Embracing the Challenges of Time

Hilot is a Filipino Traditional Healing modality that been passed down by our ancestors orally to their relatives and students. Most of the time people learn this sacred healing arts through apprenticeship and not in school. Usually patients who has been healed by a Manghihilot are the one who are likely to become an apprenctice of manghihilot as that person will share the gift of healing that they receive from Hilot. And now at this 21st century, Hilot is adopting to the modern challenges of this world that we can now learn this sacred healing arts and science of Filipino Hilot Online.

Before the pandemic of Coronavirus, Hilot Academy of Binabaylan offers in person and live in training program to any individual that wish to learn our Ancient and Sacred Healing Arts of the Filipino People. People from different countries such as USA, Canada, France, Austria, Italy, Japan and Chile have come to the Philippines to learn Hilot. But because of the Pandemic and the social distancing policy implemented by most government leaders, Hilot Training has been halted. But on June 2020, we have open up our academy again but this time students will not come to the Philippines but instead they can learn Hilot at the comfort of their home through our Hilot Online Training.

The face-to-face training will be missed but people around the world will now have an opportunity to learn Hilot even without coming to the Philippines through our online platform which is at Google Classroom. And this website that is powered by WordPress.com is very beneficial in becoming an instrument of Defining Hilot of the 21st Century to the world. Of course aside from Google and WordPress, we also upload our Video lectures through YouTube. And here is one of our lessons that we talk about in Hilot Online Training.

If you are interested to learn Hilot, our August 2020 Class is now open for enrollment. Kindly click here for details.

Reading Signs and Symbols in Tawas

Today in our Hilot Online Training we have talked about signs and symbols in reading tawas. And as I look back to our memories posted at Facebook, here what i found.

Day is light; night for darkness; moon calls the tide; and clouds for the rain; smoke rise to signal a fire; and a flower bloom to signal a tree bearing fruit. Strong winds, thunder and lightning if there is a storm.

Mother nature provide us clear sign to know the time.

Years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds we have but still short for us to live.

Live life worthily in accordance to our purpose in order to enjoy wellness and doing not so will make us suffer to illness.

Resolving Crisis together

After featuring Suob/ Tuob at Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho at GMA TV Network in the Philippines it gain popularity to our local Filipino people that give them hope in protecting themselves from the harmful effect of Coronavirus in their lives. Though in our statement we have said that Suob/ Tuob or Palina is not a cure for this pandemic virus but we have emphasize that it can provide relief to the symptoms of this disease.

We acknowledge the fact that modern medicine in no chance will favor to the ways of Traditional Medicine Treatment Procedure, and by all means we see that they will find ways to debunk all the efforts of our Traditional Medicine Practitioners in doing our part to find relief and cure to the pandemic crisis situation.

The Philippine Department of Health have released a Warning Announcement on their Facebook page on June 25, 2020 discouraging the public to practice Suob/ Tuob as Traditional Healthcare. In their post we can see this:

PUBLIC WARNING ABOUT STEAM INHALATION OR TRUTH Steam inhalation or steam inhalation with salt, lemon, etc. does not kill the COVID-19 virus and is not part of the procedure to prevent COVID-19. Even the CDC and WHO strongly deny that steam inhalation outperforms COVID-19. No scientific study to date has proven this. There is a possibility (aerosolization), which may be the cause of the spread of the disease. vapor inhalation Steam inhalation multiplies the (liquid) potential of infection by sneezing It can also cause accidents such as burns and skin rashes. secretions in nasal cough.

With this public warning done by the Philippine Department of Health, i feel that they neglect their part in doing Scientific Study on the use of Suob/Tuob and they choose not to focus on the Cheap and Free Method of Healing as they will continue to promote modern medicine that will cost people a lot of money to secure their health.

Republic Act 8423 was made to establish the Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Healthcare which is an attached agency for the Philippine Department of Health as it was mandated to:

Encourage Scientific Research on and develop Traditional and Alternative Healthcare System that have a direct impact on Public Healthcare.
To promote and advocate the use of Traditional, Alternative, Preventive and Curative Healthcare modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost effective, and consistent with government standards on medical practice.

Through these two statements derived from the mandated law, we can see that the Philippine Department of Health is directly debunking the efforts of PITAHC in promoting Philippine Traditional Healthcare. As we can see their efforts in providing cure and relief to the Common Filipino People.

So now from these two statements coming from one Government Agencies we see contradiction to one another.

The practice of Traditional Medicine may not be scientific in accordance to the Standard of Modern Medicine and Healthcare provider. It only shows that our practice of Traditional Medicine goes beyond the foundation of modern school that discover and institutionalize Modern Science and Medicine to school, colleges and Universities.

Traditional Filipino Medicine never claims that our Treatment can provide cure to any ailments and disease as it will goes against to our Teaching that our Body has the ability to heal ourselves. With that being taught to us, what we do is help the body find relief and empower the self to bring forth healing towards individual.
Apu Adman Aghama, Hilot Binabaylan of habi

We do not provide poisons to harm an individual but we seek to strengthen the person that they may be healed to themselves.

Suob/Tuob will never be a Cure. But with the Diligence and consideration of Modern Medical Practitioner in conducting scientific studies to this treatment may provide great impact to the common people in caring for their own Health.

Hilot Academy of Binabaylan salutes the effort of Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Healthcare in advocating to promote Suob/Tuob as Philippine Traditional Medicine.

Thank You for making a Stand for all of Us!

Mabuhay po Kayo!

New Reading Materials for HOT Program

We are already almost a month in doing our HOT Program or Hilot Online Training. And all the learning materials we use are new and updated. So if you take Hilot Training with us before, consider checking us out for new updates. And here below i share a few reading material that we use in Tawas: Hilot Method of Scanning.

Tawas as a tool of communication

Sometimes people come to us for treatment telling us that there is something wrong with them and they don’t feel well. When you ask them about their problem, they could not tell what it is except that they will just tell and describe what they feel. As a healer we do not just rely on the words of our patient/client but we verify their needs through our tawas procedure. As Manghihilot or Hilot Binabaylan, we do not just treat our client/patient, right away, if they ask you to massage their back or shoulder because there is pain in it. It is just like when a patient goes to the doctor, the patient will not just easily ask the doctor to subject them to a heart transplant operation or other modern medical procedures. The patient must undergo proper diagnosis first before they will receive proper treatment.

It is part of our Job as Hilot Binabaylan to determine the nature of illness of our patient so that we can formulate the right treatment procedure for them to affect cure. Through Tawas or Traditional Alternative Wellness Analytic System, we conduct certain evaluation and assessment procedures to determine exactly the nature of the problem such as Pulse Reading Analysis, Dampi-Pindot Method of Scanning, Iris Analysis, Tongue Analysis and many more. In Hilot Academy what we use to determine the nature of illness are through Pulse Reading, Dampi Pindot and Pagsasala Scanning using fresh leaves such as banana leaves. Through these methods of scanning, we are like communicating with the parts of their body and even their internal organs by observing their shape, size, weight, color, scent, texture and even the activities they can perform. These all can be employed in order to understand the physical condition of our client/ patient.

Whereas, we also observe the condition of the emotional and intellectual/ mental aspect of our client through the use of Tawas as spiritual diagnosis. In this procedure, we use materials such as candles, paper, glass of water, eggs, and other to conduct a ritual that will catch the attention of our client/patient to participate in the procedure. Through this, we use the ritual in order for the client to participate and open up themselves to communicate their mind or their inner selves. Sometimes, out of their preoccupation in meeting their daily needs and goals, they have forgotten to take care of themselves and value their own lives in accordance to the purpose of creation. With this ritual procedure, we as manghihilot serve as a channel or catalyst to heal their inner and real selves.

Below is a short video clip that is part of our Weekly online video conferencing.

The Sacred Fire of Life

It’s been one year already that we have our Hilot Binabaylan come to learn with us. And i want to share it here for the world to know her experience.

4 years ago, nati and mamerto did a spirit clearing on me and said that I am the reincarnation of my great great lolo; that something not finished is coming through me. my family does not have access to that generation, but this past Christmas, I found out that great lolo fermin was a manghihilot. reiki has been so helpful in my healing, but I felt it was necessary to honor and learn my own people’s energy and healing modalities, especially knowing healers were in my family.

for months I have been setting the intention to learn hilot, and today, I was initiated as hilot binabaylan. i laugh because universe has a way of synchronicity. I found out only recently that the training would be an 8-day live in study, and decided to change my plans so that I can squeeze in training before the busyness of HK and expo. today was my last day of study and of course it ends up being on the strawberry moon, a portal of expansion and initiation/full moon in sagittarius, my moon at that. lol, universe.

apu adman let me know that a diwata visited my room last night and told him my spirit name; that I will find out later during closing ritual. during my ceremony, apu and lakay called on the diwata that guides me to serve as witness. they wrote 14 names of the diwata and rolled them up for me to choose one. who else but the white bright moon, Diwata Bulan La Mogoaw, the moon goddess. apu and lakay just laughed and smiled because I kept taking pictures of the rising full moon the night prior and kept singing the small lyrics I know of “buwan.” I truly am a daughter of the moon. she calls me and I am listening. this diwata will continue to guide me on my path as a healer and she has blessed me with the name, “Dayang Alab ng Liwanag” – blaze of light, keeper of sacred fire of life. they already printed out the certificate before I chose my diwata guide….

most of my family think that hilot is only massage, but hilot is such deep connection to spirit 😭, and specifically how to heal with body with H (halaman, herbs), I (init, heat), L (linawag, light), O (horas, orasyon, time; prayer), T (tubig, water). my tawas (form of divination through paper, egg, or candle wax) sent a clear message that my ancestors were communicating with me and asking me to answer my call of healer, babaylan, manghihilot. there was no other way but to get so sick, face near death with tsw and pneumonia, for me to understand this path of shadow, light, and spirit. through this path, I have come to build a relationship to plants and prayer in forms of meditation, movement, intention. i am honored to be a hilot binabaylan, reviving the duties and responsibilities of the babaylan in my lineage.

I have no other words than my people are magic. I am only at the beginning of my journey. I have a lot to learn and unlearn, and am readying myself to walk the path of both spirit and earth. I asked ancestors where to even begin and I am reminded to just trust; I will continue to be present on this path to see where it leads me. today, I am happy to be hilot binabaylan. I feel blessed to have had this sacred opportunity to learn from and live with apu and lakay for the past 8 days. I am missing the busy sounds of San Jose del monte, bulacan. I am missing the constant exchange of learning between us. I am missing our shared meals together and laughter. thank you deeply, apu Rolando Gomez Comon and Lakay ALsent Magbaya Aghama, and for those who sent affirmations during my study.

The Future of Hilot

The generation before us have left a bad image to the reputation of Hilot in our country as an abortionist. Though prior to them the practice of Hilot has given a highest regards of honor as it is a Holistic Healthcare system prior to the coming of modern doctors through the colonization. In our present Generation, the practice of Hilot is struggling with Massage Profession as people now-a-days see hilot as a form of Massage. But through Hilot Academy we are changing that image by promoting the original sense of Hilot as a complete Healthcare delivery system.

In our Hilot Online Training through the Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working Course, we have enumerated the skills of a Manghihilot in providing healthcare from cradle to grave. But in this present generations that we are right now, if we do not work to promote Hilot in our Society, what would you think that the people living in the future will know about Hilot?

Justice for Domingo Choc

I woke up this morning and as i picked up my phone i see this disturbing message i received from one of our fellow that live and practice Hilot in Italy.

I do not understand what the article have said as it was written in a foreign language but on the translation it says clearly that:

Abuelo Domingo Choc who is tortured for ten hours and burned alive in Guatemala in San Luis Peten on charges of witchcraft…

This is quite alarming as this kind of persecution exist. But i continue to learn more about who is this Abuelo Domingo Choc. As i run my fingers to the search engine on Facebook i saw Video posted on how this poor man being burned alive as witnessed by many people in an open field. As i continue my search, i found an article in thesun.co.uk which is a Tabloid Newspaper published in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland that is published on June 9, 2020 detailing the event of Mob Burning to Abuelo Domingo.

According to the Article, Abuelo Domingo Choc is a 56 years old Medicine Specialist and a Traditional Healer working as collaborator at University College London on a Pharmaceutical project that focus on traditional plant based medicine. According to the article, Domingo Choc Che was accused of Witchcraft by the angry mob when one of their member died after the medicine provided by choc failed to work.

Abuelo Domingo is a Treasure to the world as he keep to preserve and recover the Natural Ancestral Mayan Medicine.

As a fellow revivalist and Ancestral Medicine Worker and Traditional Healer, our only Goal is to preserve this Sacred Knowledge and Wisdom of our Ancestors in preserving the life of Humanity through the potency of our Plant Medicine. As a Healer we have sworn an oath to Harm None and we never intend to put any poor soul to death. We are only a channel or a bridge, we only find ways how to extend the life of a dying soul through the medicine that nature has provide. We do not claim success all the time on the treatment method that we do. It is the same thing that modern physicians do.

Like Tata Choc, we wish to integrate with the Modern Medical Practitioner in helping our people to find cure in this Global Spread of Pandemic that is happening to us right now. And the killing to one of our Kind such as Tata Domingo Choc is a great loss to all Humanity.

As a Fellow Traditional Medicine Practitioner, I Cry for Justice to be served to Domingo Choc Che. I Pray that those people who do this brutal murder of our fellow be enlightened as tata domingo work on the other world to cleanse their soul from malice and unbelief. May the God of our Ancestors who is the First Medicine Man of our World give grace to everyone of us.

The Function of Life

Teaching Hilot online is a new experience to us. Though it is less exciting than the normal face-to-face class but it brought out the creative talent that is within us as a trainer. As we share our knowledge and skills online we also are adding up to our own experience on how to improve our selves in delivering our advocacy message to our students.

On this article we are sharing to you a video clip that is part of our Video lecture that talk about the Concept of Life, Health, Illness and Wellness. You can watch the whole video by enrolling to our Non Contact Healing modality: Mind and Spirit Working Class through our Hilot Online Training. In this short clip video we have talked about the Function of Life to organization. Watch the entire clip to learn on why Life has the Function for Organization?

When we talk about Organization you might think about a structure, group of people gathering together with leadership and membership. Yes it is like that because this social structure that we have is patterned to the Physical structure that is within our Body. In this video we have discussed about that our body being a unified whole that is made up of individual body parts as a member. In this we understand that each body parts from cells, tissues, organs to organismal system works together to make our entire body function well. Even the tiniest pores that can be seen in your skin as an outward appearance has its special function.

This wisdom is a good thing to know so that we could apply it also to our social organization level. Social Organization such as Habi or Luntiang Aghama is made up of people who gather together in one cause. As an organization we work to accomplish certain goal. And this goal is pushed by its leadership and members work together to accomplish these goals. Every part of the group must coordinate and cooperate to one another; and this is done through Communication. Most of the time, the Leader communicates their ideas and so as the members also communicate theirs to the leader. Communication happen when there is an exchange of ideas going on such as the sender and receiver process of communication. When a certain part does not communicate, there might be a barrier that been build up so that communication will not happen. With that happening, to process of cooperation and coordination will also be hindered that will affect the whole. These issues must be addressed by Hilot in order to revive and restore back the process of operation of the group. This is the same thing that we do in our physical body.

Learning the techniques of Hilot will allow us to determine the problem that is happening within the body. By removing the hindering blocks, it will restore back the flow of communication so that each body part may continue to coordinate and cooperate to one another to produce a unified whole. And with this, the principle of Balancing the Faculty of Man may happen which is stated Filipino as:

Sa isip. Sa Salita at Sa Gawa!
In thoughts. In Words. and In Deed!
The three faculties of man

Suob Treatment becomes trending in Cebu City

From the start of this Pandemic of Covid 19, all medical and even the para medical community are working as one in finding cure to stop the spread of covid 19 all over the world. And different countries have their own local version of preventive medicine so that they will not catch the infection of Covid 19. Here in the Philippines as early as March 2020, there is a local Filipino Traditional Medicine that becomes trending on Social Media that been practiced by Filipino to counter act and protect them from the effect of Covid 19 and that is Suob.

Last week I receive a call from the production research team of Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho which is a TV show of GMA 7 asking me some information about the effectiveness of Suob. And the video that you will see below is the full segment that talks about the topic we are sharing now.

Though at the beginning of this video we can see a tragedy has been presented in performing suob as an infant has been accidentally burned by a boiling water in doing suob. Before we discuss here the efficacy and benefits of Suob as a Traditional Filipino Healing modality, i want to give you a heads up in practicing safety as well.

In this traditional method of affecting cure, we are invoking the element of fire to produce heat in our body. So like in how we treat fire, we should handle this element with care as it might burn us and be injured. When we work with Fire, we should observe safety distance to it as it may give benefit to us or the worst is that it can injure us. Fire produces light as well as heat. It can directly affect our sense of sight as well as our sense of touch. When it affect our sense of sight, it provides us light to see the colors and beauty of the world; and as it affect the sense of touch, we can feel its temperature and will give us also a clear sense of identifying what is rough, smooth, soft and hard as it can activates our nerve endings to determine those things.

In performing our Traditional Suob, i have to remind everyone that we have two types. The first one is the Dry Suob and the other one is the Wet Suob. These two types of Suob has its own prescription to it self. This mean that both type of suob has different healing effect depending on the illness that you have. This matter has been discussed when you take our Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan Training Course here at Hilot Academy.

So in doing suob, the safe distance that need to observe between the skin and the fire should be 1 meter or 3 feet away. Of course when i say Fire i don’t meant it to be a burning flame. What i only mean is just an ember flame such as putting a charcoal in fire but it is not flaming.

On using wood ember to create a fume or vapor, we put fresh pounded healing herbs on it. Putting dry leaves on the ember will create big fire as it fuels and this will be dangerous as it will burn you. The purpose of our Suob Palina is to employ the fume or vapor to do their job in healing and the burning coal and fire is only an agent so that we may extract the healing properties of herbs that we need in healing. It is not also advised to place on fire medicinal oil such as the one commercially produced as it use Mineral Oil which is highly flammable or even herbal healing oil that is made with natural organic nutritive oil. On stone ember, you sprinkle it with herbal infused water or tea to create vapor. Remember in doing this you have to observe 3 feet distance to the fire as it may burn you. The only thing that you need in this treatment is the vapor or fume and not the fire it self.

This is the same when you apply Wet suob. You boil water with incorporating healing herbs. Turn off the fire and place the cauldron of boiled herbs under the chair and sit down cover your self with a blanket as the vapor rise to your body and make you sweat. In doing steam inhalation, you place the basin of boiled healing herbs on a table, open an umbrella and place a blanket over it so that you may inhale safely the vapor. With this i will make a video on how to do this steam inhalation suob for proper guidance of the Public.

We received a call

I received a phone call from a program researcher of one of the Largest Television Network in our country asking for the effectivity of Hilot Treatment specifically Suob in treating covid 19 patients.

I am so honored that they are thinking to get my expert opinion with regards to the workings and history of Suob Treatment. I am so glad also that one of our trainer have his phone and capture on film my conversation to our caller. I want to share it here about my response to the caller.