Going on a holiday will never be complete without a massage for there is no other way to ease tired muscles after a long day of various physical activities than a nice and soothing massage. And a massage seals your quest for relaxation after months or years of hard work. You have seen it in resorts or hotels, they offer different types of massages and other treatments for guests to feel relaxed and tension-free. Foot or a whole body massage, it is one of the ways to pamper yourself even once in a while.

When you visit the Philippines, why not try something new? How about trying hilot, the indigenous Filipino massage? Skip those typical types of massages like Swedish, Thai or Shiatsu and go back to your roots.

What is hilot?

Hilot is a Filipino word for massage but this treatment is more than just using light strokes to relieve stressed muscles. If you are familiar with hilot, this is one of the most common alternatives to medicine in the Philippines. When someone gets sick or dislocated his/her joint, they will call a manghihilot ( a practitioner) rather than going to the doctor. Many Filipinos still use this method to treat some ailments like those persistent coughing, asthma or fever.

This indigenous massage therapy employs strokes to manipulate the energy within the body. It is said that illnesses are caused by energy imbalance and with hilot, a body with harmonious energy can be achieved. Before, many Filipinos frown upon this method but now, the local government is promoting this indigenous healing power even to Philippine tourism.

Hilot is now part of Philippine medical tourism. If you visit a spa or resort, do not be surprise if they offer hilot as one of their services. The local government is also offering many trainings for those who are interested to practice and learn about this type of massage. This is to ensure that guests and tourists will get genuine Filipino massage therapy courtesy of hilot.

When requesting for a hilot, you will be sure of a very relaxing experience. Oils used are the local coconut oil with that strong yet relaxing and entrancing effects. In just a few minutes, you will surely doze off and replenish those lost sleep. Coconut oil will also leave your skin moisturized and if you have been swimming or soaking under the sun, you will have an instant golden glow. Some resorts will let you enjoy a nice massage in front of the beach or in the middle of a nice garden to further boost its calming and healing effects.

Indulge in this unique and Filipino-style massage. You can only enjoy this massage/treatment during your stay in the Philippines. When in the Philippines, request for a hilot and see for yourself why this old tradition has been around for years.

Pristine beaches, warm locals, sumptuous meals and sunny weather..these are just some of the reasons why we love to travel to the Philippines. But do you know that this paradise also offers a different kind of tourism? The local government of the Philippines in cooperation with other sectors are now promoting Philippines as a top destination for medical tourism. Also known as medical travel and health tourism, the Philippines is perfect for individuals seeking a nice place to treat their medical concerns.

Now popular in other countries in Europe as well as in Thailand, Philippine medical tourism has a very bright future. Its medical practitioners are well-trained and truly world-class.They have been trained in prestigious medical institutions outside the country like in the US and Japan. Facilities of top Philippine hospitals can at par those found in other countries with world-class equipments. As an English-speaking country, language barrier will never be an issue for the patients. Filipino culture are extended to medical staff with genuine sincerity and compassion towards their patients. Most of all, the cost that you will incur for your treatments are lower compared to those found in other countries like the US. Patients can seek treatments in the Philippines at a lower price.

So what kind of medical treatments can a medical tourist get while visiting the Philippines? The most common are those related to cosmetics and plastic surgeries from rhinoplasty to liposuction. These cosmetic procedures are cheaper compared to other countries.  Aside from cosmetic, transplants and other intensive surgeries are offered in the Philippines.

There are many hospitals in the Philippines that offer these treatments. Top hospitals in the country are St. Luke’s Medical Center, Makati Medical Center and World Citi Center. Outside Manila,you can access these medical procedures in top hospitals from major cities like Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

Medical tourism in the Philippine doesn’t just end in the medical procedure and treatments. Part of the whole package is the recuperating period of the patients. With these, local tourism offers many spa retreats and other wellness packages for patients to heal with utmost ease and faster. Other than spa retreats, a trip to relaxing destinations with the freshest air is already good for recovering patients.

An hour’s drive away from Manila is the popular resort city of Tagaytay where Nurture Spa promises relaxing and rejuvenating experiences. Offering distinctly Filipino accommodations in native-style huts, Nurture’s body-mind-spirit activities are a good start to embracing a wellness lifestyle.

In Batangas, one of Manila’s nearby provinces, is the popular San Benito Farm, a holistic health resort. The Farm’s Salus per Aqua Spa has womb-like private massage pavilions offering reflexology, Thai massage, stone massage, body scrubs and a unique ’massage under the stars’ for that perfect romantic nightcap. Also in Batangas is the Sanctuary Spa at Maya Maya with a full menu of treatments including ‘hilot’ the traditional filipino massage.

Boracay’s Mandala Spa is a secluded resort of just 12 luxury villas and home to award-winning holistic therapies. Using all natural products, Mandala offers a range of pampering treatments which promise to rejuvenate body and mind. Then there’s the Surfside Boracay Resort and Spa, whose 14 rooms give on to the gorgeous turquoise waters, and offer Japanese style spa treatments.

In Palawan, Club Paradise boasts an Island Spa set in a gorgeous nature preserve. Along with resort facilities including private beaches, it offers deeply relaxing treatments using local, organic ingredients, mixed and blended into unique scents and remedies. The spa’s virgin coconut oil is its signature product, ideal for skin and hair care as well as general well being. The Ananyana Beach Resort and Spa on the scenic island of Bohol specialises in traditional massage and refreshing treatments.

Stretching along the white sand of Doljo Beach, the resort has eight suites and a herbal aromatic spa offering personalised, hand blended natural products drawn from the lush tropical surroundings. The therapists are all from the island and practise an indulgent massage which is a form of healing practice in the local villages. The pampering also includes a citric foot wash, herbal tea and fruit.

Jumping across to Cebu, the Mogambo Springs of the Plantation Bay Resort is set among waterfalls, creeks, and a soothing hot spring which afford mineral baths and hydro-massage. Other treatments include a dry-heat sauna, reflexology, aromatherapy, body scrub, and traditional massage. Cebu also hosts various walk-in spas, such as Zen Therapeutic Massage and Grand Royal Spa, along with Body and Sole.

Source:  Philippine Department of Tourism