January 2018
Summary of the Philippines Trip
Dec. 28th to Jan. 9th
By Fernando Briosos
I would like to give recognition to the following associations who have donated a combined total of 1000 of the 5-gallon blue plastic containers and 6 water buffaloes for the Aeta communities: Far Eastern University Alumni Association (FEU), Legacy Through Giving Foundation, Silicon Valley Cyber Lions Club, Yueqi Lions Club from China, and Longzhu Lions Club from China.
Thank you for generosity and for joining our excursions to the Philippines by exploring and visiting many Aeta villages in the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. I think this trip has kept you completely informed about the lives of the indigenous Aeta people, and witnessed how they continued to struggle with their daily lives after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, twenty-five years ago.
Our trip was undeniably a philanthropic tour that provided you an in-depth understanding why the Aeta Tribe Foundation was created. Visiting the villages was very meaningful to the constituents as we gave them hope of which otherwise thought there was none. Your donations of 5-gallon blue plastic containers and water buffaloes will change many lives and for some, you have already saved them. Having you with me side by side has represented a large humanitarian team that would lessen their fears since they saw and met more people taking the time to visit them, of which they are rarely visited. The perception of showing kindness and generosity will only lead the paths for better living conditions and create opportunities for the Aeta people not only for the parents but for the future Aeta generations. We have given the Aeta people something to look forward that will be seen realistic and imaginable in their eyes. It’s certainly great having you on our team. With your contributions, our foundation is running strong and in the right directions.
Please do share your memorable experiences about the Aeta people with your friends, families, and colleagues and how you came away feeling touched with so much inspiration and passion of wanting to help more of them. We always need more volunteers like yourselves. Together, we can fight extreme poverty.
Again, thank you and we look forward to joining us again in the near future. Aeta Tribe Foundation.
Our vision is derived from the concept of sustainable development and aims to re-build the forest and replace resources that are both natural and human made in equal or greater value without damaging or endangering the natural forest system. Instead, we aim to shift the focus to social and economic development for future Aeta generations.
We have visited twelve (12) Aeta villages on this trip namely: Target Integrated School in Sapangbato, Nabuklod, Camachiles, Old Cabalen, Dalig, Bulacan, Burgos, Maguisguis, Palis, Nacolcol, Belbel, and Moraza. All the villages we visited have issues with the lack of water and electricity. They receive their water either from the spring water sources and/or from the artesian wells. Our foundation’s hope is to restore many of the broken cement tanks and artesian wells as well as building cement water tanks to protect and collect spring waters where the Aeta people relied so heavily on. Skin rashes, runny noses, and diarrheal diseases are still the major illnesses for the Aeta communities. By providing each of the family with 5-gallon blue plastic containers may alleviate some illnesses where the Aeta people can collect more water for drinking, cooking, and growing food. The lack of sanitation facilities also contributed to the existing illnesses and without assistance from the Philippines government or other organizations, their struggles will continue.
December 28th
Nabuklod Village, Floridablanca, Pampanga Province
Population: 676 Households/Families, approximately 3500 Aeta people
Chieftain: Anita Casupanan
In February 2017, we found a spring water source that was 1,000 feet below the cliff. Somehow, there were already two old cement tanks – one next to the spring water and one next to the village. We intended to provide a water system for the Aeta communities by pumping the spring water from the lower level cement tank to the village, and the 2-horse power generator we bought was not enough to pump the water up 1000 feet. We learned that we needed at least a 5-horse power generator. We received a quote from Keylargo Industrial Sales for the 5-horsepower submersible pump for $3,500 but when we saw the equipment, it was too complicated to install and asked Keylargo to install the equipment themselves. They came back with an increase quote of $8,000 with a one-year warranty, and with $1,000 down payment to survey the environment and to make measurements. We also learned that to complete the project, it required large cables for electricity which would cost the Aeta communities P12,000 ($240) a month for electricity bill of which the Aeta communities in Nabuklod couldn’t afford. We decided not to install the pump.
In August 2017 and at last, the local government and the water utilities have started delivering water to the primary school in Nabuklod village. They have decided to restore the old 9,000 liters storage tank next to the school. We have visited the mayor’s office so many times trying to supply water to the village, but we were unsuccessful from the previous mayor. In fact, we have restored three artesian wells but after six months of installation, the wells have dried up. We’re pleased, of course, that the water utilities have a truck that would deliver 2,000 liters of water, four to five times throughout the day. In exchange, each of the Aeta family pays P5 pesos for 5-gallons of water. Our 5-gallon blue plastic containers made things easier. Unfortunately, the water being delivered is not enough. The school has 800 students plus the teachers along with a total of 3,500 Aeta people in the village. So, the Aeta communities was requesting for another 9,000 liters storage tank to be build next to the tank, however, this would require additional truck and a staff to fill the water tank. Apparently, they only have one truck assigned to the communities as a favor from the local government.
Since we already have two cement tanks (one tank was located near the spring water source 1,000 feet below the cliff and one tank on the top level where the village is), it made sense just to restore the tanks of 2.5 Meters x 2.5 Meters x 2.5 Meters. We thought that one of the water delivery of 2,000 liters of water be delivered to the top-level cement tank in the village, while the lower level tank receives water from the spring water source. Also, the lower cement tank can help supply continuous flow of water at no cost to the families who can’t afford the cost of P5 pesos for 5-gallon of water.
The estimated cost to restore two old cement tanks: $1500.
Requires additional cost for renting 4x4 truck (3 times): $600
Materials (pipes, screws, cements, and accessories) = P19600
Paints = P12,000
Labor for 6 people = P24000 (4 days x P6000 for P1000 each person).
Food and transportation = P20,000
Total Estimated Cost: P75,600 / P50 = $1512
December 29th
Lomibao Village, San Marcelino, Zambales
Population: 316 Households/Families, approximately 1500
On the way to Lomibao village, we rented a boat to cross over the lake about a half hour ride each way. The lake has many fish but the department of health does not recommend for them to be eaten. The lake has too much minerals contributed by the coal mining companies and eating the fish can be hazardous to the Aeta’s health. As we reached the village, many of the older women has one or three lumps in their necks. The lumps are the size of golf balls. They don’t know what caused the lumps. They are still living primitively and avoid going to the hospitals. They received their water from a spring water source up on the hill, and it happens to be near the Chief’s home. The pressure of water coming out was strong but not as strong as the one that was 3 kilometers away from the village. We walked to the site and saw an old cement water tank. It was built in 1996, but it was damaged in 2000. The pipes have rusted, the hoses have split, and the faucets have rusted. As I walked around the cement tank, there was a stream of water being diverted to where they grow their crops. They seemed to have harvested a large rice fields, but the water was being wasted. The cement tank is located uphill from the village (367 feet elevation):
S 02 degrees 27.403’
E 100 degrees 43.512’
The estimated cost to repair the cement tank with accessories to connect to the villages: $3,000
Require additional cost for renting a boat to cross over lake (3 times): $600
December 30th
Olongapo City – Iram R.A.
Population: 320 Families/Households, approximately 1800 People
Chieftain: Trollie Romualdo
Participated in the parade to celebrate the New Year with the Aeta communities.
December 31st
Camachiles Village, Floridablanca, Pampanga Province.
Population: 202 Households/Families, approximately 1,000 Aeta people
Chieftain: Anita Casupanan
On the way to Camachiles village, we had to cross over a broken bridge. We learned later that the broken bridge was a major reason why they are rarely visited by humanitarian aid. In November 2017, a reporter named Kara David has converted an old room into a new health clinic for the community. However, it is a small room without any furniture and supplies. There was a sink and a toilet installed but no water tanks. There is no running water, and the nearest spring water source was 1.5 kilometer away across a stream. The people in the community use the stream to bathe and wash their clothes. Just up the hill across the stream and in parallel to the bridge, there is a spring water where a long line of people waiting to fill their containers. The spring produces a very slow flow of water that would fill a 5-gallon plastic container in 20 minutes. Securing the spring water into a 2.5 Meter x 2.5 Meter x 2.5 Meter cement tank will increase the flow of water, and possibly connect pipes with a combination of hose to supply water to the health clinic which happens to be in the same level as the spring.
The only way to the village would be by foot since crossing the bridge to the village is very unsafe. Children had fallen off the bridge by stepping on holes and broken wood. To build the cement tank, we would require additional people to carry the materials and cross over the streams, which may require purchasing a water buffalo with carts.
The estimated cost to build the cement tank (All Inclusive): $5,000.
The spring water is located: N 17 degrees 15.497’
E 085 degrees 31.496
100 pieces of 10 mm steel bar P22,000
80 bags of cement P15,000
Gravel and Sand P15,000
60 pieces of 2x3x12 lumber P10,000
12 pieces of plywood #2 P6,000
20 pieces 2x2x12 lumber P5,000
Other materials (hose, nails, wires, etc.) P5,000
Food, water, and transportation P40,000
Water Buffalo with cart P35,000
8 People Staff for two weeks P100,000
Total Estimated Cost: P253,000 / 50 = $5,060
January 1st
Sitio Dalig and Bulacan, Sta. Juhaine, Capas, Tarlac
Population for Dalig is 60 Households/Families
Population for Bulacan is 90 Households/Families
Chieftain: Larry Ocampo
To reach the village, we had to rent a 4 x 4 truck to cross over muddy areas of volcanic ash. The villages were somewhat secluded. Many of the children don’t have slippers and the majority of them have runny noses. The village of Dalig has two artesian wells and they produce large amount of water. As I walked up the hill where most of the huts were, there were two 500 gallons plastic containers that were empty. I talked to the Chieftain (Larry Ocampo), he said that they needed long hoses to attached the spring water from the mountain to the containers. The previous hoses were already damaged and they didn’t have funds to purchase new hoses. The estimated cost of 500 meters hose: $800.
About a mile from Dalig, we visited the village of Bulacan. Many of the huts have hoses attached from various spring water sources. I walked around the villages and noticed an old water cement tank about 2.5 Meters x 2.5 Meters x 2.5 Meters in size. The cement walls had algae and the pipes were rusted with holes. It might be best to re-build a new cement tank. There was running water on the side of the tank, and the pig bathe in the mud.
The estimated cost to restore the water tank is $3500.
Require additional cost for renting 4x4 truck (2 times): $400
January 2nd
Pundakit, Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales
Population: Less than 200 Aeta people
Chieftain: Ms. Myra Matuguina
Nagsasa Cove is both an island and a resort. The Aeta people who live in this area are called Abelaine. They have straight hair as opposed to the Aeta who have kinky hair and live near Mount Pinatubo. They get visited by many tourists from March to June who sleep overnight in tents. There is no electricity, but they do have a few solar panels installed for lights next to the beach areas. They provide snorkeling, island hopping, hiking, etc. They have toilets and water. They have built a large cement tank that can fill 100 drums of water. It seems that they have plenty of water because there were many drums scattered throughout the village. Their diet consists mostly fish.
Building water purification systems to bottle the water would be ideal for this village since they don’t have any income between July and February. They are ideal for Micro-funding and they can supply water to the tourist as well as the nearby towns, which is an hour and a half away by boat.
January 3rd
Target Integrated School, Sapangbato, Pampanga Province
Population: 150 Households/Families, approximately 750 Aeta people
In December 2015, it was our first visit to Target Primary School that had 160 students from pre-kindergarten to grade 6. Forty percent (40%) of the students were classified as “stunted or malnourished.” We arrived to their village during the lunch hours where the 40% malnourished children formed in line to receive meals while the other 60% watched. They weren’t given meals. It so happened we brought meals for all the children and since then, we have adopted the school. In 2016, we learned that many children weren’t allowed to go to school because of the lack of birth certificates. Many of the children were born at home by the midwives and not in the hospital. In earlyr 2017, we have performed baptismal for all the children and adults including a 58 year-old woman who wished to go to school to receive their birth certificates. Baptism is a requirement from the municipal office. With our on-going support, the school was voted number one school in the province in 2016 and 2017. Today, the school has 275 students and projected to have over 400 students by the end of this year. The Department of Education has given them grants to build a high school within the same complex which is now called “Target Integrated School.” The health of the children has dramatically improved and they are on their way to receive high school education. We had restored three broken artesian wells, but two of them have completely dried out. Luckily, the one artesian well that is working was replaced by two large aluminum water tanks provided by the Water For Life Project who is affiliated with the Rotary Clubs of Meppen in Philippines and Germany, in partnership with Rotary Clubs Wellington and Port Nicholson, New Zealand, and in cooperation with the Center for Emergency Aid and Rehabilitation, Inc. Thank you for providing large quantity of water supply. However, the school is requesting a water storage to help with cooking and drinking. They already have the water tank and recently, MemoExpress has donated the pump. Our foundation will absorb the cost of installation of the pump to supply water to the storage.
The estimated cost of pump installation: $500.
January 4th
Botolan, Zambales
Travel Day
Met with the governor, congresswomen, local representatives from National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
January 5th
Botolan, Zambales
Tribal Leaders Event – New Year’s Celebration
400 tribal leaders throughout Zambales Province got together for fun and games. It was a day of celebration. Each of the tribal leader received one 5-gallon blue plastic container and a pack of spaghetti.
We also distributed 5 water buffaloes to villages in – Palis, Maguisguis, Belbel, Moraza, and Cabatuan.
January 6th
Visited 4 villages all within Botolan, Zambales
Required a military truck or heavy-duty truck to visit them because of heavy terrain:
Burgos Village – 180 Families/Households, approximately 400 Aeta people
Chieftain: Ramon Abejon
They have an artesian well in the village but the water is undrinkable. The water that comes out is yellow to orange and it’s only good for bathing and growing food. They collect their safe water from a spring water source but it was an hour away on foot. We didn’t get a chance to visit the spring. We have provided them with 5-gallon blue plastic containers to collect more water for drinking and cooking.
Maguisguis Village – 200 Families/Households, approximately 1,150 Aeta people
Chieftain: Julay Manalaysay
The village uses one artesian well about 1 kilometer away from the village. It’s working but it requires new pump. Currently, the parts are all tied by wires and strip of clothes. We provided each family with 5-gallon blue plastic container and one water buffalo for the village.
Estimated Cost of repair: $500.
Palis Village – 121 Families/Households, approximately 600 Aeta people
Chieftain: Rudy Dizon
The village has access to plenty of water from the spring water source that is 50 feet below the village. It’s not very hard to reach. However, the spring water needed to be collected by building a 2.5 Meter x 2.5 Meter x 2.5 Meter cement tank. The village is surrounded with a lot of banana trees. In fact, they trade the banana hearts for rice. For one sack of banana hearts, they could receive 1 kilo of rice. The challenge is delivering the sack of banana hearts to the nearest town, which is 12 hours away on foot. We provided them with one water buffalo. The estimated cost to build a cement tank: $3500.
Nacolcol Village – 260 Families/Households, approximately 1100 Aeta people.
Chieftain: Lunasco Basa
The village has a formal school from Kindergarten to grade 7. It has about 600 students. The village has one cement tank that is 2.5 M x 2.5 M x 2.5 M that supply water throughout the village using hoses. Up the hill from the school, there was another spring water source which supply water to the houses living in the mountain. Another cement tank will help the village to access plenty of water.
The estimated costs to build another cement tank: $3500.
Requires renting 4x4 heavy trucks to visit (all) Maguisguis, Palis, and Nacolcol (4 times): $800
January 7th
Visited 2 villages all within Botolan, Zambales
Belbel Village – 75 Families/Households, approximately 300 Aeta people
Chieftain: Ngo-Ngo Cabalic
The village has no water. They rent a drum and a cart to collect water from another village. Prior to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, they had an artesian well that supplied plenty of water. Whey they returned to the village after the eruption, all the parts from the artesian well was taken away. They were requesting help to restore the pump. They were confident that there was still water down below. During the summer months, there is a slow-moving spring water about 20 minutes away from the village. But during the rainy season, it gets contaminated with volcanic ash and becomes undrinkable.
We provided each family with 5-gallon blue plastic container, 4 drums to be placed throughout the village, and one water buffalo. The estimated cost to repair artesian well: Unknown. Perhaps, securing the spring water source would be a better option.
Moraza Village – 70 Families/Households, approximately 350 Aeta people
Chieftain: Oscar Maximo
The village has no water. They did have a large tank of water that was connected to a large pump, but someone in the village had vandalized the equipment and cut-off all five (5) faucets that were installed throughout the village. No one knew who did the damage. They do have a spring water about 20 minutes away from the village, but it’s very slow moving. During the rainy season, the spring gets contaminated with volcanic ash and becomes undrinkable. We provided each of the family with 5-gallon blue plastic container and one water buffalo for the village
The estimated cost to repair the generator is Unknown.
January 8th
Returned to Sitio Dalig, Capas, Tarlac – 60 Families/Households, approximately 250 Aeta people
Chieftain: Larry Ocampo
Delivered a water buffalo for them to raise.
January 9th
Old Cabalan, Mampweng, Zambales – 53 Families/Households, approximately 200 Aeta people
Chieftain: Ranie Liwanag
In May 2017, they have reached out to the foundation and requested 200 meters hose. We visited them to check out the spring water which is 1000 feet above the village. They were using gravity to collect water from the spring water source. The spring water was surrounded by banana trees which could potentially be destroyed by a landslide during the typhoon season. It would be ideal to build a cement tank to protect the spring water source. We provided each family with 5-gallon blue plastic container.
The estimated cost to build the cement tank: $3500.
Requires additional cost for renting 4x4 truck (2 times): $400
End of Trip
Dec. 28th to Jan. 9th
By Fernando Briosos
I would like to give recognition to the following associations who have donated a combined total of 1000 of the 5-gallon blue plastic containers and 6 water buffaloes for the Aeta communities: Far Eastern University Alumni Association (FEU), Legacy Through Giving Foundation, Silicon Valley Cyber Lions Club, Yueqi Lions Club from China, and Longzhu Lions Club from China.
Thank you for generosity and for joining our excursions to the Philippines by exploring and visiting many Aeta villages in the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. I think this trip has kept you completely informed about the lives of the indigenous Aeta people, and witnessed how they continued to struggle with their daily lives after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, twenty-five years ago.
Our trip was undeniably a philanthropic tour that provided you an in-depth understanding why the Aeta Tribe Foundation was created. Visiting the villages was very meaningful to the constituents as we gave them hope of which otherwise thought there was none. Your donations of 5-gallon blue plastic containers and water buffaloes will change many lives and for some, you have already saved them. Having you with me side by side has represented a large humanitarian team that would lessen their fears since they saw and met more people taking the time to visit them, of which they are rarely visited. The perception of showing kindness and generosity will only lead the paths for better living conditions and create opportunities for the Aeta people not only for the parents but for the future Aeta generations. We have given the Aeta people something to look forward that will be seen realistic and imaginable in their eyes. It’s certainly great having you on our team. With your contributions, our foundation is running strong and in the right directions.
Please do share your memorable experiences about the Aeta people with your friends, families, and colleagues and how you came away feeling touched with so much inspiration and passion of wanting to help more of them. We always need more volunteers like yourselves. Together, we can fight extreme poverty.
Again, thank you and we look forward to joining us again in the near future. Aeta Tribe Foundation.
Our vision is derived from the concept of sustainable development and aims to re-build the forest and replace resources that are both natural and human made in equal or greater value without damaging or endangering the natural forest system. Instead, we aim to shift the focus to social and economic development for future Aeta generations.
We have visited twelve (12) Aeta villages on this trip namely: Target Integrated School in Sapangbato, Nabuklod, Camachiles, Old Cabalen, Dalig, Bulacan, Burgos, Maguisguis, Palis, Nacolcol, Belbel, and Moraza. All the villages we visited have issues with the lack of water and electricity. They receive their water either from the spring water sources and/or from the artesian wells. Our foundation’s hope is to restore many of the broken cement tanks and artesian wells as well as building cement water tanks to protect and collect spring waters where the Aeta people relied so heavily on. Skin rashes, runny noses, and diarrheal diseases are still the major illnesses for the Aeta communities. By providing each of the family with 5-gallon blue plastic containers may alleviate some illnesses where the Aeta people can collect more water for drinking, cooking, and growing food. The lack of sanitation facilities also contributed to the existing illnesses and without assistance from the Philippines government or other organizations, their struggles will continue.
December 28th
Nabuklod Village, Floridablanca, Pampanga Province
Population: 676 Households/Families, approximately 3500 Aeta people
Chieftain: Anita Casupanan
In February 2017, we found a spring water source that was 1,000 feet below the cliff. Somehow, there were already two old cement tanks – one next to the spring water and one next to the village. We intended to provide a water system for the Aeta communities by pumping the spring water from the lower level cement tank to the village, and the 2-horse power generator we bought was not enough to pump the water up 1000 feet. We learned that we needed at least a 5-horse power generator. We received a quote from Keylargo Industrial Sales for the 5-horsepower submersible pump for $3,500 but when we saw the equipment, it was too complicated to install and asked Keylargo to install the equipment themselves. They came back with an increase quote of $8,000 with a one-year warranty, and with $1,000 down payment to survey the environment and to make measurements. We also learned that to complete the project, it required large cables for electricity which would cost the Aeta communities P12,000 ($240) a month for electricity bill of which the Aeta communities in Nabuklod couldn’t afford. We decided not to install the pump.
In August 2017 and at last, the local government and the water utilities have started delivering water to the primary school in Nabuklod village. They have decided to restore the old 9,000 liters storage tank next to the school. We have visited the mayor’s office so many times trying to supply water to the village, but we were unsuccessful from the previous mayor. In fact, we have restored three artesian wells but after six months of installation, the wells have dried up. We’re pleased, of course, that the water utilities have a truck that would deliver 2,000 liters of water, four to five times throughout the day. In exchange, each of the Aeta family pays P5 pesos for 5-gallons of water. Our 5-gallon blue plastic containers made things easier. Unfortunately, the water being delivered is not enough. The school has 800 students plus the teachers along with a total of 3,500 Aeta people in the village. So, the Aeta communities was requesting for another 9,000 liters storage tank to be build next to the tank, however, this would require additional truck and a staff to fill the water tank. Apparently, they only have one truck assigned to the communities as a favor from the local government.
Since we already have two cement tanks (one tank was located near the spring water source 1,000 feet below the cliff and one tank on the top level where the village is), it made sense just to restore the tanks of 2.5 Meters x 2.5 Meters x 2.5 Meters. We thought that one of the water delivery of 2,000 liters of water be delivered to the top-level cement tank in the village, while the lower level tank receives water from the spring water source. Also, the lower cement tank can help supply continuous flow of water at no cost to the families who can’t afford the cost of P5 pesos for 5-gallon of water.
The estimated cost to restore two old cement tanks: $1500.
Requires additional cost for renting 4x4 truck (3 times): $600
Materials (pipes, screws, cements, and accessories) = P19600
Paints = P12,000
Labor for 6 people = P24000 (4 days x P6000 for P1000 each person).
Food and transportation = P20,000
Total Estimated Cost: P75,600 / P50 = $1512
December 29th
Lomibao Village, San Marcelino, Zambales
Population: 316 Households/Families, approximately 1500
On the way to Lomibao village, we rented a boat to cross over the lake about a half hour ride each way. The lake has many fish but the department of health does not recommend for them to be eaten. The lake has too much minerals contributed by the coal mining companies and eating the fish can be hazardous to the Aeta’s health. As we reached the village, many of the older women has one or three lumps in their necks. The lumps are the size of golf balls. They don’t know what caused the lumps. They are still living primitively and avoid going to the hospitals. They received their water from a spring water source up on the hill, and it happens to be near the Chief’s home. The pressure of water coming out was strong but not as strong as the one that was 3 kilometers away from the village. We walked to the site and saw an old cement water tank. It was built in 1996, but it was damaged in 2000. The pipes have rusted, the hoses have split, and the faucets have rusted. As I walked around the cement tank, there was a stream of water being diverted to where they grow their crops. They seemed to have harvested a large rice fields, but the water was being wasted. The cement tank is located uphill from the village (367 feet elevation):
S 02 degrees 27.403’
E 100 degrees 43.512’
The estimated cost to repair the cement tank with accessories to connect to the villages: $3,000
Require additional cost for renting a boat to cross over lake (3 times): $600
December 30th
Olongapo City – Iram R.A.
Population: 320 Families/Households, approximately 1800 People
Chieftain: Trollie Romualdo
Participated in the parade to celebrate the New Year with the Aeta communities.
December 31st
Camachiles Village, Floridablanca, Pampanga Province.
Population: 202 Households/Families, approximately 1,000 Aeta people
Chieftain: Anita Casupanan
On the way to Camachiles village, we had to cross over a broken bridge. We learned later that the broken bridge was a major reason why they are rarely visited by humanitarian aid. In November 2017, a reporter named Kara David has converted an old room into a new health clinic for the community. However, it is a small room without any furniture and supplies. There was a sink and a toilet installed but no water tanks. There is no running water, and the nearest spring water source was 1.5 kilometer away across a stream. The people in the community use the stream to bathe and wash their clothes. Just up the hill across the stream and in parallel to the bridge, there is a spring water where a long line of people waiting to fill their containers. The spring produces a very slow flow of water that would fill a 5-gallon plastic container in 20 minutes. Securing the spring water into a 2.5 Meter x 2.5 Meter x 2.5 Meter cement tank will increase the flow of water, and possibly connect pipes with a combination of hose to supply water to the health clinic which happens to be in the same level as the spring.
The only way to the village would be by foot since crossing the bridge to the village is very unsafe. Children had fallen off the bridge by stepping on holes and broken wood. To build the cement tank, we would require additional people to carry the materials and cross over the streams, which may require purchasing a water buffalo with carts.
The estimated cost to build the cement tank (All Inclusive): $5,000.
The spring water is located: N 17 degrees 15.497’
E 085 degrees 31.496
100 pieces of 10 mm steel bar P22,000
80 bags of cement P15,000
Gravel and Sand P15,000
60 pieces of 2x3x12 lumber P10,000
12 pieces of plywood #2 P6,000
20 pieces 2x2x12 lumber P5,000
Other materials (hose, nails, wires, etc.) P5,000
Food, water, and transportation P40,000
Water Buffalo with cart P35,000
8 People Staff for two weeks P100,000
Total Estimated Cost: P253,000 / 50 = $5,060
January 1st
Sitio Dalig and Bulacan, Sta. Juhaine, Capas, Tarlac
Population for Dalig is 60 Households/Families
Population for Bulacan is 90 Households/Families
Chieftain: Larry Ocampo
To reach the village, we had to rent a 4 x 4 truck to cross over muddy areas of volcanic ash. The villages were somewhat secluded. Many of the children don’t have slippers and the majority of them have runny noses. The village of Dalig has two artesian wells and they produce large amount of water. As I walked up the hill where most of the huts were, there were two 500 gallons plastic containers that were empty. I talked to the Chieftain (Larry Ocampo), he said that they needed long hoses to attached the spring water from the mountain to the containers. The previous hoses were already damaged and they didn’t have funds to purchase new hoses. The estimated cost of 500 meters hose: $800.
About a mile from Dalig, we visited the village of Bulacan. Many of the huts have hoses attached from various spring water sources. I walked around the villages and noticed an old water cement tank about 2.5 Meters x 2.5 Meters x 2.5 Meters in size. The cement walls had algae and the pipes were rusted with holes. It might be best to re-build a new cement tank. There was running water on the side of the tank, and the pig bathe in the mud.
The estimated cost to restore the water tank is $3500.
Require additional cost for renting 4x4 truck (2 times): $400
January 2nd
Pundakit, Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales
Population: Less than 200 Aeta people
Chieftain: Ms. Myra Matuguina
Nagsasa Cove is both an island and a resort. The Aeta people who live in this area are called Abelaine. They have straight hair as opposed to the Aeta who have kinky hair and live near Mount Pinatubo. They get visited by many tourists from March to June who sleep overnight in tents. There is no electricity, but they do have a few solar panels installed for lights next to the beach areas. They provide snorkeling, island hopping, hiking, etc. They have toilets and water. They have built a large cement tank that can fill 100 drums of water. It seems that they have plenty of water because there were many drums scattered throughout the village. Their diet consists mostly fish.
Building water purification systems to bottle the water would be ideal for this village since they don’t have any income between July and February. They are ideal for Micro-funding and they can supply water to the tourist as well as the nearby towns, which is an hour and a half away by boat.
January 3rd
Target Integrated School, Sapangbato, Pampanga Province
Population: 150 Households/Families, approximately 750 Aeta people
In December 2015, it was our first visit to Target Primary School that had 160 students from pre-kindergarten to grade 6. Forty percent (40%) of the students were classified as “stunted or malnourished.” We arrived to their village during the lunch hours where the 40% malnourished children formed in line to receive meals while the other 60% watched. They weren’t given meals. It so happened we brought meals for all the children and since then, we have adopted the school. In 2016, we learned that many children weren’t allowed to go to school because of the lack of birth certificates. Many of the children were born at home by the midwives and not in the hospital. In earlyr 2017, we have performed baptismal for all the children and adults including a 58 year-old woman who wished to go to school to receive their birth certificates. Baptism is a requirement from the municipal office. With our on-going support, the school was voted number one school in the province in 2016 and 2017. Today, the school has 275 students and projected to have over 400 students by the end of this year. The Department of Education has given them grants to build a high school within the same complex which is now called “Target Integrated School.” The health of the children has dramatically improved and they are on their way to receive high school education. We had restored three broken artesian wells, but two of them have completely dried out. Luckily, the one artesian well that is working was replaced by two large aluminum water tanks provided by the Water For Life Project who is affiliated with the Rotary Clubs of Meppen in Philippines and Germany, in partnership with Rotary Clubs Wellington and Port Nicholson, New Zealand, and in cooperation with the Center for Emergency Aid and Rehabilitation, Inc. Thank you for providing large quantity of water supply. However, the school is requesting a water storage to help with cooking and drinking. They already have the water tank and recently, MemoExpress has donated the pump. Our foundation will absorb the cost of installation of the pump to supply water to the storage.
The estimated cost of pump installation: $500.
January 4th
Botolan, Zambales
Travel Day
Met with the governor, congresswomen, local representatives from National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
January 5th
Botolan, Zambales
Tribal Leaders Event – New Year’s Celebration
400 tribal leaders throughout Zambales Province got together for fun and games. It was a day of celebration. Each of the tribal leader received one 5-gallon blue plastic container and a pack of spaghetti.
We also distributed 5 water buffaloes to villages in – Palis, Maguisguis, Belbel, Moraza, and Cabatuan.
January 6th
Visited 4 villages all within Botolan, Zambales
Required a military truck or heavy-duty truck to visit them because of heavy terrain:
Burgos Village – 180 Families/Households, approximately 400 Aeta people
Chieftain: Ramon Abejon
They have an artesian well in the village but the water is undrinkable. The water that comes out is yellow to orange and it’s only good for bathing and growing food. They collect their safe water from a spring water source but it was an hour away on foot. We didn’t get a chance to visit the spring. We have provided them with 5-gallon blue plastic containers to collect more water for drinking and cooking.
Maguisguis Village – 200 Families/Households, approximately 1,150 Aeta people
Chieftain: Julay Manalaysay
The village uses one artesian well about 1 kilometer away from the village. It’s working but it requires new pump. Currently, the parts are all tied by wires and strip of clothes. We provided each family with 5-gallon blue plastic container and one water buffalo for the village.
Estimated Cost of repair: $500.
Palis Village – 121 Families/Households, approximately 600 Aeta people
Chieftain: Rudy Dizon
The village has access to plenty of water from the spring water source that is 50 feet below the village. It’s not very hard to reach. However, the spring water needed to be collected by building a 2.5 Meter x 2.5 Meter x 2.5 Meter cement tank. The village is surrounded with a lot of banana trees. In fact, they trade the banana hearts for rice. For one sack of banana hearts, they could receive 1 kilo of rice. The challenge is delivering the sack of banana hearts to the nearest town, which is 12 hours away on foot. We provided them with one water buffalo. The estimated cost to build a cement tank: $3500.
Nacolcol Village – 260 Families/Households, approximately 1100 Aeta people.
Chieftain: Lunasco Basa
The village has a formal school from Kindergarten to grade 7. It has about 600 students. The village has one cement tank that is 2.5 M x 2.5 M x 2.5 M that supply water throughout the village using hoses. Up the hill from the school, there was another spring water source which supply water to the houses living in the mountain. Another cement tank will help the village to access plenty of water.
The estimated costs to build another cement tank: $3500.
Requires renting 4x4 heavy trucks to visit (all) Maguisguis, Palis, and Nacolcol (4 times): $800
January 7th
Visited 2 villages all within Botolan, Zambales
Belbel Village – 75 Families/Households, approximately 300 Aeta people
Chieftain: Ngo-Ngo Cabalic
The village has no water. They rent a drum and a cart to collect water from another village. Prior to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, they had an artesian well that supplied plenty of water. Whey they returned to the village after the eruption, all the parts from the artesian well was taken away. They were requesting help to restore the pump. They were confident that there was still water down below. During the summer months, there is a slow-moving spring water about 20 minutes away from the village. But during the rainy season, it gets contaminated with volcanic ash and becomes undrinkable.
We provided each family with 5-gallon blue plastic container, 4 drums to be placed throughout the village, and one water buffalo. The estimated cost to repair artesian well: Unknown. Perhaps, securing the spring water source would be a better option.
Moraza Village – 70 Families/Households, approximately 350 Aeta people
Chieftain: Oscar Maximo
The village has no water. They did have a large tank of water that was connected to a large pump, but someone in the village had vandalized the equipment and cut-off all five (5) faucets that were installed throughout the village. No one knew who did the damage. They do have a spring water about 20 minutes away from the village, but it’s very slow moving. During the rainy season, the spring gets contaminated with volcanic ash and becomes undrinkable. We provided each of the family with 5-gallon blue plastic container and one water buffalo for the village
The estimated cost to repair the generator is Unknown.
January 8th
Returned to Sitio Dalig, Capas, Tarlac – 60 Families/Households, approximately 250 Aeta people
Chieftain: Larry Ocampo
Delivered a water buffalo for them to raise.
January 9th
Old Cabalan, Mampweng, Zambales – 53 Families/Households, approximately 200 Aeta people
Chieftain: Ranie Liwanag
In May 2017, they have reached out to the foundation and requested 200 meters hose. We visited them to check out the spring water which is 1000 feet above the village. They were using gravity to collect water from the spring water source. The spring water was surrounded by banana trees which could potentially be destroyed by a landslide during the typhoon season. It would be ideal to build a cement tank to protect the spring water source. We provided each family with 5-gallon blue plastic container.
The estimated cost to build the cement tank: $3500.
Requires additional cost for renting 4x4 truck (2 times): $400
End of Trip