Unity in Diversity of Hilot

habi hilot In Promoting Hilot as the Philippine Traditional and Natural Medicine, we must be reminded that our Country is an Archipelago that is composed of 1,107 islands that been inhabited by almost more than 175 ethnolinguistic tribes. From these Tribes, we will find a diverse culture and tradition; at the same time methods of healing that we now call as Hilot. Modern Medicine arrived to our country during the Colonisation of Spain by the 1600’s to 1800’s. Prior to their arrival, the pre-colonial Filipino’s have our own medicine and as per record shows from the 17th to 18th centuries, the state-of-the-art medical and pharmaceutical science was developed by the Spanish Friars based on the system of healthcare provided by the Pre colonial practitioners of Medicine and Health Care which is the Babaylan.

Each tribe has their distinct method of healthcare and ways on curing illness that modern researcher and cultural advocate must preserve. Standardising it into one process will not help preserving it. We must be reminded that what our Country makes unique is that we cant be called Philippines without the existence of the Ethnolinguistic Tribes that are present in our country. The same thing will apply to Hilot, it will not become a National Healing Modality without the others.

We can not omit one healing practices in favour of the other. Filipino Scientific Community must take time in studying each modality to prove its effectiveness in providing a cure. As Hilot provide also the four dimension of Healthcare delivery as well having its own diagnostic procedure in determing the cause of ailment of the patient.

New Cover of Habi

I made a new cover for our Facebook page in Hilot Academy. The cover photo emphasize that Hilot is the Traditional and Natural Medicine of the Philippines.

As i have seen a facebook post with a content of then and now, it is said that Hilot is the former modality and now they are called Massage Therapist. I respectfully object the statement because Hilot is not a Massage.

Still many Filipinos are confused of what really hilot is that is why Hilot Academy is challenged to re introduce Hilot to the Filipino People.

I am making a powerpoint presentation so that we could share the knowledge about hilot with competence.

Health Service Delivery Profile in the Philippines 2012

As i do my research on the value of Traditional and Natural Medicine in the Philippines, i came to the website of Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization and they got this article on the Health Service Delivery Profile in the Philippines as they compile it on 2012.

Let us take a look on its content as they reported the role of Traditional Medicine in Health Care Delivery Service:

Traditional medicine practice
Traditional medicine and complementary and alternative medicines are widely used in the Philippines. Filipino traditional medicine has been in practice for more than a thousand years. Many forms of complementary and alternative medicine introduced from other countries are also used, such as Chinese traditional medicine, acupuncture, herbal medicines, chiropractic, homeopathy, and Ayurveda. Significantgroups of people depend to varying degrees on different forms of traditional and complementary medicines for their health care. A 2010 WHO WPRO study estimated that 70% of the population uses traditional and complementary medicines. Of those, 89% do so for particular illnesses, symptoms, or cultural needs which biomedicine cannot address, as well for financial reasons. Traditional practitioners’ services are accessible, available and affordable, particularly in remote areas.

The Traditional Medicine unit now the Philippine Institute for Traditional and Alternative Health Care(PITACH), an attached agency of the DOH supports the integration of traditional and complementarymedicine into the national health care system. It is responsible for carrying out the responsibilities stated in the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (1997) (currently being updated). There are also three national research institutions covering traditional and complementary medicine: the National Institute for Health, the National Integrated Research Programme on Medicinal Plants, and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.

Acupuncture services are covered by PhilHealth, but no other traditional or complementary medicineservices are covered. Acupuncture delivered in hospital is US$0.22-0.44, although private practitioners may charge up to five times more than a physician’s office fee. Traditional birthing attendants charge much lower fees than other birth attendants; PHP755-947 (approx USD15-20), compared to up toPHP3,175 (approx USD60) for a midwife, PHP7,000 (approx USD140) for a nurse, and PHP10,000
(approx USD200) for a physician. Almost uniformly, traditional medicine practitioners do not have setfees, and many accept donations.

Providers of traditional medicine

Traditional and complementary medicine is practiced by private practitioners or healers, and in homesand barangay health stations. They play an important role in primary health care in the Philippines. Traditional birth attendants are used by a significant proportion of birthing women. In 2008 36% of deliveries were assisted by a traditional birth attendant, or Hilot. In 2002 there were 250,000 traditional healers in the Philippines. Compared to medically trained doctors,traditional medicine practitioners are far more accessible. While there is only one doctor for every 80,000 people, there is one traditional healer for every 300 people.

Licensing of practitioners

Traditional medicine and complementary medicine practitioners are recognised in legislation but havedifferent licensing requirements than conventional medicine practitioners/doctors. There are two formal professional self-regulating bodies for traditional and complementary medicine: the National Accreditation Committee for Acupuncture and the Board of Chiropractic both established in 2008. A committee for Homeopathy is in the process of being established. Also in 2008, the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care issued competency standards for the practice of acupuncture for physicians and non-medical practitioners. In June 2009, a standardized curriculum for acupuncture certification, based on WHO 1999 guidelines, has been delivered to approximately 300 physicians. It is currently under evaluation. There are also plans for the regulation of Chiropractic, Homeopathy and Hilot-Massage. Training and education in traditional and complementary medicine, including at Masters
level, has been supported by several NGOs since 2008.

The Department of Health through the Committee of Examiners for Masseurs conducts bi-annual licensing for massage therapist in the country, consisting of theoretical and practical examinations. Those who pass the exams are given a license to practice massage in the country. The masseur’s license is renewable every 3 years with corresponding medical and continuing education required for it to be renewed.

Traditional Medicines

Herbal medicines can be sold in pharmacies as prescription medicines or as non-prescription medicines,self-medication, or over-the-counter medicines. There are also community produced herbal medicines.
These must stay within the limit of not more than 400 bottles per annum, and are their use is restricted to within the practitioner’s own community.

Quality and safety of traditional medicine

In the Philippines, herbal medicines are regulated in the same way as conventional pharmaceuticals, and can be listed in the Philippine National Drug Formulary. Good Manufacturing Practice requirements for herbal medicines were issued in 1999 and manufacturers of herbal medicines must achieve compliance before they are granted a license to operate. Exclusive safety requirements for herbal medicines were issued in 2004. Reference to safety data in documented scientific research on similar products is
sufficient. A post-market surveillance system for safety of herbal medicines exists.
Of the more than 2,000 herbs identified in the Philippines, only four are currently included in the formulary. Herbal medicines that are sold with any type of health claim will have undergone randomized controlled trials. Such condition does not apply to food supplements which are heavily promoted in the country with little scientific or regulatory control on their claims.

The first edition of the Philippine Pharmacopeia for Herbal Medicine was issued in 2005. Other pharmacopoeia has also been used including those from the United States, Europe, India, China and Japan. The information in these is legally binding.
Guidelines on the Registration of Traditional Herbal Products were issued in 2004, and since then only 50 herbal medicines have been registered. There is a national essential medicines list, and the 2008 version includes five herbal medicines.

To get the full detail of this report, you may click on the link to view it. Health Service Delivery Profile 2012

Hilot Forum held

Early this morning i attended a forum on Hilot Wellness Massage by Tesda Trainers and Assessors with regards to the implementing rules and regulation of training and assessment.

The Forum has been called in response to World Health Organization requirements in providing evidence that Hilot is a traditional and natural medicine that could be employed in primary health care.

As graduate of the Academy, i advise everyone to document all cases you handled with your clients. Record the development and improvement of their health issues using the modality you have learned. And during the forum we made distinction about hilot vs. massage as it will be applied to k12 program of DepEd and Ched.

So be reminded now that in Hilot we will not ask our client to undress. But will treat client with their clothes on and only expose the body part that need to be treated. Hilot massage is encouraged to be done on sitting and not lying down on bed.

Chilean Hilot Curador

I an advocate in moving Hilot to be recognize as the Traditional and Natural Medicine in the Philippines. This healing modality that we Filipino have is a National Treasure that we could be proud off. Though many people still have little understanding of what Hilot is all about, there should be someone from us need to stand to tell what real Hilot is all about.

Hilot as i always tell and becomes my battle cry that it is not a Massage but it is our very own Traditional and Natural Medicine in the Philippines; and when it is studied by a non Filipino it becomes Alternative and Natural Medicine.

As an advocate of Hilot in order for my message to be heard, i need to teach Hilot for a cost in order for Hilot to be popularized again. Spa and Massage center are giving Hilot a wrong reputation by making hilot like massage. Now-a-days even the freelance massuers claims to be a Hilot and even some massage professionals obtain National Certificate for Hilot Wellness Massage but not the Traditional and Natural Medicine itself.

Today, i am so proud to say to the world that our Hilot Binabaylan have produced a new practitioner that is native of Santiago, Chile and her name is Bernardita Montero.

Bernardita Montero or Ita as she want to be called is a Chilean Theater Artist, Dancer and a massage provider. She traveled to the Philippines to enhance her knowledge and skills in Natural Healing Arts and Science.

Ita took a course with us and become proficient in Pulse Reading, Tawas, Hilot Hygiene, Pagsasala, Bentusa and MasaHilot.

Healing with Hilot

Hilot get popularized now-a-days through commercialism in spa but not all people do really understand what Hilot is all about. Most people think even those who are across the globe that Hilot is a Filipino Traditional Massage. And even me 10 years ago am guilty of spreading the wrong information about hilot.

We all think that Hilot is a form of massage because everytime we call for a manghihilot, we see them with lana and banana leaf in giving healing touch to our body ailments.

But not all hilot is about massage. When an expectant mother is about to give birth, family member will call for an elder manghihilot to assist the expectant mother in delivering birth to a new born child.

Tawas is also a form of Hilot whereas the practitioner gives word of wisdom or orasyon to the client/patient who is in need. The illness that can be cured by hilot is limitless. Aside from the Physical body, the manghihilot can also heal the emotion, intellect and social affair of the person.

With these faculty ailment of the person, the manghihilot will use different technique aside from physical touch of massage.

In our lessons with Hilot Academy, i always tell to our fellow manghihilot that: ” Anything that we put inside our mouth, our body may benefit or suffer from it; and anything that comes out from our Mouth is the same thing that other soul may benefit or suffer.”

Through out time, people have been poisoned by the words that been spoken to us. Those words may come from the radio, TV, Newspaper, Church, School or the Government. There are words that we may benefit from it and there are also some that harms us.

We either use our ears or our eyes in percieving information such us words that been written on this blog or with our ears when we hear words or sounds. And these information that we recieved are being processed in our mind that also can sink in deeply into our system.

Information are not only percieved through sense of sight and hearing but also through touch. People worldwide have this special sense that can percieve pleasure or pain through touch. And Hilot utilize this tactile sensation of man to bring forth healing to the individual.

To go back in defining Hilot, so as we learn the amazing and wonderful methods that Hilot uses we now understand that Hilot is Healing and in hilot there are many ways or methods to be use to affect cure to the client.

Giving Hilot to our Land

Tomorrow is election day and we will use our heart and mind through our hands by voting local Barangay officials in bringing change to our land. I pray that everyone will use this opportunity to give shape and form to our community by voting the right leaders im bringing progressive change to our land.

May God guide us all as we vote.

Mabuhay!

How much is the cost of Hilot?

Researchers of Philippine Traditional Medicine goes to places around the archepelago to experience the amazing healing touch of manghihilot. Mostly authentic hilot can be found in rural areas that is far away from the civilized society.

The Manghihilot (hilot provider) are the primary healthcare specialist where the common people consult with not only because of its effectivity but also for its affordability.

Now-a-days, authentic hilot are rare to find even the government provide training of Hilot Wellness Massage through TESDA and DoH. The hilot they teach is a commercialized massage that people confuse it with swedish massage. And sad to say still many people have a stigma of Hilot as Folk Medicine and quackery.

Indeed Hilot is a Folk Medicine that is nearly come to its extinction. The knowledge of Hilot as Traditional Medicine of the Filipino People is almost forgotten in exchange for higher income profession.

When you ask a child now-a-days of what the child will become when they grow old, no one will say that they want to become a Hilot.

But why?

Because people think that hilot is not a good income opportunity profession. Manghihilot only charge minimun amout or either accept donations only. The donation ranges from a pack of cigarette, bunch of banana, tray of eggs, etc.

But in doing Hilot, the provider spend a lot of energies from the time, knowledge of determining the cause of illness, planning the appropriate treatment modality to apply, use of herbs and other things that hilot will use before and after treatment.

The Hilot spend a lot rather than what s/he recieves. This shows that Hilot has a great value of Pakikipag Kapwa and pakikisama.

Kapwa is a Filipino Term that originates from the word kaputol ng kaluluwa ( a piece of the soul). Thus pakikipagkapwa is an art of unification of the individual soul to the Universal Soul or the word (us).

This pakikipagkapwa thing that the hilot has make hilot to reject payment from their client/patient. But what the client/patient did not realise is the value of the Hilot a manghihilot provide is much more greater that the amount of money could be spent.

What manghihilot work with is that we are restoring wellness to improve life.

Now if we talk about life, how much is the cost of life now-a-days?

Hilot as Philippine Traditional Medicine

World Health Organization defines Traditional Medicine as:”… the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.”- WHO Definition of Traditional Medicine.

12495080_1078082395595031_7694227900456780327_n As per WHO definition, we in the academy advocates that Hilot qualifies to be the Philippines Traditional Medicine as it qualifies World Health Organization definition of Traditional Medicine being used in maintenance of health as well as in prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.

The Academy always reiterated that Hilot is a complete Science and Art of Traditional Filipino Medicine as it provides preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative form of healthcare.

Hilot does heal not only the Physical Body from ailment but it covers to deal with the emotional and mental stability of the patient/ client. As traditional medicine, Hilot is not limited into one modality of Massage but also it incorporates other healing modality in its treatment procedures. The Academy provides formal workshop and training to those who are interested to master the Arts and Science of Hilot.