Tag: indigenous

📢 Public Advisory: On the Protection of Hilot as a Shared Cultural Heritage

Issued by:
Templong Anituhan ng Luntiang Aghama
Hilot Academy of Binabaylan
In solidarity with Independent Manghihilot Practitioners

🛑 Warning Against Monopolization of Hilot

We issue this advisory to caution any organization, institution, or individual that attempts to monopolize the practice of Hilot by claiming exclusive authority or ownership over this sacred tradition.

Hilot is a shared cultural and spiritual heritage of the Filipino people. It is not a proprietary system, nor can it be restricted to a single group or entity.

⚖️ Legal Basis

The following laws protect the right of all Filipinos to practice Hilot:

  • 1987 Philippine Constitution
    • Article XIV, Sections 17–22: Protects indigenous cultural communities and their traditions.
    • Article III, Section 5: Guarantees freedom of religion and spiritual practice.
  • Republic Act No. 8371 – Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA)
    • Recognizes the right of Indigenous Peoples to preserve and develop their traditional healing systems.
  • Republic Act No. 10066 – National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009
    • Prohibits the misappropriation or exclusive control of cultural heritage.
  • Republic Act No. 8423 – Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA)
    • Encourages the development of traditional health care without monopolization.

🏛️ Government Agencies and Cultural Institutions Responsible for Oversight

We call on the following agencies to uphold and protect the inclusive practice of Hilot:

  • National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) – Lead agency for cultural heritage protection
  • National Museum of the Philippines – Preserves and documents Filipino cultural heritage
  • National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) – Conserves historical and intangible heritage
  • Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) – Promotes indigenous languages and cultural expressions
  • Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD – DOST) – Maintains the TKDL on traditional health knowledge
  • Department of Health (DOH) – PITAHC – Regulates traditional medicine within the formal health system

📣 Our Stand

We affirm that:

  • Hilot is a sacred calling, not a commercial brand.
  • No organization has the legal or moral right to claim exclusive ownership of Hilot.
  • Manghihilot practitioners, whether PITAHC-certified or not, have the constitutional and ancestral right to practice Hilot in accordance with their traditions.

🤝 Call to Action

We call on:

  • Government agencies to uphold the rights of traditional healers.
  • Cultural institutions to protect Hilot as a living heritage.
  • Communities and practitioners to stand united against exclusion and monopolization.

✍️ Issued this 4th day of August 2025

Rev. Rolando Gomez Comon
Chief Priest, Templong Anituhan ng Luntiang Aghama
Founder/Program Director Hilot Academy of Binabaylan