Actually, it was July 26, 2024, when I left the Philippines to go in California for a mission. And as of writing it is already the 1st of September and I am still here in the US to complete my mission. I am just counting days to go back home. But on the 5th of September by 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, I will complete my mission and will go back home to our Mother Land.
It was a Dream come true that my prayers have brought me to the United States of America specifically in the States of California courtesy of our Soul Sister from Spreadkindness.org and Danville Yoga and Wellness Center.
All I thought it was summer season in the US but when I arrived at San Francisco International Airport it was Freezing Cold and has been picked up by the Haswell Family headed by Mark, Maria and their sonAs Ryan.
As I arrived at the Haswell home, my sponsor in coming the United States, I was welcomed with Warm Arozcaldo specially prepared by my Soul Sister Maria Haswell. On my first day time in California, I acclimatize myself to the environment and spend most of the time at the Garden Altar with Ganesh and Gautama Siddartha “Buddha” and speak my thoughts with them as I connect to the Spirits of the Land. Indeed, the place is beautiful though the land where I stand are the same soil which is part of Mother Earth. The only difference I notice is the temperature of the atmosphere which is quite colder than I used to feel in our motherland which is a Tropical country. I also have experience warm weather temperature just like in the Philippines. But not that too often and most of the time, it’s cold for me. And the other thing that I notice, since its summertime is that the sun still up until 8:00 PM and after that darkness will cover the sky. Whereas, in the Philippines, 5:30 PM will start to get dark in the Sky and by 6:00 PM it will be officially nighttime. Though during my stay here, I always catch up with the Sunrise which is by 6:00 AM, which its light already spread out throughout the land. So, if we are going to follow the movement of the Sun from Sunrise to Sunset, the Sun works providing his light in California for almost 15 hours a day. Not that bad as per natural law or law of Nature, we have 16 hours to be awake and do our work. But time will change when season turns. At least I have experienced Summer Season in California.
Then Sister Maria have shown me our workplace which is at Danville Yoga and Wellness Center that can be found at Town and Country Drive which is just 10 minutes away from San Ramon where I stay and have rest. She also toured me around in San Damiano Retreat Center which is also located at Danville, California then also showed me to her or rather I say our new Location at San Ramon, California for the Kapwa Wellness. Sister Maria have joked me that I am the bringer of Change, because the location of Danville Yoga and Wellness Center is about to close. But amazingly, she has found a new place nearby her house and much better one which can be found in Crow Canyon Court.
Then my first class came by August 2-7, which consisted of 3 students, and they are Olivia Zapanta Mir, Lawrence Pau and Dayang Liwayway Inocentes of Hilot Daloy Class which is a continuing education as they already have completed the Mind and Spirit Working Class that consist of Hilot Diagnostic. The class went well in 6 days, and I feel so much comfortable as all of them speaks fluently in Tagalog that I forget that Lawrence from Hawaii does not understand that much Tagalog and speak only little of Ilonggo or Hiligaynon. Nevertheless, It was a great class with them that they have successfully completed the required skills, knowledge, attitudes and abilities of being a Hilot Binabaylan.
On their training, we conduct brief review on Tawas Diagnostic then a comprehensive training on Pulse Reading Analysis, Physical Assessment & Evaluation, Hilot Cleansing Rituals and Hilot Treatment Methodologies such as Pagsasala, Dagdagay, Bentusa and Hilot Pahid or the massage aspect of Hilot. We also have shared to them Fertility Hilot so as our Bae Akuma which is our Sister Maria Haswell have provided them individual healing sessions started with Olivia Zapanta Mir then Lawrence Pau and lastly Dayang Liwayway. Even though they are just a small group of people, it seems that the work we provide are great, that their response to us is also Amazing! Through their training with us, it is affirmed that they are now official Hilot Binabaylan and have received their rank of Dayang and Lakan and as Member of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc.
Then right after their Graduation, we start the orientation for the Hilot Tanglaw Mentors certification with Lawrence Pau and Liza Bustillo, which have assisted me in conducting training for 21 individuals who are fresh learner on the ways of Hilot Binabaylan which started on the 9th of August and ended up by 17th of August 2024.
This Hilot Binabaylan Training was the first training that I conduct in Hilot Academy of Binabaylan that gain massive participation coming from different states in America such as in Georgia, Maryland, Washington, Hawaii, New York and California. Many of them are second to third Generation of Filipino American. Through this group, I encounter different challenges that I adjust my teaching styles just to meet their expectations. One of the admirable challenges that I share with them on becoming a Manghihilot in the United States of America is regarding the law of the Land in terms of practicing Hilot. I am grateful to the Assistance of Celine Barrica who is a licensed Acupuncturist in California, USA for sharing her insights on the legalities on the practice of Fire Cupping. Indeed, that this class is not just an ordinary training session but a passionate sharing of experiences from one another. It is not only them that learn from me, but all of them shares their knowledges that comes from their collective memories not because they have read it somewhere but they firsthand experience it from their families and loved ones.
I love to see each one of them as they receive their first jar of lana oil. I see in their eyes their joy and purity of their heart in receiving the gifts coming from our ancestor’s wisdom on healing arts.
Seeing them happy to what I am sharing to them is very rewarding that makes my heart happy.
Hilot Academy of Binabaylan 