The Indigenous Aeta People

Ethnonyms: Ayta, Agta, Atta, Ata, Ati, Ita Countries inhabited: The Philippines Language family: Austronesian Language branch: Malayo-Polynesian

The Aeta people are indigenous to the northern part of the Philippines — specifically the island of Luzon. Historians and anthropologists still debate when and how they migrated there, the consensus being that they crossed from the island of Borneo between twenty and thirty thousand years ago, using a land bridge that was partially covered by water around five thousand years ago (the remaining part of which is now the island of Palawan).

Indigenous Aeta people

Whatever their migration path was, the Aeta are without doubt among the first — if not the first — inhabitants of the Philippines. One area of that country where the Aeta had lived for thousands of years is around Mount Pinatubo. An active volcano, it erupted in June of 1991. It was one of the worst volcanic eruptions in history and was devastating to the nearby Aeta population. Around a quarter of a million people lost their homes — many of them Aetas. Although the area is still being cleaned up, the Aetas have long since re-settled in urban areas of Luzon. It is doubtful they will ever return to their former homeland.

Indigenous Aeta people

Traditionally a hunting-gathering people, the Aeta are still among the most skilled anywhere on Earth in jungle survival. That skill was not overlooked by the United States military. During the American war in Vietnam, the US naval base at Subic Bay was conveniently located close to the Aeta village of Pastolan. Many Vietnam veterans were trained in jungle survival there before they ever landed in Vietnam.

Indigenous Aeta people

One man in particular, Manifacio de la Junta Florentino, photographed above, played such a large part in that training that the walls of his humble house are covered with accolades and letters of appreciation from high-ranking US military personnel. Mr. Florentino was my host during my stay in his village.

Indigenous Aeta people

These days, Mr. Florentino lets the next generation practice jungle survival and demonstrate the techniques to visitors. His time is taken up by his duties as village headman, as well as keeper of the village karaoke machine.

Indigenous Aeta people

Children flock to his house most evenings to give their renditions of Western songs. If you've traveled in Southeast Asia, you'll know that karaoke is the single most common form of entertainment. Even so, it was strange to see how popular it was in this village.

Indigenous Aeta people

It shouldn't have been so surprising, though. These days the Aeta have many outside influences on their traditional culture and lifestyle. One example is religion. Although the Spaniards brought Catholicism to the Philippines, that religious conversion was largely restricted to the majority ethnic Malay population. Spanish colonists had little contact with the indigenous peoples of the Philippines. Still, Catholicism has reached many Aetas, including those I saw in Pastolan village.

Indigenous Aeta people

Other "modern" influences on the Aeta include inter-marriage with Filipinos, the sport of basketball — surprising when you realize that many Aetas are less that 5 feet tall — and the game of pool.

Indigenous Aeta people

Although the Aeta were among the first inhabitants of the Philippines, natural disasters and exploitation of their land for natural resources have acted over the years to displace many of them. However, the government has recently paid more attention and respect to their heritage and way of life through organizations such as The Indigenous People Development Plan .

On February 2, 2001 the Aetas in these photographs were granted Ancestral Domain Title to their land. The official certificate reads that this title was granted in virtue of their "having continuously occupied, possessed and utilized [the land] since time immemorial." Interestingly, it is written neither in Aeta Ambala, their indigenous language (which very few Aetas still speak), nor in Tagalog, the most widely spoken language in the Philippines. Instead, it is written in English.

Indigenous Aeta people

Aeta children go to school these days. Their curriculum is the same as that of their Filipino peers. The subjects taught include English, culture and good manners. The school in Pastolan village is desperately short of materials though. The children were very interested in my visit to their school. The photograph above shows them singing a "welcome" song for me — which they sang in both English and Tagalog.

They were just as welcoming after school. When the karaoke machine was turned on for the evening's entertainment, they insisted I sing them a song. After straining to complete My Way and handing back the microphone, I grabbed my camera. The children then immediately grouped themselves for an impromptu shot.

Indigenous Aeta people

Photography copyright © 1999 - 2024, Ray Waddington. All rights reserved. Text copyright © 1999 - 2024, The Peoples of the World Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Waddington, R. (2002, revised edition 2023), The Indigenous Aeta People. The Peoples of the World Foundation. Retrieved April 21, 2024, from The Peoples of the World Foundation. <https://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/aetas/>

Web Links Aeta Tribe Foundation . Books Eder, J. F., (1988) On the Road to Tribal Extinction: Depopulation, Deculturation, and Maladaptation Among the Batak of the Philippines . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Brosius, J. P., (1990) After Duwagan: Deforestation, Succession, and Adaptation in Upland Luzon, Philippines . Michigan Studies of South and Southeast Asia Number 2. Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan Press. Early, J. D. & Headland, T. N. (1998) Population Dynamics of a Philippine Rain Forest People: The San Ildefonso Agta . Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press. P. B. Griffin & A. Estioko-Griffin, eds. (1985) The Agta of Northeastern Luzon: Recent Studies . Cebu City, the Philippines: San Carlos Publications.

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  • The Aeta The First Philippine...

The Aeta: The First Philippine People

Aeta tribe people in Santa Juliana, Capas, Central Luzon, Philippines

The Aetas, pronounced as “e ye-tas ,” are among the earliest known migrants or inhabitants of the Philippines . Over the years, the majority of their population managed to keep their cultural practices and traditions. But sadly, as one of the indigenous groups thriving in the country, they also face challenges such as displacement, marginalization, and poverty.

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The history of the Aetas

According to historians, the Aetas (also known as Agtas) are Australo-Melanesians. Historical accounts suggest that they’re of the same group as those of Aborigines in Australia and Melanesians of Solomon Islands. While they closely resemble physical characteristics such as curly hair and dark colored skin, it is not clear as to how they arrived in the Philippines.

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Their distinguishing characteristics and practices

Aetas are characterized by their skin color, height, and hair type. They mostly have dark to dark-brown skin, curly hair, and are usually below five-feet tall. Traditionally, Aetas are hunting and gathering indigenous people. They’re actually among the most skilled when it comes to jungle survival – they are even able to make use of plants as herbal medicine and possess tools and weapons. While they’re nomadic, they are able to build temporary houses made of sticks.

Aeta child, Capas, Philippines

Most Aetas practice monotheism and are animists. They worship a Supreme Being and at the same time, also believe in environmental spirits. They believe that various places in our environment are being governed by both good and evil spirits.

As for their clothing, they wear plain and simple attire. Traditional Aetas, who are skilled in weaving and plating, wear wrap around skirts or bark cloth (for women) and loin cloths for men. They are also into music and the arts – making use of ornaments as accessories and have ensembles of instruments to create melodious rhythms.

Colonial resistance and unfortunate displacement

Because they are usually scattered in mountainous areas, the Spaniards had a hard time introducing Catholicism to their population. They mostly resisted to change, which made it difficult for the Spanish to colonize their areas. This is also one of the reasons why they were able to preserve their cultural traditions and beliefs through to today.

Mt. Pinatubo crater lake, Capas , Philippines

Most Aetas can be found in the northern part of Luzon . According to historical accounts, they have lived near Mount Pinatubo in Zambales for thousands of years. But, when Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, it devastated the Aeta population. The majority lost their homes while some re-settled in urban areas. This gave way to Aetas being modernly influenced by prevailing Filipino culture and practices. Some Aetas have already married Filipinos. Most Aetas also go to school nowadays.

Challenges today

In the Philippines, Aetas as well as other indigenous groups, belong to the marginalized sector of the country. They’re often displaced because their homelands have been destroyed due to illegal logging, mining, and slash-and-burn farming. Thus, these situations have forced them to relocate and leave their ancestral lands.

While the Philippine government has implemented mandates and acts such as the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 , it’s not enough to protect them and help them cope with matters such as access to jobs and livelihood support.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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The Philippines Magazine International

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Rediscovering the Aetas: The First Filipinos and a Vibrant Symbol of Inclusivity in the Philippines

Philippines Magazine-Rotary Club Malolos Welcomes First Black American Member Kareem Jackson Press Pic 6

I’m in The Philippines, y’all! Now, let me tell you something about this beautiful nation – it’s not just about the stunning beaches and delicious cuisine.

It’s also about the people, the culture, and the inclusivity that’s woven into the very fabric of this country.

And today, we’re going to shine a spotlight on the Aetas, who are basically the OG Filipinos – yes, you heard that right!

5 Intriguing facts about the Aeta, the Black indigenous people of the Philippines:

Ancient roots:.

The Aetas are believed to be one of the oldest indigenous groups in the Philippines, with a history that dates back more than 20,000 years.

They are considered the original inhabitants of the archipelago and have a deep connection to the land.

Diverse Languages:

While Aeta communities share some common cultural practices, they also have distinct languages and dialects.

In fact, there are several Aeta languages spoken throughout the Philippines, showcasing the diversity within this indigenous group.

Hunter-Gatherer Lifestyle:

Traditionally, the Aetas have been hunter-gatherers, relying on their extensive knowledge of the forest and its resources for survival.

They are skilled in using traditional hunting tools like bows and arrows and are known for their expertise in navigating the dense jungles of the Philippines.

Resilience in the Face of Challenges:

Aeta communities have faced numerous challenges over the centuries, including displacement due to deforestation and the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991.

Despite these difficulties, they have managed to preserve their culture and traditions, emphasizing their resilience and adaptability.

Traditional Tattoos:

Aetas have a rich tradition of tattooing, which serves both cultural and spiritual purposes.

Tattoos are often applied using thorns or bamboo sticks and ink made from natural ingredients. These tattoos are more than just body art; they are symbols of identity and heritage within Aeta communities.

These facts highlight the unique and rich cultural heritage of the first Filipinos, the black Aetas in the Philippines, and their significant contribution to the country’s history.

The Aetas: The First Filipinos

Now, let’s take a trip back in time, way before all the hustle and bustle, to a time when the Philippines was just getting started.

The Aetas, my friends, were there from the get-go.

These folks are the real deal – the indigenous peeps who were chilling in the Philippines long before anyone else. They’re like the OG homies of these islands, and their culture and history are a true testament to the Philippines’ rich diversity.

The Aetas have their own unique way of life, language, and a deep connection to the land they call home. They’ve held on to their traditions and lifestyle for centuries, even as the Philippines evolved and changed around them.

Preserving Heritage: Aetas in Pampanga

Okay, let me drop some knowledge on you – there’s something big happening in Pampanga, Philippines. This province is home to a significant Aeta community, and their story is intertwined with Pampanga’s history. Guess what? The Aetas were recently recognized for their history and given more than 42,000 acres of land in Pampanga. Can you believe it? This is a massive milestone in recognizing their rightful place in the Philippines’ history and society. It’s a shining example of the country’s commitment to respecting the rights and heritage of its indigenous people.

A Platform for Inclusivity: The Philippines Magazine International

Now, let’s talk about The Philippines Magazine International. This ain’t just any magazine; it’s a platform that’s putting the Aetas’ culture and heritage front and center.

They’re using articles, interviews, and features to let the world in on the Aeta’s stories and traditions. It’s like a megaphone for these amazing folks.

But here’s the best part – it’s not just about the Aetas. The magazine also celebrates Blazzians, who are folks with both Black and Filipino roots.

This is the Philippines showing love to folks of all backgrounds and cultures. Plus, they’re planning to include Aetas in their magazines, studios, and shows, giving them a bigger stage to share their incredible heritage and unique perspectives.

The Philippines: A Beacon of Inclusivity

Believe it or not, the Philippines has a long history of being a welcoming and inclusive place for people from all walks of life. Remember, the first Filipinos weren’t just Black – they were indigenous too. And their legacy lives on today.

The Philippines has earned its reputation as a “racism-free” haven for Black folks and people from all over the world.

Leaders like General Fagin, Muhammad Ali during the “Thrilla in Manila,” and President Duterte have all stood up against racial discrimination and violence against Black Americans in the U.S.

That’s some serious solidarity, y’all!

The Role of Education: Black Wellness Tours and Medical Tourism

Now, let’s talk about education. It’s a powerful tool for change, and the Philippines is using it to the fullest. They’ve got awesome programs like Black Wellness Tours and Medical Tourism that let Black Americans explore their heritage and appreciate the beauty of Black culture.

These initiatives not only help folks connect with their roots but also highlight the Philippines as a global ally for diversity and inclusion. They’re spreading the message that Black culture is beautiful and transcends borders, building bridges of understanding and respect between cultures.

In a nutshell, the Aetas in the Philippines represents a living, breathing testament to the nation’s history and its commitment to inclusivity.

The Philippines Magazine International and other initiatives are making sure that their stories are heard and their heritage is celebrated.

And as more Black Americans wake up to the global tapestry of diversity and inclusion, the Philippines is here, arms wide open, ready to welcome everyone and embrace the beauty of Black culture.

It’s a celebration of unity, y’all!

By Kareem Jackson For The Philippines Magazine International

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Photojournalists&#39; Center of the Philippines

Hinubog ng Panata: The vanishing spiritual traditions of the Aetas of Capas, Tarlac

Pau - PCIJ --7.jpg

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY Pau Villanueva

Nature and biodiversity are more than just sources of food, water, energy, and raw materials for the Aeta communities of Capas, Tarlac. Their cultural identity, well-being, and spiritual traditions are grounded on their regard for the living world. Among Philippine indigenous groups, the Aetas are known for their extensive knowledge of herbs and indigenous healing methods. 

Spirituality is a way for them to honor their worldview, which was adopted by their ancestors who had lived in the Luzon mountain ranges long before Spanish colonization. Aeta healers, locally called “mang-aanito,” are sought after. Considered custodians of ancestral knowledge and philosophies, these community elders are keen on preserving their indigenous ecologies. 

One of the local healers in Sitio Binyayan, Nida Cautibar, recalls how her calling began. “When I was sick with typhus, my Aeta neighbors took care of me and eventually taught me how to use herbal medicine,” says Nida. “Being entrusted with this knowledge, it has now become my responsibility to heal the sick without asking for compensation,” she adds. Aeta healers believe their mission is to share their healing experiences as a means of keeping society together rather than as a means of acquiring wealth. Healing, for them, is also a way to give back to the Aeta and the non-Aeta communities.

But the multi-billion New Clark City development project in Capas, Tarlac is threatening the indigenous ecology and continues its relentless path without free, prior and informed consent from the Aetas who live there. According to the website of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the project’s implementing agency, New Clark City is designed to be “wrapped around magnificent views of the hills.” The change in landscape – from flora and fauna to roads and infrastructure – is rendering irreversible damage to the natural world that is the Aetas’ only source of information, passed on from one generation to another through oral tradition.

“We used to roam the forests freely but now, we are scared. We are restricted in our own lands,” says Rosette David, an Aeta healer who has been living in Sitio Bagingan for more than 28 years. “Nature is vanishing as roads are being paved.”

The world over, indigenous peoples have long been considered guardians of global biodiversity, as they have accumulated intimate knowledge of the ecosystems in which they live. Development aggression not only threatens indigenous culture that is deeply rooted in land, but also the extinction of an entire heritage.

 A small native hut in Sitio Alli where an Aeta family lives is situated near one of the construction sites of New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The Aeta residents find it difficult to sleep whenever construction goes into the night.

A small native hut in Sitio Alli where an Aeta family lives is situated near one of the construction sites of New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The Aeta residents find it difficult to sleep whenever construction goes into the night.

 An Aeta devotee of the Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ in Sitio Kawayan kneels before the chapel’s altar to pray. Other religious orders and benevolent groups are recognized by Aeta communities in Capas, Tarlac. Even within these denominati

An Aeta devotee of the Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ in Sitio Kawayan kneels before the chapel’s altar to pray. Other religious orders and benevolent groups are recognized by Aeta communities in Capas, Tarlac. Even within these denominations, Aetas still practice spiritual beliefs instilled on them by their ancestors.

 Nida Cautidar, a local healer from Sitio Kalangitan, performs a diagnostic ritual by cracking a raw egg into a glass of water to be examined for any change in shape that might suggest the nature of one’s illness. Nida learned these healing practices

Nida Cautidar, a local healer from Sitio Kalangitan, performs a diagnostic ritual by cracking a raw egg into a glass of water to be examined for any change in shape that might suggest the nature of one’s illness. Nida learned these healing practices from years of living in Capas, Tarlac, surrounded by Aeta communities.

 An alternative diagnostic ritual performed by healers to identify maladies involves hovering a blank paper over a gas lamp. According to Nida Cautidar, the resulting burnt formations suggest that the sick person has unconsciously disturbed dwelling

An alternative diagnostic ritual performed by healers to identify maladies involves hovering a blank paper over a gas lamp. According to Nida Cautidar, the resulting burnt formations suggest that the sick person has unconsciously disturbed dwelling places of spirits.

 Aeta resident Leah (name changed to protect her privacy) holds freshly picked hagonoy weeds while strolling along a flattened road in Sitio Alli, Capas, Tarlac. According to Leah, they used to roam freely in the area, which was covered with herbal p

Aeta resident Leah (name changed to protect her privacy) holds freshly picked hagonoy weeds while strolling along a flattened road in Sitio Alli, Capas, Tarlac. According to Leah, they used to roam freely in the area, which was covered with herbal plants and fruit-bearing trees. Security cameras have been installed to monitor intruders amid the construction of New Clark City.

 Lily De Guzman, an Aeta healer from Sitio Gayangan, prays over medicinal plants to be used for her sick grandchild. As one of the senior Aeta healers from her community, Nanay Lily is revered for her spirituality and vast herbal knowledge.

Lily De Guzman, an Aeta healer from Sitio Gayangan, prays over medicinal plants to be used for her sick grandchild. As one of the senior Aeta healers from her community, Nanay Lily is revered for her spirituality and vast herbal knowledge.

 Sambong leaves are pounded to extract juice, taken orally to cure stomach ache and diarrhea. The Aetas, who live in the mountains, have utmost respect for the living world. Their traditional medicine practices are deeply rooted in nature.

Sambong leaves are pounded to extract juice, taken orally to cure stomach ache and diarrhea. The Aetas, who live in the mountains, have utmost respect for the living world. Their traditional medicine practices are deeply rooted in nature.

 Lily De Guzman presses on hagonoy leaves mixed with salt onto her grandchild's forehead after he shows flu symptoms. Lily and the Aeta community of Sitio Gayanon firmly believe that the hagonoy plant keeps them safe from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lily De Guzman presses on hagonoy leaves mixed with salt onto her grandchild's forehead after he shows flu symptoms. Lily and the Aeta community of Sitio Gayanon firmly believe that the hagonoy plant keeps them safe from the Covid-19 pandemic.

 ‘Anituhan’ is a kind of community healing ritual that is often performed by the healer along with family and relatives during a full moon. In Aeta culture, the ‘anito’ represents environmental spirits residing in the natural world. Aetas believe tha

‘Anituhan’ is a kind of community healing ritual that is often performed by the healer along with family and relatives during a full moon. In Aeta culture, the ‘anito’ represents environmental spirits residing in the natural world. Aetas believe that their traditional dances and music make it possible for one to be in contact with caring spirits. ‘Pag-aanito’ is the purest and highest form of the ritual that they can perform to heal a person possessed by spirits.

 Oscar Capiz, an Aeta healer, chants as he performs the healing ritual of pag-aanito to his daughter Mary Grace (kneeling face down) and a grandchild. Oscar says he traveled for two hours to his daughter’s house in Sitio Flora after his personal spir

Oscar Capiz, an Aeta healer, chants as he performs the healing ritual of pag-aanito to his daughter Mary Grace (kneeling face down) and a grandchild. Oscar says he traveled for two hours to his daughter’s house in Sitio Flora after his personal spirit guide told him that his daughter was having a severe stomach ache. When medicinal plants don’t work, a healer is called to hold a ‘manganito,’ a séance, to ask the spirits for instructions to remove the cause of the illness.

 Rosette David, an Aeta healer, walks back to her home with her children after gathering herbal plants. Medicinal herbal knowledge and spiritual culture are passed on to the next generation of Aetas through oral tradition.

Rosette David, an Aeta healer, walks back to her home with her children after gathering herbal plants. Medicinal herbal knowledge and spiritual culture are passed on to the next generation of Aetas through oral tradition.

 An Aeta looks at a construction site that was once cultivated land in Sitio Alli, Capas, Tarlac. Aeta communities fear their natural cultural markers are being demolished with the construction of the New Clark City project.

An Aeta looks at a construction site that was once cultivated land in Sitio Alli, Capas, Tarlac. Aeta communities fear their natural cultural markers are being demolished with the construction of the New Clark City project.

This story is one of twelve photo essays produced during the Capturing Human Rights fellowship, a seminar and mentoring program jointly undertaken by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and the Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines.

OCTOBER 27, 2022

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Norman King, the first Aeta UP Graduate, and the words of wisdom that helped him succeed

  • BY INQUIRER.net BrandRoom
  • June 19, 2018

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The moment Norman King claimed his diploma wearing the traditional Aeta bahag (loincloth), he made history. Norman is the very first Aeta to graduate from the University of the Philippines Manila who – just like his own father, a tribe leader – vows to become the voice for our Aetas and other indigenous groups.

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Along with a degree in BA Behavioral Science is a story filled with discrimination, poverty, and natural calamities. Norman King was born in 1988 at the foot of Mount Pinatubo, only three years before the deadly eruption. He was the eldest of seven siblings and worked at an early age to help provide for the family.

Below is an inspiring video of Norman King, his story, and how he has achieved what he has today:

Ang taong madumi ay taong hindi malinis ang puso. (The unclean person is one whose heart is not clean.)

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Behind Norman’s success is a figure to which many of us owe our lives: a mother. Warlita King was Norman’s voice of reason during trying times. It was she who had told him that “the unclean person is one whose heart is not clean.” Without her wise words to live by, her “pabaon sa buhay,” Norman King probably would not be the intelligent, firm, and strong man that he is today.

Alin ang karapat-dapat hangaan? Isang taong madali ang buhay? O isang taong dumaan sa matinding hirap? (Who is worthy of admiration? One who has led an easy life? Or one who has overcome extreme hardship?)

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There is a part in the video when Norman asks his mother for a fresh set of uniforms, comparing his old, worn shirts to his classmates’ brand new ones. To this, Warlita asks, “Do you want to hide the fact that we’re poor?”

Norman’s life was filled with the struggles of poverty but his mother reminds him that he owes his growth to all the hardships he has faced, that a man who has fallen and risen is someone who commands respect and honor.

Kailangan ba talagang magbago para lang matanggap ka ng ibang tao? (Do you really need to change to be accepted by others?)

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Just like every adolescent growing up amidst peer pressure and the desire to fit in, Norman King wanted to be accepted by the environment that he was in. That didn’t stop Warlita from telling her son what he needed to hear. Because all the greatest life lessons begin at home.

“Ang turo sa’kin ng nanay ko,” says Norman, “‘pag natanggap ko na kung sino ako, mas malayo ang mararating ko.” (Ma taught me that only when I have accepted who I am, will I go further in life.)

Just like Warlita King, mothers give their children what they need to take on the world, making sure that what they take from home will protect them in life. Safeguard supports every parent who strives to provide the right pabaon at home that will protect their children as they explore the world on their own.

Safeguard believes in the power of these different “pabaon sa buhay” or life provisions that will set their children ready for life. What kids learn at home protects them for life (ang natutunan niya sa bahay, proteksyon niya sa buhay). INQUIRER.net/KT ADVT

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Our Environment Matters.

Keeping the Aeta Culture Alive

  • by EnviroNewsph
  • February 7, 2019

By Johnna Villaviray Giolagon, VERA Files 

Aeta leader Rouvilane Margarito had grown up under the shadow of Mt. Pinatubo.

As a young girl, she and her family lived near the US Clark Air Base in Pampanga where she led a life like any modern girl her age. But during weekends and holidays, her father would take her up to his parents’ village in the mountains and deliver her to his mother to be taught the old ways.

“Grandmother made sure we knew the old way of doing things, the old beliefs, how to cook food the way our people did it,” recalled Margarito of those visits to her grandmother who still lives in the old community.

While in the old Aeta village, Margarito experienced to have her head traced by the blunt side of a machete as a protection from lightning during storms. When she gets up from the banana leaf where she’s been napping, grandmother shakes her awake to be certain her soul does not stay asleep. And when Margarito goes back to her home in the lowlands, grandmother makes sure to call out her name while sending the girl home to make sure no part of her being is left behind.

“My grandmother used to slaughter a (pig or cow) monthly and then share it with the village,” she said during a short conversation in the middle of an exposition showcasing traditional Aeta products.

“That’s how they were. They shared with the community freely.”

Merly Bautista, 63 years old, recalled that those who lived inside the former US military base (now Philippine Air Force base) did not want for work.

“You just show up and, if you are  kulot , you get a job even if you don’t have an education,” she said, referring to the Aeta’s curly hair that distinguished them from other lowlanders.

The lowlanders were referred to as  unat , referring to their straight hair, she said.

In the past, being  kulot  automatically gave them special treatment in the base.

How the people living in the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo, including the Aetas, coped with Mt. Pinatubo’s anger 28 years ago. Phivolcs file photo.

But then Mt Pinatubo erupted in 1991, forcing the Aeta tribes of Mabalacat, Porac in Pampanga, and in Zambales, and Tarlac provinces to evacuate their mountainside villages. And, with the lahar or mudflow continuing to devour lands years after the volcano went back to sleep, they remained displaced.

(The U.S. government closed Clark Air Base after it was buried in volcanic ash from Mt Pinatubo’s eruption).

A whole generation of Aetas were born and forced to grow up in evacuation centers in the lowlands. They were exposed to none of the benevolence of Mt Pinatubo’s fertile lands. They and their families knew only of squalid living conditions, hunger, and uncertainty.

Some of them had to resort to begging.

In droves, Aeta families would shuttle to urban centers – Metro Manila in particular – during the Christmas holidays to beg for alms. This has given lowland communities unfamiliar with the Aeta culture the impression that begging is all that Aetas know.

“But not all Aetas are beggars, said Rufina Sanchez, another community elder and one of the original settlers in the foothills of Mt. Pinatubo. “Me, I would never beg. At my age I work for what I have. I would never beg especially for food,” she emphasized.

“Those beggars are from another tribe. Not ours,” she continued. “We’ve always been in the business of selling souvenirs or working at the US base.”

Aetas have been allowed to return to and live on slopes Pinatubo. Photo by Terence Gonsalves.

Theirs was a proud Aeta race wherein tributes – what lowlanders wrongly interpret as payment – are expected for the performance of traditional songs and dances or even just for the privilege of having their photograph taken.

In fact, Margarito’s grandfather Kudiaro Laxamana was held in such high esteem by the Americans that they built a monument for him inside the base.

As then tribe chieftain, he would be fetched from his home and brought to Clark on a helicopter so he could give jungle survival training to American soldiers. Laxamana is also a decorated World War 2 hero.

As the indigenous people’s representative to the provincial government, Margarito is spearheading a movement to remind the younger generations of Aetas about their rich and proud culture.

An Aeta girl tends to her store in the Aeta Village, a bazaar of Aeta products inside Subic. The bazaar is part of the local government’s efforts to promote the Aeta culture. Photo by Terence Gonzalves.

In 2017 they started a month-long festival showcasing the Aeta culture – traditional fashion, dances, and even games.

“Did you know we have our own version of basketball? But instead of the hoop being just there, the hoop is a basket carried by one of the players and you try to shoot,” Margarito said.

She said that in reviving the culture, she hopes that the younger generations of Aetas, even if they get their hair rebonded as is widely popular, will remain  kulot  in their hearts.

The story was first published at the VERA Files on February 5, 2019 http://verafiles.org/articles/keeping-aeta-culture-alive

(This story is produced by VERA Files under a project supported by the Internews’ Earth Journalism Network, which aims to empower journalists from developing countries to cover the environment more effectively. )

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5 warning signs of breast cancer, do men go through menopause too, is too much dairy bad for your health, fasting: the good, bad and the never, the aeta and agta: a history of semi-nomadic tribes in the philippines.

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The Aeta and Agta are indigenous peoples of the Philippines, known for their distinct cultures, languages, and semi-nomadic lifestyles. They primarily inhabit the mountainous and forested regions of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, and some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. Below, we provide a description and historical overview of these two groups:

The Aeta People:

Description:

  • The Aeta are one of the oldest and most diverse indigenous groups in the Philippines. They are often characterized by their short stature, dark skin, curly hair, and facial features distinct from other Filipino ethnicities.
  • Aeta communities live in remote and rugged areas, particularly in the Sierra Madre Mountain range, the Zambales mountains, and the Cordillera Central.
  • Their traditional clothing consists of simple garments made from plant fibers or bark cloth. Aeta women are known for their intricate beadwork.
  • The Aeta people speak various Austronesian languages and dialects, although some communities have their distinct languages. Many also use Filipino and other local languages for communication.
  • Historically, the Aeta have practiced swidden agriculture, a form of shifting cultivation where they clear small plots of land for farming, then rotate to new areas when soil fertility decreases.
  • They are skilled hunters, gatherers, and foragers, relying on the forest for food, medicinal plants, and materials for shelter and tools.
  • Aeta communities are organized into small, egalitarian groups and often live in extended family units.
  • The Aeta are believed to be one of the original inhabitants of the Philippines and have a rich history dating back thousands of years.
  • They faced centuries of marginalization and discrimination under Spanish colonial rule and, later, during the American period. Many Aeta communities were displaced from their ancestral lands.
  • In recent years, efforts have been made to protect Aeta rights, land tenure, and cultural heritage. Some Aeta communities have been involved in eco-tourism initiatives to sustain their way of life.

The Agta People:

  • The Agta, also known as the Aeta or Negritos, are a group of indigenous peoples residing in northeastern Luzon and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
  • They are characterized by their small stature, curly hair, and dark skin, sharing physical traits with the Aeta.
  • Agta communities typically live in remote and forested areas, such as the Sierra Madre and the Caraballo mountains.
  • The Agta speak various Austronesian languages and dialects, depending on their specific region. Some groups have their distinct languages.
  • Linguists have studied the Agta languages due to their unique phonological features.
  • Like the Aeta, the Agta traditionally practice swidden agriculture, hunting, and gathering. They have an intimate knowledge of the forest and its resources.
  • Agta communities are organized into small, mobile groups and practice a semi-nomadic lifestyle. They may move their settlements in search of food and resources.
  • The Agta are believed to be among the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, with a history that predates the arrival of Austronesian-speaking peoples.
  • Over the centuries, Agta communities have faced displacement, discrimination, and challenges to their traditional way of life due to land encroachments and deforestation.
  • Like the Aeta, there have been efforts to protect Agta rights and cultural heritage, including community-based conservation initiatives.

In summary, the Aeta and Agta are indigenous peoples of the Philippines with rich and diverse cultures. They share a semi-nomadic lifestyle rooted in centuries-old traditions of swidden agriculture, hunting, gathering, and foraging in the country’s mountainous and forested regions. Despite historical challenges, both groups continue to play an important role in the cultural and historical tapestry of the Philippines, and efforts are underway to protect their rights and heritage.

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Jacob Maentz

describe aeta family essay

THE AGTA & DUMAGAT OF ISABELA

Isabela, luzon, philippines.

I just returned from a two week trip to Isabela province in northern Luzon to document the Agta and Dumagat Indigenous people in the area. Oma and I traveled for three days to reach our destination; starting in Manila we traveled by bus for two days and then took a 15 hour boat ride on a small outrigger to reach the towns of Divilacan and Maconacon. These two towns are separated from “main land” Luzon by the Sierra Madre mountains. There are no roads going here and the towns are only accessible by boat or a small plane. The remoteness of the area is what initially attracted me because I was hoping to find something more authentic, something different from other places I have been to in the Philippines. The east coast of Isabela did offer the authenticity I was looking for, but I also found there a way of life that I started to fall in love with. The beautiful indigenous people, the unspoiled beaches, rivers and forests, and the simple way of life that could touch any travelers heart.

The men spend most of their days either fishing, hunting or tending to agricultural crops. The Agta men will hunt or set traps in the forest for deer, wild pig or monitor lizards, although they often have to go very far into the forest to find these animals. Fishing for eels, shrimp and small river fish is also a very common practice among the Agta men. Although we did see some Agta planting rice and other crops this is still not very common as the Agta like to keep their semi-nomadic lifestyle. The Dumagats living close to the ocean fish use spear guns or a single rod spear. Sometimes the Dumagats will venture into the forest to hunt as well. The forest, ocean and rivers are of vital importance to the Agta and Dumagats because everything that supports them comes from these places. I recorded a short song by an Agta man on the shore of the Blos river after he had finished fishing. He told me the song is about the river and the importance of the forests for them as a people. You can listen to the song HERE .

We were able to visit a number of Agta and Dumagat communities while in Isabala. Life is simple in these communities with people doing the typical day to day chores and tasks most people do. The men will spend the day hunting and gathering food while the women generally stay back and watch the children. Some of the Agta and Dumagats find work in the towns of Divilacan and Maconacon and in one community a big percentage of the children have started to attend school.

Although somewhat shy, the Agta and Dumagats are some of the friendliest and gracious people I have met in the Philippines. They welcomed us into their communities and shared what little they had with us. We laughed together, played together, ate together and I even tried their natural drug (from a seed), called mama. If you ever get the chance to try this I would stay away. It made me completely dizzy and I lost all the strength from my body. I was zapped. There was some communication problems and I didn’t realize I was actually taking some kind of drug. I thought it was just something they chewed on for flavor. 🙂 The Agta and Dumagat are constantly chewing this stuff, but I suppose they build up a tolerance.

The communities we met seemed happy with what they had, which by most peoples standards is not much. The possesions they own are very little, a few pairs of clothes, a simple covering to keep them dry and the tools they need to get food. After our trip I realized that the Agta and Dumagat are relatively content with the life that they live. Many have been given the option to move into permanent housing, but they prefer to use a tarp roof and continue their semi-nomadic lifestyle. As long as they are able to catch fish and hunt for food, which in turn will be traded to buy rice, coffee, sugar and tobacco, the Agta and Dumagat seem content. Its nice to see a group of people that want to continue their way of life despite the growing pressures from outside. Perhaps this will start to slowly change when the proposed road to connect these municipalities to “mainland Luzon” is approved. Apparently a proposal to build a road is in the works and we heard a lot about this from local government officials. Personally, I know if a road is built that the way of life of these Agta and Dumagats we were able to witness for the past two weeks will start to change. There are always positive and negatives sides to any project, but in this case I believe a road will slowly start to wear away one of the last remote places in the Philippines, socially, ecologically and culturally. Perhaps certain types of development are not always ideal?

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Minority Population Analysis: The Aeta of the Philippines

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This précis uses a critical psychology lens for minority population analysis. Specifically, the précis characterizes indigenous peoples and their vulnerability; researches the treatment of the Aeta, an indigenous people living in the mountainous areas of Luzon in the Philippines; and reflects on their experience of domination, marginalization, and exploitation.

Minority Population Analysis: The Aeta of the Philippines was completed on October 9, 2020.

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Fuller, T. (2001, May 9). Philippine eruption snuffed out tribe’s way of life: Pinatubo: 10 years later. The New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/09/news/philippine-eruption-snuffed-out-tribes-way-of-life-pinatubo10-years.html .

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Morella, C. (2015, August 7). Philippines’ Aeta people “beggars” in their own land. Business Insider . https://www.businessinsider.com/afp-philippines-aeta-people-beggars-in-their-own-land-2015-8 .

The People of the World Foundation. (2020). The indigenous Aeta people . http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Aeta .

Philippines Statistics Authority. (2015). 2015 census of population . https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/census/2015-census-of-population .

Serrat, O. (1994). Deforestation in the Philippines . Unpublished manuscript.

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United Nations Development Programme. (2013, July 24). Fast facts: Indigenous peoples in the Philippines . https://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/library/democratic_governance/FastFacts-IPs.html .

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Aeta Community in Pampanga: Coloring the Lives of Indigenous Children

This post was most recently updated on October 17th, 2018

The Aetas, being one of the biggest, in terms of number, member of ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines, are indigenous people living in different mountainous places in Luzon. They can be found in the provinces of Pampanga, Zambales, and Tarlac, to name a few. In Pampanga alone, Aetas are scattered in the municipalities of Floridablanca, Porac, Guagua and Angeles.

Sitio Camachile, Barangay Nabuklod, Floridablanca, Pampanga

Color Your Life team chose Sitio Camachile, Barangay Nabuklod, Floridablanca to be the venue of its second project since the community is far from the city, which limits the sources of knowledge in school. There is also only a few that gives alternative teaching in this community. Not only that, these Aetas have been living in this place all their lives. Crops, livestock, and poultry are their only means of living. Imagine if there would be tropical storm, it’s really saddening to be in that situation.

#ProjectFloridablanca was held on October 23, 2017 in hope for the Aeta children to get basic knowledge in primary colors. We prepared art activities for a total of 50 participants with ages 4-12 years old. The facilitators conducted the usual art activities such as “Color By Number”- individual art activity – and “Color Your Lives”- collaborative art activity. As an ice breaker and feel-good vibes to start the day, the kids enjoyed CYL’s prepared action songs—Ako ay May Lobo, Takure and the famous dance craze, Baby Shark. Included in our project was the usual storytelling, which can feed them moral lessons from “Nang Magkakulay and Nayon” at an early age.

Volunteer experience with the Aeta community in Pampanga

The children were creative, smart and very orderly. The Color Your Life supports the Aeta community through the use of Art. We dream that someday the team can go back to Sitio Camachile to build activities that can help them explore their artistic talents more.

Volunteer experience with the Aeta community in Pampanga

Top Places to Visit in Pampanga

As part of traveling with a purpose, it’s not complete without exploring the beautiful places in the area. Given that, I listed down the Top Places to Visit in Pampanga . Whether you’re going for a short day trip or a long holiday with your family or friends, it’s likely you’ll be scrambling for time to catch all the attractions in this place.

We only know Pampanga as a go-to destination when it comes to satisfying those food cravings and also a place to party, but the thing is Pampanga has a pretty diverse mix of sights that you should definitely visit. Here are my top picks:

Alviera Sandbox

Sandbox is inarguably one of the most exciting places in Pampanga. This newest destination in Porac, Pampanga is fit for all outdoor junkies. For as low as 500 pesos you can try their popular attractions including wall climbing, giant swing, rappelling, and free fall. They also have a themed kiddie playground for the little ones and a mini golf course for the oldies, making it a family friendly site. They’re open from Tuesday-Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. You may purchase your tickets online .

FONTANA LEISURE PARKS AND CASINO

Fontana WaterPark

Fontana is one of Pampanga’s well-known leisure parks. It is located in Clark Freeport Zone which is home to some of Pampanga’s top attractions like Nayong Pilipino Park, Mimosa Golf Course, Air Force City Park, and Aqua Planet. You’ll definitely want to see its beauty for yourself as it’s the only resort in the Philippines integrated with a theme water park, golf course and casino.

PRADERA VERDE

Wakeboarding at Pradera Verde

Pradera Verde is an ideal destination whether you want to relax or try extreme sports. If you’re from North then I don’t think there’s any more reason to go to Nuvali as Pampanga has its own version of wake park. The 315-hectare of vast greenery sits in Lubao, Pampanga which is directly opposite of Floridablanca. Aside from its wakeboarding activities, its main features also include affordable villas where you can stay and relax.

More information about Pradera Verde here.

https://www.facebook.com/praderaverde.ph/

ZOOCOBIA Love is in the Air

Pampanga is not only home to the fancy resorts and hotels but it’s also a place where one can enjoy the nature. Zoocobia is a family-friendly park where you can interact with animals. They also have gravity car that is patterned after the Luge in Sentosa in Singapore. Make sure to book your tickets in advance. You can directly buy right here .

MOUNT PINATUBO

Mount Pinatubo Crater!!!

No visit to Pampanga is complete without a visit to this stratovolcano caldera, Mount Pinatubo. Ride a 4×4 and trek to the crater that sits in Botolan, Zambales. The volcano is in the boundaries of the provinces Pampanga and Tarlac. Plan your trip ahead as it requires good physical health for a whole day journey. If all sound appealing to you, check out a complete guide to Mount Pinatubo, right here .

Pint it for later.

Community Project for Aeta Community in Pampanga

Kevin del Prado

Kevin is currently working as a Business Analyst. Interests also include traveling, watching movies, outdoor activities, and photography. He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering.

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18 comments.

The children looks happy.

I a dreaming of going to the Phillipines. Pampanga region seems so beautiful. I especially would like to see with my own eyes the caldera of MOUNT PINATUBO because this really looks unreal. Pure beauty! Great pictures!

That smile on their faces worth the long and tiring tips. I love community service, I wish to join you guys when I have the chance to be in Luzon. I would love to volunteer, pls. include me ([email protected]) in your community service update. Thanks! All the best. ~ Farrah

Sure! I will inform you for the upcoming projects.

What a great community project/effort to do that for the Aetas. The indigenous people are often neglected by the government. It is good to know that there are private and non-profit organizations that are doing something for them. Kudos to you for blogging about it to create awareness.

Oh, those kids are precious! I love that they’re being exposed to art. I think that does so much to enrich children’s lives. This sounds like a great program.

I didn’t know such a community existed in Philippines. This blog is a revelation. Color Your Life team is doing a great job with this project. It makes a difference to the lives of the kids, one step at a time. I can see the joy on their faces in this picture.

Its a beautiful concept – travelling with a purpose. Those kids seem super talented and so happy to have received their colouring kits. The smiles on their faces are priceless! So inspired to see how you’re giving back to the community and helping children is one of the most amazing things you can do. You have my respect and admiration!

ooh those smiles are worth every bit of this trip. Such a lovely initiative taken. It must be so much fun to color with them or tell them stories. I find myself getting a little overwhelmed too. Besides the fun with the kids, the sandbox stuff seems like a cool thing to do.

I was reading through your article with great interest. The pictures look beautiful, and the area must be amazing to travel to. But above all it is fantastic that you are making an effort to change the world there! Nice job! Big respect for that!

I haven’t heard of Pampanga before but spending time with the Aeta community must have been so fulfilling. The kids are adorable. Mount Pinatubo looks beautiful too.

This is a really heartwarming post, especially to see how happy those kids looked! There are some beautiful places in this region, and that extreme sport park looks fun. One post to pin for sure!

Awww this post brings me so much joy! I’ve never heard of Pampanga before, every day I learn something new. What a fulfillment to know that you are the reason you made them smile that day! I am also looking for ways to get more involved in volunteering projects around the world. Is this something you do often? If so, I would love to chat about it! Lets connect. Best, – Ella

You are doing a great job by coloring the lives of these little ones. I’ve never heard of Pampanga, however, it looks like a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for listing down the major attractions of the area. Sandbox is a cool place for trying some adventures. The view of Mount Pinatubo is magical! Hope to visit Pampanga someday and check out the listed places.

I was nominated for the 2018 Liebster Award by The Barefoot Backpackers. To continue the flow, I am nominating you also for this award. You may find my blog post about it here: https://valeriebuaquen.wordpress.com/2018/01/28/2018-leibster-award-nomination/

Sending hugs from the Philippines,

Valerie Buaquen valeriebuaquen.wordpress.com instagram.com/valeriebuaquen facebook.com/buaquen.valerie

Hi! How can we volunteer there?

Thank you for your interest! You can send us a private message on our Facebook page.

Hi. I’m from Convergys and we’re looking to give out bags to the Aeta kids in Pampanga. Would you know anyone in their place I could coordinate with?

CulturePop

The Aeta People: Indigenous Tribe of the Philippines

describe aeta family essay

The Aeta (pronounced as “eye-ta,”), Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They are considered to be Negritos, who are dark to very dark brown-skinned and tend to have features such as a small stature, small frame, curly to kinky afro-like textured hair with a higher frequency of naturally lighter hair color (blondism) relative to the general population, small nose, and dark brown eyes. They are thought to be among the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations. The Aeta were included in the group of people termed “Negrito” duringSpanish colonial rule as Negritos. Various Aeta groups in northern Luzon are known as “Pugut” or “Pugot,” a name designated by their Ilocano-speaking neighbors, and which is the colloquial term for those with darker complexions. In Ilocano, the word also means “goblin” or “forest spirit.”

The Aeta people in the Philippines are Australo-Melanesians. Today other groups of Australo-Melanesians are the Aborigines in Australia, Papuans and the Melanesians of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia etc. The history of the Aeta continues to confound anthropologists and archaeologists. One theory suggests that the Aeta are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines, who, contrary to their sea-faring Austronesian neighbors, arrived through land bridges that linked the country with the Asian mainland about 30,000 years ago. Unlike many of their Austronesian counterparts, the Aetas have shown resistance to change. The attempts of theSpaniards to settle them in  reducciones  or reservations all throughout Spanish rule failed. The Aeta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of the Philippines. Aetas are considered as the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations. They are nomadic and build only temporary shelters made of sticks driven to the ground and covered with the palm of banana leaves. The well-situated and more modernized Aetas have moved to villages and areas of cleared mountains. They live in houses made of bamboo and cogon grass. Aetas are found in Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Angeles, Olongapo, Panay, Bataan and Nueva Ecija. But because of the Mount Pinatubo eruption, some of them moved to resettlement areas in Pampanga and Tarlac.

describe aeta family essay

Mining, deforestation, illegal logging, and slash-and-burn farming has caused the indigenous population in all parts of the Philippines to steadily decrease to the point where they number in the thousands today. The Philippines affords them no protection. In addition, the Aeta have become extremely nomadic due to social and economic strain on their culture and way of life that had previously remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Demographics

The life expectancy at birth of the Aeta is just 16.5 years, with only a third of children surviving to adulthood at 15 years – at which point life expectancy is still only 27.3 years. Young women reach full adult height (average 140 cm) at age 12 or 13. The most thorough longitudinal study done of any Aeta group (or any ethnic community) is available on the Web.

All Aeta communities have adopted the language of their Austronesian Filipino neighbors, which have sometimes diverged over time to become different languages. These include, in order of number of speakers, Mag-indi, Mag-antsi, Abellen, Ambala, and Mariveleño.

There are different views on the dominant character of the Aeta religion. Those who believe they are monotheisticargue that various Aeta tribes believe in a supreme being who rules over lesser spirits or deities, with the Aeta of Mt. Pinatubo worshipping “Apo Na”. The Aetas are also animists. For example, the Pinatubo Aeta believe in environmental spirits such as anito and kamana. They believe that good and evil spirits inhabit the environment, such as the spirits of the river, sea, sky, mountain, hill, valley and other places. No special occasion is needed for the Aeta to pray, although there is a clear link between prayer and economicactivities. The Aeta dance before and after a pig hunt. The night before Aeta women gather shellfish, they perform a dance which is partly an apology to the fish and partly a charm to ensure the catch. Similarly, the men hold a beedance before and after the expeditions for honey. In the mid-60s missionaries of the American-based Evangelical Protestant mission group New Tribes Mission, in their effort to reach every Philippine tribal group with the Christian Gospel reached out to the Agtas/Aetas. The mission agency provided education including pastoral training for natives to reach members of their own tribe. Today, a large percentage of Agtas/Aetas of Zambales and Pampanga are Evangelicals. Jehovah’s Witnesses also have members of the Aeta people. (See 1993 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses)

Their traditional clothing is very simple. The young women wear wrap around skirts. Elder women wear bark cloth, while elder men wear loin cloths. The old women of the Agta wear a bark cloth strip which passes between the legs, and is attached to a string around the waist. Today most Aeta who have been in contact with lowlanders have adopted the T-shirts, pants and rubber sandals commonly used by the latter.

The Aetas are skillful in weaving and plaiting. Women exclusively weave winnows and mats. Only men make armlets. They also produce raincoats made of palm leaves whose bases surround the neck of the wearer, and whose topmost part spreads like a fan all around the body.

Aeta women are known around the country as experts of herbal medicines.

A traditional form of visual art is body scarification. The Aetas intentionally wound the skin on their back, arms, breast, legs, hands, calves and abdomen, and then they irritate the wounds with fire, lime and other means to form scars. Other “decorative disfigurements” include the chipping of the teeth. With the use of a file, the Dumagat modify their teeth during late puberty. The teeth are dyed black a few years afterwards. The Aetas generally use ornaments typical of people living in subsistence economies. Flowers and leaves are used as earplugs for certain occasions. Girdles, necklaces, and neckbands of braided rattan incorporated with wild pig bristles are frequently worn.

The Aeta have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles – ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drone without any accompanying melodic instrument.

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Aeta Tribe: 4 Incredible Facts About the African Ethnic Groups of the Philippines

The Aeta (pronounced as “eye-ta,”), Ayta, or Agta is an indigenous group of people who reside in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They’re known as “Philippines Negrito” and are included in the broader wider Negrito grouping of Southeast Asia , with whom they share the same common physical characteristics like short statures and dark skin tones. 

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They are considered to be one of the first inhabitants of the Philippines. Continue reading to learn more about the Aeta Tribe and discover four incredible facts about these African ethnic groups of the Philippines . 

The Aeta Tribe Are Naturally Nomadic

The African ethnic groups of the Philippines are nomadic . They only construct temporary shelters made of sticks and the palm of banana leaves. The more civilized people of the Aeta tribe have migrated to areas and villages of clear mountains. 

In those places, they live in houses constructed using congo grasses and bamboo. Check Amazon for books that cover the nomadic lifestyle if you would love to learn more about it. 

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Hunter-gatherers

As hunter-gatherers , the Aeta tribe relies on fishing, hunting animals, and foraging for wild vegetation and other nutrients, like honey, for food. Owing to this, adaptation plays a vital role in Aeta communities to survive.

That’s why they’re knowledgeable about the tropical forest they reside in and many other seasonal changes that impact the behavior of the flora and fauna in their location. In the Aeta community, the dry season is a time of intense work.

They fish, hunt, and prepare the land for future harvest. While men and women work together to clear and cultivate the land, Aeta women usually do most of the harvesting. 

During the time of harvest, they transact with other non-Aeta communities living around their place of temporary settlement, selling the foods they gathered. Most Aeta people are trained to gather and hunt at age 15. 

Some Aeta people use the traditional bow and arrow to hunt, while others prefer knives and dogs. Both males and women also get involved in fishing. 

People Also Read: Oldest Tribe in Africa: 5 Ancient Fascinating African Ethnic Groups

Aeta Women are Herbal Medicines Experts

Within the Aeta community in Ilagan, they use banana leaves to cure toothache. To cure fever, they use cooled-down water boiled with camphor leaves to bathe. Sometimes, they use the camphor leaves to prepare herbal teas that they drink three times a day if the cold or fever persists. For muscle pains, they usually drink herbal teas prepared with kalulong leaf extracts. 

When women give birth, they use cooled-down water boiled with sahagubit roots to bathe to prevent relapse. They also recommend drinking sahagubit tea to alleviate stomachache or deworm children. 

The people of the Aeta tribe only seek help from recognized herbalists if the sickness persists after drinking the recommended herbs. They do so simply because they believe that some sicknesses are caused by spirits that they might have offended. 

If that’s the case, medical doctors or herbal medicines can’t curse it. You can learn more about the spiritual beliefs of the  African ethnic group of the Philippines by getting books that discuss the topic on Amazon . 

People Also Read: African Tribes: Meet the Most Popular Tribes in Africa

Skillful in Plaiting and Weaving

When it comes to arts and crafts, the Aetas are exceptionally good. Women exclusively weave mats and winnows, while males make armlets. They also make raincoats using palm leaves. The base of the raincoat surrounds the neck of the one wearing it, while the topmost parts will spread like a fan around the wearer’s body. 

Scarification is their form of traditional traditional visual art. They purposefully wound the skin on their arms, back, legs, and breasts and irritate it with lime, fire, or other means to create scars. Furthermore, they have a musical heritage comprising different agung ensembles. 

The African ethnic group of the Philippines is a unique tribe. They’re historically hunter-gatherers, typically comprising around one to five families per mobile group. If you find this ethnic group fascinating and want to learn more about them, check Amazon for Aeta tribe history. 

People Also Read: The Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia, Dubbed the ‘Most Dangerous’ African Tribe

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describe aeta family essay

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describe aeta family essay

Hinubog ng panata — a photo essay

BY PAU VILLANUEVA

Indigenous peoples have long been considered guardians of global biodiversity, who have accumulated intimate knowledge of the ecosystems in which they live. Villanueva’s photo essay shows how development aggression not only threatens indigenous culture that is deeply rooted in land, but also the extinction of an entire heritage, in the context of the Aetas in Capas, Tarlac.

Nature and biodiversity are more than just sources of food, water, energy, and raw materials for the Aeta communities of Capas, Tarlac. Their cultural identity, well-being, and spiritual traditions are grounded on their regard for the living world. Among Philippine indigenous groups, the Aetas are known for their extensive knowledge of herbs and indigenous healing methods. 

Spirituality is a way for them to honor their worldview, which was adopted by their ancestors who had lived in the Luzon mountain ranges long before Spanish colonization. Aeta healers, locally called “mang-aanito,” are sought after. Considered custodians of ancestral knowledge and philosophies, these community elders are keen on preserving their indigenous ecologies. 

One of the local healers in Sitio Binyayan, Nida Cautibar, recalls how her calling began. “When I was sick with typhus, my Aeta neighbors took care of me and eventually taught me how to use herbal medicine,” says Nida. “Being entrusted with this knowledge, it has now become my responsibility to heal the sick without asking for compensation,” she adds. Aeta healers believe their mission is to share their healing experiences as a means of keeping society together rather than as a means of acquiring wealth. Healing, for them, is also a way to give back to the Aeta and the non-Aeta communities.

But the multi-billion New Clark City development project in Capas, Tarlac is threatening the indigenous ecology and continues its relentless path without free, prior and informed consent from the Aetas who live there. According to the website of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the project’s implementing agency, New Clark City is designed to be “wrapped around magnificent views of the hills.” The change in landscape – from flora and fauna to roads and infrastructure – is rendering irreversible damage to the natural world that is the Aetas’ only source of information, passed on from one generation to another through oral tradition.

“We used to roam the forests freely but now, we are scared. We are restricted in our own lands,” says Rosette David, an Aeta healer who has been living in Sitio Bagingan for more than 28 years. “Nature is vanishing as roads are being paved.”

The world over, indigenous peoples have long been considered guardians of global biodiversity, as they have accumulated intimate knowledge of the ecosystems in which they live. Development aggression not only threatens indigenous culture that is deeply rooted in land, but also the extinction of an entire heritage.

describe aeta family essay

A small native hut in Sitio Alli where an Aeta family lives is situated near one of the construction sites of New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The Aeta residents find it difficult to sleep whenever construction goes into the night.

describe aeta family essay

An Aeta devotee of the Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ in Sitio Kawayan kneels before the chapel’s altar to pray. Other religious orders and benevolent groups are recognized by Aeta communities in Capas, Tarlac. Even within these denominations, Aetas still practice spiritual beliefs instilled on them by their ancestors. 

describe aeta family essay

Nida Cautidar, a local healer from Sitio Kalangitan, performs a diagnostic ritual by cracking a raw egg into a glass of water to be examined for any change in shape that might suggest the nature of one’s illness. Nida learned these healing practices from years of living in Capas, Tarlac, surrounded by Aeta communities.

describe aeta family essay

An alternative diagnostic ritual performed by healers to identify maladies involves hovering a blank paper over a gas lamp. According to Nida Cautidar, the resulting burnt formations suggest that the sick person has unconsciously disturbed dwelling places of spirits.

describe aeta family essay

Aeta resident Leah (name changed to protect her privacy) holds freshly picked hagonoy weeds while strolling along a flattened road in Sitio Alli, Capas, Tarlac. According to Leah, they used to roam freely in the area, which was covered with herbal plants and fruit-bearing trees. Security cameras have been installed to monitor intruders amid the construction of New Clark City.

describe aeta family essay

Lily De Guzman, an Aeta healer from Sitio Gayangan, prays over medicinal plants to be used for her sick grandchild. As one of the senior Aeta healers from her community, Nanay Lily is revered for her spirituality and vast herbal knowledge.

describe aeta family essay

Sambong leaves are pounded to extract juice, taken orally to cure stomach ache and diarrhea. The Aetas, who live in the mountains, have utmost respect for the living world. Their traditional medicine practices are deeply rooted in nature.

describe aeta family essay

Lily De Guzman presses on hagonoy leaves mixed with salt onto her grandchild's forehead after he shows flu symptoms. Lily and the Aeta community of Sitio Gayanon firmly believe that the hagonoy plant keeps them safe from the Covid-19 pandemic.

describe aeta family essay

‘Anituhan’ is a kind of community healing ritual that is often performed by the healer along with family and relatives during a full moon. In Aeta culture, the ‘anito’ represent environmental spirits residing in the natural world. Aetas believe that their traditional dances and music make it possible for one to be in contact with caring spirits. ‘Pag-aanito’ is the purest and highest form of the ritual that they can perform to heal a person possessed by spirits. 

describe aeta family essay

Oscar Capiz, an Aeta healer, chants as he performs the healing ritual of pag-aanito to his daughter Mary Grace (kneeling face down) and a grandchild. Oscar says he traveled for two hours to his daughter’s house in Sitio Flora after his personal spirit guide told him that his daughter was having a severe stomach ache. When medicinal plants don’t work, a healer is called to hold a ‘manganito,’ a séance, to ask the spirits for instructions to remove the cause of the illness.

describe aeta family essay

Rosette David, an Aeta healer, walks back to her home with her children after gathering herbal plants. Medicinal herbal knowledge and spiritual culture are passed on to the next generation of Aetas through oral tradition.

describe aeta family essay

An Aeta looks at a construction site that was once cultivated land in Sitio Alli, Capas, Tarlac. Aeta communities fear their natural cultural markers are being demolished with the construction of the New Clark City project.

This story is one of the twelve photo essays produced under the Capturing Human Rights fellowship program, a seminar and mentoring project

organized by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and the Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines. 

Check the other photo essays here.

describe aeta family essay

Larry Monserate Piojo – "Terminal: The constant agony of commuting amid the pandemic"

Orange Omengan – "Filipinos face the mental toll of the Covid-19 pandemic"

Lauren Alimondo – "In loving memory"

Gerimara Manuel – "Pinagtatagpi-tagpi: Mother, daughter struggle between making a living and modular learning"

Pau Villanueva – "Hinubog ng panata: The vanishing spiritual traditions of Aetas of Capas, Tarlac"

Bernice Beltran – "Women's 'invisible work'"

Dada Grifon – "From the cause"

Bernadette Uy – "Enduring the current"

Mark Saludes – "Mission in peril"

EC Toledo – "From sea to shelf: The story before a can is sealed"

Ria Torrente – "HIV positive mother struggles through the Covid-19 pandemic"

Sharlene Festin – "Paradise lost"

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  • Essay Editor

How Should I Go About Writing My Family Essay?: Examples and Tips

How Should I Go About Writing My Family Essay?: Examples and Tips

Family is an integral part of every individual's life. Delving into the intricate layers of family relationships and dynamics can yield a captivating essay. Here's a comprehensive guide with examples and tips to guide you through the process.

What Topics Should I Write About for My Family Essay?

Choosing the right topic is essential. Here are some suggestions:

Writing a Family Tree Dive into your roots! A family tree can be more than names and dates; it can narrate stories of ancestors, their challenges, achievements, and legacies. For instance, "When I looked into our family tree, I discovered that my great-grandfather was a sailor who traveled the world and had countless tales of adventures, some of which have become legendary bedtime stories in our family."

Describing My Family in My Essay Discuss each family member in detail. "My sister, with her fiery red hair and matching temper, is the exact opposite of my calm and analytical brother. Yet, when they come together, they create the most amazing music, with him on the piano and her singing."

Writing About a Personal Memory Share a poignant memory. "I remember the time when our cat, Whiskers, went missing. The entire family turned detectives overnight, searching for clues, putting up posters, and even setting up a 'cat trap' with her favorite treats. The adventure ended with Whiskers found sleeping peacefully in the neighbor's shed, unaware of the chaos she had caused."

Dos and Don’ts When Writing a Family Stories Essay

  • Be authentic.
  • Use vivid descriptions and dialogues.
  • Respect privacy; ask permission if sharing personal details.
  • Avoid making generalizations.
  • Refrain from being overly negative or critical.
  • Don't plagiarize; every family's story is unique.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a good hook for an essay on my family? As Tolstoy once said, 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' Our family, though, has found its unique shade of happiness.
  • What should I include in an essay about me and my family? Descriptions of family members, memories, traditions, challenges, and lessons.
  • How should I start an essay all about my family? Every time I think of the word 'home,' an image of our old cottage, Sunday dinners, and loud family debates comes to mind.
  • How long should my essay about my family be? Length depends on the requirement; academic essays typically range from 500-1000 words, while personal essays can vary.
  • How do I make my family essay engaging? Incorporate stories, memories, and emotions.
  • Is it okay to discuss family challenges in my essay? Yes, but be sensitive and respectful.
  • Can I add humor to my family essay? Yes, as long as it's in good taste.

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COMMENTS

  1. Indigenous peoples of the world

    The Aeta people are indigenous to the northern part of the Philippines — specifically the island of Luzon. Historians and anthropologists still debate when and how they migrated there, the consensus being that they crossed from the island of Borneo between twenty and thirty thousand years ago, using a land bridge that was partially covered by water around five thousand years ago (the ...

  2. The Aeta: The First Philippine People

    Writer. 26 December 2023. The Aetas, pronounced as "e ye-tas ," are among the earliest known migrants or inhabitants of the Philippines. Over the years, the majority of their population managed to keep their cultural practices and traditions. But sadly, as one of the indigenous groups thriving in the country, they also face challenges such ...

  3. Aeta people

    Aeta (Ayta / ˈ aɪ t ə / EYE-tə), Agta and Dumagat, are collective terms for several indigenous Filipinos who live in various parts of Luzon island in the Philippines.They are also known as the "Philippines Negrito"; and they are included in the wider Negrito grouping of Southeast Asia, with whom they share superficial common physical characteristics such as: dark skin tones; short statures ...

  4. Rediscovering the Aetas: The First Filipinos and a Vibrant Symbol of

    5 Intriguing facts about the Aeta, the Black indigenous people of the Philippines: Ancient Roots: The Aetas are believed to be one of the oldest indigenous groups in the Philippines, with a history that dates back more than 20,000 years. They are considered the original inhabitants of the archipelago and have a deep connection to the land.

  5. (PDF) The Indigenous Aetas of Bataan, Philippines ...

    The Aeta Magbukún of Bataan in Luzon, the Philippines remain one of the least known and documented Indigenous tribes. They retain primarily subsistence hunter-gathering strategies to supply their ...

  6. Hinubog ng Panata: The vanishing spiritual traditions of the Aetas of

    An Aeta devotee of the Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ in Sitio Kawayan kneels before the chapel's altar to pray. Other religious orders and benevolent groups are recognized by Aeta communities in Capas, Tarlac. Even within these denominations, Aetas still practice spiritual beliefs instilled on them by their ancestors.

  7. Norman King, the first Aeta UP Graduate, and the words of wisdom that

    The moment Norman King claimed his diploma wearing the traditional Aeta bahag (loincloth), he made history. Norman is the very first Aeta to graduate from the University of the Philippines Manila ...

  8. Indigenous Aeta Magbukún Self-Identity, Sociopolitical ...

    The average size of an Aeta Magbukún nuclear family is five family members, including the mother and father. In the period from 1990 to 2008, there was an average of three live births per annum. ... ("Pinatubo Aeta" is the common name given by Aeta Magbukún to describe displaced Aetas from the Mount Pinatubo locale of Zambales, Tarlac, or ...

  9. Keeping the Aeta Culture Alive

    By Johnna Villaviray Giolagon, VERA Files. Aeta leader Rouvilane Margarito had grown up under the shadow of Mt. Pinatubo. As a young girl, she and her family lived near the US Clark Air Base in Pampanga where she led a life like any modern girl her age. But during weekends and holidays, her father would take her up to his parents' village in ...

  10. The Aeta and Agta: A History of Semi-Nomadic Tribes in the Philippines

    The Agta, also known as the Aeta or Negritos, are a group of indigenous peoples residing in northeastern Luzon and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. They are characterized by their small stature, curly hair, and dark skin, sharing physical traits with the Aeta. Agta communities typically live in remote and forested areas, such as the Sierra ...

  11. The Agta & Dumagat of Isabela

    The Agta and Dumagat are a subgroup of the Aeta people, who are more commonly called Negritos here in the Philippines. ... A Dumagat family takes shelter in their home during a light rain storm. This is a typical nomadic home of the Dumagat people. Before Super Typhoon Juan hit in October of 2010 the Dumagat used palm leaves for roofing, but ...

  12. The Aeta People: Guardians of the Environment Free Essay Example

    4061. The Aeta people are a fascinating group of indigenous individuals who have lived in the remote and mountainous regions of Luzon for centuries. Their ancestors were nomadic, constructing temporary shelters as they moved from place to place. However, as time passed, some Aeta communities have settled in villages in more accessible areas.

  13. Minority Population Analysis: The Aeta of the Philippines

    Aeta (but Agta, Alta, Arta, Atta, etc. are other ethnonyms) is an umbrella term for the nomadic indigenous peoples living in the mountainous areas of Luzon in the Philippines, with small numbers in the Visayas and Mindanao (The People of the World Foundation, 2020).The consensus of anthropologists and historians is that the Aeta migrated to Luzon through Palawan from Borneo, using a now mostly ...

  14. Minority Population Analysis: The Aeta of the Philippines

    The population census of 2015 numbered 57,707 Aeta in the Philippines, most of them. living near Mount Pinatubo in Zambales Province (Phil ippines Statistics Authority, 2015). Comparing, the total ...

  15. A Teacher's Promise

    A Teacher's Promise. Teacher Cecilia, 35, is one of the very few Aetas in her tribe who graduated from college. Her perseverance to graduate stems from her dream to teach the children in her community. A former Aeta chieftain, Cecilia knows too well why education should be integrated in their culture. "People belittle you when you are not ...

  16. Aeta Community in Pampanga: Coloring the Lives of Indigenous Children

    Kids listening carefully to the story of "Nang Magkakulay ang Nayon". Sam facilitating Aeta kids ages 5 years old and below. Color By Number activity for ages 7-10. Collaborative Artwork. The children were creative, smart and very orderly. The Color Your Life supports the Aeta community through the use of Art.

  17. The Aeta People: Indigenous Tribe of the Philippines

    The Aeta (pronounced as "eye-ta,"), Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They are considered to be Negritos, who are dark to very dark brown-skinned and tend to have features such as a small stature, small frame, curly to kinky afro-like textured hair with a higher frequency of naturally lighter hair color (blondism ...

  18. Aeta Tribe: 4 Incredible Facts About the African Ethnic Groups of the

    By: Uchenna Agwu. Date: November 8, 2023. The Aeta (pronounced as "eye-ta,"), Ayta, or Agta is an indigenous group of people who reside in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They're known as "Philippines Negrito" and are included in the broader wider Negrito grouping of Southeast Asia, with whom they share ...

  19. PDF "Aeta," "Ayta," "Ita," and "Ati" are believed by some to derive from

    The Aeta are skillful in weaving and plaiting. Handicraft is produced for their daily needs, for ornamentation, and for barter with outsiders. Both the Mamanua and the Agta produce winnowing baskets, hammocks, armlets, small bags, and mats. Metalsmithing is the most skilled trade found among the Pinatubo Aeta.

  20. Hinubog ng panata

    An Aeta looks at a construction site that was once cultivated land in Sitio Alli, Capas, Tarlac. Aeta communities fear their natural cultural markers are being demolished with the construction of the New Clark City project. This story is one of the twelve photo essays produced under the Capturing Human Rights fellowship program, a seminar and ...

  21. The Aeta Narrative Essay

    The Aeta narrative essay.docx - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site.

  22. Crafting the Perfect Family Essay: Tips, Topics, and Personal Insights

    How long should my essay about my family be? Length depends on the requirement; academic essays typically range from 500-1000 words, while personal essays can vary. How do I make my family essay engaging? Incorporate stories, memories, and emotions. Is it okay to discuss family challenges in my essay? Yes, but be sensitive and respectful.