December 2016
BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES: The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 has changed the lives of the Aeta communities in the Eastern Botolan, Zambales province. This includes the villages in Nacolcol, Palis, Villar, Burgos, Poonbato, Maguisguis, Belbel, Cabatuan, and Moraza. So far, we have developed relationships with Nacolcol, Palis, Belbel, and Villar with a total of 560 households and approximately 2800 Aeta people. Their land is still recovering from the acidity of the volcanic soil and subsequently, they have become dependent on non-government organizations (NGO) for temporary relief.
Nacolcol has 250 families
Palis has 150 families
Villar has 100 families
Belbel has 60 families
Working with the Aeta in these communities requires planning and implementation but depends entirely on their willingness, cooperation, and participation. There is a large population of children under 10 years of age. There are nine Aeta communities with only one formal school from kindergarten to sixth grade and it is located in Nacolcol. The school requires a walk of one to two hours from the other villages of Palis, Villar, and Belbel. Consequently, these villages have informal schools; each school has only two rooms. One room is used for kindergarten to grade one, and the other room is for grades two through grade six. The students have the option to stay in school but some do not. When there is a feeding program in the school, all the students will attend. As long as there is food to be served, the children will stay but they leave when the food is gone. If some students complete grade six in the informal school, they need to register with the “Jump Start” program. This is a pre-requisite to get into the middle school program, and they must pass the tests to qualify for the formal grades seven and eight. In many cases, they fail and the students stop going to school entirely.
Health care is very limited for the Aeta people living in Eastern Botolan. The children receive one drop of Vitamin A every six-months along with deworming treatments. Pregnant women begin receiving multi-vitamins every month beginning from three months of pregnancy through three months after giving birth. The closest hospital is a twelve-hour ride using water buffalos. The Aeta generally leave their village at midnight to arrive at the hospital at noon. This year, we have provided the following for each Aeta community:
Nacolcol Village: Two female water buffaloes and a female goat, an irrigation system, agricultural tools, and 200 children’s books for the school library.
Palis Village: Fifty 5-gallon plastic containers and a long hose to attach to the recently discovered spring water, used clothes, 300 slippers, and 300 toothbrushes for the children.
Villar Village: Forty-five 5-gallon plastic containers and a female water buffalo.
The donated clothes came from Calvary Presbyterian Church, the 300 toothbrushes were donated by Dr. Librada Yamat and Dr. Emmet Todd Knipper, and $300 slippers came from Marian Castillo.
Nacolcol has 250 families
Palis has 150 families
Villar has 100 families
Belbel has 60 families
Working with the Aeta in these communities requires planning and implementation but depends entirely on their willingness, cooperation, and participation. There is a large population of children under 10 years of age. There are nine Aeta communities with only one formal school from kindergarten to sixth grade and it is located in Nacolcol. The school requires a walk of one to two hours from the other villages of Palis, Villar, and Belbel. Consequently, these villages have informal schools; each school has only two rooms. One room is used for kindergarten to grade one, and the other room is for grades two through grade six. The students have the option to stay in school but some do not. When there is a feeding program in the school, all the students will attend. As long as there is food to be served, the children will stay but they leave when the food is gone. If some students complete grade six in the informal school, they need to register with the “Jump Start” program. This is a pre-requisite to get into the middle school program, and they must pass the tests to qualify for the formal grades seven and eight. In many cases, they fail and the students stop going to school entirely.
Health care is very limited for the Aeta people living in Eastern Botolan. The children receive one drop of Vitamin A every six-months along with deworming treatments. Pregnant women begin receiving multi-vitamins every month beginning from three months of pregnancy through three months after giving birth. The closest hospital is a twelve-hour ride using water buffalos. The Aeta generally leave their village at midnight to arrive at the hospital at noon. This year, we have provided the following for each Aeta community:
Nacolcol Village: Two female water buffaloes and a female goat, an irrigation system, agricultural tools, and 200 children’s books for the school library.
Palis Village: Fifty 5-gallon plastic containers and a long hose to attach to the recently discovered spring water, used clothes, 300 slippers, and 300 toothbrushes for the children.
Villar Village: Forty-five 5-gallon plastic containers and a female water buffalo.
The donated clothes came from Calvary Presbyterian Church, the 300 toothbrushes were donated by Dr. Librada Yamat and Dr. Emmet Todd Knipper, and $300 slippers came from Marian Castillo.