December 2018
Summary of the Philippines Trip
November 25–30, 2018
By Fernando Briosos
November 25–30, 2018
By Fernando Briosos
I would like to recognize the following associations who donated 1,100 of the five-gallon blue plastic containers, 100 outdoor solar lamps, 5 solar panels water pumps, 16 water buffaloes, and several boxes of school supplies, used clothing, pots, and plates for the Aeta communities: San Francisco Chinatown Lions Club, Silicon Valley Cyber Lions Club, Legacy Through Giving Foundation, multiple Guangdong China Lions Clubs, the Philippine Red Cross, and the Manila Allied Lions Club and Manila Friendship Lions Club in the Philippines. I also offer my special gratitude to Lion Michael Chan for his unwavering support to the Aeta Tribe Foundation and to Lion Yu Mei for connecting multiple Lions clubs in China and in the Philippines. Lastly, I give thanks to both the Manila Allied Lions Club and Manila Friendship Lions Club for coordinating the shipment of supplies with the Philippine Red Cross. Thank you, and the Aeta communities are forever grateful.
Having you and Lions Club International by my side during these visits demonstrated to the Aeta that a large humanitarian team is working on their behalf. This lessened their fears about the future. Expressions of kindness and generosity will create better living conditions and opportunities for the Aeta people today and for future generations. We have given the Aeta people something to look forward to. With your important contributions, our foundation remains strong and continues to strive to achieve our goal of saving the lives of the long-ignored Aeta people.
We all share in common the joy we experience from helping poor communities and making an indelible change in many lives. But, as you all know, humanitarian service is hard work. We, therefore, thank you for your generosity and for joining our excursion to the Philippines. Together, we visited and explored six Aeta villages in Zambales Province —Palis, Nacolcol, Villar, Maguisguis, and Poonbato as well as Baliwit in San Marcelino. I think this trip has informed you about the lives of the indigenous Aeta people, and has allowed you to witness the Aeta’s daily struggle, which continues even 28 years after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
Our philanthropic trip provided an in-depth understanding of the reasons behind the creation of the Aeta Tribe Foundation. Our efforts are far more complex because the Aeta live in remote areas. We must use heavy-duty trucks to cross over rivers and difficult, often muddy terrain; the trucks are likely to get stuck in deep holes, and tractors are needed to extract them. Visiting the villages was a meaningful experience for the Aeta: it gave them something to strive for when before they had none. We hope that, for you, the visit was not only a chance to explore places that are not easily discoverable but also a memorable experience of the rich culture and warm hospitality of the Aeta tribes and of making a difference. Your visit and your donations made a meaningful impact on over 5,000 lives through your donations of the five-gallon plastic containers, both indoor and outdoor solar lamps, and water buffaloes.
We apologize for any inconvenience you might have experienced due to language barriers. Our five-day mission was challenged because we received confirmation of the 10 participants on the day of the excursion and had 16 more volunteers join unexpectedly, including a Lions member named Alex, six people from the engineering group, five people from the Philippine Red Cross, and a four-person camera crew. From the start, I knew to expect the unexpected and had anticipated the need for flexibility, connections, new relationships, and teamwork to achieve our goals while fulfilling what we and the Aeta people aspired to with the trip.
These challenges notwithstanding, we prevailed, and our humanitarian mission was a success. We achieved what we had set out to do during our five-day trip: installed 10 outdoor solar lamps (two each in the villages of Palis, Nacolcol, Villar, Maguisguis, and Poonbato), provided 300 of the five-gallon containers to Poonbato, distributed six water buffaloes (one to Nacolcol and five to Baliwit), and gave away several boxes of used clothes, school supplies, ceramic plates, and pots.
The above-mentioned activities were accomplished and thanks to everyone who worked diligently and who supported our cause by opening their hearts to welcome us in the most generous ways. I want to thank our Aeta representatives, especially Dominga Cabiong, the mayor of Botolan; Doris Maniquiz-Jeresano and her staff; the representatives from National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); and all the tribal leaders and Barangay leadership councils in the six Aeta villages we visited.
With the 16 new volunteers, we required three additional vans and three heavy-duty trucks for the volunteers and the donated goods—solar panels, water pumps, solar lamps, used clothes, school supplies, ceramic plates, and pots. Our Aeta representatives purchased enough food and water to fill a cart pulled by a water buffalo over rivers and rough, muddy terrain. The Aeta people in Nacolcol, where we stayed overnight, harvested yams, taro, and coconut and killed two pigs as additional food for us. We numbered over 30 people, including our truck drivers, and required a total of 12 temporary huts for accommodations.
We hope you will share your memorable experiences about the Aeta people with your friends, families, and colleagues. As the founder of the Aeta Tribe Foundation, I believe you are more knowledgeable today than a week ago because you witnessed firsthand how the Aeta tribes continue to struggle in their daily lives due to lack of water. Please let your community at home know that you were inspired and were moved to help more. We are always in need more volunteers like you. Together, we can fight extreme poverty.
Again, thank you, and we look forward to your joining us again in the near future.
Sincerely,
Fernando Briosos, President
Aeta Tribe Foundation
Having you and Lions Club International by my side during these visits demonstrated to the Aeta that a large humanitarian team is working on their behalf. This lessened their fears about the future. Expressions of kindness and generosity will create better living conditions and opportunities for the Aeta people today and for future generations. We have given the Aeta people something to look forward to. With your important contributions, our foundation remains strong and continues to strive to achieve our goal of saving the lives of the long-ignored Aeta people.
We all share in common the joy we experience from helping poor communities and making an indelible change in many lives. But, as you all know, humanitarian service is hard work. We, therefore, thank you for your generosity and for joining our excursion to the Philippines. Together, we visited and explored six Aeta villages in Zambales Province —Palis, Nacolcol, Villar, Maguisguis, and Poonbato as well as Baliwit in San Marcelino. I think this trip has informed you about the lives of the indigenous Aeta people, and has allowed you to witness the Aeta’s daily struggle, which continues even 28 years after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
Our philanthropic trip provided an in-depth understanding of the reasons behind the creation of the Aeta Tribe Foundation. Our efforts are far more complex because the Aeta live in remote areas. We must use heavy-duty trucks to cross over rivers and difficult, often muddy terrain; the trucks are likely to get stuck in deep holes, and tractors are needed to extract them. Visiting the villages was a meaningful experience for the Aeta: it gave them something to strive for when before they had none. We hope that, for you, the visit was not only a chance to explore places that are not easily discoverable but also a memorable experience of the rich culture and warm hospitality of the Aeta tribes and of making a difference. Your visit and your donations made a meaningful impact on over 5,000 lives through your donations of the five-gallon plastic containers, both indoor and outdoor solar lamps, and water buffaloes.
We apologize for any inconvenience you might have experienced due to language barriers. Our five-day mission was challenged because we received confirmation of the 10 participants on the day of the excursion and had 16 more volunteers join unexpectedly, including a Lions member named Alex, six people from the engineering group, five people from the Philippine Red Cross, and a four-person camera crew. From the start, I knew to expect the unexpected and had anticipated the need for flexibility, connections, new relationships, and teamwork to achieve our goals while fulfilling what we and the Aeta people aspired to with the trip.
These challenges notwithstanding, we prevailed, and our humanitarian mission was a success. We achieved what we had set out to do during our five-day trip: installed 10 outdoor solar lamps (two each in the villages of Palis, Nacolcol, Villar, Maguisguis, and Poonbato), provided 300 of the five-gallon containers to Poonbato, distributed six water buffaloes (one to Nacolcol and five to Baliwit), and gave away several boxes of used clothes, school supplies, ceramic plates, and pots.
The above-mentioned activities were accomplished and thanks to everyone who worked diligently and who supported our cause by opening their hearts to welcome us in the most generous ways. I want to thank our Aeta representatives, especially Dominga Cabiong, the mayor of Botolan; Doris Maniquiz-Jeresano and her staff; the representatives from National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); and all the tribal leaders and Barangay leadership councils in the six Aeta villages we visited.
With the 16 new volunteers, we required three additional vans and three heavy-duty trucks for the volunteers and the donated goods—solar panels, water pumps, solar lamps, used clothes, school supplies, ceramic plates, and pots. Our Aeta representatives purchased enough food and water to fill a cart pulled by a water buffalo over rivers and rough, muddy terrain. The Aeta people in Nacolcol, where we stayed overnight, harvested yams, taro, and coconut and killed two pigs as additional food for us. We numbered over 30 people, including our truck drivers, and required a total of 12 temporary huts for accommodations.
We hope you will share your memorable experiences about the Aeta people with your friends, families, and colleagues. As the founder of the Aeta Tribe Foundation, I believe you are more knowledgeable today than a week ago because you witnessed firsthand how the Aeta tribes continue to struggle in their daily lives due to lack of water. Please let your community at home know that you were inspired and were moved to help more. We are always in need more volunteers like you. Together, we can fight extreme poverty.
Again, thank you, and we look forward to your joining us again in the near future.
Sincerely,
Fernando Briosos, President
Aeta Tribe Foundation