September 2015
Since February of 2015, building relationships with the Aeta communities in the Central Luzon has been the driving force behind the solid foundation between the community and the organization. We now have solid relationships in the five different provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, and Quezon. When we visit the Aeta communities, we provide humanitarian relief in the form of vegetable seeds, rice, and sardines for each family. The purpose of our visit was to introduce the Aeta Tribe Foundation along with its goals, mission, and vision. The average cost for each village/community is Php 30,000 (US $600). We have already visited eleven (11) Aeta communities including Nabuklod, Camachiles, Mawacat, Sapangbato, Villa Maria, Bamban, Abucay, General Nakar, Nacolcol, Palis, and Villar.
We have strengthened our relationships as partners, which has resonated throughout the Central region as more villages are starting to reach out to the foundation. Establishing a good relationship with Aeta has allowed us to hire chieftains or elders as Aeta Honorary Members of the Aeta Tribe Foundation by providing each member Php 1000 ($20) a month. We felt that having a foundation representative who is also a member of the Aeta community leadership group would be the easiest way to receive the endorsement for any programs. We now have eleven Aeta Honorary Members representing each village and province:
We have strengthened our relationships as partners, which has resonated throughout the Central region as more villages are starting to reach out to the foundation. Establishing a good relationship with Aeta has allowed us to hire chieftains or elders as Aeta Honorary Members of the Aeta Tribe Foundation by providing each member Php 1000 ($20) a month. We felt that having a foundation representative who is also a member of the Aeta community leadership group would be the easiest way to receive the endorsement for any programs. We now have eleven Aeta Honorary Members representing each village and province:
- Ms. Dominga Cabiong, Regional Coordinator, Mabalacat, Pampanga
- Ms. Gloria De La Cruz, Chieftain in General Nakar
- Ms. Amelia Apang, Mid-wife/Elder in Camachiles, Pampanga
- Ms. Anita Casupahan, Chieftain, Nabuklod, Pampanga
- Ms. Rosita Sison, Chieftain, Bataan
- Ms. Zenaida Panes, Barangay Representative/Elder, Villar, Botolan
- Ms. Ladie M. de Leon, Barangay Chieftain/Elder, Botolan, Zambales
- Mr. Warlito Cruzado, Barangay Representative/Elder, Nacolcol
- Mr. Joel Cosme, Chieftain, Tarlac
- Mr. Michael Lundang, Elder, Tarlac
- Mr. Noel Lundang, Elder, Tarlac