The Foodinista

Blumentritt Signs

Hilot is an ancient Filipino Art of Healing. They are cheaper alternatives to medical doctors which are popular in deep rural areas. However, we also have them here in Manila. They can be found in Quiapo and Blumentritt. It is just a few walks away from Blumentritt station, in Quiapo - Carriedo Station.

I was tasked to do a photo essay on Magtatawas and Manghihilot. These two are a little different actually. The manghihilot uses body/ coconut oil and massages the person who needs medication. While the magtatawas uses a candle, do a prayer or ritual afterwards, drips the candle wax to the water and does some reading based on what shaped have formed on the water.

Our helper at home suddenly had a feelings of leg aches during that week. She has been taking oral supplements to ease the pain and tried going to a doctor for a check up but apparently she has not been healed yet.

This is Aling Tinay, a traditional manghihilot. They do this job from 8am to 5pm just like normal jobs. A tawas cost P50 and so as the hilot. It's cheaper if you get it in bundle.
So at first, our helper Glenn was asked to put her feet up and then Aling Tinay massaged it right away. She carefully caressed her legs, slowly and looking for the so called "lamig" as we call it here in the Philippines.

Manghihilot

Tools

Her tool contains the basic items such as alcohol, a plastic container for the water, a baby oil, tawas, and other unidentified objects.


I believe this business is doing good for them that's why they had been here since 2005 or even earlier. Most of the manghihilot and magtatawas are already in thier 40's, Most of them are really old.


After the panghihilot treatment, according to Aling Tinay, our helper stepped on a Duwende in our bathroom probably when she was cleaning it so she was recommended to drink plenty of water and give an offering to the space where it is believed where the Duwende's were staying.



Aling Tinay took a piece of rice and then wrapped it in a white parchment paper gave it to Glenn and asked to keep it for protection or pangontra for a few weeks.


We went home and right away prepared our offerings to the washroom and apologized to the "bad" spirits.



We smoked incense inside the bathroom and did a short prayer.
I actually don't believe in paranormal beings or Duwendes, Capres and Filipino mythical creatures.
But who knows if they're real or not?
It is part of our culture being Filipinos and don't think there's any harm in believing it once in a while as long as we're not doing any harm to them or to ourselves.