Defining Hilot according to Filipino living abroad Part 1

This pandemic of Coronavirus, staying at home and physical distancing made us to utilize more the available resources that we have such as the use of our laptop, desktop and mobile device to learn our cultural pride which is at the same time our very own Traditional Healing Arts and Science that we know as Hilot. It is a struggle for me to create this training program, since Hilot is more of Traditional Method whereas now we are using modern devices in order to share the wisdom of our Ancestors in Healthcare.

As we begin our online study on Non Contact Hilot training program, we ask our student on how they will define Hilot in this present generation. I will omit their name here but will share the works they have done and these are what they write about defining Hilot:

Introduction (from our June 2020 online trainee)

When I was growing up, my father taught me a form of massage that I thought was hilot, but in this essay, I will review the complex system of indigenous healing that is hilot based on the eight different sections presented by the Hilot Binabaylan Academy taught through Apu Adman and Lakay. These eight sections give an overview of the origin and virtues of hilot through the generations of healers, the terminology of health and illness, the understanding of health and illness through the natural law that is divided into purpose and integrity, and the modalities and healthcare delivery system of hilot. Lastly, I will conclude with how I would explain hilot to others.

General Overview

The overview’s glossary of Tagalog-to-English terms, as well as clarify that hilot is more than just massage, is the highlight of this section for me. It is especially important for people in the diaspora, who may be reclaiming and relearning their languages to have access to the specific terminology of illness and wellness. Much of the heart of the culture is the language, and by beginning with a language lesson, we begin with a meeting of the heart and the mind, to bring about the voice.

Modalities

Since the first section established that hilot is more than just massage, I found that this section on modalities is extremely important to describe what else is part of hilot. It also goes through the general framework of hilot procedures, which is very helpful and clear– there is a divination/diagnosis of illness with tawas, a cleansing with banyos and/or suob, then deep healing with hands-on methods, and then recommendations for home-care treatment such herbs, prayers, and lifestyle changes.

Virtues

Though I am already familiar and have a deep respect for the virtues of hilot, what was important for me to understand here was the explanation around giving money and the belief that it lessens the ability to heal. My father has told me that according to the traditions in his lineage of hilot, we cannot put a price on the healing or touch the money directly afterwards and instead only accept donations preferably sent as an e-transfer or given to a third party to put in a box somewhere, but he never explained why this tradition existed. This beautiful explanation that life cannot be bought, that this is more of an energetic exchange, resonates with me deeply.

Origins

This is the first time I have been introduced to the Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs and I am so deeply grateful. I am familiar with the petroglyphs of the indigenous peoples of this land and how it is connected to their healing and way of life, and to know that our people have that too makes me determined to not only do a pilgrimage to the petroglyphs of the Anishinaabe, but the petroglyphs in the Philippines. I am also grateful to the Kabunian creation story, and the use of the hands as the first healer, and the different kinds of clay that made the different peoples. I disagree that some people are burnt or undercooked, and instead see them as reflecting the different colours of the world around us.

Concept of Life, Health, Illness, and Wellness

The world “silbi”, or purpose, was significant for me in understanding life, health, illness, and wellness, as my whole understanding of wellness revolves around purpose. I appreciate the 10 different functions of life that is understood to be part of the purpose, but I also understand that each function is actually representative of a much larger spiritual concept, such as each organ or limb is a physical manifestation of a spiritual concept. For example, “reproduction” can mean physically reproducing, but it can also mean spiritual bringing forth more creation energy into the world through art, technology, creativity, joy. “Excretion” can mean the physical removal of waste, but it is also connected to all cleansing processes, including the spiritual ones. “Metabolism” are chemical reactions about breaking things down and releasing energy, but they are also the spiritual connection we have to other beings, and our place in the cycle of life and death. “Respiration” is very similar in that it represents spiritual connection, but this is more about the reciprocal stage that maintains life, as opposed to the cycle that also includes death.

Elements & Faculties

This section covers 13 different parts of life and humanity: 3 faculties (thoughts, words, and deeds), 5 elements (earth, wind, fire, water, spirit), and 5 aspects (physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual). By understanding the harmonious relations of these 13 concepts with each other and in themselves, we also have another picture of how “silbi”, what individual purpose, is all about, beyond the 10 functions described in the previous section. But more than just individual purpose, we have integrity, or dangal. The harmony of the functions, elements and aspects must be expressed in the faculties, which then can be witnessed as dangal/honour. Our individual purpose must manifest in this world with integrity, otherwise there is an imbalance, an illness.

Indication & Contraindication

Like the first section, I love the sixth section for the same reason– the language lesson, the deeper understanding of culture, and in this case, of “pilay”. By understanding the “natural law” that is also deeply outlined in sections 5 and 6, pilay can also be seen as ways that the natural law is broken. For example, “pilay lamig” is an indication that the elements are out of balance, that there isn’t enough fire, while “pilay hangin” shows that there is too much wind. Supporting rites of passage as a human grows also supports the function of “growth” and “metabolism” and “respiration”, the connections between beings, and the cycles of life and death.

Healing Practices and Healthcare Delivery System

Though I am familiar with the history of the different generations of healers, what is very helpful and new to me was the categories of preventive, promotive, curative/therapeutic, and rehabilitative. I find this very helpful because when I am doing tawas and it shows the different imbalances in the past, present, and future, then also I can use the framework of the healthcare delivery system to understand what to prescribe. If I am talking about the tawas paper that represents the future, then I will be prescribing preventative and promotive. If I am talking about the tawas paper in the past, it may be curative or rehabilitative. The tawas paper of the present can be any of the four.

Conclusion

From all that I have learned so far under this sacred and human guidance, I would tell people that Hilot is all about understanding natural law — what is the purpose of life and humanity, and how is that purpose expressed with integrity and honour. This natural law means many different parts are in balance (such as the functions, elements, and aspects), and when they are not in balance, we become ill. Pain and illness is a message from the universe about what needs balancing around us, and we understand that through tawas, a form of communication with the natural law of the human and the world around that human. Once the imbalances are determined, there are numerous methods to bring balance back, that must be done with the active participation of the one that is ill. This does not just include massage, but herbs, talismans, charms, potions, prayers, exercises, and lifestyle changes. The manghihilot is not just a masseuse– they are actually an interpreter and channel of natural law, a vessel for the Creator’s power and plan.

We would love to know what you think about our Training Program. If you have been already with us in the past and have experienced the wonderful healing arts of Hilot, kindly share your stories with us by sending us an email at hilot.binabaylan@gmail.com

You can also experience Hilot and learn with us by enrolling our Hilot Online Training Program. We still have a spot for our September 2020 class. To know more about our Non Contact Hilot Mind and Spirit Working Online Training Program, you may check out our page here.

Our Body Speaks

It is not only through our mouth that people could speak, but as we learn how to read pulse we understand that even our Internal Organs are communicating to us. Indeed that monitoring our Pulse can help us determine the status of our Health. But understanding the characteristics of each pulse will help us know what is going on inside us as well as through its behaviour we can be able to project what is going to happen in the Future.

In this short video clip we have discuss about what the Pericardium or Heart Constrictor tells about our personality as each of our Internal Organs if we learn to communiate with them, they have a lot of stories to tell us. This is one of the skills that we share to our students when you enroll to our Non Contact Hilot Training Program.

Since we are all in Pandemic and most countries in the world limit people from Traveling, this course is ideal to take at the comfort of your home.

Get to know more about our Hilot Online Training program by clicking on the Picture link below .

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.

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 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.

Going Online Class

Yesterday we start to migrate our training materials to our Online Platform which is the Google Classroom. This training requires the student to have either laptop, desktop, Ipod/Tablet or smart phone. It is advised that your device must have a built in Camera and Microphone. Or When using Laptop or Desktop, we will ask you to secure a Camera so you can you can upload your work to our Classroom. When you use Tablet or Smart Phone, you will be asked to download a web browser either Google Chrome, Mozila Firefox or Microsoft Edge. As a teacher, I am using Laptop and Android Phone that has a Google Chrome Browser. Aside from this if you are using mobile phone, we ask you to also download the following Apps:

Google Classroom
Google Drive
Google Meet

And the activities we could do within the classroom are the following:

Read the uploaded Learning Material using Google Document. (Since you have downloaded the Google Drive you can access the Reading Materials to it posted inside the Google Classroom.)
Watch the Video Presentation/ Lecture (as you watch, you are asked to take down notes on the subject presented and ask it out during the Video Call Conferencing through Google Meet.)
Video Call Conferencing using Google Meet ( this will be real time conversation/ discussion of the things you have noted during the Video Presentation that you have watched through Google Drive/ Youtube.)
Answer the Self Assessment/ Evaluation Quiz through Google Form posted in Google Classroom. (With this we could assess and evaluate your learning process)
Filming or video recording ( The student will be asked to video record to capture the process on how they will perform the activity task. This will be a form of grading or evaluating your learning capacity as we present the skills through Video Demonstration. In our Live and In person Learning Session we call that as Return Demonstration.)

As its System Administrator and Training Director for this Online Training, it make me feel excited in doing this as it makes us to explore many potential possibilities on how we can promote our Traditional Healing Methodologies using Modern Technology. Indeed, we become the Doorway of Time as we use this modern method in teaching the the old ways of healing arts and sciences.

With these, i want to share to everyone a 6 minutes video that is part of our 60 minutes video lecture presentation on the Non Contact Hilot Healing Modality which is the Mind and Spirit Working.

If you find this post interesting and want to learn more, consider enrolling to our Hilot Online Training. Click here so that we could help you process your enrollment.

My thoughts on Hilot Online Training

This June 2020 we are about to implement our Hilot Online Program (HoT). This mean that there will be no Face-to-face classes but instead we are going to transfer the Ancestral Knowledge of Philippine Traditional Healing Arts and Science purely online. This will be a great opportunity for everyone to take class without coming here in the Philippines where ever you are in the world. The Hilot online Training will save you from spending travel fare and room accommodation expenses.

As a requirement, you need to have at least a Desk Top, Laptop, Ipod/Tablet or smart phone that can be connected to Internet. Then on your device you need to have a web browser either Google Chrome, Mozila Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc. You also need to download Google Classroom App, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Drive and Google Meet for Video Call and Conferencing.

Our expected activities during the class will be the following:

Reading Information Sheets
Watching Video Presentation/ Demonstration
Answering Self Check Evaluations
Video Filming for return demonstration/ Observation
Video Call/ Conferencing for evaluation/ assessment.

At this moment, Hilot Online Training only provides Non Contact Hilot Modality such as the Mind and Spiritual Workings which will help you to master on Psycho and Emotional Health as well as on Bio Chemistry through employment of Herbs.

Before we make our schedule on the actual training, let me express my self clearly through this Video.

Ever since we start our training program in the Academy, the method of teaching hilot was always been live and in person. It is the same thing that our ancestors do in transferring their knowledge of the Healing Arts and Science to their apprentice. Since Learning Hilot is not just transferring skills knowledge and techniques of healing, but it is more about developing relationship from Students to their teacher. It is the same thing that you will do when you are already practicing Hilot to your patient/client you have to build relationship with them.

Learning in Hilot Academy of Binabaylan is not about satisfying the amount of money you pay to learn Hilot, but it is about gaining experience of what really Hilot is all about. That is the reason why we asked our previous student to stay with us in one roof to learn Hilot with us, because most of the lessons in hilot can not be found on a scheduled learning materials but on the random event that occurs during the training period.

Each words, actions and thoughts that come to us during the days you stay with us are part of the learning process. Each breathe; each emotions and even single creatures that come to pass on our way will give us message that will bring forth learning to us. And now, time is teaching us to evolve and adopt to the modern changes that is happening around us. And we will face this with Faith to the Divine that we will overcome this challenge and bring us success.

So until then, wait for our further announcement on when we are going to start our class this June 2020.

Healing with Plant Medicine: Makabuhay (Tinospora Crispa)

I start to cultivate Makabuhay Vine way back 2013 as i need it to make a charm to improve health and long life. Though this herb was commonly known to have an abortive properties, I still hold on to the meaning of it’s name which is makabuhay or the one that promotes life. As Manghihilot or Traditional Healer, we do not just work on manipulating the Physical Body of the person to treat them but we also make medicine that could restore and maintain good health. A person Health for us as we see it does not limit to the Physical Movement of the person but we see also his/her emotional, mental, social and spiritual health as a basis for Holistic Wellness. And the medicine we provide is not also limited on Physical Manipulation of the Body but also we do preparation of Medicine for internal consumption, topical application or to carry it in their person such as in the use of Amulets, Talismans or Charms.

On my personal practice and use of Makabuhay, i mix the dried herbs and vines to alcoholic drink such as rum in a tincture and add few drops to a glass of water before i sleep. The vines can also be added to make a docoction of coconut oil to be applied on the part of the body that is affected by rheumatism and arthritis.

Studies suggest that Makabuhay has cardiotonic, antioxidant, antidiarheal, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiproliferative, hypolipidemic, antimalarial, and antinociceptive properties. According to Medical Health Guide, the list are the Traditional Medicinal Uses of Makabuhay vine:

Makabuhay roots, stems and leaves are used as herbal treatment for fevers, malaria. Makabuhay leaves and roots are pounded then dissolved in cold water. Applied with a soft cloth over the nape, forehead, underarms and other body parts to bring down the body temperature.
Makabuhay poultice is used to treat gout, arthritis, and rheumatism by reducing pain and edema.
Makabuhay is used to treat skin diseases (athlete’s foot, scabies, etc.), promotes wound healing and alleviate skin itching. Makabuhay tonic is believed to promote overall good health and longevity, improves memory, improves skin tone and texture, and provides energy.
Makabuhay tonic is also used to treat fever and malaria. Makabuhay tonic is used to treat gastrointestinal and digestive problems, which includes diarrhea, hyperacidity, abdominal pains, gas pains (kabag), vomiting, dyspepsia, dysentery, colitis, constipation, loss of appetite and even worm infestation.
Makabuhay is also used in the treatment of diabetes, heart problems, hepatitis, anemia, impotence, tuberculosis, jaundice,