At the start of Pandemic on 2020, the former Philippine Department of Tourism have search for us ( Nora T. Columna, Rev. Alvin L Sentin and yours Truly, Rev. Rolando G. Comon) to work with her in creating a Legacy Project which is the Hilot Philippines Development Center. In her mind as former Tourism Official Chief, she recognize the need to develop a brand of Wellness that could be presented to the world that will recognize our country for having it.
She also recognize the fact that other countries have their brands that is now competing in the Medical and Wellness Tourism Industry, but our own brand of Hilot was neglected for so long.
In her vision, she was reminded of her past that even as a child, whenever they are sick, their mother would bring them to a Manghihilot to bring about wellness again in their health. The procedures of what the manghihilot did unto them as a child were very clear compared to what the Commercialized Hilot is doing now-a-days that being offered at the Spa.
She was also reminded of her experience when she was a Tourism Chief, that sometimes before, she was in Cagayan De Ora, and saw a group of Sea farers that will take a medical examination, queuing up in the house of manghihilot to fix whatever that was wrong im their body hoping that they could pass the medical exam for them to board in the ship where they are applying. What they hope from a Manghihilot is to lower their cholesterol, blood sugar, uric acid and others impurities that may be present in their blood.
Dr. Mina Gabor also recognize Hilot employing herbs and rituals in their treatment as she recalls a nurse who secretly recommend a banana leaf and placed it under the bed sheet to treat bedsore to the patient that was hospitalized. And amazingly after 6 hours the bed sore was cured as the banana leaf dried up.
These are only some of her amazing experience with Hilot that she wants to recreate that people in the future may still experience it through Hilot Philippines Development Center. And we are blessed enough that Hilot Academy of Binabaylan through us have given a chance to Nurse its growth and development. This is the reason for the last 3 years during the time of Pandemic we are at the work of Re Creation which we focus in developing Training program that could produce the same amazing results that may benefit in maintaining optimum health and wellness as well as in the prevention of illness.
Our role as Manghihilot is to help an Individual to live a Quality of Life by maintaining their Soul attached to their Physical Body as we recognize that it’s separation may lead to an illness and worst in to death. As Traditional Filipino Healer, we also recognize the powers of the unseen such as the souls of the Dead, Nature and Elemental Spirits and Deities may also have an influence to affect us in living our lives. We also believe that when a person die, the souls of the individual will leave the body and become an Anito which can be either an Abyan ( Spirit Guide) or Busaw ( a malevolent Spirit) depending on the kind of Death they have experienced.
Death may come in many form such as in illness or old age, and when it comes at least healthy and living family members could prepare for it and may send off the soul peacefully. But when a person faces an unexpected Death such as Accident, Crime of Murder, Suicide and Battle or Warfare, we could expect that their souls will also become a bothersome and has a tendency to become a Busaw. Specially, those people who die at warfare. And with that our Grand Parents and ancestors have a ritual in preventing it to happen. Each Tribes in the Philippines have different methods of doing it, but the modern people of Today, it is common to place live Chicks on the Coffin of the deceased in order to prevent the soul in transforming into a malevolent spirits that may also cause illnesses to the living. In this recent event of Terrorism in the Middle East, many people have died and all of them are in terror, so what will happen to their soul? This video explains what will happen to them.
Grieving is a form of Cure to an individual who died a peaceful death, as it open up portal to the other world that the souls of the departed may cross over into it. Because Grief contains emotions that will become a vehicle to the departed soul to travel and help them crossover to the other world. But the Grief Ceremony conducted by people as a form of protest to those who died in a warfare will not help them to cross over to the other life, but only transform them to become a bound spirit that may haunt people between time and space.
Is it Good for the Souls to become a Bound Spirits?
Becoming a bound spirit seems to be nice as you may be able to stay on the Physical Plane of Existence for ever. But as you stay, all the pain and suffering you experience will also remain. As those pain of the griever will also heighten the pain you have while dying and may transform you into a malevolent Spirt. As a Malevolent Spirit, you also have this ability to harm the living by giving them illness and bad luck. As a Spirit you will be indestructible, but your form will be always corrupted and may be seen scary for people who are gifted with 3rd eye. But the Good News for us who are living, these bound malevolent spirits could be transformed through our prayers and ritual offerings.
As Hilot Binabaylan, we have responsibility to help in rehabilitating these souls that become a Malevolent Spirit by conducting Healing Rituals as a Spirit, just like an energy that can not be destroyed, but we can change form. So our caring as manghihilot does not limit only to the person when they are alive, but it extends even up to their death.
If you like to know how a Hilot Binabaylan care for the soul after death, let me know by voting on the poll below so that we could set up a webinar through Google Meet about it.
Last October 26 & 27, 2023- our Hilot Training Team that compose of Me, Lakay and Mam Nora attended to the 3rd Regional Hilot Congress that been Hosted by Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care in collaboration with Hilot Philippines Development Center of International School of Sustainable Tourism at International Institute of Rural Reconstruction compound, Brgy. Biga 2, Silang, Cavite, Philippines. The said Congress was attended by Select Manghihilot of Region 4 A CaLaBaRZon or Cavite, Laguna, Batanggas, Rizal and Quezon Province and our Team represents the Cavite Province since we are representing the Municipality of Silang through Hilot Philippines Development Center. Though in reality, I am still at City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; Lakay Magbaya represents City of Taguig, Metro Manila; and only Mam Nora Columna is originally from Cavite Province which is from General Trias City.
The 3rd Regional Hilot Congress has been welcomed by a message from Dr. Nonie John L. Dalisay on behalf of Governor Juanito “Junvic” C. Remulla, where he emphasizes Hilot as traditional health care practices in the past and its effectiveness in terms of health care. Then it was followed by a message from our Managing Director at Hilot Philippines Development Center and President of International School of Sustainable Tourism, the former Secretary of Department of Tourism, Dr. Mina T. Gabor.
In her welcoming message, Dr. Gabor have emphasized the goal of the 21st Century in taking care of one’s self as she pointed out to the commercial and advertisement shown in Televisions and even in Social Media as experts advised that all of us must look good and our Goal must be happy as it will help also our Economy. The HPDC president also reminisces here experience when she was the Tourism Secretary as she was asked to talk about Medical Tourism and Hilot was never been mentioned before but good thing Now, everyone is talking about Hilot and it is about time that all of us will go back to Hilot.
Right after the welcoming message of Former Tourism Secretary, the Director General of Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care Dr. Anabelle Pabiona De Gusman was called to give her Welcoming Message to the Participants of 3rd Regional Hilot Congress. In her message she takes pride about the work of PITAHC as she explain why Hilot Congress takes place. In her message She honors the founder of Philippine Traditional Alternative Medicine Act who is Dr. Juan Flavier former DoH Secretary and Philippine Senator. It is through Senator Juan Flavier that emphasizes that Health Center should be a Center for Wellness and not a Center of Illness. Then the Regional Director of Department of Tourism of Calabarzon in the person of Director Maritess Castro that exhort the role of Manghihilot in caring for the Health of the community employing Traditional & Alternative Health Care modalities. And through it, Department of Tourism have a continuous Collaboration with Pitahc in the promotion of Philippine Traditional Hilot through Wellness Tourism.
The Current Department of Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa also give his message through a recorded Video. He said that: Hilot is deeply engraved in our History embodies Holistic approach in treating illnesses and promoting health and well being of our kababayan.
There are more speakers that speaks grately about Hilot and it is very overwhelming to know that these people recognizes our role in preserving our Indigenous practices of health care and it could be integrated into the Universal Health Care Delivery System. Aside from these prominent people, the practitioners were also able to voice out our sentiment and deliver it to Pitahc to be address it properly and in the End all the participants of the 3rd Regional Hilot Congress were able to create a Declaration where we all agree with as we have been lead by a Dumagat Chieftain and Community Health Worker in pronouncing the Declaration:
Declaration of Support to the Universal Health Care
Kami mga hilot at iba pang mga tradisyonal na pilipinong manggagamot, kasama ang mga community health worker at barangay health worker ay patuloy na nag-aalay ng aming paglilingkod sa aming mga nasasakupang komunidad upang higit na makamit ang mga hangarin ng universal health care. Nais naming pagtibayin ang patuloy naming pagtulong sa promosyon ng kalusugan at pag-iwas sa karamdaman, sa pagbibigay paunang lunas sa mga karaniwan at simpleng sakit sa pamamagitan ng mga ligtas, epektibo at abot-kayang panggagamot, at sa pag-refer ng mga malulubhang karamdaman sa kinauukulang health center at ospital.
We as Manghihilot and other Filipino Traditional Healer, Together with the Community Health Worker and Barangay Health Worker do continue to offer our services in our respective comminities in order to achievve our Goals towards Universal Health Care. We desire to strengthen our role in the continuing to help the promotion of Health and prevention from illness by giving primary cure to common and simple illness through safe, effective and affordable treatment, and by referring to appropriate professional and health center and hospital to cases of chronic illnesses.
Bilang mga certified o recognized na mga BHW, CHW, Hilot, at iba pang mga tradisyonal na pilipinong manggagamot, dalangin namin ang pormal na Pagkilala at pagbilang sa amin bilang bahagi ng rural health unit na sumasakop sa aming komunidad. Nilagdaan namin sa silang, cavite ngayong ika-27 ng oktubre, 2023 sa okasyon ng 3rd regional hilot congress at pista ng gamutang pilipino
As Certified and Recognized Barangay Health Worker, Community Health Worker, Manghihilot and other Traditional Medicine Practitioner, It is our Prayer that we will be formally recognize and include us as part of the Rural Health Unit in the community where we belong. Signed this 27th Day of October 2023 in Silang, Cavite on the 3rd Regional Hilot Congress and Pista ng Gamutang Pilipino.
This year of 2023, as the world open up again after the Pandemic Era of Covid 19, we have closed our Hilot Online Class and open up again our in person, face-to-face class which is the 8 days Hilot Binabaylan Training. For this year we have made 7 new Hilot Binabaylan and they are the following:
Lani BrownMaria, Grace & KiaCarolina NimmerKira TejadQuhyn Vy a Vietnamese American Hilot Binabaylan
Then we have a Masidhing Manghihilot Class from Australia
Argo Theoharis, Apu Adman & Nawa Sybico
Then we have been visited by Jutheanne Cruz from Hilot Touch and School of Kapwa in London and had her 1 day Hilot Orientation Workshop in our Shrine here in Bulacan.
Lakay, Jutheanne Cruz & Apu
And lastly a 2 days Orientation workshop for Rio which is also from London.
Rio, Apu & Lakay
We still have 2 months left before 2023 ends and we are still expecting for confirmation for those who have expressed their desire to learn and be initiated to the path of Manghihilot. And this year, I received feedback from our students now fellow practitioner to extend the days of training as 8 days are not enough for them to learn the techniques. Indeed the 8 days training are just basic techniques but these techniques are good enough as a foundation for everyone to develop your own signature style of treatment and we will still apply this training up to the end of 2024. But on 2025, we are going to implement on that time our Updated Hilot Binabaylan course which will be longer and may take more that 8 days and our goal in providing the Upgraded Training are the following:
To enable our students to embody in this present generation the concept and principles of the Philippine Traditional Indigenous Medicine by becoming an Authentic Manghihilot which is Hilot Binabaylan.
To initiate our Students on our Filipino Ancestral Valuing system of Life and to the practice of Traditional Indigenous Health Care.
To train our students in Developing Analytic Mind through our Tawas Diagnosis Method that we also call as Traditional Alternative Wellness Analytic System and integrate it to the modern method of health assessment and evaluation.
To provide an opportunity to our students to learn and practice different Hilot Treatment Modalities that is integrated to the modern healthcare delivery
To empower our students which are our potential Hilot Binabaylan in providing Home Care Supplementation of Herbal Remedies by introducing them to Plant Medicine.
To Integrate the Practice of Hilot Binabaylan in the National Health Care Delivery System.
In our Upgraded Training Program for Hilot Binabaylan, we are going to discuss the following:
Introduction to the Practice of Hilot
Hilot Diagnostics
Hilot Treatment Methodology
Family Care Hilot Treatment
and lastly Setting Up Hilot Treatment/ Healing Center
These updates that we are making are in compliance to the Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) Competency standards for Manghihilot which are the following:
Embody and Articulate the Hilot Tradition in the community;
Practice Grounding Techniques or Traditional Spiritual Formation;
Conduct Consultation with client/patient according to the Hilot Practice/Tradition;
Perform Traditional Hilot Techniques and related Hilot Modalities;
Prepare, recommend, and instruct the client/patient on the use of Philippine Medicinal Plants according to the Hilot framework;
Document Hilot Practice and client/patient progress;
Assist in Hilot Center Administration;
Manage Hilot Healing Center Services;
Continue Hilot Education and Professional Development;
Work within the Philippines’ Integrated Health Care Delivery System.
So aside from learning Hilot Techniques, we are going also to learn some Laws governing the practice of Hilot in the Philippines so as in the states where you are.
And regarding the Training Fee that we apply on our Training Program, as there is an Inquiry if we do have a local rate. So our Answer is we only have a standard rate for everyone. We in Hilot Academy do maintain same standards on training our students whether they are Filipino in Diaspora or in our native land. As when you come to us, we will book a hotel room for you for accommodation and we also serve food and pick you up at the airport and send you off after class. Though we have made a stay out special class which you are required to go to class 4 hours per session and come back again to complete it. You can see the rate by clicking Course Offering and scroll down to see the list of Special Class offering.
When it comes to the person who inquires in setting up Spa and want to learn Hilot for the Services they want to offer at Spa, I want to emphasize here that I discourage you Learning Hilot Massage Online as it will only reflect to the quality of services you will provide to your client. And this is true right now as I notice, many Spa Therapist only learn Massage Online and do not have even a National Certificate nor Certificate of Registration. So in terms of Training, I recommend you come in person or Invite us and allow us to help you train your therapist and become professional and Legally Accredited Hilot Center in your Area.
We can also help you establish your own Hilot Center which is the local counterpart of Spa. So, if you plan to provide Authentic Traditional Filipino Hilot Treatment, you may email me at apuadman@hilotacademy.com
Year 2023 is almost about to end and up to now, there are many people who inquire about our Hilot Online Training and unfortunately we have stopped providing it as the world is operating again normally after the Covid Era.
Our Hilot Online Training has been helpful to us as Training Institution as well as to learners in Diaspora who was confined at home during the Pandemic Era of Covid 19. And we are proud to say that we have successfully produced Non Contact Hilot Provider which focusses on the Spiritual Diagnostic Method of Hilot thus making them as Psycho- Emotional Therapist and Adviser. Since this method of Hilot does not require physical touch to the client and the client is not required to be Physically present in front of our Manghihilot.
Such as, during the Pandemic Era, the Conventional Medicine practitioner also devised a diagnostic method through Electronic Consultation which people can download an App or go online to talk with a Medical Doctor and tell them their condition. The Pandemic of Covid 19 have changed a lot of things to the world, even that the world government imply quarantine and social distancing, but through Internet and Social Media, almost all the people around the world seems to draw even closer.
Since January 16, 2023- Hilot Academy of Binabaylan have resumed its normal operation on accepting students who wish to learn Hilot Binabaylan Techniques and so far since January up to September we have produced 10 Hilot practitioners from different parts of the world just to learn our Hilot Techniques.
Hilot Binabaylan of Concord California USA
First Hilot Binabaylan in Ontario, Canada
As we move forward, Hilot Training will be maintained in person and face-to-face specially on its treatment methodology which requires in person and face-to-face actual touch. But we will still offer Webinar occasionally and as well as recorded video lessons on the topic of Tawas Spiritual Diagnostics, Kilubansa Elemental Name Energetic Balance Analysis, so as with Sibulan Adlaw Tala Baybayin Mystic Oracle. And before this year of 2023 End we are going to make update to our website and add a Book Store where you can purchase our Ebooks and Video Lessons. But in learning the treatment methods of Hilot, we firmly encourage you to learn it in person with us here or you might want to invite us there in your area to conduct Hilot Binabaylan Training whether local or International.
All the time our body speaks to us but how do we recognize on which part of our Body speaks to us? In western medical studies, Human Anatomy and Physiology is being taught at School but in Hilot Academy, do we teach Human Anatomy and Physiology? The Answer is Yes. We may not be teaching the exact knowledge and information about the Human body but our ancestors have taught us on how to care and treat on the body parts that they think is Vital. It is the same thing how our organs and body parts have names in Filipino, because our ancestors remember the name of the organs or body parts that is relevant and at work all the time. It is just like in everyday of your life, you are dealing with a situation that always happen in a day, you will become a master on it, as you can deal the situation in every angle that it will come.
Now, in the body position, you will notice that the suffix -an is added at the end of the word such as Ulonan pertaining to the upper part or on the area of the head, Paanan pertaining to the lower part of the body belonging to the area of the feet, Tagiliran or side part, Harapan pertaining to the front and Likuran pertaining to the back. Other words that has a suffix -an that pertains to a region or place are Hilagaan (North), Silanganan (East), Katimugan (South), Kalunuran or Kanluran (West), Kaitaasan (Sky World), Kaibabawan (Surface or Middle World), Kailaliman (UNderworld), Kaluwalhatian (Place of Glory/Paradise/Heaven), Kalangitan (Sky world), Kasamaan ( Place of Evil and punishment for retribution).
Well the regions can also be found within our body and to understand better the healing methods of Hilot, we recommend everyone to study and enroll with us on our Hilot Binabaylan Training & Certification. Our ancestors may not have studied medical science at school, but they have their life experiences that have been passed unto us 50,001 years ago.
Since 2020 we are working with these in Uplifting the status of Manghihilot in our Country. Hilot Academy of Binabaylan through Apu Adman have work out with former Department of Tourism Secretary Dr. Mina T. Gabor, together with Former Department of Social Work and Development Secreatry Dr. Corazon Alma De Leon, Former Department of Health Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Former Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care Director General Dr. Isidro Sia which is now Pitahc Academe & Research Institute Sectoral Representative and with the Current PITAHC Director General Dr. Anabelle Pabiona De Guzman.
In this meeting, I present the Curriculum for Hilot Philippines Development Center as a continuing Education Program for our local Manghihilot to improve their skills services and prepare them for a more sustainable income opportunity in working as a Professional Traditional Health Care Provider.
Bahay SiAdTala’s, Sibulan Adlaw Tala Baybayin Mystic Oracle Attunement Workshop does not only re Orient you in Reading and Writing Baybayin, but also will initiate you to a deeper understanding of our Baybayin Characters. Aside from it was used by our ancestors in written communication, it also has been used to Channel the message of our dead Ancestors, Engkanto and the Diwata.
So take this opportunity that we are offering to enroll on our One-on-One or Group Webinar by sending us an email at siadtala@luntiangaghama.org or at alsentaghama@siadtala.com
Last August 12-19, 2023 I was in Chicago, Illinois and have been co-ritualist for the Fight for Freedom New Moon Ritual that was held at Mc Cormick Place Convention Center beside Lake Michigan. There were many people who attended the Ritual for the Parliament of World Religion. So I am thinking if in 2024, I will come back again in America and if I could have a Chance to visit the States where you are right now, will you be able to see me as I plan to conduct Hilot Binabaylan Training so as the Bansagan Tala Tanda Naming Ceremony in embracing our Indigenous Filipino Identity? Let me know so that we could plan it out. I know this will be also difficult for me, but since I had been given a Visa Entry to the US last August, I believe I could also get one by 2024.
You all have known that Hilot is the medicine of our pre colonized ancestors that we are preserving that it may reach you in this present generation. With that we are also preserving the Medicine of our Indigenous People which is still practiced by the Aeta, Dumagat and Mangyan Indigenous People. Most of their medicine are being adopted by Folk Catholics and Mystics that can be found in Mount Banahaw and Quiapo Church which is the Philippine Center of Mysticism and Filipino Magick. Many of these Folk Catholics and Mystics were descendants of Katalonans ( Babaylan of the Katagalugan),despite being converted into Roman Catolicism, still have preserved the practice of Anituhan syncretized in their current Catholic Faith. Though the use of herbs in our Magickal works will never be Christianized as the herbs that grows in our land are never been baptised. So the use of these magickal herbs in a bottle is recognized to be a precolonial Filipino Magick/Medicine.
Hilot Academy of Binabaylan 
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