Livelihood Resources, Practices and Values of Aetas in Mid-Baytan—Implications to Education and Community Development

Authors

  • J A Espiritu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i6.2412

Abstract

The study describes the livelihood resources, practices and values of Aetas in midBaytan, Botolan, Zambales, located in Central Luzon, Philippines. It aimed to provide a basis for an indigenous development program and drew implications on education and community development. Specifically, this study described 1) the characteristics of the residents, 2) livelihood resources and practices, 3) cultural practices and values,
and 4) their problems. Participants and key informants were interviewed during fieldworks. Documents were gathered from pertinent offices. Data were analyzed drawing patterns and categories. Participants were 21 to 76 years old, mostly women, married, with elementary education and 2-5 members per household. Livelihood
resources were family-owned or communal. Livelihood practices included enterprise combinations, production and marketing processes. Majority of the participants is into farming, gathering mountain products, and hired labor. Family roles and traditions were well-defined. Prominent values are sharing, trust in God and determination. The g-string and arrows symbolized their practical philosophy and open-mindedness.
Low prices for products and inadequate capital resulted to low income that led to poor health, abseentism and early marriage. The study concludes that the Aetas of mid-Baytan possess the needed resources, skills and values to break the cycle of poverty. Family culture keeps their marriage and community peaceful. It is, therefore, recommends that 1) formative IPED emphasize the role of the Aetas in Philippine history and study their way of life; 2) an indigenous development program be drawn encompassing leadership, local governance, livelihood enhancement, gender sensitivity integrating culture and cohesiveness; and, 3) line agencies collaborate for more directional impact. jae.


Keywords: Aeta, community development,culture, indigenous education, livelihood

References

Ignacio, J.C. 2007. Indigenous People’s Apostolate, http:// www.balangadiocese.com/LinkedPagesB/ip.html, November 16, 2017

Balilla, V.S., McHenry, J.A., McHenry, M.P., Parkinson, R.M., and Banal, D.T. 2013. Indigenous Aeta Magbukún Self-Identity, Sociopolitical Structures, and SelfDetermination at the Local Level in the Philippines. Journal of Antrhopology (2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/391878

Communication Theory.org.2010. Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication./Communication Theory/, https://communicationlibraries.wordpress.com/ 2013/12/07/shannon-weaver-model-of-communication/

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) Foundation. Indigenous Development or Development with Culture and Identity, Proceedings of the 9

NCIP. Status Report, 2016.

Estacio, L. Jr. 1996. Ang Antropolohiya ng Disaster sa Punto de Bista ng mga Ayta. Aghamtao (8)

Parungao,J. 2011. Values and the Communication of Change: The Value Filters of the NLP Communication Model Applied to Aetas in Loob Bunga, Zambales. Jati (16), pp. 177-193

Proceedings of the Maguisguis, Nacolcol and Burgos Interviews. December 28-30, 2016.

De Jesus, R.V. 1990. Zambales. Manila, Philippines: Union Zambaleňa.

Parungao, J. (2011). Values and the Communication of Change: The Value Filters of the NLP Communication Model Applied to Aeta in Loob Bunga Zambales. Jati, Vol.16, pp.177-193.

Seitz, S. 1998. Coping Strategies in an Ethnic Minority Group: The Aeta of Mt. Pinatubo. Disasters (22)(1), pp.76-90. Retrieved on Februry 22, 2016 from file:///C:Users/users/ Downloads/Coping_strategies_in_an_ethnic.pdf

Balilla, V.S., Anwar-McHenry, J, McHenry, M.P., Parkinson, R.M., and Banal, D.T. 2012. Aeta Magbukún of Mariveles: Traditional Indigenous Forest Resources Use, Practices and the Sustainable Economic Development Challenge in Remote Philippine Regions, Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 31:7, 678-709: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1080/10549811.2012.704775, October 10, 2017.

NCIP Validation Proceedings, November 8, 2016. Botolan, Zambales, Philippines.

Gaillard, J.C. 2006. Traditional Societies in the Face of Natural Hazards: The 1991 Mt. Pinatubo Eruption and the Aetas of the Philippines. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, (24)(1), pp.5-43.

Bhattcharya, A.K. 2001. Community Participation and Sustainable Development— Global Perspective Concept Publishing Co. pp.108-109.

Abejuela, R.III. 2007. Indigenous Education in the Philippines. www.unescobkk.org/ fileadmin/user_upload/apeid/Conference/papers/ABEJUELA7d.pdf, November 5, 2017.

Downloads

Published

2018-06-04

How to Cite

Espiritu, J. A. (2018). Livelihood Resources, Practices and Values of Aetas in Mid-Baytan—Implications to Education and Community Development. KnE Social Sciences, 3(6), 659–681. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i6.2412