Care for the Dying

Our role as Manghihilot is to help an Individual to live a Quality of Life by maintaining their Soul attached to their Physical Body as we recognize that it’s separation may lead to an illness and worst in to death. As Traditional Filipino Healer, we also recognize the powers of the unseen such as the souls of the Dead, Nature and Elemental Spirits and Deities may also have an influence to affect us in living our lives. We also believe that when a person die, the souls of the individual will leave the body and become an Anito which can be either an Abyan ( Spirit Guide) or Busaw ( a malevolent Spirit) depending on the kind of Death they have experienced.

Death may come in many form such as in illness or old age, and when it comes at least healthy and living family members could prepare for it and may send off the soul peacefully. But when a person faces an unexpected Death such as Accident, Crime of Murder, Suicide and Battle or Warfare, we could expect that their souls will also become a bothersome and has a tendency to become a Busaw. Specially, those people who die at warfare. And with that our Grand Parents and ancestors have a ritual in preventing it to happen. Each Tribes in the Philippines have different methods of doing it, but the modern people of Today, it is common to place live Chicks on the Coffin of the deceased in order to prevent the soul in transforming into a malevolent spirits that may also cause illnesses to the living. In this recent event of Terrorism in the Middle East, many people have died and all of them are in terror, so what will happen to their soul? This video explains what will happen to them.

Grieving is a form of Cure to an individual who died a peaceful death, as it open up portal to the other world that the souls of the departed may cross over into it. Because Grief contains emotions that will become a vehicle to the departed soul to travel and help them crossover to the other world. But the Grief Ceremony conducted by people as a form of protest to those who died in a warfare will not help them to cross over to the other life, but only transform them to become a bound spirit that may haunt people between time and space.

Is it Good for the Souls to become a Bound Spirits?

Becoming a bound spirit seems to be nice as you may be able to stay on the Physical Plane of Existence for ever. But as you stay, all the pain and suffering you experience will also remain. As those pain of the griever will also heighten the pain you have while dying and may transform you into a malevolent Spirt. As a Malevolent Spirit, you also have this ability to harm the living by giving them illness and bad luck. As a Spirit you will be indestructible, but your form will be always corrupted and may be seen scary for people who are gifted with 3rd eye. But the Good News for us who are living, these bound malevolent spirits could be transformed through our prayers and ritual offerings.

As Hilot Binabaylan, we have responsibility to help in rehabilitating these souls that become a Malevolent Spirit by conducting Healing Rituals as a Spirit, just like an energy that can not be destroyed, but we can change form. So our caring as manghihilot does not limit only to the person when they are alive, but it extends even up to their death.

If you like to know how a Hilot Binabaylan care for the soul after death, let me know by voting on the poll below so that we could set up a webinar through Google Meet about it.

Advancing the Practice of Hilot through Quality Training

*_{Lakay Magbaya, Apu Adman & Mam Nora Columna}*

Last October 26 & 27, 2023- our Hilot Training Team that compose of Me, Lakay and Mam Nora attended to the 3rd Regional Hilot Congress that been Hosted by Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care in collaboration with Hilot Philippines Development Center of International School of Sustainable Tourism at International Institute of Rural Reconstruction compound, Brgy. Biga 2, Silang, Cavite, Philippines. The said Congress was attended by Select Manghihilot of Region 4 A CaLaBaRZon or Cavite, Laguna, Batanggas, Rizal and Quezon Province and our Team represents the Cavite Province since we are representing the Municipality of Silang through Hilot Philippines Development Center. Though in reality, I am still at City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; Lakay Magbaya represents City of Taguig, Metro Manila; and only Mam Nora Columna is originally from Cavite Province which is from General Trias City.

The 3rd Regional Hilot Congress has been welcomed by a message from Dr. Nonie John L. Dalisay on behalf of Governor Juanito “Junvic” C. Remulla, where he emphasizes Hilot as traditional health care practices in the past and its effectiveness in terms of health care. Then it was followed by a message from our Managing Director at Hilot Philippines Development Center and President of International School of Sustainable Tourism, the former Secretary of Department of Tourism, Dr. Mina T. Gabor.

In her welcoming message, Dr. Gabor have emphasized the goal of the 21st Century in taking care of one’s self as she pointed out to the commercial and advertisement shown in Televisions and even in Social Media as experts advised that all of us must look good and our Goal must be happy as it will help also our Economy. The HPDC president also reminisces here experience when she was the Tourism Secretary as she was asked to talk about Medical Tourism and Hilot was never been mentioned before but good thing Now, everyone is talking about Hilot and it is about time that all of us will go back to Hilot.

Right after the welcoming message of Former Tourism Secretary, the Director General of Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care Dr. Anabelle Pabiona De Gusman was called to give her Welcoming Message to the Participants of 3rd Regional Hilot Congress. In her message she takes pride about the work of PITAHC as she explain why Hilot Congress takes place. In her message She honors the founder of Philippine Traditional Alternative Medicine Act who is Dr. Juan Flavier former DoH Secretary and Philippine Senator. It is through Senator Juan Flavier that emphasizes that Health Center should be a Center for Wellness and not a Center of Illness. Then the Regional Director of Department of Tourism of Calabarzon in the person of Director Maritess Castro that exhort the role of Manghihilot in caring for the Health of the community employing Traditional & Alternative Health Care modalities. And through it, Department of Tourism have a continuous Collaboration with Pitahc in the promotion of Philippine Traditional Hilot through Wellness Tourism.

The Current Department of Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa also give his message through a recorded Video. He said that: Hilot is deeply engraved in our History embodies Holistic approach in treating illnesses and promoting health and well being of our kababayan.

There are more speakers that speaks grately about Hilot and it is very overwhelming to know that these people recognizes our role in preserving our Indigenous practices of health care and it could be integrated into the Universal Health Care Delivery System. Aside from these prominent people, the practitioners were also able to voice out our sentiment and deliver it to Pitahc to be address it properly and in the End all the participants of the 3rd Regional Hilot Congress were able to create a Declaration where we all agree with as we have been lead by a Dumagat Chieftain and Community Health Worker in pronouncing the Declaration:

Declaration of Support to the Universal Health Care

Kami mga hilot at iba pang mga tradisyonal na pilipinong
manggagamot, kasama ang mga community health worker at
barangay health worker ay patuloy na nag-aalay ng aming
paglilingkod sa aming mga nasasakupang komunidad upang higit
na makamit ang mga hangarin ng universal health care.
Nais naming pagtibayin ang patuloy naming pagtulong sa
promosyon ng kalusugan at pag-iwas sa karamdaman, sa
pagbibigay paunang lunas sa mga karaniwan at simpleng sakit sa
pamamagitan ng mga ligtas, epektibo at abot-kayang
panggagamot, at sa pag-refer ng mga malulubhang karamdaman
sa kinauukulang health center at ospital.
We as Manghihilot and other Filipino Traditional Healer, Together with the Community Health Worker and Barangay Health Worker do continue to offer our services in our respective comminities in order to achievve our Goals towards Universal Health Care. We desire to strengthen our role in the continuing to help the promotion of Health and prevention from illness by giving primary cure to common and simple illness through safe, effective and affordable treatment, and by referring to appropriate professional and health center and hospital to cases of chronic illnesses.

Bilang mga certified o recognized na mga BHW, CHW, Hilot,
at iba pang mga tradisyonal na pilipinong manggagamot, dalangin
namin ang pormal na
Pagkilala at pagbilang sa amin bilang bahagi ng rural health
unit na sumasakop sa aming komunidad.
Nilagdaan namin sa silang, cavite ngayong ika-27 ng oktubre,
2023 sa okasyon ng 3rd regional hilot congress at pista ng
gamutang pilipino
As Certified and Recognized Barangay Health Worker, Community Health Worker, Manghihilot and other Traditional Medicine Practitioner, It is our Prayer that we will be formally recognize and include us as part of the Rural Health Unit in the community where we belong. Signed this 27th Day of October 2023 in Silang, Cavite on the 3rd Regional Hilot Congress and Pista ng Gamutang Pilipino.

Last Call for Hilot Binabaylan Training for 2024

This year of 2023, as the world open up again after the Pandemic Era of Covid 19, we have closed our Hilot Online Class and open up again our in person, face-to-face class which is the 8 days Hilot Binabaylan Training. For this year we have made 7 new Hilot Binabaylan and they are the following:

Then we have a Masidhing Manghihilot Class from Australia

Then we have been visited by Jutheanne Cruz from Hilot Touch and School of Kapwa in London and had her 1 day Hilot Orientation Workshop in our Shrine here in Bulacan.

And lastly a 2 days Orientation workshop for Rio which is also from London.

We still have 2 months left before 2023 ends and we are still expecting for confirmation for those who have expressed their desire to learn and be initiated to the path of Manghihilot. And this year, I received feedback from our students now fellow practitioner to extend the days of training as 8 days are not enough for them to learn the techniques. Indeed the 8 days training are just basic techniques but these techniques are good enough as a foundation for everyone to develop your own signature style of treatment and we will still apply this training up to the end of 2024. But on 2025, we are going to implement on that time our Updated Hilot Binabaylan course which will be longer and may take more that 8 days and our goal in providing the Upgraded Training are the following:

To enable our students to embody in this present generation the concept and principles of the Philippine Traditional Indigenous Medicine by becoming an Authentic Manghihilot which is Hilot Binabaylan.
To initiate our Students on our Filipino Ancestral Valuing system of Life and to the practice of Traditional Indigenous Health Care.
To train our students in Developing Analytic Mind through our Tawas Diagnosis Method that we also call as Traditional Alternative Wellness Analytic System and integrate it to the modern method of health assessment and evaluation.
To provide an opportunity to our students to learn and practice different Hilot Treatment Modalities that is integrated to the modern healthcare delivery
To empower our students which are our potential Hilot Binabaylan in providing Home Care Supplementation of Herbal Remedies by introducing them to Plant Medicine.
To Integrate the Practice of Hilot Binabaylan in the National Health Care Delivery System.

In our Upgraded Training Program for Hilot Binabaylan, we are going to discuss the following:

Introduction to the Practice of Hilot
Hilot Diagnostics
Hilot Treatment Methodology
Family Care Hilot Treatment
and lastly Setting Up Hilot Treatment/ Healing Center

These updates that we are making are in compliance to the Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) Competency standards for Manghihilot which are the following:

Embody and Articulate the Hilot Tradition in the community;
Practice Grounding Techniques or Traditional Spiritual Formation;
Conduct Consultation with client/patient according to the Hilot Practice/Tradition;
Perform Traditional Hilot Techniques and related Hilot Modalities;
Prepare, recommend, and instruct the client/patient on the use of Philippine Medicinal Plants according to the Hilot framework;
Document Hilot Practice and client/patient progress;
Assist in Hilot Center Administration;
Manage Hilot Healing Center Services;
Continue Hilot Education and Professional Development;
Work within the Philippines’ Integrated Health Care Delivery System.

So aside from learning Hilot Techniques, we are going also to learn some Laws governing the practice of Hilot in the Philippines so as in the states where you are.

And regarding the Training Fee that we apply on our Training Program, as there is an Inquiry if we do have a local rate. So our Answer is we only have a standard rate for everyone. We in Hilot Academy do maintain same standards on training our students whether they are Filipino in Diaspora or in our native land. As when you come to us, we will book a hotel room for you for accommodation and we also serve food and pick you up at the airport and send you off after class. Though we have made a stay out special class which you are required to go to class 4 hours per session and come back again to complete it. You can see the rate by clicking Course Offering and scroll down to see the list of Special Class offering.

When it comes to the person who inquires in setting up Spa and want to learn Hilot for the Services they want to offer at Spa, I want to emphasize here that I discourage you Learning Hilot Massage Online as it will only reflect to the quality of services you will provide to your client. And this is true right now as I notice, many Spa Therapist only learn Massage Online and do not have even a National Certificate nor Certificate of Registration. So in terms of Training, I recommend you come in person or Invite us and allow us to help you train your therapist and become professional and Legally Accredited Hilot Center in your Area.

We can also help you establish your own Hilot Center which is the local counterpart of Spa. So, if you plan to provide Authentic Traditional Filipino Hilot Treatment, you may email me at apuadman@hilotacademy.com

Hilot Online Training Not Available

Year 2023 is almost about to end and up to now, there are many people who inquire about our Hilot Online Training and unfortunately we have stopped providing it as the world is operating again normally after the Covid Era.

Our Hilot Online Training has been helpful to us as Training Institution as well as to learners in Diaspora who was confined at home during the Pandemic Era of Covid 19. And we are proud to say that we have successfully produced Non Contact Hilot Provider which focusses on the Spiritual Diagnostic Method of Hilot thus making them as Psycho- Emotional Therapist and Adviser. Since this method of Hilot does not require physical touch to the client and the client is not required to be Physically present in front of our Manghihilot.

Such as, during the Pandemic Era, the Conventional Medicine practitioner also devised a diagnostic method through Electronic Consultation which people can download an App or go online to talk with a Medical Doctor and tell them their condition. The Pandemic of Covid 19 have changed a lot of things to the world, even that the world government imply quarantine and social distancing, but through Internet and Social Media, almost all the people around the world seems to draw even closer.

Since January 16, 2023- Hilot Academy of Binabaylan have resumed its normal operation on accepting students who wish to learn Hilot Binabaylan Techniques and so far since January up to September we have produced 10 Hilot practitioners from different parts of the world just to learn our Hilot Techniques.

Hilot Binabaylan of Concord California USA
First Hilot Binabaylan in Ontario, Canada

As we move forward, Hilot Training will be maintained in person and face-to-face specially on its treatment methodology which requires in person and face-to-face actual touch. But we will still offer Webinar occasionally and as well as recorded video lessons on the topic of Tawas Spiritual Diagnostics, Kilubansa Elemental Name Energetic Balance Analysis, so as with Sibulan Adlaw Tala Baybayin Mystic Oracle. And before this year of 2023 End we are going to make update to our website and add a Book Store where you can purchase our Ebooks and Video Lessons. But in learning the treatment methods of Hilot, we firmly encourage you to learn it in person with us here or you might want to invite us there in your area to conduct Hilot Binabaylan Training whether local or International.

Do you know your Body Parts?

All the time our body speaks to us but how do we recognize on which part of our Body speaks to us? In western medical studies, Human Anatomy and Physiology is being taught at School but in Hilot Academy, do we teach Human Anatomy and Physiology? The Answer is Yes. We may not be teaching the exact knowledge and information about the Human body but our ancestors have taught us on how to care and treat on the body parts that they think is Vital. It is the same thing how our organs and body parts have names in Filipino, because our ancestors remember the name of the organs or body parts that is relevant and at work all the time. It is just like in everyday of your life, you are dealing with a situation that always happen in a day, you will become a master on it, as you can deal the situation in every angle that it will come.

Now, in the body position, you will notice that the suffix -an is added at the end of the word such as Ulonan pertaining to the upper part or on the area of the head, Paanan pertaining to the lower part of the body belonging to the area of the feet, Tagiliran or side part, Harapan pertaining to the front and Likuran pertaining to the back. Other words that has a suffix -an that pertains to a region or place are Hilagaan (North), Silanganan (East), Katimugan (South), Kalunuran or Kanluran (West), Kaitaasan (Sky World), Kaibabawan (Surface or Middle World), Kailaliman (UNderworld), Kaluwalhatian (Place of Glory/Paradise/Heaven), Kalangitan (Sky world), Kasamaan ( Place of Evil and punishment for retribution).

Well the regions can also be found within our body and to understand better the healing methods of Hilot, we recommend everyone to study and enroll with us on our Hilot Binabaylan Training & Certification. Our ancestors may not have studied medical science at school, but they have their life experiences that have been passed unto us 50,001 years ago.

Are you ready for Hilot Binabaylan Training in the US?

Last August 12-19, 2023 I was in Chicago, Illinois and have been co-ritualist for the Fight for Freedom New Moon Ritual that was held at Mc Cormick Place Convention Center beside Lake Michigan. There were many people who attended the Ritual for the Parliament of World Religion. So I am thinking if in 2024, I will come back again in America and if I could have a Chance to visit the States where you are right now, will you be able to see me as I plan to conduct Hilot Binabaylan Training so as the Bansagan Tala Tanda Naming Ceremony in embracing our Indigenous Filipino Identity? Let me know so that we could plan it out. I know this will be also difficult for me, but since I had been given a Visa Entry to the US last August, I believe I could also get one by 2024.

The Magick of Nature in a Bottle

Bote Natura Wishing Bottle

You all have known that Hilot is the medicine of our pre colonized ancestors that we are preserving that it may reach you in this present generation. With that we are also preserving the Medicine of our Indigenous People which is still practiced by the Aeta, Dumagat and Mangyan Indigenous People. Most of their medicine are being adopted by Folk Catholics and Mystics that can be found in Mount Banahaw and Quiapo Church which is the Philippine Center of Mysticism and Filipino Magick. Many of these Folk Catholics and Mystics were descendants of Katalonans ( Babaylan of the Katagalugan),despite being converted into Roman Catolicism, still have preserved the practice of Anituhan syncretized in their current Catholic Faith. Though the use of herbs in our Magickal works will never be Christianized as the herbs that grows in our land are never been baptised. So the use of these magickal herbs in a bottle is recognized to be a precolonial Filipino Magick/Medicine.

CPG Estate Goldsberg Hotel: Our Learning Partner

Since April 6, 2023- Red Doorz CPG Estate Goldberg Hotel has been a learning partner with us as they become our official hotel accommodation for our Students who comes in Diaspora.

As you enroll with us to our 8 days Hilot Binabaylan Training, aside from getting reconnected to our Culture and Tradition, you will be able to experience the Hospitality of Red Doors Goldberg Hotel. As you can see they have clean and comfortable bed, airconditioned room, Cabled Smart TV, WIFI Connected, Hot Shower and Toilet, plus abundant supply of hot and cold drinking water. But your food will be on us 5 times a day during the duration of your Training with us, that means breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner will be on us as you enroll to our Training Program.

Our Response to Alexandra

I recieved a message from our contact form that comes from Alexandra and she wrote:

Dear

I am interested in your Hilot course. However I have some questions. I am half Filipino and grew up outside of the Philippines (as it usually goes). I’ve always been interested in learning massage, but never took the step to take up a course until now. I thought it would be nice to seek back to my roots and try out Hilot instead of Thai for example. I always thought Hilot was just massage, as the massage salons usually are called Hilot in the Philippines. Now do I see that your course offers so much more than that, which seems super interesting to me, to also enjoy the benefits of truly understanding all the aspects of the “Hilot culture”. Now I was wondering how much of an emphasis there is on massage techniques in your course, or if it’s just a small segment. I was also wondering when/how you plan for workshops. Do they happen weekly or does it depend on how many enrollments there are? Salamat and hope you have a beautiful day! Alexandra

That was her email to me and when i respond to her my email returned to me as this:

I am sad that my message doesnt transmitted to her as she have a wonderful inquiry about our training program. So, just in case she will read this, I am posting here my response to her.

Hi Alexandra thanks for your email.

Hilot is much more than Massage and it is a complete healing arts and science that has its Diagnostic, preventive, promotive, therapeutic and rehabilitative health care methodologies. This was the system that our ancestors passed unto us which Hilot Academy aims to revive. Other Hilot Schools do only focus on the aspect of Massage and doing so breaks the principle of Hilot

As Hilot therapeutics require diagnostic first before implementing cure and not all illness can be cured by massage alone. That is why our best training program that we offer is the 8 days Hilot Binabaylan Training which will initiate you to the Hilot Healing Principles which are Diagnostic, Cleansing, Repair, Strengthening and maintaining the optimum health and wellness of an individual.

I understand that our 8 days training would be so pricy as it already included your food and hotel accomodation for 9 days plus the learning materials and certificate.

Though in our website which is at https://hilotacademy.com/trainings/ you can find the masidhi training program which is for 3 days.

Let me know which training program you will take by looking at our course offerings.

I hope this message will reach her and to everyone who is going to make an inquiry. We usually do one-on-one in person training so that we could focus our energy in providing much learning to the individual who enrolls with us.

Hilot as a Bridge towards Decolonization

Early this morning we have fetch Christine Quynh Vy at Naia Terminal 3 for her 8 days study of Hilot Binabaylan Training. I ask her who recommend her to study Hilot Binabaylan and I was so glad to hear that one of our Graduates from Hawaii which is Dayang Gulaon, a vessel and Hilot Binabaylan of Diwatang Gugurang and Diwatang Laon. Dayang Gulaon aka Julz Bolinayen of Lakapati’s Legacy we among the last student of who took the in person 8 days training of Hilot Binabaylan before the lock down of Pandemic of Covid 19. From January 2019 when she took the Class, Dayang Gulaon have taken pride to the Ancestral Wisdom of Filipino Healing Arts and Science that she offers it through Lakapati’s Legacy in Hawaii. She is a Hilot Binabaylan that specialize in Tattoo Ritual, Divination, Serenade, Energy Healing and Death Doula- Ship. And she is the beloved Medium of Kilubansa the Filipino Diwata of Healing which Hilot Academy enshrined as our Patron Guide.

Quynh Vy is a receives Kilubansa Reading from Dayang Gulaon that later on they became friends. And Quynh Vy learned about the Academy through her. We were glad to meet Quynh Vy in person, and we have learned that she is a Vietnamese- American. Though she came to us to learn Hilot so that she could acquire some tools in her quest to uncover Vietnamese Culture and Tradition.

In the past, I have received some advice to limit accepting students to only Filipino or those with Filipino Blood. But I reject that Idea as it will violate the Ethics of Hilot that states:

“…as Manghihilot we do not discriminate an Individual, we do not look at them of their nationality, their political and religious affiliation, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, Social Classification whether they are rich or poor, We do not look at their color whether they are white, black or brown; we do not see them if they are young or old; but rather we see them as Soul that is within their body that needs healing from us.”
Hilot Gamutan: A fundamental Guide on Hilot Treatment Methodology by Rev. Rolando Gomez Comon CP MH-SOLA

So as a Teacher of Hilot, we do not discriminate also on whom we are going to Teach Hilot as Hilot is not exclusive to a certain person only but it is always available for all who are in need of.