Enjoy the benefits of traditional Filipino healing in deluxe comfort
By Teddy Y. Montelibano Hilot, the traditional Filipino therapeutic treatment, is being introduced to an international clientele with its inclusion as one of the wellness offerings of the Mandarin Oriental Manila’s The Oriental Spa.
The person responsible for introducing this service is The Oriental Spa’s consultant, Ronald Decter. Thanks to his keen interest in traditional and natural healing methods, Decter stumbled upon the Philippines’ own indigenous healing modality, hilot, and lost no time in making it available to the spa’s clients.
“There is a growing appreciation—an awakening, really—to the value of traditional, natural medicine in every country,” says Decter. “The incorporation of these treatments into our spa’s treatment options is a perfect fit. I believe a visit to The Oriental Spa should not only provide guests with relaxation but should also contribute directly to their health and well-being.”
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| One of The Oriental Spa’s treatment rooms |
Balance and Harmony
The principles of hilot have been practiced in the Philippines for centuries, dating back to an era that predates the country’s written history. Although hilot is indigenously Filipino, it has traces of influence from the great medical traditions, that is, traditional Chinese medicine, India’s Ayur-Veda, and the Yunani-Tibb medical traditions of Persia and Greece.
Like other systems of natural health care, the basic concept of traditional Filipino healing is that health and wellness are maintained by balance and harmony. On the other hand, discomfort, illness, and disease are the results of imbalance and disharmony. In applying hilot, the therapist identifies areas of energy imbalance in a client’s body through touch diagnosis. From here, the therapist proceeds to customize the treatment to remove or alleviate such imbalances.
According to Decter, who has done extensive research on hilot since his introduction to it, the goal of The Oriental Spa’s hilot treatments is to “restore balance and harmony in all bodily functions, and in their interactions, thus restoring the normal, natural functioning of the body.”
Personal Experience
Shortly after my luncheon meeting with Decter, I dropped by The Oriental Spa. As I stood there going over the spa’s menu of services, the lady receptionist asked if I wanted to try any of their new traditional treatments. These include Bentosa (cupping), an ancient treatment to stimulate circulation and the nervous system, balance blood flow, dissipate the cold spots in your body (lamig sa katawan), and remove toxins. Bentosa takes about 30 minutes and costs P2,400.
Dagdagay, meanwhile, is a traditional foot massage originating from the Mountain Province’s highland villages. It employs two sticks, either bamboo or rattan, to stimulate the feet’s nerve endings to restore optimum health. This treatment begins with a soothing foot soak using medicinal herbs and culminates with a herbal foot wrap and massage. For a 30-minute session, one has to pay P1,800.
While the Bentosa and Dagdagay treatments really sounded interesting, after my conversation with Decter, I was keen on sampling hilot. The Spa receptionist asked me to choose from among three massage treatments using hilot: the therapeutic hilot massage, the Sportsman’s Relief, or the Golf and Racquet Sports Special.
The first is a customized massage that combines deep-tissue massage and smooth, flowing strokes. Ideal for those with deep-rooted stress or strains, it costs P3,200 for a 90-minute session. The Sportsman’s Relief is a full body massage combining hilot and aromatheraphy oils to remove aches and pains associated with active sports. Special emphasis is given to areas of muscle tension, stress, or discomfort. A 90-minute session also costs P3,200. The third option, the Golf and Racquet Sports Special, is also a full body massage using hilot strokes to relieve stiff, painful muscles, especially in the shoulders, hips, and waists. Great before or after a game of golf, tennis, or badminton, a 60-minute session costs P2,400.
My favorite sport is badminton, which I play at least twice or thrice a week. And so I chose the Golf and Racquet Special. To make a long story short, it fulfilled everything that the treatment promised. I felt like a million dollars afterwards and, the next day, I was unbeatable on the badminton court!
The Oriental Spa is on the 18th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Manila, Makati Avenue, Makati City. For inquiries or reservations, call 867-4461 or email orientalspa@fitnessfirst.com.ph
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