Paghimo sang Lana

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 7^th 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.

We are now Part of Wellness Tourism Association of the Philippines

Greetings Mga Kalahi and KaHabi!

Happy New Year to all!

Year 2024 has been a Great and Amazing Year for us here at Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. as well as at Hilot Academy of Binabaylan as we have produced 34 new Ordained Hilot Binabaylan that will administer our Indigenous Traditional Medicine in their country of residence. Along side with that we have also administered Hilot all year through to our Neighboring community in Brgy. Francisco Homes Narra that some came from different barangay and cities.

On 2024 we also have help to create a Curriculum Standards for an Organization Filipino Bone Setter that we pray they could be approved either by TESDA or Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care.

And as we move along to our Journey in 2024, we have been an official Member of Wellness Tourism Association of the Philippines or WeTap since November 18, 2024 and just today as of writing this, I also send my message for WeTap as I read:

A Happy New Year to everyone.

I am Apu Adman Aghama or Rev. Rolando Gomez Comon, the Chief Binabaylan of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. located in the City of San Jose Del Monte, Province of Bulacan and serving the community of Brgy. Francisco Homes Narra and neighboring Barangays.

First of all, I am happy that your humble servant has been given the opportunity to be one with the Purpose of the Wellness Tourism Association of the Philippines Inc. for which I am also very grateful to Ms. Cathy Turvil, Sir Atho Dela Cruz and Sir Ryan Kenneth Escubido.

To be honest, when I was invited to the WeTap Viber group, I was shy and embarrassed because the people in the group were big names in the Wellness Tourism Industry. I thought that I was not suitable to be part of this organization. So I examined myself to see if I was worthy of being part of WeTap. I studied whether the Purpose of WeTap is suitable for my Goals to introduce Hilot to the whole World.

So now, I remain in the Association and want to share with you my deep gratitude for the year 2024 and my visions that I should walk with you for the year 2025.

My work in Filipino Traditional Medicine began at the beginning of the New Century and this was in the year 2000. I had formal studies at St. Francis Divine College and had a Diploma on Alternative Medicine. And in 2008 I became an Accredited Trainer and Assessor of Hilot Wellness and Massage Therapy NC2. During those same times, we established the Philippine Certified Wellness Therapist Association with Ms. Grace Sanico, my former boss, in 2009. Meanwhile, from 2010 to 2012, I was a member of the Philippine Wellness and Spa Association where I first met Ms. Cathy Turvil. I was also the Training Director of the Philippine Japan Hilot Association from 2011 to 2013 until 2016 when I founded the Hilot Academy of Binabaylan as the Educational Ministry of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc.

The Hilot Academy of Binabaylan is a small school without a roof. The students in our school are our compatriots who were born abroad who want to know and learn again the indigenous healing methods of our Ancestors. From 2016 to 2024 we have 81 graduates of training and are serving as Hilot Binabaylan in their respective Countries of Residence and these are the following Countries: United States of America, Canada, Chile, London, Italy, France, Austria, Spain, Japan and Australia.

When we started the Hilot Academy, it seemed that our school served as a bridge and a window of history that our school became a living Museum that they not only saw and knew but also experienced through the implementation of the wisdom of our Ancestors in medicine.

It is true that the Purpose of every treatment we perform is to have Wellness. And this comfort is for everyone, not only for the wealthy but also for the Hikahos and the Poor. This is also the work of Luntiang Aghama, we extend health care to those who cannot afford to receive treatment through modern methods and also serve as a bridge to introduce modern medicine to people who are too poor to go to our Barangay Health Centers.

In the year 2024, in the month of February, I met with Nawa Wellness of Calatagan, Batanggas to consult with your servant on how to align their Wellness Services with Indigenous methods. At first, I rejected his approach and insisted that my services were only for the poor. But after praying about the situation, I realized that comfort is for everyone. This means that it is not only for the poor but it can also be experienced by the rich. Thus, the relationship between Hilot Academy and Nawa Wellness was formed. Although Nawa Wellness has its own method of restoring Ginhawa, we still share the method of Pasubay or Diagnostic methods where they can better identify the needs of their guests who will stay at their resting place.

I also see the efforts of our friend Sir Atho Dela Cruz who has set out to develop Hilot knowledge by creating modern methods of treatment based on the indigenous practices of our ancestors, so I greatly admire him in these matters.

And in response, we will try to build a bridge from indigenous methods to modern treatment through integration. In the year 2025, I will strive as a Hilot educator to create a Curriculum that will integrate Hilot into the National Health Care Delivery System where our manghihilot will be considered Professional and not just as a Blue Collar Job. I envision that our Manghihilot can have a Doctor Title like Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Homeopaths, and Naturopaths. This will only happen if we level it according to the standards of the Philippine Qualification F ramework of TESDA, DepEd, CHED, PRC and DOLE which is the National Coordinating Council which is according to the Law implementing Rules and Regulation of Republic Act 8423 or Philippine Traditional Alternative Medicine Act of 1997 which states that:

The Institute in close coordination with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) and others shall formulate guidelines, rules and regulations for the development of learning/training materials for short courses as well as for graduate and post-graduate courses. It shall develop Human Resource Development (HRD) Programs for medical and nonmedical professionals with appropriate public and private institutions particularly, Academic Centers of Excellence.

Currently, only short courses are given National Certification by TESDA and PITAHC and there is no Graduate and Post Graduate Course yet in the study and practice of Hilot. Although, your servant helped to have a Diploma Course of Filipino Indigenous Medicine or Hilot Therapy in London through ThinkTreeHub; it is still better that the study of Hilot originates in our Country. This is also the thinking of my former students why they traveled from the west back here to our beloved motherland. As is our Prayer to our Ancestors, that they call upon each one they have chosen to promote and continue the wisdom and introduce indigenous Filipino medicine to the country and town where they are and bring honor to our beloved country of the Philippines.- End of my Message for WeTap

And as part of our continues effort in promoting Filipino Indigenous Traditional Medicine which is Hilot, I have dismissed our 2025 Hilot Binabaylan Curriculum that will last for 16 days for non-medical/healthcare practitioners and 9 days for Health Care Professionals. And we have resolved that the Administration of Hilot Academy of Binabaylan will now be under Bahay SiAdTala Binabaylan Inc. which serves our Training Venue Host since 2023.All Changes and updates regarding policy of Hilot Binabaylan Training are now subject to the Administration of Bahay SiAdTala Binabaylan Inc. that includes the Certification of Students. Though in terms of Ordination, instead of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. it will now go to the Templong Anituhan Inc. which is an upgrade of Luntiang Aghama in the fulfillment of our promise to the Ancestors in Reviving the Philippine Indigenous Spiritual beliefs and practices that includes Hilot Binabaylan.

Regarding our Training Program in Hilot Binabaylan, we are still on process of making a proposal to maintain the 9 days training but will add days for internship which will enable our students to apply in real situation what they have learned during the 9 days. At the same time, this will also provide them experience and compliance to PITAHC Policy, which they will still be supervised by Certified Hilot Binabaylan Mentor or Tanglaw.

Our vision to our Hilot Binabaylan is that their knowledge, skills, abilities and attitude may be integrated into the National Health Care Delivery System that will not only end up working at Spa Centers but also may have an employment opportunities at Government Health Units such as in Barangay Health Centers, Municipal/City Health Units, Provincial and Regional Health Units, Government Hospitals and even Private Hospitals and Clinics.

We are looking forward that we could create a means that our practitioners may claim Liability insurances from any Health Insurance company and that our Manghihilot may also have the benefits that other workers obtain from the Government such as Social Security and personal Health Insurance. Having these benefits that our Manghihilot will receive, our Children and grand children will have a desire to become a Manghihilot in the Future. For this to happen, we need to rise now the Standards in the Practice of Hilot through Training. This is why we are considering including the study of Human Anatomy and Patho- Physiology, Fundamentals of Health Care, Developmental Psychology, Phyto Pharmacology and other related subjects in the study and training of Hilot.

We also envision to widen the Job opportunities of our Hilot Binabaylan graduates that will not only limit them to work in a Spa Industry and by establishing their own Hilot Treatment/ Healing Centers but also to be employed in Government Health Care Facilities.

Our Hilot Binabaylan can also be employed as a Researcher that can be part of Barangay Health Center in knowing the health status of the constituents of the specific barangay. Aside from knowing the Health Care Needs of specific families in the Barangay, our Manghihilot can also make documentation of every plant, herbs and trees that grows endemically in the specific barangay they are serving. Upon documentation, they will coordinate to PITAHC and submit what they have documented so that they could conduct intensive study in determining the medicinal properties of the plant/herbs/trees.

When the medicinal properties are properly determined, the Manghihilot now can cultivate the plants and may manufacture it as tea, oil, ointment and other herbal products which then can be given freely to their constituents or sell it in a lower cost which is affordable and cost effective.

We also envision that our Manghihilot should be the expert in terms of Herbal Medicine and other herb related food supplements.

These visions that we have on the practice of Manghihilot has been declared and keep it our Altar that through the Grace of the Divine and the Ancestors it may manifest in time.

Answering Questions of Medical Channel Asia

Health Care requires trust from the people that will receive it. That is why Hilot has been the most trusted Healthcare modality in the Philippines since before the Colonization Period. Modern Medicine is only a recent introduction to the Filipino People especially to those who are living in the rural areas and in a far-flung community where modern Health Care doesn’t reach. And besides, the introduction of modern medicine was only available for the rich people who can afford it. While Hilot can be easily availed by any one as it does not cost much. Traditionally, Hilot can be obtained from Family Members such as mother, aunties or even grandmother. The Principle of Loving Care is applied in Hilot Treatment that does not require monetary payment. Here are my answers to your questions:

What skills and training are necessary for someone to become a trusted manghihilot, and how do you ensure safety in your practice? The Skills of Manghihilot in treatment is based on Traditional Healing Principles.

DIAGNOSTIC. Manghihilot uses different diagnostic methods to determine if the illness is caused by Physical Mean or Spiritual Mean. That is why there is a Finger Alignment Method (pantay daliri) to determine if the illness is caused Spiritually or Physically. Then if the cause of illness is caused by the Spirit, the Manghihilot employs Tawas which can be likened into a Psycho- Emotional Assessment. Hilot Academy redefined Tawas from being Spiritual Diagnosis to Traditional Alternative Wellness Analytic System.And if the illness is caused Physically, the Diagnostic Method employed is called Pasubay which observed the patient using 5 senses to determine the disorder of the patient. And if the person has internal problems which are caused by the imbalance of the organ, the manghihilot employs himulso or pulse reading analysis.

CLEANSING. Whether the illness is caused spiritually or physically, we believe that the person becomes impure that it needs to be cleansed. The water is employed in cleansing whether internally or externally.

REPAIR. After cleansing, the manghihilot will address the problem by repairing it. There are different treatment techniques to be employed on different illnesses. Even if there are 2 persons suffering from similar illness, the treatment is uniquely different from each individual.

STRENGTHENING. After treatment, whether be it simple illness to chronic disease, the Body gets weak that is why the manghihilot will provide herbal tea to drink and prescribe food to eat to recover the patient’s strength; and lastly

MAINTENANCE: The manghihilot will provide to the patient some home care remedies, amulets and charms and even instructions of physical activity that the person may prevent from getting sick from the same ailments.

In terms of Training, the Authentic Manghihilot are not schooled. The Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attitude of Manghihilot are being taught through observation and experience either through apprenticeship from a Hilot Master or out of compassion, just like a mother that her child gets sick will find a way to apply cure to her child. Though as Manghihilot, we do not claim that we can cure, but we believe that all individuals have the ability to heal themselves, and we as manghihilot are only the facilitator that helps the individual to achieve their own healing through the medicine we provide that is by employing the powers of the elements such as herbs, heat, light, water and time. As manghihilot, we are translators more than communicators. We listen to the voice of the Spirit and their body and relay to the individual what they do not understand and after that we seek help from nature to have medicine for the sick.

How do you ensure safety in your practice? This is a personal question on how I personally ensure the safeness of my practice. So, I will respond to this in accordance with our Code of Ethics. In the book i write which is titled as Hilot Gamutan: a Fundamental Guide in Hilot Treatment Methodology, i will quote on page 9, that states:

“As manghihilot, we do not treat patients that have conditions that are beyond our understanding. We refer them to proper healthcare professionals as necessary.
As manghihilot, we are trained to treat Traditional Filipino Ailments known as Pilay, and our works only revolved in treating this illness.
Our limitation as manghihilot is bound only to what we know, so in order to overcome this limitation we should be open for learning and face the modern challenges of life; as time evolves into modernity we will bring hilot all along so that future generations may still benefit from it.”

That is how I observe safety in my practice of Hilot.

2. How do you address criticism that Hilot may cause complications, especially in cases where professional medical intervention is needed?

Just like what it is stated in our Code of Ethics, we limit our practice in Treating Pilay which is our Traditional Illness. But with the advent of modern medicine and colonizing indigenous tribes, the illness of brought by colonizers such as the cry of one dumagat chieftain, when the government enters the forest, new illnesses have been found in their tribe that originally there are only 10 common illnesses that comes to them which they can solve. So, they are asking for help from the Government to send medical doctors in the forest, but unfortunately, there are only few Honorable doctors who will take that challenge to live among the indigenous people and adopt their culture.

3. What role do you see Hilot playing in a modern healthcare setting? Should it complement or stand apart from mainstream medicine?

Hilot plays a primary role in Health Care as we are the grass root of Modern Medicine. Common People who live in rural areas trusted Hilot more than the modern healthcare professionals. We can bridge that gap by educating the people to trust modern medical practitioners, unlike the modern doctors who discriminate against us in our practice. In the lessons about the Generations of Healers the Modern Doctors are 4th Generation healers as ordained by the Supreme Divine Creator who is the First genration healer, next was the Babaylan, third, during the coming of the colonizers the healing abilities of Babaylan are distributed to the Manghihilot and Mananambal, the fourth is the Modern Doctors, the Fifth is the Hilot Binabaylan which we belong and the 6th generation in prophecy are the Integrative Medical Doctors who combined the Modern Science and the Ancestral ways of Filipino Healing.

As Hilot Binabaylan, I am looking forward for this to happen as of this moment, there are no Modern Medical Doctor who practice Hilot in Health Care, even Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan who advocates hilot does not practice it instead do acupuncture nor Dr. Isidro Sia former Director General of Pitahc also practice Acupuncture and Dr. Anabelle Pabiona De Guzman, another Pitahc Director General who established the Naturopathic School in Far Eastern University Manila. Dr. Mina Gabor who is former Department of Tourism Secretary has established Hilot School at International School of Sustainable Tourism can not be considered as Integrative Doctor as she is not a medical doctor by profession nor a manghihilot.

4. What steps do you think should be taken to modernise Hilot while preserving its cultural significance

First is, we have Republic Act 8423 that establishes Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care or PITAHC. This law has the objective 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 of medical practice. But as we can see, PITAHC only put aside the promotion of Hilot and relied much on the Department of Tourism. Hilot is not a Hospitality Service but we must be included in Health Care Services. Hilot is not for Entertainment. You ask every living lola and lolo right now on how they remember Hilot, they will tell you that when they get sick, their mother will send them to a manghihilot.As Manghihilot, we do not rely on Pharmaceutical but instead we create our own medicine by harvesting it to our Garden. This is the reason why we do not charge money, because the medicines we formulate are from our own backyard. Manghihilot Cultivates the land where it produces our medicine. By that you can see we are not just a body worker, but we are also an Earth Steward. But as I go back to the steps in modernizing Hilot and preserve its cultural significance, Hilot should be put out in the Spa Industry but instead be employed in Public Health Care Facilities. Trained Hilot in Schools can work as Field Researcher in documenting Herbs, trees, flowers that grow in their Barangay. And from what they gather, they will send it to a more advanced Facility in Pitahc to conduct more intensive research to find the medicinal value of the plants. Then, upon finding its medicinal value, they can cultivate and propagate. Harvest then manufactures finished products such as tea, tablets, syrups, liniments, oils, etc. that can be distributed to the barangay constituents.

Pitahc should be included in DOH Offices that have Regional, Provincial, Municioal/ City and Baranggay Health Center. Since we are the grass root of health care, Modern Medicine and Traditional Medicine can work together hand-in-hand in caring for the health of the people.

I pray that I answered all of your Questions.

(Please do visit Medical Channel Asia for more Modern Health Care Contents and how it could help to integrate the Traditional Medicine into the modern health care practices in Asia.)

Happy Hilot Month!

Happy Philippine Traditional Alternative HealthCare Month. Yesterday November 2, we have successfully conducted our First Free Webinar as we discuss the Fundamental of Hilot Practice and share the Definition, History, Principles and Philosophy of Hilot.

The Webinar yesterday was attended by 17 participants coming from different parts of the world, and they are the following:

1. Gat Anata Laylay

2.Rossielienne

3.Kimberly Arteche

4. Body Bliss

5. Annaliza Borcena

6. Lizel Cameron

7. Jerson Casol Jr.

8. Bubble Fajardo

9. LJ Fajardo

10. Vince Joseph Garcia

11. Sebya Gorre-Clancy

12. Jovy Labalan

13. Wilna Mirabel

14. Jocelyn Nguyen

15. Yolanda Pedrigal

16. Tatjna Simpson

17. Allan Valenzuela

Siesta inclusion in our class curriculum

Siesta is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after mid-day lunch meal. This tradition is mostly an influence from our Spanish Colonizers which the word is derived from Sixta Hora or the 6th Hour of the day. As early Filipino woke up most likely before the sunrise and lunch time which is the 6th hours from the rising of the sun. When growing up as Pinoy Kid, we have been told a story about Juan Tamad or Lazy Juan which our Spanish Colonizers depiction to a common Filipino. And aside from Nap Time, there are many make up stories, that our mother’s told us as a kid why we should take a nap after meal. Common mothers would encourage their children to take a nap after lunch meal so that children will not go out of their home to play on the Street. Nap time for Children allows mothers to continue doing their household chores also to give time for themselves to relax and care for themselves.

Out of this practice, a make story about an engkanto that is known as Taong Araw which is a very bright white complexion that sucks of life force from the persons they meet on the street during noon time, especially children. Other benefit of Siesta that is not scary is that it helps a Child to grow faster. But having Siesta in our Class is not that we teach laziness to our students, but instead we intend to immerse our students/participants to Filipino Culture and instill the value of rest as part of healing process.

According to studies, Siesta has been associated to the 37% reduction of Coronary mortality posibly due to reduced cardiovascular stress mediated by daytime sleep. And aside from its health benefits, we want to provide our students “Me Time” on which they can prepare themselves for the afternoon class and be able to digest not only food they eat but also the morning lessons we provide unto them.

So, when you attend to our stay in class, expect there will a nap time in our Classroom as we prepare banig and unan for everyone.

History of Hilot

1300 BC is part of the Iron Age in prehistory. Though we all know that the first recorded History of the Philippines was dated April 21 year 900 AD on the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. But when I searched the World Wide Web, I found in Wikipedia the name Amaron which is said to be a Legendary Supreme Ruler of the Philippines who ruled during 1300 BC.

Of Course, If Amaron is a leader in 1300 BC that means he has constituents to lead on. And these constituents are composed of people who reside in the area where Amaron was supreme. And these people have a life to live. And living their life, they have a system in taking care of their health to maintain life force in their physical body.

So, Hilot does not start during the influence of the Sri Vijayan Empire, it even dates back far beyond the Birth of Jesus Christ.

And there is also another ruler named Gat Pangil, on which is believed where Pangil, Laguna has derived.

The process of Repair

The Space where I stay already have existed for 24 years already, and through the time it has keep us safe and was able to do activities such as doing our community Hilot. And lately, it started to tear down and when it rains or if there is a strong typhoon, water droplets fall in our ceiling. It is very inconvenient.

So, this year, we raise fund so that we could do some house repair and renovate the whole space where we are staying. I decided to make a loft that will serve as our bedroom. So that the whole ground floor can be an activity area where I can accommodate people that seeks for Hilot.

Last September 30, 2024- we started to make renovations. The thinking of making our house look new again is very exciting but what I am thinking is the End Goal already. But when it already started, the construction workers started to remove old materials in my house and somewhat destroy old materials so that they could rebuild something new. Well, I am trusting these process that is happening now, as I know best result will Suprise me in the end.

Just like in Hilot, you come to be fixed because you know to yourself that there is something that is broken within you. During the treatment process, you feel pain rather than pleasure. Process of repair undergo 2 types of pain which is the destructive pain and the constructive pain.

But the destructive pain in Hilot is not like the pain that will totally harm you. I remember Ate Olivia Mir, once asked me during her Hilot Daloy Training in California if I am doing bone setting. Well, jokingly I said to her that I am doing bone breaking first, so that I could do Bone Setting. But that was a joke. What I really saying is that the process of repair. The person must be broken first before repair could be done. And that is what our Grandparents do, whenever they are sick, they come to Hilot for Repair. Unlike this present time, people have thought Hilot as Massage, they come for relaxation. But real Hilot is Painful on which it destroys old patterns and construct new patterns that will lead into optimum health and wellness.

This is the main reason of the existence of Hilot Academy of Binabaylan which is to preserve the Authentic Hilot Tradition. Because there are many Hilot Schools right now, not only in the Philippines but also in foreign countries that teach Hilot as Relaxing Massage. But Hilot is Painful, and I remember Sassy who is a Mexican American friend in California says that is a good pain on which she remembers her grandmother healing her when she was a child.

November as Philippine Traditional Health Care Month

Imagine how do we live now if our Ancestors did not know how to care for themselves. Our History as Filipino People does not start from the coming of Spain in our Archipelago. When Ferdinand Magellan arrives, he was welcomed by Rajah Humabon on March 21, 1521. This only signifies that prior to the coming of Spain in our Archipelago, human beings (which is part of our ancestry) already existed in our land. So, imagine at that time, how do the Spanish Colonizer found our Ancestors, how do they look like? and how do they live before they came? Actually, they already have their Civilizations. People know how to wear clothes, they have jewelries and other accessories, they eat and drink. They also have mode of transportation and so as politics and government system. That is why we all know that there is also Lapu Lapu who killed Magellan. But that is different story to tell. What I want to point out here that our ancestors are already Civilized.

Though we may connect the lineage of Rajah Humabon to the 10 Bornean datu who fled and find refuge to our country during the 13th century. But even though these Bornean datu take refuge to our land, they are also welcomed by native inhabitant of our Archipelago which is an Aeta Chieftain named Datu Marikudo. And historically it is known that the Negrito Groups are the first inhabitants of our Archipelago which is now known as the Philippines which can be dated back 47,000 years ago.

And according to archeologist, the first human existed in our Archipelago besides from the Negrito group are the ones that can be found in Callao Cave in Cagayan. Their existence gives us idea on how they live 67,000 years ago. Of course, we do not look like them now, but their wisdom on survival still exists as of this day. And Hilot Academy of Binabaylan, credit our Hilot Healing Modality to them. As the way of Hilot is how to maintain life within our physical body and to keep us safe. Our Work as Manghihilot is not just to heal illnesses and ailments, but also to protect our Physical, Emotional, Mental, Social and Spiritual Body from harm.

And through this, aside from the Historical Evidence of our Ancestral Healing Arts and Science, the month of November has been declared as Traditional and Alternative Health Care Month by the virtue of Republic Act 8423 or the Philippine Traditional Alternative Medicine Act of 1997. and through this, Hilot Academy of Binabaylan will provide a month- long Free Webinar on the Fundamentals of Hilot Practice that will happen on the following dates and the topics to be discussed:

November 2, 2024 – Definition, History, Philosophies and Principles of Hlot
November 9, 2024- Hilot concept of Life, Health, Illness & Wellness
November 16, 2024- Faculties and Aspect of Man
November 23, 2024- Traditional Health Care Delivery and Hilot Treatment Methodologies
November 30, 2024- Laws, Policies, Standards and regulations on the Practice of Hilot & Hilot Code of Ethics

To those who are interested to attend, kindly fill out the form through the link below. We are going to issue Certificate of Attendance to those who will attend the online class which can be credited to our Alignment Program on becoming a Hilot Binabaylan.

REGISTER NOW

Catching up with our people

Its been more than a month that I left my community in Phase A, Brgy. Francisco Homes Narra. I came back to the Shrine last Monday and had dinner with my siblings as a Home Coming.

Then yesterday, I had an online meeting with a company that invite us for a retreat on February 2025. And today, i thought was just an ordinary day but to my surprise as the sun setting down this had happened.

These people really missed me and have said that they always check on me if I will open up the Shrine as they need healing hands of Hilot.

Mission accomplished: Heal the World with Hilot Outreach

July 26 2024 when I went to California, USA to reach out our Kapwa and conducted Hilot Daloy Program which enable our Hilot Online Graduates of Non Contact Hilot Mind and Spirit Work to complete their competency on becoming a Hilot Binabaylan. And we are happy to announce that Olivia Zapanta Mir, Dayang Liwayway Innocentes and Lorenzo Pau have successfully completed the Hilot Daloy Program that Ordained them to become a Hilot Binabaylan. Though our Non Contact Hilot Mind and Spirit Work enables them to practice Tawas, Kilubansa Name Analysis and Pulse Reading as they learn it online during the time of Pandamic of Covid 19 that started from 2020 to 2022. But we terminate the online training as soon as the Pandemic have faded away and open again the world to the in person and face-to-face Training Session. The Continuing Education Program Hilot Daloy takes place at Danville Yoga and Wellness Center on August 2-7,2024.

Then by August 8, 2024, Lorenzo Pau have joined by Liza Bustillo to level up their education by taking the Hilot Tanglaw Continuing Education Program on becoming a Mentor.

Both Lorenzo and Liza have become helpful in conducting our First Hilot Binabaylan Training in United States also with the Guidance of our Bae Akuma Aghama who supervises them in their work and providing them inspirations and advice in watching over the learners in doing our Learning Activities.

Hilot Binabaylan Training in United States was held in 2 venues in California, the first one in Danville the other one is in San Ramon. There are 21 students who attend the Training, and they are Dan Walker, Celine Barrica, Christine Mclean, Elizabeth Perpetua, Susanna Cajiuat, Pae Hawkins, Roel Mangiliman, Marlena Stevenson, Leana Anselmo, Jeremy Agcaoili, Maria Clara Adamos, Joal Bioc, Alyssa Choate, Don Mirales, Janine Penafort, Jennifer Aguilar, Bianca Yanez, Sabina Lundgren, sitting beside them are our Hilot Tanglaw Mentors Liza Bustillo and Lorenzo Pau, then Betsy Lundgren, Earl Paus and Zanny Morales.

Then as soon as I came back home to the Philippines on September 7, 2024 Lakay picked me up at the Airport at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 and have brought me to Kabayan Hotel in Pasay City just to rest for a while then by September 9, 2024 we travel immediately at Nawa Wellness in Brgy. Bagong Silang, Calatagan, Batangas to conduct the Sikat ng Araw Training Program to align the Services of Nawa Wellness to the Philippine Traditional and Indigenous Health Care System. The said program has attended and participated by its Operations Manager Ms. Tanya Deldar, Wellness Manager Levy Romanes, Front Office Jechris Macalalad, Fitness & Wellness Instructor Hans Christian Anderson, Nurse Micah Segunial, Spa Therapists Analyn, Marilou, Rachel, Jobelle, Daniela, Butlers Jaspher, Jefferson, Robelyn, Food and Beverage Staff Danilo Delos Reyes, Lorenzo Hilis and May Ann Maesa.

With these, I will just rest for a while, but we will open now Enrollment for the In person, Face to Face Training of Hilot Binabaylan for the Year 2025. And by January 6, 2025 we will start Special 2 days Class on Dagdagay Filipino Indigenous Bamboo Stick Foot Massage.

To join this program, kindly register through this link. Dagdagay Training 2025