September 2018
The volcanic eruption in 1991 had destroyed and blanketed the entire forest with ash including the topsoil, fisheries, wild animals, plantations, villages, rivers, and streams. The forest became uninhabitable. The first and last time the government surveyed the land around Mount Pinatubo was in 1993; they learned that the land in the forest was undocumented. Most of the forest lands were part of the public domain and belong to the state. Large corporations, developers, and government officials rushed to purchase these lands for investments and disregarded the Aeta people. Subsequently, the Aeta began to occupy most of the cities and nearby town centers where they were forced to beg for food, water, and money. To combat this problem, the government granted the Aeta people’s rights and protection to live on 128,000 hectares of ancestral domain (but not ownership of the land) at the foot of Mount Pinatubo, so that they could continue living primitively according to their traditions, customs, practices, and culture under the Indigenous People Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997. The Aeta people were displaced in resettlement areas. The government of the Philippines failed to address both short-term and long-term issues necessary for the Aeta’s survival such as water systems, sanitation facilities, electricity, roads, and bridges.
Twenty-seven years have passed since the eruption and the Aeta tribes continue to struggle in their daily lives owing to a lack of water, unproductive forest land, and a shortage of food; they are trapped with virtually no hope for a better life without outside intervention. The solutions and prioritization will be to establish a community-based urban setting of sustainable farming with training and research facilities that will increase food security and lead to food sovereignty, environmental conservation, and reforestation. Cultural preservation and social identities will play significant roles in using appropriate farming practices that are culturally suitable for the Aeta communities without sacrificing their traditional values. By taking advantage of the Aeta’s knowledge of the forest and utilizing that knowledge toward regeneration efforts will fill the demands of their growing population for pure, fresh, locally grown food that can be grown rapidly and sustainably using natural fertilizers and less water in a scalable process. The vast majority of the Aeta people lives in villages with a total population of close to 100,000; they want governance, institutions, and civil society to give them recognition and legal rights to basic social welfare, economic fairness, and land ownership.
One of the most recent milestones for the Aeta has been the discovery of new natural spring waters near the villages. It is therefore critical to immediately restore and secure any new spring waters near the Aeta villages with cement and rebar to protect them from potential landslides during monsoon rains. The usage of water for production input and water conservation will be implemented to ensure that the springs will be compatible with long-term water security. Mango trees with deep roots, coconut trees, and wild plants such as bamboo will be planted around the spring to prevent soil erosion. The type of flourishing vegetables and trees will already be familiar for the Aeta to plant such as rice and root crops, coffee and cocoa trees, bamboo, and other sought-after fruits and vegetables to make their production more efficient and to secure their own food supply. During the harvest season, the crops will be sold and redistributed through partnerships, networks, and other linkages. The Aeta can also work directly with consumers, restaurants, grocery chains, shopping malls, and schools to avoid middlemen. Lastly, distribution of water buffaloes will help with reforestation, cultivation of land, transportation, and to provide milk for children in the villages. The buffaloes will be owned by women and mothers to empower them and give them control over the most beneficial way to use the buffaloes. The result of this initiative will mobilize the Aeta people to expand their access to water, food, health, education, and employment, thus leading to greater self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to listen to the indigenous Aeta people and evaluate water management strategies that will allow the Aeta tribes to create a new economy without undermining the integrity and stability of the natural forest system.
Sponsorship Opportunities 2018 – 2020
Re-Building the natural forest and improving the health of the indigenous Aeta tribes
$5,000 Platinum – Build and install water systems that will provide plenty of water for an entire village including the school and the health clinic. In exchange, we will provide:
Plaque installed in the water systems; banner and cut-ribbon ceremony with your company/club’s name and logo; a preview on our Facebook page; and pictures of the Aeta communities who benefited from your donation, number of Aeta people in the village, and location of the village.
$1000 Gold – Protect spring waters from potential landslides by covering it with non-toxic cements and rebars and planting several fruit trees and vegetables surrounding the springs. This will allow the Aeta people to grow their own food. In exchange, we will provide:
Banner with your company/club’s name and logo; a preview on our Facebook page; and pictures of the Aeta communities who benefited from your donation, number of Aeta people in the village, and location of the village.
$500 Silver – One Female Water Buffalo to provide milk for all the infants and children as a nutritional supplement in addition to their mother’s milk. In exchange, we will provide:
Cardboard sign with your company/club’s name; a preview on our Facebook page; and pictures of the Aeta recipient who received your water buffalo, number of Aeta people in the village, and location of the village.
$250 Bronze – 50 Blue Plastic Containers to distribute to 50 households/families. In exchange, we will include:
Company/club’s name and logo on fifty of the 5-gallon blue plastic containers; a preview on our Facebook page; and pictures of the Aeta recipients who received your containers, number of Aeta people in the village, and location of the village.
Your contribution will be greatly appreciated and all donations are tax deductible. We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and our Federal Tax ID # 47-3714375. For tax reporting purposes, all checks must be payable to: AETA TRIBE FOUNDATION
Twenty-seven years have passed since the eruption and the Aeta tribes continue to struggle in their daily lives owing to a lack of water, unproductive forest land, and a shortage of food; they are trapped with virtually no hope for a better life without outside intervention. The solutions and prioritization will be to establish a community-based urban setting of sustainable farming with training and research facilities that will increase food security and lead to food sovereignty, environmental conservation, and reforestation. Cultural preservation and social identities will play significant roles in using appropriate farming practices that are culturally suitable for the Aeta communities without sacrificing their traditional values. By taking advantage of the Aeta’s knowledge of the forest and utilizing that knowledge toward regeneration efforts will fill the demands of their growing population for pure, fresh, locally grown food that can be grown rapidly and sustainably using natural fertilizers and less water in a scalable process. The vast majority of the Aeta people lives in villages with a total population of close to 100,000; they want governance, institutions, and civil society to give them recognition and legal rights to basic social welfare, economic fairness, and land ownership.
One of the most recent milestones for the Aeta has been the discovery of new natural spring waters near the villages. It is therefore critical to immediately restore and secure any new spring waters near the Aeta villages with cement and rebar to protect them from potential landslides during monsoon rains. The usage of water for production input and water conservation will be implemented to ensure that the springs will be compatible with long-term water security. Mango trees with deep roots, coconut trees, and wild plants such as bamboo will be planted around the spring to prevent soil erosion. The type of flourishing vegetables and trees will already be familiar for the Aeta to plant such as rice and root crops, coffee and cocoa trees, bamboo, and other sought-after fruits and vegetables to make their production more efficient and to secure their own food supply. During the harvest season, the crops will be sold and redistributed through partnerships, networks, and other linkages. The Aeta can also work directly with consumers, restaurants, grocery chains, shopping malls, and schools to avoid middlemen. Lastly, distribution of water buffaloes will help with reforestation, cultivation of land, transportation, and to provide milk for children in the villages. The buffaloes will be owned by women and mothers to empower them and give them control over the most beneficial way to use the buffaloes. The result of this initiative will mobilize the Aeta people to expand their access to water, food, health, education, and employment, thus leading to greater self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to listen to the indigenous Aeta people and evaluate water management strategies that will allow the Aeta tribes to create a new economy without undermining the integrity and stability of the natural forest system.
Sponsorship Opportunities 2018 – 2020
Re-Building the natural forest and improving the health of the indigenous Aeta tribes
$5,000 Platinum – Build and install water systems that will provide plenty of water for an entire village including the school and the health clinic. In exchange, we will provide:
Plaque installed in the water systems; banner and cut-ribbon ceremony with your company/club’s name and logo; a preview on our Facebook page; and pictures of the Aeta communities who benefited from your donation, number of Aeta people in the village, and location of the village.
$1000 Gold – Protect spring waters from potential landslides by covering it with non-toxic cements and rebars and planting several fruit trees and vegetables surrounding the springs. This will allow the Aeta people to grow their own food. In exchange, we will provide:
Banner with your company/club’s name and logo; a preview on our Facebook page; and pictures of the Aeta communities who benefited from your donation, number of Aeta people in the village, and location of the village.
$500 Silver – One Female Water Buffalo to provide milk for all the infants and children as a nutritional supplement in addition to their mother’s milk. In exchange, we will provide:
Cardboard sign with your company/club’s name; a preview on our Facebook page; and pictures of the Aeta recipient who received your water buffalo, number of Aeta people in the village, and location of the village.
$250 Bronze – 50 Blue Plastic Containers to distribute to 50 households/families. In exchange, we will include:
Company/club’s name and logo on fifty of the 5-gallon blue plastic containers; a preview on our Facebook page; and pictures of the Aeta recipients who received your containers, number of Aeta people in the village, and location of the village.
Your contribution will be greatly appreciated and all donations are tax deductible. We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and our Federal Tax ID # 47-3714375. For tax reporting purposes, all checks must be payable to: AETA TRIBE FOUNDATION