Hilot: A Virtual Stage play by The UP Repertory Company

Sa panahon ng krisis na pangkalusugan, nais mo na bang gumaling nang tuluyan?
Sumama ka na sa isang paglalakbay tungo sa kalayaan.

The UP Repertory Company

DILIMAN, Quezon City – In the month of August 2021, the UP Repertory Company
advances its 48th production season themed “Atras-Abante: Pasakalye sa Loob at
Labas ng Sakit at Lunas’, with the virtual theatre production entitled HILOT, inspired
from traditional healing in the Philippines. It is a compelling fictional and retrospective
narrative, written by Aldrich Gerard Gatbunton and Winona Eunice Alindogan.

Ang kultura ng Pilipinas ay binubuo ng iba’t-ibang elemento, at isa na roon ang natural na panggagamot. Mula sa The UP Repertory Company, inihahandog ang produksyong Hilot. Mula sa inspirasyon ukol sa mga paraan ng panggagamot na ginagamit ang pisikal, kalikasan, damdamin, at isip, nabuo ang isang dulang naglalaman ng mga pansariling tala. Dadalhin ng Hilot ang mga manonood sa mundo na hindi limitado sa nakasanayang paraan ng paglunas ng mga sakit. Sa pamamagitan ng personal na pagkukwento, matutunghayan ang mga sari-saring uri ng manggagamot na nabuhay sa mga pinaka-mapangahas na panahon sa bansa. Mula sa sinaunang panahon, pagpapahirap ng mga kolonisador, at ngayo’y sarili na nating estado, maipapakita na sa halip ng mabuting intensyon na makapaghilom ng kapwa ang mga manggagamot, patuloy silang pinatatahimik upang maisulong ang sariling interes ng mga mula kanluran. Sa produksyong ito, ipaglalaban ang kalayaan at representasyon ng mga manggagamot para sa katutubo, at ang kinagisnang panggagamot at kalusugan sa Pilipinas.

The artistic and production team is composed of The UP Repertory Company’s resident members: Aldrich Gerard Gatbunton (Head Playwright), Winona Eunice Alindogan (Playwright), Pat Maliwat (Dramaturg), Robe Zamora Dagcuta (Creatives Team Head), Therese Laput (Stage Manager), Aimee Ramos (Production Manager), and Hillary Guevara (Company Manager).

The creatives team includes Johnmark Villanueva, Laine Fernandez, Ace Hernandez, Decca Lumanglas, Gian Paulo Suarez, Ronan Cyrone Baay, and André Miguel (Musical Score).

Featuring Ace Hernandez,  Pat Maliwat,  Jaime Monserrat, Leah Curitana, Kendrick Rivera, Kirk Justin Ramos, Johnmark Villanueva, Lupin Princesa, Clara Senga, Isay Embérga Sinfuego, Pauline Vengano, and Michelle Alde.

With the direction of Ron Simon Lomibao. 

Sasamahan mo ba kami sa paglaban para sa katutubo at kinagisnang panggagamot at kalusugan sa Pilipinas?

HILOT will be streamed this coming August 21, 2021 (7 PM) in the Official Facebook Page of the UP Repertory Company. 

For questions and other details, please contact Aimee Ramos at 0956 990 3167.

#HilotOnline

#Hilot2021

#UPREPAtrasAbante

#UPREP48ANTE

#UPRepAbante

Advertisement

Online Classroom Activities

It’s been almost a year already that we provide Online Classes here at Hilot Academy of Binabaylan. So our Traditional Method of transferring knowledge and skills to our student has been halted for the moment due to the Pandemic of Coronavirus, but instead we adopted the technology of Online Learning through Google Classroom. Indeed our Academy has been empowered by Google Enterprise for Non Profit Organization and through them we are enjoying the technologies that we have in sharing the Wisdom of our Ancestors in Healing Arts and Science.

Our Traditional Method requires the student of Hilot to come to the Philippines and stay with us for 9 days. The method of Learning Hilot to the Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan Training Program is through apprenticeship method. In this training method we can share all the techniques that we know so that our Hilot Binabaylan can benefit more as they apply what they learn from us in person. We are sharing to our students all of the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviour and make them competent to perform the duties as Magtatawas, Manggagamot and Albularyo.

Due to the Pandemic of Covid19,  we have to freeze temporarily this training program as travel abroad has been limited by most of the governments of the world. But through the availability of Internet, Learning Hilot will not be anymore be limited but we can now enjoy learning Hilot just right at the comfort of our home. This is how the Non Contact Hilot Online Training Program was created last year.

Hilot Online Training

The Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working Class provides a certification to the students on becoming a Certified Magtatawas, Magaanito, Pangutanahan or Pangatauhan which is a skill of a Babaylan that communicates with the spirit and determine the condition of the souls of an individual. In this Training Program, Touch manipulation is not being taught but rather we share techniques on how we can affect cure to a person even without placing our hands directly to their body.

This Training Program has 3 Learning Units that are composed of lessons that a student may define hilot, perform hilot diagnostic methods and apply basic healing rituals without physically touching the patient/client. The learning activities that a student will perform are the following

  • Reading Information Sheet
  • Watching Video Presentation
  • Answering Evaluation Test
  • Filming Return Demonstration
  • Participate in Live Video Call Discussion

With that, we are going to employ our resources that Google Technology have provided us, and they are:

  • Google Classroom
  • Google Drive
  • Google Docs
  • Google Meet
  • Google Keep
  • Google Calendar

There are other technologies that Google have provided but for the meantime, we are using what we know how to use.

Training Duration

During the time of the creation of this course, we intend that this training program will last for only 8 days if the student will give 4 hours a day to focus on their training. But most of our students are also working professionals or either also having academic subjects to complete, so we ask them to spare an Hour every weekends for live video call session.

Unit 1 is composed of 8 Lessons that has reading, watching and answering evaluation form activities. And at the end of each unit, we ask that student should write a summary of each lessons and share their thoughts on how they could apply the lessons in their daily lives.

In Unit 2 there are 6 lessons which has reading materials and video presentation. Aside from reading and watching, we ask students to record themselves in a video performing the task assigned to them to do. and after completing the whole lessons for unit 2, again there will be a unit test in a form of essay.

In Unit 3, the students will just only read and watch. There will be no evaluation exam for this learning unit but they have to prepare a presentation as their final exam and assessment.

For the return demonstration on Learning Unit 2, we are giving each students two weeks to complete their task. While for the the Learning Unit 3, we give them a month to complete their procedures and film them selves in performing it before they will graduate from our program.

Time Zones

Our weekly video conferencing is always held every week end. And we have 3 schedules for that in Philippine Time and that is on Sunday 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM, Monday 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM and Monday 12:00 NN to 1:00 PM.

Since our students are coming from different part of the world, we are the one who adjust so that each students can participate to our Video Conferencing which we discuss special topics of interest related to our training program. As of this moment the time zones we cover are from:

  • New York City, USA
  • Ontario, Canada
  • Colorado, USA
  • Hawaii, USA
  • Toronto, Canada
  • California, USA
  • Texas, USA
  • Virginia, USA
  • British Columbia, Canada
  • New Jersey, USA
  • Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
  • Quebec, Canada
  • Punggol Walk, Singapore

I am not very familiar yet with different time zones in the world, but thanks to Google that they are helping me to cope up with the different time zones in the world. We are also looking forward to accomodate people from Europe such as in France, Italy, Spain, Austria as we also have established Hilot Binabaylan in those areas of the world.

Law of Cause and Effect

Isaac Newton have said: ” For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

World Health Organization have identified Coronaviruses as Large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) which they identify to be transmited to humans from Civet Cat and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS- Cov) which was transmited to humans from dromedary camels.

But this new strain which is known as the Novel Coronavirus which is popularly known as CoVid-19 has not been identify yet. They have known well that Coronaviruses are Zoonotic which means they are transmited between animals and people. If only the source has been known, then we all can be sure that there will be cure.

So for now, let us all be vigilant with regards to the symptoms of Covid 19. Check out for any Fever, Cough and Shortness of Breathe.

Practice proper etiquette in socializing as well as proper hygiene. Strengthen our body’s immunity with proper diet and exercise. Clean our environment and have faith in God.

Sooner or later we will find a cure as it has been said that: “For any action there is an equal or opposite reaction.”

Hilot sa Halaman (Medicine in Plant)

Done writing the 30 page and 10,656 words Learning Material for Habi Herbalist Class.

In this learning material will introduce to our students the indigenous beliefs of the Filipino and why herbs are important in healing.

On using this material, the student will be able to:

  • Communicate with Plant Medicine Spirit in order to know the beneficial effects that it could provide to your health as well as into your life.
  • Learn the proper way of gathering herbs.
  • Make herbal preparations.
  • Perform different applications of Herbal Medicine.

Technically, this Learning Material upon successful completion will make you a Hilot Herbalist.

Nature provides us a Cure

In Philippine Herbalism applied by Hilot, it is believed that the type of illness that is contracted in a particular area is somewhat dependent on the environmental conditions. The herbs that grow in that particular area take on the characteristics of their environment resulting in the production of certain adaptive plant chemicals that may strengthen the individual tolerance to that particular environment.

This only means that the herbs that grows naturally in our community can be used to treat to the illness that the people suffer in that particular areas. But now-a-days such as the Spread of CoVid 19 it becomes a world epidemic that brought fear to everyone.

To a Manghihilot, there is always cure to every illness. This is also true to medical doctors. But if we treat illness with fear, naturally the person who suffer from illness will die than survive.

If Covid 19 is a man made disease, then man can create cure to this. But if it is from Nature, then Nature had already provided cure to this disease so there is nothing to be afraid of.

Kuyog: The Power of Numbers

We Filipino knows well the power of Numbers. In Politics, a political candidate win the election through the number of votes cast to his favor. The Higher the number of votes means the higher chance of winning. We know as Filipino how “Kuyog” does. It is a number of people who work together to outnumber their enemies and defeat it.

In the Philippines as of March 6, 2020 there are 2 admitted confirmed cases of CoVid-19 where as the current population of the Philippines is 109,119,273 according to WorldOMeter.

So why we are afraid of Covid 19? What is CoVid 19?

According to World Health Organization, Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV)A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.  

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.  Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. 

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. 

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

The Director General of World Health Organization have made a media briefing on March 5, 2020 which you can read on their website that you can found the link here. It is mentioned in the media briefing that Covid 19 is a serious disease. It is not deadly to most people, but it can kill. 

Indeed that this virus can kill people, but on the early statement it has been mentioned that: “This epidemic can be pushed back…”

I am very hopeful that if all the People around the world which is almost 7,769,270,300 people alive will work together in love to fight the spread of Corona Virus (COVID 19), peace will be restored in our mind and stability will be regained in our heart.

Hilot as Inclusive Healing modality

Traditional Hilot accepts patient who comes to them regardless of their social standing, language, culture, tribe,color or nationality as long as they come to seek relief from their illness and suffering, the Manghihilot is always ready to share the healing powers of Hilot when invoked in time of needs. So as the Academy also accepts people of all colors around the world who want to learn either through curiosity or intention the Sacred Healing Arts and Science of our Ancestors which is Hilot.

Noel and Laura activating their Hand Chakra through paper folding exercise.

It is not the first time that Hilot Academy welcome Spanish people to learn our Traditional Medicine. We have first Jose Miguel Zurita from Madrid, Spain; then Ita Montero of Santiago, Chile; and Now we have Noel Zamora and Laura Castillo who are both from Catalan, Spain.

We all know that for more than 300 years that Spain had colonized our country and had made humongous change to our people from our culture and tradition as well as to our religious beliefs, and now we have Spanish speaking people to learn what we have kept and preserved for a long time.

Noel and Laura doing Dagdagay Foot Massage

Amazingly as we recall our History, many of our famous revolutionary icons of that era sought refuge from Mother Spain while the Spaniards in the Philippines are doing abuses to the local Indio of that time. This made me think that it is not the Spain as a country who do abuse, but the people who are in power who make abuse. Such as Noel and Laura of Catalan, they shared to us that at this present moment the People of Catalan are seeking independence from Spain. Their reason is that the People of Catalan have their own Language, Culture as well as their own Spiritual belief.

Hilot is not political but it can be a liberating modality that could help you to have a sound mind and body. As it allows you obtain the right range of motion as well as the bio chemical composition in your body through the herbs that been employed during the Hilot treatment. Hilot does not discriminate anyone whether for treatment or learning. What we only require is for you to have an open mind and willing body to receive the healing effects of Hilot in your life.

My Health Status

I believe as a public figure (being the Chief Priest of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. and Administrator of Hilot Academy of Binabaylan) everyone deserves to know my current health status.

Yesterday February 21, 2020 when i woke up in the morning i was okay doing my daily routine. I was able to accomplish the printing of the training module for Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan Training for next week and have prepared also the training materials needed for the said training. By Lunch time, we went home to my father’s house to eat lunch and do laundry. I have able to play with my nephew Luis and made a video that I am now Home.

At my Father’s home and Luis

Then while eating lunch when i’m almost done, i suddenly feel pain on my chest and trembling of my muscles and nerve. I try to burp out these energetic blockages and do self massage with no relief so i decided to be admitted to the Emergency Room of Skyline Hospital as accompanied by Lakay Magbaya.

At the hospital i feel very cold that i ask for a blanket to cover me while they are doing their test. But the pain that i felt was so terrible.The attending nurse get my vital signs such as blood pressure and it was normal 120 mmHg/ 80 mmHg. I am aware when they get my vitals. Then they run an ECG Test and blood sample for testing to see if my situation is heart attack.

After running some test i get tired of the pain. They gave me paracetamol to relieve the pain that i am feeling but it was of no use. Then they inserted needle on my left hand and through it they administered iv medicine which is also a pain reliever that made me sleep. After 15 to 30 minutes, the attending doctor checked on me and see that i fall asleep and he gave recommendation for discharge and do home medication. Lakay asked what had happen to me to the doctor and the result of the test was normal. They don’t see any problem with my heart so as to my blood and the doctor think that the pain in my chest was just an acid reflux.

So after paying the Hospital Bill we went home but still in pain. Lakay ask me if we will buy medicine but i said no because the medicine the doctor gave me does not take effect so it is our time now to use our own medicine which is hilot. As soon as we arrive to the Shrine I ask lakay to prepare coconut husk and the loose Incense Maria have given to us. I prepare amulaser tea and do the suob palina. While doing the Palina, Lakay perform the pagpapahid and do some hilot maipulation on my chest and back and through God’s grace i was relieved from the pain.

So to everyone there is nothing to worry anymore and i pray that we could still continue our work in advocating our own medicine which is the Philippine Traditional Hilot. With these experience i see a far difference from the Modern Medicine to our own Traditional Medicine. Well if you come here i will share to you in person the difference of Hilot to the Modern Medical Practice.

What is in the Glass?

img20200125175006_01It’s an broken egg with its yolk on the base of the glass while the albumen floats and create images.

This is an Egg Tawas. Our Mexican #Kapwa Curanderos does this too in their Limpia Ritual. So as in Italy they do this once a Year at the Eve of the Feast of Saint Peter.

Aside from Tawas, Hilot Academy also teach how to remove sick energies using the Egg. So we invite you to learn this technique by enrolling to our Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan Training which is an 8 day stay in training at Hilot Academy.

Pagsasala/ Panghihila Ritual

img201804191549041435872203.jpg“Pagsasala” means filtering and “Panghihila” means pulling. This ritual is also a form of Diagnostic measure using banana leaf. Aside from diagnostic it can be also a mean of cure by leaving the leaves on the part of the body through “tapal”.

Course Content:

  • Medicinal Use of Banana Leaf
  • Herbal Alternative
  • Oils to be used
  • Making Traditional Lamp and its Usage
  • Salat/ Kapkap/ Dampi

Duration: 8 Hours (1 day)

Fee: Php 3,000.00