PASIG CITY, Philippines- The rest of 2016 was another fruitful year for the Hilot advocacy of the Association of Traditional Health Aid Givers Philippines, Inc. (ATHAG) under its President, Albularyo Bibiano “Boy” S. Fajardo. In addition to bringing traditional Hilot healing services to the public at its office in Bo. Kapitolyo, the following were the highlights for Hilot for 2016:
National Certification Committee for Hilot
After years of working on the National Competency Standards for Hilot and the guidelines for its implementation, the next step in the process for the official recognition and certification of Hilot practitioners was taken with the first meeting of the Philippine Institute for Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC)- National Certification Committee for Hilot. The first meeting of the Committee was held on Nov. 25, 2016 at the PITAHC office in Quezon City.
The committee will work out the details of the process for the recognition of long-time practicing traditional healers, as well as new Hilot practitioners who would study under formal training programs.
Hilot training programs
A basic course on Hilot was held for students of the Philippine Institute of Naturopathic Sciences (PINS) during the month of May 2016. The course culminated with Hilot missions held from August to October 2016 at the GPH Wellness and Diagnostic Clinic in Payatas Quezon City. The Hilot trainees under GPH also participated in the free Hilot missions.
Meanwhile, a follow-up training was conducted for the Hilot trainees of San Felipe, Zambales from November 28 to December 2, 2016. Still with the enthusiastic support of Mayor Carolyn Farinas, a total of 24 participants, consisting of several trainees from the first batch, as well as new participants, took part in the training.
Conferences featuring Hilot
On April 27, 2016, Albularyo Bibiano S. Fajardo was invited to present an overview of Hilot at the 1st Batangas-Laguna Massage Therapists Summit. The event was organized by PARTHIA Hilot at Hilom Pilipinas and was held at Paseo Premiere, Santa Rosa City, Laguna.
Albularyo Boy Fajardo also presented Hilot in the International Congress on Integrative Therapies and Health, a free online conference that featured various modalities of healing from all over the world. Organized by Brazilian physiotherapist-acupuncturist Dr. Carla Silva, who also studied Hilot under Albularyo Boy, the conference was held from September 20 to 24, 2016, and aimed to present effective alternatives to conventional modalities of healing.
Features on TV, radio, and print media
Hilot was featured on ABS-CBN’s popular magazine show, Rated K in one of its episodes in March 2016. Traditional healing was also part of the feature done by the Russian TV channel, “My Planet,” a state-owned channel dedicated to travel, science, and history. The My Planet team did their shoot at Mt. Banahaw on March 24, 2016.
On DZMM Teleradyo, BSF appeared on Pinoy Vibes with Stargazer on March 20, 2016 to talk about Banahaw Spirituality, and on august 14, 2016 about engkantos. BSF was also a guest of Gerry Cornejo’s program, “The Voice of the Philippines” on DZRJ 810 am on August 27, 2016.
Meanwhile, ATHAG Hilot was part of Good Housekeeping’s article for back pain on September 2016.
BOY FAJARDO HILOT 