Category: Hilot Teaching

PREPARING FOR THE ACE to come

Happy New Year of 2021 to All!

I pray that everyone landed safely to the Year 2021 as we leave all the Bad Memories of 2020 and bring along the good ones. Time is really unpredictable, Isn’t it? All of us didn’t expect to have this Pandemic to happen. It is normal to have viruses around but to have a total Lock down and travel ban around the world is what we do not expect to happen. Indeed that the First Quarter of Last Year have become a blessings for us as we welcome to our Academy our newest members who took the in person, Live In Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan studies with us.

We are very grateful to have Julz Bolinayen of Hawaii,  Jamee Pineda of Washington DC, then Noel Zamora and Laura Castillo of Catalan Spain,  Maria Hashwell of San Francisco California and Dina Snaith of London, and our very last in person and face-to-face student who took Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan who traveled to the Philippines is Angelica Bautista of Glendale California. And after our last class with Angelica Kai, me and lakay were able to meet with Mamerto Tindungan who was a Mumbaki of Ifugao with Sir Archimedes De Leon of Tarlac to make a collaborative project with them that is supposed to be held in the beautiful Island of Camiguin (And all of this was our Before Covid 19 experience). And right after we landed down to manila from Ifugao, the news of Covid 19 and lock down has been implemented. Even there was a travel ban that affects Angelica Kai’s going back to the US. But thanks to La Union province Department of Tourism, Angelica Kai received help from them to be sent home to the states.

During the Lock Down I though that this will be the end of Hilot Academy’s operation. So what we did is we stand in front of our Altar and do the Global Healing Devotion. And through this Global Healing Devotion we have reach out people and started ministry around the world to pray for healing and assist people mental and emotional health. Indeed that the Pandemic of Coronavirus 19 is a life changing experience that it literally change how life in the world should work. All official activities are halted and even going to churches was forbidden due to the social distancing and stay-at-home policy implemented by the government locally as well as internationally. Though the Economy must continue that’s why some offices implemented work from home as well as schools do their home schooling. This was done through the help of internet, and internet providing business becomes a boom.

I never thought to bring Hilot Training online as it requires face-to-face instruction and guidance specially as it requires special attention on handling patient in providing care. But I was blinded with that thought focusing healthcare only to the Physical Body. So with the rising need in finding cure to Covid 19, we did our part by sharing what we know though it can not be consider cure as we have always taught that we do not provide cure but we prepare the individuals physical body to bring forth healing to them and affect cure. And last year during the height of the Pandemic Crisis, we were able to become a resource person to talk about Suob/Luop/Tuob as Natural Relief that been shown at Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho at GMA TV 7. You can start seeing us at the timestamp of 5:00-6:26.

As we shared our teachings to them, at the start of June 2020 we open the Academy for Online Training through our Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Training Course. We did this through the use of Google Technology using their platform Google Classroom, Google Document, Google Meet and Google Calendar. With these technology we share our reading materials, video presentation, online Quizes, and even Live Video Conferencing. This Hilot Online Training or what I call as HOT Course becomes in demand and favorable as it saves time and money in learning Hilot. The student will just learn at the comfort of their home without spending a lot of money to travel in the Philippines and pay for expensive food and accommodation. The Learning is Modular and Self Paced with 24/7 chat and call support in performing their home work studies. I did not expect that making Hilot Training Online will gain so much support from people around the world and through this training program, we have produced NCH practitioners in Ontario Canada, Singapore, Denver Colorado, Bronx New York, Hanalulu Hawaii, Kaneohe Hawaii, Cathedral City California, Palo Verde California, and soon in Oakland California and Vancouver Canada.

I did not expect that coming in to our way but there is another wave that is about to come. On the Last quarter of 2020, my former TESDA Co Trainer and Lead Assessor in the Province of Cavite called me up to inform me that a well known personality and former Government Official wanted to do a project with us. The project will be in the Province of Cavite but it will have an International Operation. But this will happen probably After Covid 19, when everything is already safe specially to travel in and out of the country.

So this year will be just little bit the same as last year but the only difference now is that we are already aware about Covid 19. We already get to use the New Normal which equip us to know the do’s and don’t to socializing and gathering. We make sure to become Covid Free by observing Basic Health Protocols. Wearing Face Mask and Face Shield when going out of our home becomes a necessary now-a-days. Hand Washing and proper body hygiene is a must. Eating Immune Boosting food to keep us healthy. And as much as possible we observe Physical Distancing.

This Year for Hilot Academy of Binabaylan, we will remain as an Educational Ministry of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. in promoting Philippine Traditional, Natural and Indigenous Healing Arts and Spirituality. As a Seminary we are about to make improvement to our Hilot ng Aghamang Binabaylan or Binabaylang Hilot Training Course, and that is to make the training course into 3 tiers.

MAGTATAWASMANGGAGAMOTMANANAMBAL
The Qualities of Becoming a Hilot Binabaylan or Binabaylan Hilot

So from this year, we are going to implement this changes when all is ready. In order to become a Hilot Binabaylan, one must possess all the Qualifications we have set here. The First one is the Magtatawas (this name or terminology can still be modified until a good word or name is found) Course, we already are doing this and train people under the Non Contact Hilot: Mind and Spirit Working. This course will train individual to become proficient in Traditional Filipino Diagnostic Methods such as in Spiritual Diagnosis which is popularly known as Pagtatawas, Pulse Reading and other methods that we have developed such as the Kilubansa Elemental Name Energetic Balance Analysis and Sibulan Adlaw Tala Mystic Oracle Divination. In this field of Pagtatawas, the Hilot Binabaylan gathers relevant information from the patient to determine the cause of illness and in order to prepare and plan appropriate treatment in affecting cure. The Magtatawas must be able to determine if the illness of the person has physical nature or spiritual cause.

Patient Tatay Ricardo of Fairview, QC

The Next Qualification of Hilot Binabaylan is on becoming a Manggagamot. The word “Gamot” is a tagalog for Medicine thus being a Manggagamot means the one who applies medicine. The effectiveness of the Manggagamot depends on the recommendation of magtatawas as the medicine to apply by a Manggagamot relies on the findings of the cause of illness by the Magtatawas. The Manggagamot is a sort of technician who use their knowledge in affecting cure. The cure can be a Physical technique of applying Touch Manipulation such as pagpapahid, pagpupunas, hagod, pindot, pisil, piga of which common Filipino know this as the Art of Filipino Hilot Wellness Massage. Other technique can be also use such as Bentusa, Pagbibigkis, Pagsasala, Dagdagay and many other techniques which could help in recovery and affecting relief and cure to the patient.

And next to that is the Mananambal Course or the Albularyo Course which will enable the Hilot Binabaylan to become knowledgeable in the application and manufacturing of Herbal Cure. In this training course, we will share our knowledge to our Hilot Binabaylan on how to determine the healing properties of each herbs through communicating with the Plant Medicine Spirits. It will also be shared in this course the different preparation we can make and the application of herbs to affect cure.

As of this moment, we are still working this out and you might consider enrolling to our Magtatawas Course which will open this 24th of January 2021. To register, kindly click on the link for Hilot Online Training for registration. And we also have our Membership Site at BuyMeACoffee.Com where we share our knowledge about Filipino Magick. Consider becoming a member which only cost USD 50.00/ Year or USD 5.00/Month. You can also support us by donating as low as USD 1.00/post view.

Or you can always support us here by making a donation so that we could continue our work of research to develop our Philippine Traditional and Indigenous Spirituality and Healing Arts. You can make donation to our Shrine by scanning our QR Code Below.

Tambalan: philippine traditional herbalist

Now-a-days, we hear the word albularyo and albularya as Filipino Traditional Healer who uses herbs and prayers in Healing. And modern institution want to change the terminology into more appropriate word and modify it’s practice into modern ways. Instead of Albularyo or Albularya (which has genderdization to pertain to male or female practitioner), they want it to be called Herbularyo to emphasize the word Herbs. Though this name is of Spanish origin and it replaced the original term of our ancestors as Tambalan.

Tambal were all plants, roots, leaves, or bark with medicinal properties, for which reason
the Spaniards called the tambalan an herbolario, “one who has knowledge of plants [hierbas],
their powers and properties.”

William Henry Scott, Baranggay Chapter 6: Natural Science, Treatment

Though eversince, Tambalan were known to be expert in herbal medicine but in fact they are not. Tambalan are only medium of the spirits whether be from the ancestral spirits, nature spirits or the diwata. The Knowledge of Tambalan or mananambal in herbal plants comes from the Guidance of Abyan or Gabay of the Healer. And most likely these healers are unschooled and have no formal education unlike today. The knowledge that people have comes from their family elders and instructions are being taught at home. Aside from our Family Elders, the community also recognize a wise and persuasive elder which they call as Parawali.

At this present time, the movement to revive our Philippine Traditional Medicine gets the attention of our Government officials that it is now being offered at School either through Technical Education Skills Development Authority, Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care and even at Department of Science and Technology.

Esquire Magazine have an Article posted about albularyo which you can access through this link. ALBULARYO

These modern movement in reviving our very own Traditional Medicine but modifying its practice and to exclude the spiritual aspect of the craft may affect its nature. Earlier this Year dated January 21, 2020- I have written Pitahc and have expressed my willingness to share my knowledge and expertise to them. And that is through the Art of Tawas, Pagpapahid and Herbs. But as they respond to me, the only thing that they allowed is the Massage part or pagpapahid and herbs. They have no clear response about Tawas as traditional medicine method. And that is the same thing i have received when i was working with Tesda, they exclude tawas.

On our Part, we can not exclude the practice of Pagtatawas in healing because we believe that in order to provide effective treatment plan we must also provide effective diagnostic measure and evaluation of the patient. A body without a spirit is dead; so as a treatment without a spirit is making a Zombie or Amaranhig.

Hilot Recipe works wonder

I was able to talk to a friend yesterday from overseas and she mention that her mother is ill. I ask her what kind of illness that struck her mother and she told me that her mother is having difficulty to walk due to constant numbness of both of her legs.

I do distant tawas on her to see what the cause of her illness. And this is what I saw. As the oil drips as i introduce it to the flame of candles, it forms an intestine. As i finish the ritual, the smoke attached to the paper formed the image of a girl that has black spot on her chest. I tell her the situation of having emotional disturbance that she confirm to me to be right. I also mention the intestine that i saw that might cause her irritation. She confirms that she also have difficulty in her bowel movement that i made me land to provide recommendation of using Coconut Milk and Carrots as a remedy for 7 days which she will take on alternate days.

It means if she take the coconut milk with carrots juice today, tomorrow she will not take it but on the other day until she complete 7 intake of the recipe. And today as she does it, she message me with her testimony. ( I hide her identity as part of client privacy. I do not usually expose the names of my client or patient even with consent. This is part of the sacredness of our practice in hilot.)

In this situation of Pandemic, we as manghihilot are not hindered to provide our care to people who need our services. We can still provide our wisdom to people who needs for it. So if you need our help, you can also connect with us by contacting Apu Adman Aghama through his mobile number at +639952467040 or email at hilot.binabaylan@gmail.com

No Therapeutic Claim

Before the discovery of modern medicine, people around the world heavily rely on the power of nature to provide cure when they are sick; and these practices of our ancestors are now known as Traditional Medicine which in the Philippines is known as Hilot. As the modern medicine rise into power, they dismantle the role of traditional medicine to be an alternative and made the modern medicine as the conventional and more accepted form of providing cure. So the people who practice the traditional form of medicine was set aside so that the conventional medicine could work out in taking care of the health of the people. And those people who do use plant medicine in healing, they are encourage to brand their form of Medicine to have NO THERAPEUTIC CLAIM. It is known that years before the coming of Spain in our country, our ancestors rely on the efficacy of Plant Medicine to affect cure from any illnesses. It is also been recorded that Spanish Friars have conducted research on the Plant Medicine that our ancestors used until the first modern pharmacy was established in our country on 1830.

But now-a-days when a traditional healer produce and manufacture herbal medicine, the Pharmaceutical will label it as Food Supplement that has No Therapeutic Claim. Indeed as true as it was said by Hippocrates who was known to be the Father of Modern Medicine that:

Let Food be your medicine, and your Medicine be your Food.

Hippocrates

As Human being living in the modern day, we eat food 3 times a day or more. We eat breakfast, Lunch and Dinner plus the time we eat snacks. We eat our food to give us energy and strength. But we do not eat the prescribed medicine more than the recommended dosage that was given to us by the doctor. And those who do are known to be substance abuser which becomes an illness as well.

At this time of Pandemic, Hilot practitioners have the desire to help people by providing them relief from Covid 19 through Suob. But the Health Department whether locally or internationally have forbidden it’s use as it does not provide cure.

We agree that our practice will never provide nor Claim any Therapeutic Cure. As this will violate our Teaching that the Human Body has the ability to heal them selves from any diseases. The techniques that we apply does not compete to the modern technology that the modern medicine have, but our techniques only aim to assist the individual who suffer from illness and disease to find their own power to heal themselves. The video presented here talked about our role in Facilitating healing by removing the obstacle to the flow of the life force within the body of man. But until there is no exact cure for Covid 19, we pray that our Government will allow us to contribute in sharing our knowledge in caring for the people whom we love.

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.

Tools in Healing Ritual excerpt

People who come to us for healing are sensual. What I mean by sensual is that people who come for healing want their senses to be activated such as they want to see, hear, smell, taste and touch in order for healing to take effect on them. Most likely their physical illness makes them more sensitive (that is why they feel pain) and want that pain to be gone or diverted into something. Indeed that Pain is a manifestation of energy. As energy is not created nor can be destroyed but it can change form. So in our Healing Ritual, we are transforming the manifested energies that they possess into more positive and pleasing that is conducive for having optimum health and wellness.  

Apu adman, introduction to healing rituals

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 .

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.