Hilot is often asked to define itself.
Is it Filipino, or is it human?
This question does not seek to divide—it seeks clarity: Who may carry the wisdom of Hilot? How is it practiced with integrity today? And how do we safeguard it from appropriation while allowing it to heal beyond borders?
The answer is both simple and sacred:
Hilot is Filipino in ancestry, human in service, and Divine in origin.
Hilot: Filipino in Origin, Human in Purpose
Hilot is undeniably Filipino in origin, born from the land, the ancestors, and the cosmology of the Philippine archipelago. Its rituals, medicines, and ethics were shaped by our relationship with nature and the unseen world.
Yet Hilot is also human in purpose.
Healing does not discriminate. When someone comes before a healer, we do not ask if they are Filipino or foreigner, wealthy or poor, male, female, lesbian, gay, transgender, or cisgender, religious or non‑religious, left or right in politics.
We see first a soul in need of care.
And Hilot reminds us of a profound truth: the medicine we need is where we live. The healer’s task is to restore right relationship with place—learning from the plants in the yard, the trees in the neighborhood, the waters, winds, and soils that hold the wisdom of our locality. In this way, Hilot is rooted, not replicated; contextual, not colonial.
Who Is a Cultural Bearer Today?
In our time, being a bearer of indigenous wisdom is not only a matter of birth—it is a matter of devotion, discipline, and continuity.
History shows that some who were not indigenous by birth nonetheless served as careful documentarians and allies of Filipino lifeways. But their contributions never replace indigenous voices; they demonstrate that calling and responsibility sometimes transcend ancestry—provided that practice remains accountable to community custodians, elders, and ethical boards.
We also face a poignant reality: many are disconnected from indigenous lifeways due to colonization, modernization, and survival pressures. Meanwhile, some sacred roles—Babaylan, Mumbaki—are sometimes reduced to performance rather than vocation. Authenticity demands daily discipline, ethical responsibility, and living relationship with the ancestors, the Diwata, the land, and community.
The invitation is not to gatekeep healing, but to guard its integrity.
Foundational Manifesto of the Hilot Path
*For Hilot Academy of Binabaylan • Templong Anituhan • Bahay SiAdtala Binabaylan*
Preamble
Hilot is Filipino in ancestry, human in service, and Divine in origin.*
We affirm Hilot as a sacred healing tradition entrusted to humanity through ancestral wisdom and relationship with place. We commit to carrying it as a living vocation—never as spectacle—so its compassion endures and its integrity is preserved.
Vision
A world where ancestral healing is practiced with dignity, ecological reciprocity, and spiritual integrity—bringing balance to individuals, families, and communities across cultures, while honoring Hilot’s Filipino roots.
Core Premises
1. Ancestry & Universality: Hilot’s origin is Filipino; its service is human; its source is Divine.
2. Place‑Based Medicine: Healing begins with the medicine of one’s own land—plants, elements, and local ecology.
3. Relational Ethics: Hilot is sustained by right relationship with elders, community, land, spirit, and the person seeking care.
4. Consent & Sovereignty: Knowledge custodians and communities hold the right to decide how, when, and by whom sacred teachings are shared.
5. Guardianship of Knowledge: Rites, names, language, symbols, and cosmology are protected against exploitation and misuse.
6. Economic Justice: We reject profiteering and extractive commerce; we practice fair exchange and prioritize community benefit.
7. Ecological Reciprocity: We take only what is needed, replant and restore, and leave no harm in our healing.
8. Accountability: We welcome feedback, submit to ethical review, and repair trust when harm occurs.
Commitments (Practitioner Oath)
As a bearer of the Hilot Path, I pledge to:
– Serve all who seek healing, without discrimination or gatekeeping.
– Honor elders and cite teachers, sources, and lineages.
– Practice with place—prioritize local plants, elements, and ecology.
– Seek consent from community custodians before sharing sensitive rites.
– Name Hilot as Filipino ancestral medicine; never erase its origin.
– Avoid appropriation: no rebranding, repackaging, or commercialization of sacred rites.
– Maintain fair pricing and community care provisions (scholarships, clinics).
– Keep ritual discipline—study, supervision, reflection, and service.
– Uphold safety and competence, referring out when needed.
– Respect interfaith diversity and spiritual autonomy.
– Build global solidarity without diluting the tradition.
Operational Standards
– Training Pathways: Study via Hilot Academy of Binabaylan programs—Hilot Binabaylan Training, Aghamic Divinity & Ministry, and the Master’s in Ministry on Hilot Binabaylan Practice.
– Supervision: Maintain mentorship under recognized practitioners and engage in peer review.
– Practice Protocols: Use thorough assessment, place‑based pharmacognosy, ethical bodywork, and culturally rooted ritual.
– Community Protocols: Offer free/low‑cost clinics; respond to disaster recovery with trauma‑informed care; contribute to local public health.
– Safeguarding: Establish ethics boards to protect sacred rites, names, and symbols; require consent for publication or teaching.
Public Pledge (Publishable)
I recognize Hilot as Filipino ancestral medicine gifted by the Divine. I vow to study with integrity, practice with humility, honor the elders, protect sacred knowledge, and serve all who seek healing. I will not exploit, rebrand, or commercialize rites. I will learn from the land where I stand, give credit where due, share benefits fairly, and remain accountable to community and spirit. So I pledge, as a guardian of the Hilot Path.
How to Walk the Hilot Path—Without Appropriation
*A Practical Guide for Seekers, Practitioners, and Allies*
Why This Matters
When Hilot is shared without context or consent, its integrity is eroded and communities are harmed. When it is learned responsibly—through relationship, study, and reciprocity—Hilot lives and heals across generations.
What Is Cultural Appropriation?
– Appropriation is taking elements of a tradition without permission, context, or benefit to its source community—often for profit or prestige.
-Respectful participation means practicing with consent, mentorship, proper attribution, cultural context, and fair benefit‑sharing.
12 Practical Steps to Walk the Path Responsibly
1. Self‑Location: Name who you are (ancestry, location, privilege, purpose). Know your motivations and limits.
2. Relationship First: Seek elders, recognized practitioners, or community leaders. Prioritize listening and service over performing.
3. Formal Study & Supervision: Enroll in Hilot Academy of Binabaylan programs; commit to ongoing mentorship and peer review.
4. Place‑Based Practice: Use local plants and ecology; avoid importing materials to claim authenticity.
5. Learn the Language & Cosmology: Study terms (Diwata, Anito), prayers, ethics, and context.
6. Consent & Boundaries: Ask before teaching or sharing rites; honor restrictions and lineage‑specific practices.
7. Transparent Attribution: Always credit teachers, elders, communities, and sources. Never rename Hilot into your brand.
8. Fair Exchange & Community Benefit: Price ethically, offer scholarships, and reinvest in community health initiatives.
9. Safeguard Sacred Rites: Distinguish public vs. restricted ceremonies; avoid filming or publishing sacred moments without consent.
10. Accountability Mechanisms: Join an ethics circle, invite feedback, and repair harm with humility and tangible action.
11. Responsible Storytelling: Avoid sensationalizing “exotic” elements; share narratives that uplift dignity and context.
12. Sustainable Ecology: Harvest respectfully, replant, and favor non‑extractive methods; the land is a teacher, not a resource.
Before You Offer a Hilot Service (Checklist)
– Have you completed recognized study and secured mentorship?
– Do you understand assessment, contraindications, and safe practice?
– Have you obtained consent for any ritual or cultural element you’ll use?
– Is your pricing aligned with fair exchange and community benefit?
– Are your materials sourced ecologically and locally when possible?
– Do you have a plan for referrals and ongoing supervision?
Red Flags vs. Green Flags
– 🚩 Red Flags: Rebranding Hilot; selling sacred rites as workshops; using imported herbs to claim authenticity; no elders credited; filming rituals without consent; “instant certification.”
– ✅ Green Flags: Clear lineage and teachers; consent protocols; place‑based medicine; ethics policy; mentorship; fair pricing; community clinics.
Scenarios & Guidance
– Diaspora Filipino: Reconnect through study, language, and local ecology; serve your local Filipino community with consent and accountability.
– Non‑Filipino Practitioner: Name Hilot’s Filipino ancestry; commit to mentorship and benefit‑sharing; avoid rebranding; listen more than you speak.
– Wellness Entrepreneur: Build models that prioritize community benefit over profit; never commodify sacred rites; maintain transparent attribution.
– Content Creator: Obtain permission; avoid filming sacred rites; credit sources; educate without sensationalism.
– Academic Researcher: Practice ethical review; co‑author with community where applicable; share results and benefits transparently.
How to Start—Today
1. Enroll in Hilot Academy’s orientation and foundational training.
2. Join a mentorship circle with recognized Hilot Binabaylan practitioners.
3. Map local plants and ecological allies where you live.
4. Draft your personal ethics statement aligned with the Foundational Manifesto.
5. Offer one community service per month (clinic, class, or garden day).
6. Set a learning plan: cosmology, language, ritual, clinical safety.
From Curiosity to Commitment: A Convincing Call to Action
Do not merely learn Hilot.
Live it.
Do not consume indigenous wisdom.
Serve it.
Do not ask what Hilot can give you.
Ask what you are willing to give—time, humility, discipline, and respect—to ensure its survival for generations to come.
If you feel called to:
– study Hilot beyond technique,
– honor Filipino indigenous spirituality with integrity,
– and practice healing rooted in responsibility, not entitlement—
then the door is open.
Answer the Call
– Sign the Manifesto: Publicly pledge to ethical practice and guardianship.
– Join Mentorship: Enroll in Hilot Academy of Binabaylan programs and secure supervision with recognized Hilot Binabaylan mentors.
– Build Local Practice: Create community clinics, plant medicine gardens, and ethical service models where you live.
– Protect the Sacred: Form or join a local ethics circle to safeguard rites, names, and symbols.
📩 Ready to begin?
Reply with “Hilot Orientation” to receive your introductory session, the Foundational Manifesto signatory form, and the mentorship pathway through Hilot Academy of Binabaylan and Templong Anituhan.
🌱 The ancestors are calling. The Diwata are watching.
Will you carry this medicine with integrity?
Hilot Academy of Binabaylan 