NAME: ALIYAH B.

HASSAN
YEAR LEVEL AND SECTION: 1-F
DATE: 02/27/2024

FILIPINO CULTURAL HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

The Philippines has 175 ethnolinguistic groups with their own unique cultural identity

and Health Beliefs and Practices. Filipino culture is a mixture of indigenous and imported and

borrowed elements. It combines PRE-COLONIAL FOLK TRADITIONS with religious concepts

brought during SPANISH colonization, the cosmopolitan elements associated with WESTERN

allopathic medicine shared by AMERICANS.

(1) A long-standing part of Filipino culture, "Hilot" is a traditional method of healing. It

includes massage therapy, herbal remedies, and spiritual practices as part of an all-encompassing

approach to health and wellness. Hilot practitioners, also referred to as "manghihilot," are

respected members of the community with specialized knowledge and abilities in treating a

range of illnesses. These skills have been passed down through the generations. During a hilot

session, the manghihilot solves physical discomfort and facilitates healing using techniques like

massage and manipulation. They frequently use local plants and oils that are renowned for

having therapeutic qualities.

(2) Another significant part of Filipino culture is faith healing, which is based on the

conviction that prayer and divine intervention have the capacity to heal. In Filipino communities,

seeking help from spiritual leaders such as priests or healers who are thought to possess a unique

connection with higher powers is a common practice for faith healing. These healers invoke

blessings and divine healing energy by performing rituals, saying prayers, or laying hands on the

ill.