Tag: Hilot Binabaylan

2023 Time of coming out in Touching the World with Hilot

It’s already been 2 years that we are confining ourselves in solitude inside our Homes. Though we are healthy and Covid Free, our confinement have inflected our mind with Anxiety and Depression. Though it was just a mental and emotional frame set up, it can not be avoided that our Body will react to the World Wide Stimulus that have stirred up the people around the World.

Gratefully, I my self was not infected with the Virus but the Anxiety it brought have struck me to have a Transient Ischemic Attack or MiniStroke. This condition is just a brief interruption on the circulation of blood to my right frontal lobe of my brain that also affects my eyesight. I am grateful that We have Lakay with us that was very quick in responding to my Health Condition. I was rushed in the Hospital at that time and luckily I was not confined. So, I just secure medical prescription and integrate it with Hilot Treatment that Lakay is providing me. It was just a little time when I suffer the limitations that been brought by TIA, but after 3 months, I was able to perform again and do my Duties as Manghihilot.

I see here that confining our self in solitude may affect our Physical body either malevolently or benevolently. And keeping our emotions just to ourselves and stuck it up within ourselves may form a clusters of energy that when it grows up, it may explode and create another problem that will affect our Physical Body.

Voicing out the things that runs into our Mind so as in our Emotions are healthy. Whatever it may be, whether it is a rant or bad feelings we have from other people- we must let it out. But releasing the things that bothers our mind and emotions must be done carefully as it may create another problem. Such as stated in the Law of Actions that:

In every Action, there will be a Similar or Opposite Reaction!

And this is where a Manghihilot comes in which is to perform the Sacred Art of Releasing through the conduct of Healing Rituals. Sometimes, these clustered thoughts and emotions can be seen as tensions in the muscles, knots in the nerves and blood vessels, or lumping of the lymph nodes, etc.

Depending on the location of the blockages, the individual may suffer anxiety or depression that may affect their vitality so as peace and harmony among their relationships that might also affect their financial wellness. Giving an Individual a Hilot Ritual may relieve the person from that condition and obtain optimum health and wellness Holistically.

This year of 2023, Hilot Academy of Binabaylan will have a Collaboration with Hilot Philippines Development Center as we provide face-to-face training and in person treatment to all the people who will need Hilot. We will still offer here at Hilot Academy Online Webinars on Traditional Filipino Diagnostic which is Tawas and also soon we are going to announce our Online certification Course Offering.

We will still offer our Donation Based Hilot every Sunday at Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. And kindly make an appointment first by calling or texting me at 09952467040 a day or week ahead before coming to us.

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Rebirthing Hilot at Silang, Cavite

Yesterday December 16, 2022-We had launch successfully the Hilot Philippines Development Center in Partnership with International School of Sustainable Tourism in the vicinity of International Institute of Rural Reconstruction in Barangay Biga 2, Municipality of Silang in the Province of Cavite. After 2 years of conception, we have finally given birth to the Brain Child of Dr. Mina Gabor (former Department of Tourism Secretary-now the Chairman of International School of Sustainable Tourism). Actually this is her second Child among the many concepts she already have manifested in the past, but at ISST Hilot will be the partner of Farm Tourism which Dr. Gabor have championed.

As Cultural Worker myself, it seems that Launching Hilot at Silang, Cavite is like giving birth again to a nearly forgotten Culture of the Filipino People. I just relate it to the work of Hilot on assisting delivery of a pregnant mother and Birthing a New Child, here we did not give birth to a Physical Child but we have given a new life to Hilot as a Holistic Healing Modality that we can be proud of.

It was during at the height of pandemic when we started collaborating our minds in order for this legacy project will come into manifestation. There were many people who are willing to share their talents such as Ice Infante, Kara Barientos and Marjoria Soria but due to Pro Bono status of our preliminary work they need leave for the meantime and sustain their lives. So it was Me, Nora and Lakay have patiently endure and workout so that this project may manifest. And of course Dr. Gabor is with us so as her staff such as ms. Merlita, ms. Ferlyn, sir Lito so as ate Bebang who always care for us in preparing snacks when we are in a brain storming activity.

It was on November 17, 2020 when we first convene at Dr. Mina Gabor’s office at Pasay City and from there we have brought out all the contents of our Heart and our Mind so that we could give life again to the deviated modality of Hilot and realigned it to its original custom as our ancestors employ it to healing arts.

But before launching our new center at Cavite, me and Lakay had a conversation. I am thinking in establishing this center if the general public will benefit from it. I specifically think of Hilot Practitioners such as when a student enroll for example in Bachelors degree in Secondary Education at the end of their program and successfully passed the licensure examination for teachers, those students who will pass the exam have potentials to be employed in an Educational Institution. And for our students who will take take course in our Hilot Training Program, they will not just have the knowledge skills and attitude of a Hilot Provider but We are making sure that they could use it to earn a living.

I do not want to see our graduates to work in a Spa that has tendency to adulterate their Sacred Knowledge of Traditional Filipino Healing Arts and Science with Foreign healing Tradition but want to consecrate themselves in the Practice of Hilot. Such as to what happened in Thai Massage Centers here in the Philippines, it is just Thai Massage is popular but when you walk in and avail Thai Massage, the therapist within that Center would deceive their client by giving Swedish Massage and not Thai Massage.

I don’t want Hilot to suffer the same situation and this is what Hilot Philippines Development Center will provide to make sure that the treatment procedure we offer are based on the Philippine Ancestral Healing Tradition.

If our graduates will not work at Spa, where should they be employed?

Spa is categorized under the Hospitality Industry of the Department of Tourism. But I insist that Hilot should be under the Health Care Industry as we provide primary healthcare to the Public. Our History have identified the terminology of our Traditional Healing Center and it is known by our Ancestors as Pamulngagan and recently it has been confirmed by our Bicolano participant in the Webinar on Redefining Hilot as Burlungan. And aside from establishing Pamulngagan or Burlungan, our Graduates should have an opportunity to be employed in the Government Health Offices.

Since Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care is an attached agency from the Philippine Department of Health and receiving funds from the Government allocations through Senate Hearings on Budget allocations, the said institute must coordinate with DoH in establishing Hilot Centers attached to the Provincial, Municipal, City, and Barangay Health Centers and work there.

The issue of mandating to have a License or National Certificate of Manghihilot deserves a clear opportunity of employment to our graduates. This issue already had happened to the Massage Industry where they are mandated to obtain Certificate of Registration as Massage Therapist and upon renewing they are require to upgrade their knowledge but in terms of employment that will just work at the Spa or either as Freelancer without secured income opportunity by being employed as Health Worker. I see this practice as extortion by the certifying committee to the practitioner and not giving them chance to enjoy the earnings from their hard work.

In Hilot, we are going to raise our standards and make sure that our Modality will not be adulterated and become a milking cow of any committee. As I remember the Slogan of Department of Health that the Power of Health in the Hands of the Filipino People and this will become true now through Hilot Philippines Development Center.

Why Hilot is not recognized?

Even how much effort we exert on what Hilot is, if the people insist that the kind of Hilot they know is Massage, the Provider will give what the people know wants in exchange for the money they will earn. By giving in to what people demand, the more our Hilot Healing Tradition will be dressed up by the IGNORANCE of the People and in the future Generation, the real knowledge of Hilot will be lost and think of Hilot is just the Filipino Terminology of Massage.

I remember on 2017 to 2018 that i become an administrator of a Massage Therapist group at Facebook which is composed of Massage Therapist working at the Spa so as Freelancer who do Home Service Massage. One Massage Therapist have rant which is a licensed Massage Therapist at DoH have said that the Freelancers and Manghihilot are stealing their jobs from them.

Well, how come that Manghihilot were included in stealing the Jobs of Massage Therapist, whereas it is the Massage Therapist who steal the Job of Manghihilot. Not only the Massage Therapist but the entire Health Care System that have stripped off the Duties and Responsibilities of Manghihilot and leaving out the Identity of Being Filipino Masseur.

And out of the custom for the Licensed Massage Therapist to upgrade their knowledge in Massage that they are required to know other forms of massage that they have amalgamated the massage of Hilot into Massage Therapy and they call it themselves as Hilot. And this is wrong. It is an act of colonizing, such as to what had happened in our Ancient Filipino Spiritual beliefs.

Such as to what had happened to the precolonial culture in Obando, Bulacan which observed the Kasilinoan Fertility Dance which has been popularly known as Tatarin or the Summer Solstice Ritual that is once sacred to Dayang Masalanta, Lakapati and Bathala, whereas the Spanish colonized our Country, they have forcibly converted the Natives into Roman Catholicism and Changed our custom of dancing Kasilinoan into Fandanguan. Kasilinoan or now popularly known as Tatarin was a Pagan Fertility Dance on which married woman who is unable to conceive a Child would dance for 3 nights to a Phalus God named Lingga when the Summer Solstice arrived. When Christianity arrived it was changed into Fandanguan in honor of the patron saints of Obando, Bulacan named Sta. Clara of Assisi, San Pascual Baylon and the Imaculate Conception de Salambao which is named after the fish net that caught the image on the sea while fishing.

Many of those who work as Massage Provider are guilty of this crime in dressing up massage to be the modality of Hilot, such as one time I went to the mall to avail Thai Massage, when I went to book an appointment, the receptionist discourage me taking that services but instead pushed me to get Swedish massage instead, being out of time and need to have a massage- I take the offer. In my mind I see the problem that probably the massage provider are not proficient in giving the modality I seek. And another problem I notice is that when a Filipino Massage Therapist are working abroad, they are advertising Hilot even the modality the do is Swedish Massage. This is very wrong.

Hilot as we always say is not just a Massage. Though it have a massage treatment that could be performed quickly. Hilot is not a Spa Treatment that can be performed in One Hour or more. Rather Hilot is a Quick relief treatment when a person had Pilay. Though I am not certain when do the Spa Industry started but I am supposing that it Started on during the implementation of the Sanitation Code of the Philippines when it was mandated on December 23, 1975. There in Article 13 discuss about the Policy on Massage Therapy and Sauna Bath’s.

With the rising of Spa Industry, they make their services like a Restaurant, where a client will choose what kind of services they will avail. So as a result, many spa services provider must learn different forms of massage until they have developed Combination Massages as their promotional Offering.

As an Individual practitioner, there is a Pride that they should know all as they walk up to the pedestal of fame and glory. Knowing all means getting Money from the services they provide. And no one think that Hilot can provide all the Health Care needs of the Community. But since Hilot is not well accepted, certain individual still need other professional license in order to introduce Hilot to the public. And the end result of it is that Hilot has been covered up by other Traditional Medicine modality that it became end to the list such as to what happened in PITHAC.

There are still many people who does not know What Really Hilot is an just rely on the information provided online and the practice of authentic Manghihilot in rural and slum areas of the Philippines are being ignored as it is unscientific and covered much in mysticism.

But to tell you, Traditional Chinese Medicine too was once covered in mysticism such as the principles of Tao and the doctrines of Chi which is being observed not only in Traditional Medicine but as well as in Fung Sui.

If Colonial Mentality will stop and the Roman Catholic Church will not interfere in the Development of Hilot in the Philippines, the modalities of Hilot will have the Science it needed in order to explain its principles to the modern world and If Hilot will have its own center not associated in Spa or Wellness Center; the Hilot Treatment we provide will receive the recognition we deserve.

Would you be the Manghihilot the world need now?

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.

How much is the cost of Hilot in your Area?

The Philippines is probably has the cheapest Hilot services offered compared to other countries that i found where Hilot is being offered.

From YK Hilot Center in Tolyo, Japan

So 15,000 Japanese yen today is equivalent to Php 6, 119.16 in Philippine money and that is for 2 hours of Hilot Treatment.

I also saw a Treatment center that offers Hilot in Madrid, Spain and the name of the Center is Xiao Ying.

And the cost of their 60 minutes Hilot is 60.00€ which is equivalent to Philippine Peso as 3, 412.69 and their 2 hours session cost 110€ equivalent to Philippine peso as 6,256.60.

Another center that I found offering Hilot is located in Canada.

Their 60 minutes Hilot Massage cost already $120 in US Dollars while their 2 hours session will cost $230.00, if $120.00 converted into Philippine peso as of writing this, it will cost around Php 6,766.80 for one hour treatment and for 120 minutes or 2 hours treatment session cost Php 12,969.70.

This is an Eyebrow rising cost that i knew. Well I understand why the price is too much comparing the price of Hilot being offered here in the Philippines.

I saw some day spa who offered hilot posted in their facebook page, and the price of their hilot is this:

60 minutes of Hilot in the Philippines is only USD 5.00 and USD 10.00 for 120 minutes

Well Filipino Hilot Providers who offers authentic Philippine Traditional Medicine are not compensated well, and this is the reason why some of them are holding tight to the edge of the blade or what we say as “kapit sa patalim”.

The Filipino Culture of colonial mentality have buried deeply our dignity almost already into oblivion. This is the reason why Hilot Academy and Luntiang Aghama is working hard to raise the standard of Hilot in the Philippines so that our dignity may be elevated again. Providing our Manghihilot proper education will enable them to perform Hilot in a more professional level that will allow them to work in Public Health Care centers of even in Private Health clinics or hospital.

There are so much Job opportunity as i see for our Hilot Practitioners. Not only in Spa. Let us leave the Spa to our Massage Therapist siblings. We can establish our own Hilot Healing Center where it can be a coordinating center with the Philippine Health department, social work and development, agriculture so as the Environment and Natural Resources. We are more than a Therapist, but we are also the Steward of Mother Earth.

Healthy Mind Set to become Pain Free

At the start of this week, an old woman came to us asking us to help her treat her husband. I am tempted to reject her request as I my self have a condition which is I am still recovering from stroke. Supposedly mid June till the coming of July, I experience constant dizziness that I am not confident enough if I could handle a client/patient. But the calling to do Hilot is much greater than my stroke. The Ancestors have reminded me why I was allowed to suffer my condition, but I also pray, what if i used all my strength in extending the life of others, will there be life that will left to me? But the Spirit just tell me to go.

So me and lakay went with the woman riding in the tricycle and bring us to their house. As we arrived, this is what we see.

on their balcony, i see a man in his 50’s lying on a wooden sofa not moving.

Before entering their house, I picked a twig of leaves from an Indian Tree that is planted in their front yard and i used that to swipe the air as i enter their house and stamp my feet. We give our greetings and introduce our selves to the patient. As we talk to the man, we see that he is responding to us very well except that he could not make any movements from his body as it give him so much pain.

Then we start giving our treatment procedures. Lakay do Spiritual Tawas while Me i do Physical Assessment by palpating on his body. He is complaining about his joints in the hands, elbows, shoulder, hips, knees and feet and his whole back is aching because of constant lying ( and maybe because of the hard wood that serve as his bed).

The woman’s reason of calling us is that she wanted us to see first his husband before sending him to the Hospital. Though they have fear that his husband will be confined and aside from that they have financial issues as well that they seek help from us first for an temporary relief on Mr. Noel’s pain.

@apuadman

Thanks Goddess i am doing Home Visitation Hilot again for a bed ridden patient/client. I dont usually do home service to anyone except to life and death situation. if you need my service come to the Shrine.#FilipinoPaganPriest #HilotBinabaylan

♬ original sound – Apu Adman Aghama – Apu Adman Aghama

At that time, i didn’t mind my own condition and I teared in joy because as I assess the man, i feel the life force in the man’s body and re assuring me that he will live. His body is very warm and the life force is present. The only thing that makes him like that is because of many blockages that build up on his vessels. So i give him Hilot pahid and do the healing touch manipulation. Though Lakay saw some little spiritual issues and have spoken it to him together with his wife and gave recommendation on how to deal with it. Same thing that I do, i advise them to see doctor but not recommend for confinement just go to the Out Patient Department and ask to manage the pain. I see many calcium deposit that build up in his fingers and joints. And he limits his movement because of the pain he is experiencing.

Sometime, people torment themselves in order to prevent them experiencing the pain. But their behavior only makes them experience more and suffer. Their non movement slow down the flow of life force that it build up to form blockages that makes them suffer more pain than relief.

And I believe, this healing session that I attended was not only for Mr. Noel but also for me. The more I Baby my illness, the more it will become worst. And going back to my routine of giving Hilot makes my body to have a sense of Purpose.

But I still have to be careful and not just waste my own lifeforce for a non sense.

Here what I learned is that, We want to Live a Pain Free Life, but in doing it we have to encounter some pain and problem that we might also build up our body to become resistant to pain or problem.

By the way, i still experience occasional dizziness and I notice i get dizzy when I change position like when I immediately turn my neck or standing from sitting or from lying down to standing up.

By next Monday i will check with my doctor, because i already have my CT scan that i made last monday.

Tomorrow, me and lakay will be at Silang, Cavite to inspect the venue for our new Hilot Healing Center.

Misusing Title as Hilot or Babaylan

Now-a-days, people who can afford to access the internet empowers to access information on which they will not exert more effort unlike before. As a student of the 90’s, if we need to learn some information, we used to go to the library and look for books that can provide the information we need to know. Or if there are no books about the subject, we conduct our own research by conducting interview or apply for apprenticeship. These is how i learn Hilot. At that time there is no book written about Hilot nor a school that teach Traditional Hilot as the Law on Philippine Traditional and Alternative Health Care was only enacted on 1997. Only at that time that Alternative Health Care was given attention and not Hilot. And on 2002, i formally receive my diploma in Alternative Medicine but not on Hilot.

Diploma in Alternative Medicine

I worked obtaining this diploma for only a Year, but mastering what I am right now takes a life time of research and practice. The diploma that i have lead me to focus on Philippine Traditional Medicine that makes me conduct research and clinical training by accepting clients that undergone certain condition which can be treated by Hilot. As i practice, I revolve around the principles of natural healing that says that:

Every Individual has the ability to heal them selves and as a healer, we are only an assistant in order for them to achieve their own healing.

It is the same claim that i always hear from traditional healers that the true healer is God our Creator and as Healer we are just an instrument of God like a bridge where God can channel the Blessings to the people.

Here by constantly dealing with people by hearing out their concerns in life either they have physical complaint about their health or just hearing out their emotions, there is a part within me that moved that tells me to take action and that action is called Hilot. The action that a Manghihilot do may vary depend on the situation presented, but the common action a manghihilot does whether it be on physical pain or emotional complaint is that a manghihilot will get his bottle of healing oil and apply it to the suffering person to provide relief.

Now at present time, relief from emotional trauma can be covered up by accessing social media. People can solicit sympathy and compassion by making statements or posting pictures of their situation. Even is they want to know something, people will just get their mobile phone connect it to the internet and type their questions to google and they will have the answers to what they are looking for.

And there are some people uses what they know out of Google and call them selves with Titles. Such as the title of being a Manghihilot or Babaylan. Since there is no definite law that forbids anyone to call them as such, so people could easily claim them as such unlike the Title of being a Doctor, if you are a Massage Therapist in the Philippines there is a specific law that forbids you to do as such unless you are a real doctor being conferred by the Professional Regulatory Commission.

As of this date, there is no Philippine regulatory body that regulates the practice of Hilot except for the Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care but there is no clear policy yet on penalizing anyone who will misuse the Title of Manghihilot or of the Babaylan.

In Hilot Academy we are working hard for 7 straight years now in bringing awareness to the Public about Hilot, but still many people, either Filipino or foreigners are still unaware of what Hilot is all about. Many people still think that Hilot is Filipino Massage because many website tell it so. But real information about Hilot is rare to find. Even Spa Businesses in the Philippines would think that Hilot is about massage where it is not.

I really pray that a Hilot Commission will be created that will really focus on the Development of Hilot as Philippine Traditional Medicine.

We are Stewards of mother Earth

The month of April has been known as Earth Month so as with us in Hilot Academy, we recognize this month being the month were Baybayin through the Laguna Copperplate Inscription was recorded in our history. The LCI is the first ever dated document that shows that our ancestors have our writing system. The date being recorded in this document is April 21, 900- so on the 21st of April year 2022, this public document will celebrate its 1122 years of publication. And this copperplate celebrates not only the liberation from debt but also redeem us of our Identity as a Filipino.

Since the establishment of Luntiang Aghama on year 2000, we are celebrating Earth day by conducting rituals honoring the Earth Deities and one of the result of this rituals is the establishment of Hilot Academy of BInabaylan as an Educational Ministry Arm of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. We have established Hilot Academy of Binabaylan through registering it to the Philippine Department of Trades and Industry on April 5, 2016 and this year we are celebrating our 6th year anniversary. We have register it first at DTI Makati but the processing officers refuse to process the registration, as she says that we are not allowed to use the word Hilot as a business name because it is a public domain. But i push and make appeal because we do not make it an exclusive name just for us as the Business name is a descriptive title of what we are providing.

So from Makati, I travel back to my Home province which is the Land of the Heroes in Bulacan. And luckily my registration was approved at DTI Malolos City at Robinsons Place Malolos. It was a 32 miles or 51 Km travel. It seems that the ancestors are guiding us where Hilot Academy of Binabaylan should be established. I remember when doing it in Makati, i have waited for 2 hours queuing before being rejected, but DTI Malolos, i only spent 15 to 30 minutes to process it without queuing.

From then on, our ministry began to grow that we have accept our first students of Hilot as we share the Earth Healing Tradition up now. Before we are only providing lessons on a face-to-face basis and now thanks to the Universe because we have been taught how to face life challenges such as this Pandemic of Coronavirus 19, that it has opened a window that people could still learn Hilot Virtually through our Hilot Online Training.

As of this day, we are proud to say that we have retrieved the lost healing method that been taught by Kilibansa who is the Diwata of Healing and through the guidance of Luntiang Aghama we also have developed the Sibulan Adlaw Tala Binabaylan Mystic Oracle which employs Baybayin as a Divinatory/ Diagnostic Method which is under our Tawas Divinatory and Spiritual Diagnostic Studies. And this 13th of April we are going to release our Book on Hilot Orasyon through a webinar which you can register by scanning the QR code.

And hopefully, I could finish all the materials needed so we can start the Diploma Training on Manggagamot, Magtatawas and Albularyo.

By the Way, Hilot Academy still needs fund in order to build our own place in sharing this ancient knowledge. As some of you know that we are like gypsies who goes to places in conducting this training. We really pray that we could have a proper venue, where the students could stay either for 9 days or even months in Mastering the Ancient Healing Tradition.

If you have a calling, and the Spirit touches your heart to build this School you may do so by making donations below.

HELP US BUILD OUR ACADEMY NOW

Life goes on even with Stroke

As Manghihilot, We are not exempted to any form of illness even to Death. I remember my teacher, Dr. Rueben M. Galang Jr. at the School of Alternative Medicine when he died years ago. Many have asked why he died when he is a great doctor and have treated many patients and made them well but was not able to take care of himself. This is the same question that been playing around my mind when my ,mother died 3 years ago. I am a Manghihilot, why i was not able to take care well of my mother. And now, I am a Manghihilot and why you have stroke. When my mother died, I already planned to stop practicing, but people around me in person even at social media encouraged me not to stop but continue what I have started to do. And this time that I’ve got stroke, I already have mentioned that i plan of retiring but my current students and recent graduates have encouraged me to continue.

One of my current student at Non Contact HIlot: Mind and Spirit work have wrote me a letter of encouragement that says:

I am appreciative of the Hilot Academy of Binabaylan and all that I have learned. Apu has helped me connect to my Filipino identity in a way that feels authentic to who I am, my approach to healing, and my passion around decolonization. In learning the historical context of pre-colonial healing, how hilot practitioners were utilized prior to the introduction of western medicine, and how colonization forced manghihilots to hide or assimilate, I found an even deeper reverence for my ancestors and the manghihilot and babaylan who died because of their beliefs. In this course I was able to connect more to my highest, spiritual self, which I have rarely experienced in any other healing modality I’ve learned, even as a reiki practitioner, and especially as a psychotherapist. What feels special about learning hilot is that it brings me great pride to know that this is a healing practice that looks at the person in their entirety, not just the physical, but also the emotional and spiritual, and it all originated from my homeland, the Philippines! Learning and practicing tawas was extremely helpful because I was able to trust my intuition and the unconditional support of my ancestors. I feel a powerful connection to my inner wisdom and feel more confident as a practitioner after I practiced tawas. I have learned to really trust my instincts, when so much of living in America is focused on logic and achievement. I have not had a chance to finish the remaining course lessons and the assignment due on February 27th, but I plan on going through that material this week and weekend. 

WIth teary eyes, i feel that people value my work even if our Government does not recognize it, but at least my little work on our Culture and Tradition have reached out Far and Wide across the Globe.

I am also thankful to the Universe for teaching me personally to experience Stroke that I may know personally how to handle well stroke patients in the Future

Thank you, Apu, for your love, energy, and time and for sharing your wisdom with us. I am eternally grateful. I hope you heal quickly and get the care and support you need. I look forward to perhaps attending another workshop or course you or Likai provide in the future. With love.