The process of knowing oneself through the Ritual of Suob

Yesterday was our 4th day of Hilot Training at International Institute of Rural Reconstruction at Brgy. Biga 2, Silang, Cavite. And I have shared and made them experience the wondeful healing experience brought by suob.

Suob is one of the hilot treatment practices that is categorize under Banyos which is one method of Bathing. As we bath, banyos aims to cleanse us and remove dirt and unwanted particles or microbes in our body. But suob does not only remove the superficial dirt in our body but it extracts out unnecessary liquids in our body through sweating. Bathing procedures or Banyos has many form in Hilot. We have pagpupunas, we have pagbababad, we have paglalanggas (which includes douching and enema) and pagbabanlaw.

In suob, we bathe the client through steam vapor. We prepare special cleansing herbs place it on a pot of water and boil it. Once it boil, we place it under the chair as the patient sits on it and cover the patient with blanket so that the vapor will rise and circulate on the patients body. Blanket is placed over the patient so that the vapor will not escape and the patient will absorb it. As we cover the patient with blanket, the manghihilot will sit on the side and pray or chant to reassure that the patients is not alone in their healing process. Inside the blanket, the patient will feel the heat of the vapor and extract toxins by sweating. Through this the patient will recognize their part of the body and learn what their body needs. This healing ritual is usually prescribed to mothers who newly delivered baby and it is done on the 9th day in preparation for bath. It is said by tradition that mother who just deliver birth are not allowed to take a bath as they will went crazy. And this kind of bath will help the mother to recover her soul back that usually goes with the new born child during birth.

As testimony of this procedure, my former students give this ritual to those lgbt individuals having their transitioning process so as to those who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. This procedure could also be beneficial for those who suffers from anxiety and depression.

In Luntiang Aghama, we are providing this services procedure. If interested kindly message me either through email at apuadman@landasnglahi.com or through text and call at +639952467040.