our Ancestral Healing Arts and Science.