Manghihilot, Hilot Native Filipino Healing Power

Manghihilot, Hilot History

Hilot, the Filipino healing art, is the oldest and the most secret art in the Philippines. Due of the secrecy of this art, very rarely Hilot Masters teach this art in public. Most Hilots in the Philippines are either teached from relatives, through hands-on practice, or inherited from their forfeathers, passing the healing art from one generation to the next.

Wherever you visit in the Philippines, most Filipinos are exposed to the curative methods of Hilots. The healing art survives through family interation, relatives, and friends. Hilot apprenticeship is taken seriously by the young "hilot" to absorb as much of the knowledge as possible from her "Hilot Priestess."

Hilot records date back to the first civilization of the Philippines (approximately 5th century). Due to the fact that there is no written history of this healing art, numerous new generation Hilot masters failed to document the origins, dates, facts, where the healing art was originated and who developed these effective and intriguing healing art. There is no doubt that Hilot was practiced in the Philippines to varying degress or levels, nationwide, but now it is found in many parts of the world, carried by the Filipino Hilot.

Meaning of name

Hilot is a "Tagalog" word and means „touch with love and care." There are much more other names used to refer to the Hilot healer like: "Manghihilot, Hagod, Manghahagod, Haplos and Magagamot."

Hilot – Native Filipino Healing

Lumenaria is a so called “Hilot” practitioner. She learned these native filipino healing techniques, as a child, from her mother. Cresencia Rodela Kinio - during her lifetime, she was considered the village Hilot, in the barrio of San Roque, Macrohon in southern Leyte, Philippines.

This ancient Filipino art of healing is used to relax stressed muscles. The so called “Masahista”, are usually alternatives to medical doctors in the rural areas of the Philippines. They employ chiropractic manipulation, massage and treatment of musculoligamentous and musculoskeletal ailments. They are also known to reset dislocated and sprained joints such as the knee, ankle, fingers and metacarpal bones.

Hilot tend to be a chiropractor while an Arbularyo tend to be a herbalist and psychic / spiritual healer, and mostly they are able to use both techniques.
On the onset of the Colonial era, the expression of the “Babaylans” native Filipino Pagan, gave rise to the Albularyo. By exchanging the native Filipino Pagan prayers and spells with Catholic “oraciones” and Christian prayers, the Hilot and Albularyo was able to syncretize the ancient mode of healing with the new religion.

As time progressed, the Hilot and Albularyo became a prominent figure in the most rural areas, which are still lacking access to scientific medical practices, but the most of the rural Filipinos, still today, trust more the Hilots and Albularyos, to rid them of common sicknesses and diseases.