Hilot: Traditional Filipino Massage in Siquijor

Long before spa franchises and Swedish massage techniques arrived in the Philippines, there was hilot. This traditional healing art has been passed down through generations, and in Siquijor—an island famous for its mystical healers—hilot remains a living practice, not a museum piece.

Understanding Hilot

History and Origins

Hilot predates Spanish colonization, making it one of the oldest continuous healing traditions in the Philippines. For centuries, every village had its manghihilot (hilot practitioner), often doubling as midwife, bonesetter, and community healer.

The tradition survived through oral teaching—grandmother to granddaughter, healer to apprentice. No textbooks, no certifications. Just hands learning from hands.

How Hilot Works

Unlike Western massage focused on relaxation, hilot is diagnostic. Practitioners:

• Feel for imbalances — sensing “lamig” (coldness) or blocked energy
• Work intuitively — letting their hands find problem areas
• Manipulate joints and muscles — sometimes more like chiropractic than massage
• Incorporate prayer or intention — the spiritual element varies by practitioner

Hilot vs. Modern Spa Massage

Aspect	Hilot	Spa Massage
Approach	Diagnostic, therapeutic	Relaxation-focused
Oil use	Minimal or coconut-based	Professional massage oils
Technique	Intuitive, varies by practitioner	Standardized methods
Clothing	Often remain clothed	Typically unclothed
Setting	Simple home or outdoor	Spa environment
Cost	PHP 200-500	PHP 800-1,500
Goal	Address specific issues	General relaxation

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The Hilot Experience

What to Expect

Your session will likely follow this pattern:

1. Initial conversation — The practitioner asks about your concerns
2. Assessment through touch — They feel your body for problem areas
3. Treatment — Focused work on areas they identify
4. Advice — Post-session recommendations
5. Payment — Often called a “donation” for traditional practitioners

Common Techniques

Traditional hilot may include:

• Standard manipulation — Deep pressure on muscles, joints
• Dagdagay — Bamboo stick massage, especially for feet
• Bentosa — Cupping using heated glass or bamboo
• Suob — Herbal steam treatment
• Paligo — Medicinal plant baths

The Sensations

Be prepared for:

• Deep pressure — This isn’t a gentle Swedish massage
• Joint manipulation — Cracking and mobilization is common
• Potential discomfort — Followed by significant relief
• Warmth — From applied oils or the practitioner’s hands
• Emotional release — Sometimes unexpected tears or feelings arise

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Finding Hilot in Siquijor

You have two main options: traditional village practitioners or resort spas.

Traditional Practitioners

These are the real deal:

• Work from home — Simple settings, authentic experience
• Known through word of mouth — Ask around
• Primarily serve locals — You may be their only tourist client
• Most authentic — Unchanged techniques
• Very affordable — PHP 200-400 typical

How to Find a Traditional Practitioner

1. Ask your accommodation owner — They usually know someone
2. Inquire at local stores — Especially in smaller barangays
3. Ask older residents — They know who’s good
4. Check with tricycle drivers — They know everyone
5. Word of mouth from other travelers — If you meet someone who’s had hilot

Resort and Spa Options

What resort spas offer:

• Comfortable environment — Air conditioning, nice ambiance
• Trained staff — Consistent quality
• Booking convenience — Reserve in advance
• Combined treatments — Hilot with other spa services
• Tourist-friendly — English-speaking, familiar setting

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Types of Hilot Sessions

Basic Relaxation (30-45 minutes)

• General body work
• Good introduction to hilot
• Less intensive
• Price: PHP 200-400

Therapeutic Session (1-2 hours)

• Focused on specific conditions
• More intensive work
• May include herbal applications
• Deeper intervention
• Price: PHP 400-800

Full Healing Session (2+ hours)

• Combined with spiritual elements
• Prayer and intention work
• Comprehensive treatment
• For serious concerns
• Price: PHP 500-1,000

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Hilot for Specific Conditions

What Hilot Commonly Addresses

Traditional practitioners frequently work with:

• Muscle tension and knots — The bread and butter
• Back and neck pain — Very common requests
• Sprains and strains (pilay) — Traditional expertise
• Post-injury recovery — After medical treatment
• General stress and fatigue — The universal modern condition
• Pregnancy discomfort — Traditional specialty (see section below)

Traditional Beliefs

Many hilot practitioners also address concepts unfamiliar to Western medicine:

• “Lamig sa katawan” — Coldness/imbalance in body
• “Usog” — Energy transference from others
• “Pilay” — Dislocations and misalignments beyond what X-rays show
• Spiritual disturbances — When physical symptoms have non-physical causes

You don’t need to believe in these concepts to benefit from the physical treatment.

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Preparing for Your Session

Before You Go

• Eat lightly beforehand (not on a full stomach)
• Stay hydrated
• Know what concerns you want addressed
• Bring cash in small bills
• Wear comfortable, loose clothing
• Remove jewelry

What to Bring

Item	Why
Cash (PHP 300-500 for traditional)	Payment/donation
Small towel	Sometimes provided, sometimes not
Water bottle	For after the session
Open mind	Essential equipment

Communication Tips

Even with language barriers, you can communicate effectively:

• Point to problem areas — Universal language
• Use your face — Wince for pain, smile for good pressure
• “Masakit” — Painful
• “Okay lang” — It’s okay, continue
• “Dito” — Here (pointing)
• “Tama na” — That’s enough

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After Your Hilot

Immediate Effects

• Deep relaxation (sometimes profound)
• Possible soreness (normal, like after exercise)
• Improved range of motion
• Mental clarity
• Sleepiness

Aftercare Advice

Traditional recommendations:

• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid cold drinks (traditional belief)
• Rest if possible
• No strenuous activity same day
• Light stretching is fine

Follow-Up Sessions

• One session helps; multiple sessions treat chronic issues
• 2-3 sessions often recommended for persistent problems
• Weekly sessions during extended stays
• Monthly maintenance for long-term residents

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Hilot During Pregnancy

Traditional Role

Hilot has special significance for pregnant women in Filipino culture:

• Position baby correctly — Traditional technique for breech babies
• Ease pregnancy discomfort — Back pain, swelling
• Prepare body for birth — “Opening” techniques
• Postpartum recovery — Traditional “hilot panganak” after birth

Modern Considerations

If you’re pregnant and interested in hilot:

• Find an experienced prenatal practitioner specifically
• First trimester: lighter work only, some practitioners decline
• Communicate your stage and any complications clearly
• Consider combining with your doctor’s guidance
• Not all practitioners do prenatal work—ask beforehand

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Cost Guide

Type	Setting	Duration	Price
Traditional	Practitioner’s home	45-60 min	PHP 200-400
Traditional therapeutic	Home	1-2 hours	PHP 400-800
Resort spa standard	Spa	60 min	PHP 800-1,200
Resort spa extended	Spa	90 min	PHP 1,200-1,500
Hilot + treatment combo	Spa	2 hours	PHP 1,500-2,500

Payment Etiquette

• Traditional practitioners often frame it as a “donation”
• Ask “Magkano po?” (how much?) if no price is mentioned
• PHP 300-500 is fair for a good traditional session
• Tip more if the session was extended or exceptional
• Always pay in cash

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Hilot vs. Other Siquijor Healing

How It Connects

Hilot is one element of Siquijor’s broader healing tradition:

Practice	What It Is
Hilot	Physical manipulation, massage
Lana	Healing oils, herbal preparations
Bolo-bolo	Spiritual illness removal (blowing through water)
Orasyon	Prayer, incantation healing
Tawas	Divination using candle wax or alum

Many mananambal (traditional healers) practice multiple forms. Your hilot practitioner might also offer other treatments if you’re interested.

A Complete Healing Experience

Some visitors seek the full traditional experience:

1. Hilot for physical work
2. Herbal oil application for specific conditions
3. Prayer or spiritual component if desired
4. Advice for ongoing care and lifestyle

This is more common with established traditional healers than spa settings.

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Practical Tips

Best Time to Book

• Mornings — When most traditional practitioners prefer to work
• After activities — Great recovery after hiking or diving
• Before departure — Send yourself home relaxed
• Not immediately after eating — Wait 1-2 hours

What to Wear

• Loose, comfortable clothing
• Something you can move in
• Traditional practitioners often work through clothes
• Spa settings provide wraps/towels

Language

• Many traditional practitioners speak limited English
• Basic gestures and pointing work fine
• Your accommodation can sometimes translate
• The hands communicate across all languages

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Final Thoughts

Hilot in Siquijor isn’t just massage—it’s a window into a healing system that has survived centuries of colonization, modernization, and the arrival of spa chains. Whether you seek it for tight shoulders or cultural curiosity, you’re participating in living tradition.

The best hilot experiences happen when you release expectations. Let the practitioner’s hands find what needs attention. Trust the process. What emerges may surprise you—a release you didn’t know you needed, an insight about how you’ve been holding your body, or simply the profound relaxation of being worked on by someone who learned their craft from their grandmother, who learned from hers.

Your body carries more than you know. Sometimes it takes ancient hands to remind you what needs letting go.

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For deeper exploration of Siquijor’s healing traditions, see our guide to traditional healers (mananambal). For modern wellness options, explore our yoga and wellness retreats guide.