| Nabuclod Aeta Community A community of indigenous people where the Founder discovered the true meaning of Down-To-Earth Experiential Pedagogy among the Aetas discussed as a dissertation in 1981. The land and its people are literally thirsty for growth/ development. |
As far as the CYDFI Founder could remember, he
started doing community work in Calantas since
his early days in high school, together with some
youth in the Barrio. However, as time moved on,
his deep immersion into community work spilled
over in the midst 70's on community organization
and development among the Aetas in Nabuclod
and Sapang-Uwak, living on the border mountains
of Pampanga and Zambales provinces.
It was a lot of fond good memories remembering
people like Sister Pompei Morales, RVM (lead
person) and Josie Garcia, coming to Chevalier
School where Bong Tanhueco and Tony Mendoza
started doing community work in Calantas since
his early days in high school, together with some
youth in the Barrio. However, as time moved on,
his deep immersion into community work spilled
over in the midst 70's on community organization
and development among the Aetas in Nabuclod
and Sapang-Uwak, living on the border mountains
of Pampanga and Zambales provinces.
It was a lot of fond good memories remembering
people like Sister Pompei Morales, RVM (lead
person) and Josie Garcia, coming to Chevalier
School where Bong Tanhueco and Tony Mendoza
- were teaching. Sister Pompei briefly discussed and invited both of them to work among the Aetas in
Nabuclod. Full of zeal and without hesitation they both said, yes! Then, Bong got Lito Villanueva into the group. Josie later
tagged along the group to Sapang-Uwak Aeta Community in Porac, Pampanga, eventually Ted Gonzales, SJ (then,a seminarian)
joined the group. Tony's one of the most favorite cousins, Lucrecia (a.k.a. Lucring) was with the group in Nabuclod. (now lives with
her family as a nurse in Florida, USA). The rest of the group stays in the mountain during summer, semestral, Christmas breaks from
the mid-70's to the 80's. Most of the time Sr. Pompei stays foot among the Aetas in Nabuclod and Josie, in Sapang-Uwak. "This is an
unforgettable experience that Tony shall always cherish and is like an ember glowing in his heart ready to sustain and keep the fire
burning!" No wonder, the Nabuclod Aetas are at the core of the Foundation's mission!
- Although she got involved only during summer and at the early stage of the work in Nabuclod, Lucring was the one who impressed
Tony's most when during a family dinner conversation, an older brother complained "that it is not safe for her or the group to be in
Nabuclod". Nabuclod, during that time, was considered as a "hot-bed" place to go to by some sectors of the society. (It also depends
on whose eyes are watching!) But for Tony and the group, it was a place very fertile and thirsty for help on community organization
and development (i.e. social, economic and religious, to name a few). In short, fertile and thirsty on any aspect of human
development! He would never forget and would always cherish in his heart what she spontaneously answered to the older brother
(military pilot), saying: "For so long as I am with Kuya Tony, I will be safe and fine. I believe in what he is doing for the Aetas in
Nabuclod". It takes a leap of faith to do and be able to do what you are there for, working among the Aetas in Nabuclod and other
Aeta communities. This is Lucring's heritage to Kuya Tony!
Nabuclod is a reservation occupied by the Aetas ever since. It is
located in the mountain range of Floridablanca, bordering the Pampanga
and Zambales provinces. Some mountains are rocky which make crop
planting impossible, but some are arable and still fertile for seasonal
vegetables, rice and corn.
The place, being hilly, was once converted into a ranch by some
rich men of Pampanga. It left the Aetas very poor because the cattle,
roaming around, ate all their plants like rice, corn, bananas and
kamoteng kahoy (cassava). At another time, the place became a
logging area, with the loggers promising payment and lumber with
which they could build their houses, but promises were never fulfilled.
Thus, Nabuclod today is mountains without forest (hence, hot and dry)
located in the mountain range of Floridablanca, bordering the Pampanga
and Zambales provinces. Some mountains are rocky which make crop
planting impossible, but some are arable and still fertile for seasonal
vegetables, rice and corn.
The place, being hilly, was once converted into a ranch by some
rich men of Pampanga. It left the Aetas very poor because the cattle,
roaming around, ate all their plants like rice, corn, bananas and
kamoteng kahoy (cassava). At another time, the place became a
logging area, with the loggers promising payment and lumber with
which they could build their houses, but promises were never fulfilled.
Thus, Nabuclod today is mountains without forest (hence, hot and dry)
- and with little natural source of livelihood for the mountain people. Aetas in Nabuclod are illiterate since there was no school for them
until 1973. Around sixty five children were enrolled from grade one to three but only three-fourth of them report for classes regularly.
School discipline is not familiar to their cultural system. Although some Aetas have settled permanently, many have remained nomadic.
Others live by the river on sunny days and during the rainy season, they usually live with other Aetas in the village. Thus, during the rainy
season, houses in Nabuclod, including the school building become overcrowded. And it is generally hot during most of the year except in the months
of June, July and August, which are rainy season months.
- There are about one hundred fifty families considered residents in Nabuclod. They have built their huts, planted some vegetables around their
houses, have minimal contact with Pampango lowlanders for whom they work as househelpers or agricultural workers. They have been introduced
to planting rice in paddies. As a tribe, they feel inferior to the lowlanders, like being second rate citizens especially when they are called "Balugas",
a term used by the Pampango lowlanders with a negative connotation. Instead of Baluga, they would prefer to be called "Aeta/s", a term that they
feel would raise the level of their dignity as a people.
| The beauty in working among our brothers in the mountains is to learn to understand and recognize that "each person, regardless of creed or color, is worth stopping for". For this is where the dignity of every person is given due respect as a human being. Photos taken in Nabuclod and Sapang-Uwak (70's) with Bong and Lito on the march to community work among the Aetas. |
- One has to literally do mountain hiking then to be able to reach Nabuclod. It is now, however, noticeable that the road going to
Nabuclod is well-paved with concrete and more accessible by vehicles; thus, it has improved their ability to do trade and commerce
with their lowland counterparts. Water is one of the main problems in the community with a current population (2003) of more than one
thousand and keeps growing...with less natural resources to sustain the community.
- Three (3) decades later, some Nabuclod Aeta Youth (Teknik, Bangkok, Ojie and Makmak) came to witness the launching of the
CYDFI Scholarship Program on August 10, 2002, at the Niniko Little Prairie Resort in Calantas. They represented the ideals and
dreams of the Nabuclod youth. This eventually led to the bridging of the past to the present commitment of the Founder among
the Aetas in Nabuclod. However, this time around, the work is more focused on Community Growth and Development through a
Scholarship Program with a methodology (SWREM Theory In Action), designed to help them help themselves so they can help
incoming scholars leading to breaking the cycle of poverty among them with implications not only to personal but community
growth and develoment, as they learn to become socially responsible. The approach being is more on the mind (education)!
- You may call the three decades, a gap in community work among the Aetas! Rightly so! The group members were all volunteers
with a faith of doing things as part of an apostolate. Meaning, doing good for others is a virtue for which a Christian would feel
good about doing and sharing, not because we have material resources but a faith that "whatever you do to the least of my
brothers, you do it unto Me". Recognize this? At that time, the group had manpower but didn't have the necessary resources to
support their efforts, other than to do whatever they could in terms of making use of the material support generated from kind-
hearted benefactors. Besides, they found themselves to be, at the same time, looking after our own selves, too. For one, the
Founder survived with his meager income as a teacher (high school/college). Simultaneously, he was helping and was able to
send seven youth through college, some of whom are now involved in the operation of the Calantas Young Dreamers Foundation,
Inc. Across the spectrum, things are coming through as envisioned with the Foundation, tho' the pace of movement is not as fast
enough to catch momentum due to limited resources. Maximizing the use of limited resources and being contented for what you
have but never on what you can do are two core values guiding the Founder in the management of CYDFI.
- The Founder has tapped the kindness and support of his former colleagues at Chevalier School in Angeles City to get involved, at
least, as an advocacy group. The group is called "Nabuclod Negrito (Aeta) Community Executive Advisory Committee (NNCEAC)
which was organized on August 19, 2002, with an objective "to provide support and guidance in our efforts to empower and enhance
the self-esteem of the Nabuclod Aeta Youth through the CYDFI Scholarship Program as they learn to become socially responsible".
| The following are the members and officers of the newly-organized First Chapter of NNCEAC, Chevalier School, together with some Aeta Families from Nabuclod Community. Photo taken during the Launching of CYDFISP. Rey Galvan - Chairperson (Chevalier High School Faculty) Fe S. Quiambao - Vice Chairperson (Principal of Chevalier Elementary School) Dory Pineda - Secretary/Treasurer (Faculty, Chevalier High School) Jim Joson - Member (former Principal, Chevalier High School) Bart Canlas & Jovy Lacson (not in pictures), Members, (Faculty at Chevalier HIgh School) |
The group picture was taken from a video clipping during the launching of the Scholarship Program in Calantas. The
Founder believes that the meaning of life is unfolded seamlessly as you share your best self in the growth and development
of others, in particular, among the Aeta youth, by using your ability to recognize and understand them for "who they are
that they have the potential to become the best of what they are capable of being". This is rewarding and fulfilling in the
sense that you would feel inspired by your faith that "each person is worth stopping for". This is a crusade! This could be
your crusade, a calling, living your life to the fullest in the service of others.
Founder believes that the meaning of life is unfolded seamlessly as you share your best self in the growth and development
of others, in particular, among the Aeta youth, by using your ability to recognize and understand them for "who they are
that they have the potential to become the best of what they are capable of being". This is rewarding and fulfilling in the
sense that you would feel inspired by your faith that "each person is worth stopping for". This is a crusade! This could be
your crusade, a calling, living your life to the fullest in the service of others.
| These Nabuclod Aeta youth symbolize a "call" for us "to respond" on their innate longing to improve the quality of their life and become productive members of the Philippine society. The Foundation is committed to empower them to be self-empowered thru the Scholarship Program Model (SWREM). |
| Lucrecia P. Manlulu-Megano, R.N. Pioneer Member on Nabuclod Aeta Community Organization and Development in mid-70's |
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