Schooling the Manghihilot

Have you remember that our parents have said that we should study hard so that we may land into a better paying job. Is this still true today?

In 2008 Technical Education Skills Development Authority have seen Hilot as employable skills that they created Hilot Training Standards and Regulation so that they may conduct National Assessment and Certification to manghihilot. With that they provide training to those who want to learn Hilot through schooling and for those who are unschooled but well skilled in Hilot they need to be assessed in order to be certified.

This year, we have participated in the talk between Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) and Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in terms of Certification of Hilot. But the current talk as of now revolves on the quality of services that a manghihilot provides. Well in terms of training it should be TESDA who will provide training just like in Commission on Higher Education they are the one who teach and Train the students and after they graduate they will apply license to Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC). The later was suggested by Dr. Isidro Sia former Director General of PITAHC. So let us let them who belongs to who but our main concern here is the future of our Manghihilot.

Let us be honest here, the skills of touching other people can be done by anyone such as in doing Massage. When I was a child I’ve been asked by parents to give the Hilot Massage either on head or legs. Everyone has a gift of touch when in times of emergency it is automatically activated. So as in our home, our parents have secret herbal formula that they use in times we are sick and out of budget going to the doctor. Having said this Regulating the Practice of Hilot by making its practitioners be Certified will give security towards public health but it will also give burden to our practitioners. But how is the manghihilot now-a-days even if they are certified? On what Industry will they fall if they received Standardized and Regulated Training? As I hear them out, these experts still think that a Manghihilot together with Massage Therapist work in a Spa which is a Hospitality Industry which is covered by the Department of Tourism.

Well it seems that our effort in telling that Hilot is part of Healthcare industry is wrong if all our graduates will fall into Spa Industry. But these must be properly addressed not only in terms of which industry should a graduate of Hilot must work? The issue here that i want to raise is to secure a Job for all manghihilot whether they are trained or recognized through assessment that upon compliance based on the Standards and Regulation, all manghihilot must have a descent job to work.

As of this moment, there are still many manghihilot who works at home in a donation basis system. Some who are schooled landed on a Spa where they do massage and other spa treatments. If they apply abroad their skills in Hilot is converted into massage so as if they apply in a cruise ship. These government agencies think of HIlot that is something to be proud of that they need to offer it to foreigners just to say that we have our own brand. Indeed we have but unfortunately we falsely advertise it by showing the wrong modality. As you browse on internet, you can always see articles telling Hilot as a Filipino Massage and there are some people in abroad call themselves as Hilot either because they are Filipino or have lived in the Philippines for a decade or two but what they make is Massage and not Hilot.

If a Manghihilot will be schooled at least at the end of schooling, they should land a better job which can give them security in their future. A schooled Manghihilot should have a Job that pays for their Social Security, Health Assurance and Pagibig Fund. Though some of our current practitioners have it by doing voluntary payment for their own SSS, Philhealth, and Pagibig.

If i have a right or authority, i do not want a manghihilot to work in a spa but instead they should be hired in Government Health Centers where people can avail the service of Hilot even that the people will not pay, PhilHealth insurance will cover it for the people.

The Work of Manghihilot

In reality, not all time people will need a manghihilot. Unlike Massage, Hilot can only be availed if you have a Pilay which is a condition that been treated with Hilot. Like what i’ve said, not everyday there are people who have pilay, so what other work can a manghihilot will do?

If our Government is really serious on uplifting the status of Hilot in the Philippines, aside from giving treatment, a Manghihilot can be a partner of PITAHC in conducting field research on Herbal Medicine. As field researcher they should be:

  • responsible in documenting herbs that is available in their respected barangay by going house to house and take pictures of the herbs that grow in their yard.
  • Take sample of the herbs and send it to PITAHC to further conduct research on the medicinal properties of the collected herbs.
  • Cultivate the sample herbs in the Barangay Botanical Garden.
  • Process the approved herbs into herbal medicine such as in making oils, soap, tea, capsules, syrup, etc. in PITAHC Laboratory.
  • becomes a sales partner of PITAHC in distributing approved herbs.

With that being said on the possible job that a manghihilot should perform, when schooled the manghihilot should be properly equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitude in performing the said job description.

So when a Manghihilot is properly Certified a secure jobs awaits them in the Philippines. And these will also grow as there are a lot more jobs that a manghihilot can do in the Field of Philippine Traditional and Indigenous Health Care.

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No Home Service Massage

It is very common now-a-days to have a massage at the Comfort of our Homes. I think that is okay if your Massage provider is a Family Member such as you husband, wife, son or Daughter. But hiring a Massage Therapist to indulge you in your home or hotel room is Illegal.

The practice of Massage in the Philippines has been established through the Presidential Decree 856 or known as The Sanitation Code of the Philippines.

According to this law:

NO Masseurs shall be allowed to practice their profession without first securing a Certificate of Registration issued by the Committee of Examiners of Massage Therapy.

Sec 4.1.1 Chapter 13 Sanitation Code of the Philippines

Aside from Certificate of Registration of Masseurs, the law also prescribed the workplace where a Registered Masseur should render their Services. In Section 3 of Chapter 13 in 3.1 it is said that:

No Massage Clinic or Sauna Bath establishment shall open and operate for public patronage without a Sanitary Permit issued by a local health officer. It even state that in 3.2. that Any extension or additional construction or alteration in an establishment shall require a new sanitary permit before it could be operated.

This mean the clients room unless it is part of your massage clinic must be inspected first and applied for a sanitary permit before you can render massage.

In Section 5 of the law, it states the Structural Requirement in establishing a Massage Clinic that includes:

  • Standard Flooring
  • Walls
  • Ceiling
  • Lighting
  • Ventilation
  • Change Rooms
  • Reception Rooms
  • Treatment (Massage) Rooms

Home Service Massage Workers do not comply on this government requirements in providing their Massage Services thus in accordance to the law: Any person who shall violate, disobey, omit or neglect to comply with any of the provision of this rules and regulation shall be guilty of misdemeanor that is punishable of 6 months imprisonment.

Establishing our Role in our Society

Hilot has been mentioned in the work of William Henry Scott Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society. According to his book at page 118 Hilot is described as a person who apply massage for injured or dislocated muscles, or pressure put on nerve centers. And they were known as Physical experts.

But to the eye of a Catholic Priest as mentioned in the book, Hilot according to Fr. Sanchez as a form of massage in a woman’s abdomen to cause miscarriage or abortion. Though through out time in our History, Hilot evolve so as our definition of Hilot change.

In Hilot Academy, we want to establish the Identity of Hilot as an umbrella term for Philippine Traditional Medicine. As the practitioners throughout the country has their own native practices that is known in their own local dialect. And in promoting it to the world it must have a name which people would know.

In 2012, the Philippine Statistic Authority has conducted survey on different occupational groups of the working population The Philippine Standard Occupation Classification is primarily used as basis for manpower and educational planning, program formulation, policy decision-making and serves as useful guide for statistical operations and activities, such as censuses and surveys.

In this survey we do not find the word Hilot but instead Traditional and Complementary Medicine Associate Professional. They describe this occupational category as follow:

Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals prevent, care for and treat human physical and mental illnesses, disorders and injuries using herbal and other therapies based on theories, beliefs and experiences originating in specific cultures.

https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psoc/?q=psoc/minor/323

Their tasks include:

a) examining patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status and the nature of physical or mental disorders or illnesses or other ailments;
b) recommending and providing care and treatment for illnesses and other ailments using traditional techniques and medicaments, such as physical manipulation and exercises, blood-letting using natural vessels, and preparations using herbs, plants, insects and animal extracts;
c) providing care and treatment for physical injuries such as setting and healing fractured and dislocated bones using traditional methods of physical manipulation and herbal therapies;
d) advising individuals, families and the community on health, nutrition, hygiene, lifestyle and other issues to maintain or improve health and well-being; and
e) referring patients to, and exchanging information with, other health care providers to ensure comprehensive and continuing care.

Examples of occupations classified here:

Drugless treatment healer
Bonesetter
Faith healer
“Healer of indigenous people (e.g. Mansi-bok (Ibaloi); Mansip-ok (Kankana-ey) in Cordilleras)”
Herbalist
Scraping and cupping therapist
Village healer
Witch doctor

Some related occupation classified elsewhere:

Acupressure therapist – 3255
Acupuncturist – 2230
Ayuverdic practitioner – 2230
Chinese herbal medicine practitioner – 2230
Chiropractor – 3259
Homeopath – 2230
Hydrotherapist – 3255
Naturopath – 2230
Osteopath – 3259
Traditional midwife – 32223230

Through this task enumerated by PSOC, we can have a guideline in establishing our roles in our Society.

Status of Hilot in the Philippines

Last October 20, 2021- I attended the Public Consultation with Philippines Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) regarding the passing of the Proposed Bills in the Senate which are Senate Bill 1308 authored by Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao and Senate Bill 2127 authored by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. which aims to strengthen the Role of Pitahc to have a regulatory power regarding the Practice of Traditional Medicine in the Philippines.

Though the said meeting focus on the practice of Hilot in our Country, and the video below will explain our position regarding this proposed bill.

Updated lessons at Hilot Online Training

Greetings Ka Manghahabi!

We have an update to our Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Work which is our Certification program on becoming a Certified Magtatawas/ Magaanito/ Pangatauhan or Pangutanahan. As of October 15, 2021, we have added an information regarding Unit 2 Lesson 2 which discuss about Orasyon. In this Topic, we have explained here what Orasyon is and have elaborated the different types of doing the orasyon and how it works. We may offer this specific topic and provide a Certificate of Attendance to the public who will request have the information about this.

Aside from Hilot Orasyon, we are going to add extra units on our curriculum in preparation for the Diploma Training Program of the Academy. So the former Hilot Binabaylan Certification which is an 8 day live-in training will migrate now into a Diploma Course which the potential students will be required to complete the Certification program in the following Areas:

  • Magtatawas Certification
  • Manggagamot Certification
  • Albularyo Certification

Currently our Magtatawas Certification or the Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Work Class is a 34 Weeks training program. And at this moment, we are still completing the lessons for the Manggagamot Training. Probably, i will make an announcement by the end of January 2022 if we can formally open the Manggagamot and Albularyo Training to the public in order to complete the Hilot Binabaylan Diploma Course.

For now, I encourage all of our Alumni of the Hilot Binabaylan Certification to get in touch. You will have a special role in the changes that is about to come. By the way, as i said we are updating our lessons, so if you think that the lessons that you have are outdated, I encourage you to become a Monthly Supporter to our Subscription page which is at BuyMeaCoffee.com.

Questions about Hilot Online Training

I am so glad that Having our class available, we are also able to reach out people to get interested in our culture. Every time I’ve been ask How Hilot Online Training works, since most of our potential students are living outside the Philippines and their concerns are the time difference. Well, to relieve all your worries let me assure you of this, Our Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working class is conducted online on a self paced and modular basis. All of our lessons can be accessed online through our Google Classroom platform. You may get into the class either using desktop, laptop, tablet or your mobile devices just by downloading the Google Classroom App. Joining code will be sent to your email once you have completed our enrollment procedures.

Enrollment procedure

  1. You need to fill up our registration form. Just answer the necessary questions being asked. All the information collected in the form will be secured and confidential. We do not ask you to upload previous certification as requirement.
  2. Upon Registration, you have to pay the reservation fee amounting USD 156.00 or Php 7,800.00 to our paypal account using this email: luntiangaghama@gmail.com. Remember whole class worth is USD 520.00 or Php26,000.00
  3. Once the initial payment has made, expect to receive our invitation to join our Google Classroom Platform.

Learning Activities

Our Hilot Online Training on Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working Class has 3 Learning units which are also divided into lessons. Each lessons has learning activities which you will do and they are: Reading, Watching Recorded Video Presentation, Answering Test Question for Evaluation, Video Recording of your self in performing the given task and attending weekly live video conferencing.

Duration

Unit 1 has 8 lessons which most likely are theoretical in nature. Below are estimated time frame given to complete the lessons:

1st week: Lessons 1-3

2nd Week: Lessons 4-6

3rd Week: Lessons 7-8

4th to 5th Week: Unit Test Exam ( we are giving two weeks time for you to complete your unit test before advancing to the new Unit lessons)

Unit 2 has 6 lessons and 3 Performance test and 1 Unit test and the time frame for that is:

6th & 7th Week: Lesson 1

8th & 9th Week: Lesson 2

10 & 11th Week: Lesson 3

12th and 13th Week: Performance Test 1

14th & 15th Week: Lesson 4

16th & 17th Week: Lesson 5

18th & 19th Week: Performance Test 2

20th & 21st Week: Lesson 6

22nd & 23rd Week: Performance Test 3

24th & 25th: Unit Test 2

On Unit 3, we don’t give any evaluation exam or performance test, but we want our student to focus on their lessons to formulate personal techniques as prescribed in each lessons. So the time frame for learning of each lessons are:

26th and 27th Week: Lesson 1

28th &29th Week: Lesson 2

30th &31st Week: Lesson 3

32nd & 33rd Week: Lesson 4

34th Week: Final Performance Demonstration and Graduation Rites

Live Video Conferencing Call

Most of our Students in our Hilot Online Training comes from different part of the world specially in the United States of America. So our Academy have adopted 3 schedules of Video Call Meeting depending on the current location of our students. Using Philippine Time, we conduct our Video Conferencing using Google Meet App on these times:

Sunday from 9:30 PM to 10: 30 PM Philippine Time

Monday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Monday from 12:00 NN to 1:00 PM

So if you are from United Kingdom, you can join our Google Meet every Sunday 2:30 PM on your time.

And if you are in New York and and same time zone you can join us Sunday Morning of your time by 9:30am to 10:30 AM.

If you want to take the evening class you may do so and it will be at 9:30PM to 10:30 PM of Sunday New York Time and same time zone. Usually our students from Texas and Virginia are also attending this schedule. So as if you are living in Ontario, Canada

If you are from California, you can attend our class by Sunday 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM if Day Light Saving Time is implemented in your time zone.

In Hawaii, our video conferencing is available also on Sunday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

And if you are in British Columbia, Canada you can attend our Video conferencing on Sunday 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Language of Instruction

If you are worrying that you can not understand and speak in Tagalog, there is no problem with that: All of our learning materials are written and spoken in English. Of course, we maintain the Tagalog word if it pertains to the technique but we make explanation in English.

Payment Plan

Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working Class Training Fee is USD 520.00 or Php 26,000.00. Upon registration, we require 30% non refundable reservation fee that is worth of USD 156.00 or Php 7,800.00 to be admitted on our first day of class. The reservation fee will be deducted to the whole amount of the training fee that will make you to have an outstanding balance worth of USD 364.00 or Php 18,200.00.

The remaining balance can be paid on two installment:

First Installment is at the end of Learning Unit 1 which will be on the 5th Week of the Training Program. The amount you are going to pay is USD 182.00 or Php 9,100.00

Second and Last Installment is at the end of Learning Unit 2 which will be on the 25th Week of our Training Program which is USD 182.00 or Php 9,100.00

Supporting members of Luntiang Aghama is qualified for our 20% discount. Supporting members are the one who subscribe to our Buy Me a Coffee Subscription page.

If you are a member of Filipino Magick, upon payment of our reservation fee the 20% discount will be applied on your next payment. So instead of paying the amount of USD 364.00 or Php 18,200.00, you will only pay USD 260.00 or Php 13,260.00 which you can also pay through installment.

First Installment will be on the 5th week of our training program the amount of USD 130.00 or Php 6,630.00

Second Installment is on the 25th week which will you pay the amount of USD 130.00 or Php 6,630.00

All Payments can be made though our Paypal Account at luntiangaghama@gmail.com.

Membership to Luntiang Aghama

By the way, by completing this class you will be ordained as Magaanito/ Magtatawas/ Pangutanahan/Pangatauhan which automatically made you as member of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. Since the class is non academic and most of the topics being discussed in the lessons are pertaining to the soul of an individual and the life force; We are empowering our graduates with the ordination we provide through this course that you may freely practice what you have learned through the precepts of the Shrine that been shared to our Educational Ministry which is the Hilot Academy.

What you have acquired to learn with us will be forever be yours, and your rights to practice what you have learned will be yours to enjoy. As our commitment, We will offer soon New Training Programs that will allow you to grow in your practice. So always stay tuned and connected.

Thank You!

License for Albularyo, Hilot and Faith Healers in the Philippines?

An ABS CBN REPORTER have reached out to us last night asking my opinion regarding the possibility of regulating Traditional and Alternative Medicine and its practitioners in our country and I graced him with my opinion early this morning.

I check out his network station website and I found an article written by Katrina Domingo with an Headline that says:

License for albularyos? Senate bills seek regulating traditional, alternative medicine

In her article it mention that there are 2 Philippine Senators that seeks to amend and update the Philippine Traditional Medicine Act of 1997 or Republic Act 8423 and they are Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, Author of Senate Bill 1308 and Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Author of Senate Bill 2127.

In the Explanatory Note of Sen. Pacquaio, the SB 1308 aims to create a firmer government regulations in the practice of Traditional and Altenative Medicine by revisiting the Traditional Alternative Medicine Acts of 1997 or in short, the Good Senator want to revised the Republic Act 8423 or Philippine Traditional Alternative Medicine Act of 1997.

In this bill under section 1 of the Definition of Terms, the Good senator has defined Alternative Health Care Modalities as:

ā€œOther forms of non- allopathic, occasionally non-indigenous or imported healing methods, though not necessary practiced for centuries nor handed down from one generation to another. [ Some alternative health care modalities include], WHICH SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  reflexology, ACUPUNCTURE, MASSAGE, acupressure, chiropractic, nutritional therapy, HILOT, NATUROPATHY, HOMEOPATHY/HOMOTOXICOLOGY, TUINA MASSAGE, OSTEOPATHY, ANTHROPOSOPIC MEDICINE and other similar [methods] MODALITIES.ā€

Senate Bill 1308 Explanatory note of Sen. Manny Pacquiao

In this clause, the Good Senator has categorized Hilot as an Alternative Health Care Modality whereas Hilot is not part of Alternative Medicine but instead it should be defined as our Traditional Medicine in the Philippines.

The Bill must also provide a clear definition between Alternative, Allopathic, Conventional, Complementary, Indigenous, Integrative and Natural Medicine; as all of these terminologies may be different from one another.

And going back to the explanatory note of Sen. Pacquiao that says:

ā€œtraditional and alternative health care, as defined in R.A. 8423, is ā€œany knowledge, skill and practice, other than those in the biomedicine, which is used in the prevention, diagnosis and elimination of physical or mental disorder.ā€ As listed in the Philippine Standard Occupational Classification (PSOC), associate professional of traditional and complementary medicines include drugless treatment healer, bonesetter, faith healer, healer of indigenous people (i.e. Mansi-bok, Mansip-ok), herbalist, scraping and cupping therapist, village healer, witch doctor, and acupressure therapist. On the other hand, traditional and complementary medicine professionals include acupuncturist, ayuverdic practitioner, Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, homeopath, hydrotherapist, naturopath and unani practitioner.ā€

Sen. Manny Pacquaio

Are those Modalities mentioned in the Senator’s explanatory note are the modalities being prescribed to have licensure in accordance to section 2 of this bill in paragraph k? It is said that as listed in the Philippine Standard Occupational Classification, that the associate professional of traditional and complementary medicine includes Faith Healer and Witch Doctor. So will that mean that Faith Healer and Witch Doctors in the Philippines must be a licensed professional before they could perform Faith Healing?

What about the Religious Groups such as the Charismatic Movement who does laying of hands and Faith Healing? What about the Union Espiritista? Jesus Miracle Crusade? Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association? And also Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc? Do we need to have a license or permit from Pitahc before we can heal people who come into our shrine?

What about our Constitutional Right that says in Article 3 Section 5 in the Philippine Constitution that says:

ā€œNo law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.ā€

1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines

And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations has said in Article 18 that says:

ā€œEveryone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.ā€

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Now if this is true, why when I wrote an Email to Pitahc, they did not consider my request to have an Audience with the Director General in presenting the Hilot what we are teaching in the Academy that includes the practice of Tawas which is our traditional spiritual diagnostic method. Which their only response is this:

Mahal na Rev. Comon,

Isang mainit napagbati sa ngalan ng  aming Director General, Dr. Annabelle Pabiona De Guzman. Salamat sa inyong ibinahagi tungkol sa ginagawa ninyong katutubong gamutan katulad ng hilot babaylan.

Tungkol naman sa ginagawa ninyong pagsasaliksik sa kaalaman sa pagtatawas, halamang gamot at pagpapahid (masahe) ay aming ipinagbibigay alam na ang pwede gawan ng pananaliksik ay mga halamang gamot at paghihilot. 

Ipagbibigay alam ko sa kinauukulan kung pwede kayo mabigyan ng oras at araw para maipakita ninyo sa amin ang paraan ng inyong pag gagamot.

Salamat po.

Lina Regis,

Standard and Accreditation Division

Though in their response, they do not specifically mention Tawas but only mention that the only allowable to conduct research is about Halamang Gamot and Hilot (pahid).

In PITAHC website which is PITACH.GOV.PH /GLOSSARY-OF-TERMS, they have defined Hilot as this:

HILOT

The Science and art of the ancient Filipino Healing Tradition grounded on the principle of balance of the physical elements, together with the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the person with the use of manipulation for the prevention of disease and for the restoration and maintenance of health and well-being.  It includes the use of medicinal plants and bulong/orasyon.

Though in the part of defining Traditional Medicine on the same page, they have written:

Traditional Medicine is 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.

Here we could see that the Institute has difficulty of defining Hilot as Philippine Traditional Medicine as it only defines it as Filipino Healing Tradition and does not clearly define it as Philippine Traditional Medicine; as the role of Hilot of Treatment of Physical and Mental Illness has been omitted in the Glossary of terms in Hilot, whereas the word Traditional Medicine is applied to the Traditional Oriental Medicine:

Senate Bill 2127 filled by Senator Ramon ā€œBongā€ Revilla, Jr.

Summary to the Explanatory Note

In his explanatory note, the good senator have noticed that many have taken interest into alternative modalities in searching for cure for their ailments as well as there are various universities that offers degree and graduate program that offers traditional and complementary medicine.  In this bill he proposed to update the Traditional Alternative Medicine Act of 1997 to respond to the growing awareness and consumption of alternative care system by empowering the Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care.

Through this Bill, we find the same clause that defines Hilot under the category of Alternative Health Care Modalities which can be found on Section 1.d. ; and on paragraph K, they have merge the term Traditional Medicine to Complementary Medicine.  Whereas in paragraph J, it defines complementary medicine as:

– A BROAD SET OF HEALTH CARE PRACTICES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE COUNTRY’S OWN TRADITIONAL OR CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE AND ARE NOT FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE DOMINANT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IT SHALL BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY WITH THE TERM ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE.

Through this I want to reiterate that:

ā€œHILOT IS THE PHILIPPINE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE. IT IS THE MEDICINE USED BY OUR ANCESTORS PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH COLONIZER AND INTRODUCTION OF MODERN MEDICINE IN OUR LAND. HILOT CAN NOT BECOME A COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AS PER DEFINITION OF THIS BILL THAT STATES THAT COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE IS A BROAD SET OF HEALTH CARE PRACTICES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE COUNTRY’S OWN TRADITIONAL OR CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE!!!ā€

My argument might be ignored and considered just a terminology. But if we are going to define something through the law it is something very important for the people of our future. We can not teach and apply law that is misleading and not true. So it is important that the law makes will give clear definition of Hilot as our very own Traditional Medicine. It does not come somewhere else. It originates in our Country.

With regards to Section 7 of the proposed Bill it says:

SPECIAL RULES AND EXEMPTIONS. –

RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE MANNER OF OBTAINING THE  KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, IT  BEING HANDED DOWN FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER WITHOUT THE INFLUENCE OF FORMAL EDUCATION OR TRAINING, PRACTITIONERS BELONGING TO THIS CATEGORY  SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE STANDARD EXAMINATION REQUIRED BY THIS ACT.

NONETHELESS, THEY ARE STILL MANDATED TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY GRANT OF AUTHORITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES TO BE PRESCRIBED BY PITAHC.

 IT SHALL BE NECESSARY FOR TRADITIONAL PRACTITIONERS TO ESTABLISH THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE PRACTICED TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND PROVE THAT, IN THE COURSE OF THEIR PRACTICE, NO RELATED COMPLAINT, WHETHER REPORTED OR NOT, WAS MADE AGAINST THEM.

FURTHER, SHOULD THEY OFFER, WHETHER FORA FEE OR NOT, OR USE AS A MODALITY, HEALTH PRODUCTS, PRACTITIONERS MUST SEEK FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE SAME.

Not all Formal Education are regulated by any government agency, such as Religious Seminary and Institution that teach Spiritual Healing and Laying of Hands to the Sick; There is also an Islamic Medicine which is known also as a Prophetic Medicine; and we as religious institution do practice Spiritual Healing., so as the Union Espiritista and Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association that do Spiritual Healing with the use of Bulong and Orasyon.

For the reference of the mentioned Bill, check below.

The Spiritual Aspect of Hilot and why it is inseparable?

Hilot Academy of Binabaylan offers training program that mostly deal with the Spirits. But why we are offering this when Hilot tends to care for the Body of an ailing patients?

Well our ancestors believed that a Body without a Spirit is dead, and taking care of the Spirit of Life in human will provide them optimum health and wellness. We believe that Life comes from the Spirit and the integration of the Spirit to the Human body makes them live.

Human is a complete being that is composed of the Physical Body, Emotional Body, Intellectual/Mental Body, Social and Spiritual Body. These aspects of Man pertains to the 5 Elemental Components or Ingredients that made mankind. Balancing the Elements by caring for the Spirit within Human will provide them the fullness of Life. In Hilot, we are not just dealing with the individual spirit of the person but also we deal with nature as they could affect the condition of the spirit of life of a person.

This is why we offer Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit working Course that offers certification to an individual to become a Magtatawas/ Pangatauhan/ Pangutanahan and Magaanito. All those terms or title are one certification that an Individual could use when they have completed this course. It is one qualification of a Babaylan out of 7 in accordance to the studies of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. In this certification program, Hilot Academy of Binabaylan will certify an Individual and grant them a title of Magtatawas/ Pangutanahan/Pangatauhan or Magaanito.

Magtatawas

This title are used by a person who does ritual divination or spiritual diagnosis.

Pangutanahan

This title is derived from the Visayan word Pangutana which means to ask questions. Thus the role of the Pangutanahan is to answer questions of the people who are ill.

Pangatauhan

This is a traditional Title or name of the Tagalog Diviner. This is much appropriate term to use rather than to Manghuhula which can be translated as Guesser or the one who makes a Guess.

Magaanito/Panganituhan

Magaanito or Panganituhan is more traditional term for magtatawas who conducts divinatory ritual or spirit diagnosis. They aim to communicate with the Spirits either of Human, Ancestral, Nature or Divine Spirit. Maganito means to conduct ritual.

In Tagalog Language- there are no translation for the word Ritual, but the term Anituhan which is working with the spirits can be used instead of the tagalized word “ritwal” for the english word RITUAL.

20% Discount on our Course Offering

Good news to everyone!

Hilot Academy of Binabaylan is offering 20% Discount to our Course offering when you become a Supporting Member of Filipino Magick! Filipino Magick is a Membership Blog of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. using BuyMeACoffee.Com as a Platform. Through this platform, people now can support us financially in a monthly or yearly basis by becoming a supporting member of Filipino Magick. Though by next year, we are planning to get a BuyMeACoffee Pluggins to our website when we upgrade our Plan with WordPress.Com from Premium to Business Plan. Your paid subscription with us will help that upgrade possible.

Filipino Magick

As you all know that Hilot Academy of Binabaylan is an Educational Ministry of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc.. in short it is our Seminary where we share our knowledge on Filipino Indigenous Spirituality that involves also the practice of Health Care. In Filipino Magick, we cover the discussion about the Diwata, Anito, and Engkanto while we also directly teach our currently enrolled students at Hilot Academy about the souls of men as well as about the Non Human Spirits that may affect our daily lives. In Filipino Magick at BuyMeACoffee.Com, we also discuss about Psychism, Witchcraft and other paranormal stuff which people ask from us as a result of our YouTube and TikTok Content.

BuyMeACoffee allow us to create more content while monetizing our content like what people do in OnlyFans, Patreon or Ko-Fi. In our BMAC Page, we just have one membership level, but people can make donation every time we have a supporters post. You may donate for only USD 1.00 or more.

Our Monthly Membership is only USD 5.00 but you have an option to pay for the whole year for only USD 50.00.

And as a supporting member you have the benefits of the following:

  • Receive notification of Exclusive for Members post through Email.
  • An email invitation for our Bi Monthly (New Moon and Full Moon) Online Rituals via Google Meet.
  • Free 60 minutes Tawas Spiritual Diagnosis and Divination session with Apu Adman.
  • 20% Discount to all of Hilot Academy Courses. (New Courses will be available Soon!)
  • Receive an Honorary Title of Gat as an Entry Level Memebership to the Templong Anituhan ng Luntiang Aghama with Digital Certificate

Soon to Offer

As of this moment since we are still on a Pandemic, Hilot Academy of Binabaylan only offers the Online Pangatauhan/Pangutanahan/Magaanito/Magtatawas Certification through Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Training Course. In this training program, our students will be able to conduct Tawas Diagnostic, Spirit Communication and perform basic rituals. These skills are just few qualifications in order to become a Hilot Binabaylan. In these training program, we have explained why we call our selves as Hilot Binabaylan and not directly as Babaylan. When you enroll in this program you will learn our reasons why. So better get in to the class and be certified as Magtatawas/Magaanito/Pangutanahan or Pangatauhan.

The Manggagamot Training Course is now in its process of development. Though this Training course requires an in person appearance compared to the Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Training Course which you can take it online. In this training program, we will explore the different healing practices that will help the person to recover from physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual illness. This training program will require a longer period of training and actual hands on application before you become certified.

And the Last Training Program in order for you to complete the Qualifications of becoming a Hilot Binabaylan is the Albularyo Certification Course which will help you identify plant medicine and its uses and also application.

We will also offer here soon the following:

  • Aghamic Divinity and Ministry Course (An initiatory course for the priesthood of the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama)
  • Sibulan Adala Tala Mystic Oracle Initiation Course (Now accepting Enrollee)
  • Binabaylan Tala (A Mastery Course in Filipino Indigenous Spirituality and Working with the Ancestors)
  • Psychic Awareness and Skill Development Training Course

June 2021 has arrived!

YEY!

We are already on the 6th month of the Year 2021 at the time of Covid Pandemic Era and are surviving. The new normal have already changed our system specially on delivering the Training Methods we use to initiate new Hilot Binabaylan this modern times. We started implementing this new system of learning Last June 2020 as an experimental method of training and gratefully we succeed!

The Hilot Online Training program have made successful training of 4 batches that graduated last 13th of February 2021 and they are Lukayo Estrella, Bernice Dela Cruz, Michaela Sanders and Christine Lipat. And now this 6th of June 2021, the second batches of candidates for Graduation will take their oath as we conduct a ritual ceremony and they are Janalyne Umipig, Lawrence Pau, Akua Maat, Jenifer Ebilane and Jen Maramba.

As we will give them their charge, we are also welcoming potential new Hilot Binabaylan that will take the role as Pangutanahan/ Paganituhan/ Pangatauhan or Magtatawas. This is the certification that we are providing for the students who took the Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working Course.

Usually, the Magtatawas Training is part of our Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan Training Course which can be taken only in person as it requires face-to-face apprenticeship and immersion to the life of Hilot Binabaylan. Due to Pandemic and travel ban, we have designed a new method of training that does not require traveling and in person face-to-face contact which is the Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit working.

During this period of Pandemic, Hilot Academy of Binabaylan redesign our Training Delivery Method and bring it into a virtual platform which is the Google Classroom. Special thanks to our Mother which is the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama for arranging us a system where we could continue to share the ancestral knowledge of Healing Arts and Science online.

The Online Training Platform is a Big Leap for Hilot Academy as well as to the Philippine Traditional and Indigenous Healing System. As Folk and Traditional Medicine was called to be unscientific but now through studies and use of technology, we are bringing science in order for us to advance the Status of Hilot that can complement and integrate into the modern healthcare delivery system.

As of this moment (June 2021) the available course in an online platform format is the Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working Class, and soon we will add the Manggagamot Course which consist of Body Work Techniques and Manipulation and the Albularyo Course or Hilot sa Halaman (Herbalism) Course.

Each of the Training program will certify an Individual according to the course you have taken. But your certification will only provide you a title according to the course you have taken. For example, you have taken the Magtatawas Training Course or Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working, the Title that you will achieve here is the Magtatawas or Panganituhan/Pangutanahan/ Pangatauhan ng Hilot Binabaylan. That means you are not yet on the level of Hilot Binabaylan Title as you only acquire the Magtatawas Skills. In order to obtain the Title of Hilot Binabaylan, you must have taken the Magtatawas, Manggagamot and the Albularyo Skills which we certify separately or you may take it whole by taking our face-to-face, in person live in apprenticeship program which is the Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan.