Aetas of Lopez Love to be Called Kulot

Sometimes you have already explored the far-flung areas but not really mastered your own backyard. I was born and raised in Lopez, Quezon, and have been to a lot of other places in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Ironically, I only had the chance to see my aeta brothers in my hometown after four decades... 

The first time was when I was to accompany a group of Non-Government Organizations that would bring relief goods when I was employed as Senior Administrative Assistant III/ Municipal Tourism Officer of Lopez. The NGOs brought clothes and food. Next was when I was with my staff at the Public Information Office. We also brought clothes, food, and taught them bead-making. We exposed them to the digital media--- we had a video camera, digital camera, and showed the event in the laptop that we brought along  to show them. They were so amazed at their images, saying, "ayun ako, ayun ako," meaning "There I am, there I am!"

Third time we went there, I showed them a copy of their picture, one of them said, "mayron akong anino," meaning "I have a shadow." All those in the picture asked for a copy, saying they would have it displayed in their abode. Fourth meeting with them, I gave the leader a guitar, asking them to remember their songs and dances which they can no longer recall. The songs they knew are from videoke. They cannot show us their dance saying they don't remember any particular dance anymore. Or maybe, just like what my friend from the National Commission for the Arts (NCCA) told me, maybe we have a different concept of song and dance. Maybe they have but they don't tag it as such. Maybe my questioning was wrong, so I got the wrong answer in return.

The last time I went there was in 2008 when my fellow volunteers at the Lopez Culture, Arts, and Tourism Council (LCATC) now comprising Lopez Heritage Conservation and Historical Society visited them in their newly-constructed two-classroom building. We brought them food and beads, and we had a good chat with them. "Huntahan" in the vernacular. It was during this time that we learned a lot about their culture.

While waiting for our aeta kababayans to arrive, we prepared sandwiches
so that they will have snacks before we begin the activity. 

We did not wait long. They were excited to be with us. Babies were carried by their mothers in uban, a cloth that carries the young from waist, diagonally hung on the mother's body, tied on the right shoulder. It allows the hands of the mothers free to move while they keep their young safely, close to their body.

Mrs. Oblina, Alternative Learning System's Coordinator
gave them a brief orientation of what was going to happen on that day.

The whole tribe was present. Boys, girls, men, women, except for a few who were not able to make it for various reasons.

This is one of the two classrooms donated by a television network so that they will have a more comfortable place to study. 

 We introduced ourselves, for even though I was already familiar to them, most of the teachers and youth volunteers who were with me were first-timers in that place. We had to break the ice so that all of us will be comfortable to mingle.

When we began the bead-making activity, all wanted to join. They loved beads!

While the younger ones and the mothers were busy imagining the design that they would create with the bead jewelry, the men were outside, preparing for lunch.

Each group received their materials and attentively listened to instructions. 

They speak Tagalog, so we didn't have a problem communicating. Though they have an unwritten word which they use when talking among themselves. They told us it had no written equivalent so if we want to learn, it would be through sounds. I don't know if it is ever possible to learn their language. I have no idea!

They were silent for a while as they created
their own masterpiece. 

   It was fun watching them seriously do their work. We did not tell them exactly what to do. Everyone was free to make his or her creation.

Then we had lunch. We ate altogether.

 After a delicious lunch, we sat and chatted. We talked about their culture. Practically about everything! A day was not enough but it was just what we had. Someday soon we will go to Brgy. Villaespina to visit them again. Maybe by that time, we can stay longer and complete their story.

Some were proudly wearing their bracelets and necklaces,
while a few were still doing the final knot.

And before we finally left the grounds of Aeta Ville, we gave them snacks and thanked them for a very successful immersion.

For posterity. One time, we touched one another's lives. 

This October as we celebrate Indigenous People's Month by virtue of Presidential Decree 1906, let us remember that we are co-existing with our aeta community who want us to call them "kulot" meaning curly or kinky-haired, as they call us "unat' or straight-haired. Visit them once in a while and teach them something as they teach us to be thankful of the blessings that we enjoy. Opportunities they don't have. And if we can, let us help them improve their lives!