Lana is a Cebuano word that pertains to the Coconut Oil. It is said that Coconut is endemic to the Indo-Pacific Region which includes the SouthEast Asia, Indian subcontinent and the Pacific Islands. This is why there are noticeable similarity of our Culture and even on Healing practices on the said Region.
But in terms of the use of Coconut Oil, it has been used by our Ancestors thousand years ago even prior to the coming of the Spanish Colonizers. Aside from the medicinal properties of Coconut oil, our Ancestors know that it has a Sacred origins, as the Tagalog people believe that the Coconut is a sacred to our Ancient God named Bathala. In one of my Blog at Why Healing oil is the common medicine for the rural Filipino? – Hilot Academy of Binabaylan I wrote:
Healing Oil has been a Powerful Tool of many Filipino in Healthcare even prior to Colonization and arrival of modern Medicine in the Philippines.
It is prescribed by our Ancestors that has direct lineage to our God which we call us Anito. This belief has been strengthened when the Kingdom of India have reached out our Country during the 3rd to 6th Century.
The belief that the oil derived from the Coconut is a byproduct of the Divine Body of the Gods Ulilang Kaluluwa (lonely soul) and Galang Kaluluwa (wondering soul) in the Katagalugan Pantheon.
While in Mindanao by the Talaandig Tribe it was prescribed by their Holy Propher Apu Agbibilin to use Coconut oil and Lemon grass in Peace Making as a sign of the God Magbabaya through the God of Peace Agta Yabun Magbaya.- End of Qoute
Even up to now, many Filipinos are still using Coconut Oil (Healing Oil) in managing their illnesses, especially those are who are deprived of Financial Stability and hard to access Health Care facilities; they use it by applying it externally and even ingest it Internally especially during the time of Pandemic that it has been used to treat persons with Corona Virus.
Aside from its medicinal properties, Coconut oil has its Magical/Spiritual properties that has been established by our Ancestors in protection against Evil Spirits such as the Busaw or Po-oy. It also has been used as Spirit Detector when the bottle of coconut oil boils or shown bubbles which means there are presence of evil spirit.
Manufacturing or Making of Coconut oil is being done Ritually. Specially with the Healers of Siquijor which is part of the Central Visayas Region. It starts 6 Friday before Good Friday on the Lenten Season, this will make Good Friday as the 7th Friday. For this year, this ritual will start on March 7, 2025. This Pangalap Ritual Gathering of Herbs invokes the Spirit of Pakikipagkapwa, as this gathering are not limited to local Healers and Witches of Siquijor but also with other Provinces Healers and Witches in honoring the Power of Nature.
Hilot Academy of Binabaylan through Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts of Healing Inc. adopts this practice and teach it through our future Cultural Bearer and Ancestral Wisdom Keeper known as Hilot Binabaylan that we may preserve it for the benefit of our Future Generation.
Paghimo sang Lana is usually made in the Morning which is the preparation of Herbs and cooked by 12 Noon and distribute it among participants before 3 PM specially if made with a large group of Healer.
A question has been asked to me by a student if the Philippines has not been Christianized so there will be no Holy Week, when do our PreColonial Ancestors make their Healing Oil? That was a good question that requires a good answer as well. In analyzing the day of making or cooking oil which are mostly done by Folk Catholics, Christian Mystics and some animist healers, they do it during Good Friday which in accordance to Catholic Faith, it was adjusted near Full Moon which Christ was nailed on the Cross on a Full Moon. Though our precolonial beliefs is not based on Jesus Christ, but Full Moon is sacred and powerful enough that aside from following the movement of the Sun, the Phases of the Moon is also observed. So, Paghimo sang Lana is best done on the day of Full Moon that may invoke the perfect balance of Sun and Moon which are the Children of Bathala being Apolaki-the Sun and Mayari – the Moon.
Hilot Academy of Binabaylan 