For over nine years, Hilot Academy of Binabaylan, the educational ministry arm of Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc. (also known as Landas ng Lahi), has been a beacon of ancestral wisdom and healing. Since our founding, we have produced 64 Hilot Binabaylan Practitioners who now serve their communities across the globe—many of whom are part of the Filipino diaspora returning home to reconnect with our sacred healing traditions.

These students had the option to study Hilot through government-accredited institutions such as TESDA or PITAHC, yet they chose us. Why? Because our teachings resonate with their spiritual calling. They sought not just technical skills, but a deeper understanding of Hilot as a sacred art and science—a practice rooted in the soul of our people.

Reclaiming the Sacred in Healing

From the beginning, we made a vow: to share the personal and ancestral knowledge of Hilot, including the practice of Tawas—a spiritual diagnostic method used by traditional Manghihilot. We have demystified Orasyon, reframing it as Therapeutic Communication and Timing, recognizing that words and timing can profoundly affect the mind, emotions, and healing process of the patient.

In our academy, Hilot is soul healing. We believe that the health of the body is inseparable from the health of the spirit. When the soul departs from the body, life ceases. Thus, healing must begin with the soul.

The Struggle for Accreditation

In our early years, we wrestled with the idea of seeking accreditation from government bodies. I personally contributed to the development of Hilot curricula for institutions like the Hilot Philippines Development Center, a legacy school of Dr. Mina Gabor, former Secretary of the Department of Tourism. I also helped establish the Philippine Japan Hilot Association, which gained accreditation from TESDA and the Department of Tourism.

But when it came to Hilot Academy of Binabaylan, we chose a different path.

Why? Because the current accreditation standards forbid the inclusion of Tawas and Orasyon in the curriculum. They limit spiritual practices to Christian and Islamic prayers, excluding indigenous expressions of faith and healing. This reflects a colonial mindset that prioritizes physical health while neglecting the soul.

Standing for Decolonization and Spiritual Integrity

We teach decolonization. We honor the wisdom of our ancestors. We believe that healing is not just clinical—it is spiritual, emotional, and cultural. To conform to accreditation standards would mean compromising our identity and silencing the soul of Hilot.

Unless PITAHC or other bodies are willing to fund research that validates Tawas as a legitimate diagnostic method, we remain in a dilemma: Do we embrace autonomy or submit to colonized standards?

A Vision for the Future

Despite these challenges, we continue to dream. We envision a future where Hilot Binabaylan is not only an ecclesiastical degree in ministry but also recognized as an academic degree. We are committed to ensuring that our graduates are employable, empowered, and respected as Hilot Binabaylan Practitioners—both in the Philippines and around the world.

We walk the path of the Binabaylan: bridging worlds, healing souls, and reclaiming our sacred traditions. And we invite you to walk with us.