Christmas Outreach with the Aetas

by Janet Decipulo

It was raining hard that day and the road to our destination was bumpy. Yet it was one of the most exciting days of my life. Not only because it was my first time to join a community outreach outside my birthplace (Zamboanga) but also because the people that we will visit were one of the oldest settlers in the Philippines, the Aetas.

I, my partner Lloyd Diel, the Pathways Youth Groups of Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (Pathways- DALAN) and West Visayas State University (Pathways Project SULAT) journeyed towards Nagpana community in Barotac Viejo where the Aetas live. We brought, boxes of noodles, sacks of rice, sardines, clothes and most of all, the special thing in our hearts: the desire to make others happy.

The Aetas were very much welcoming to us. When we arrived we were greeted by a crowd composed of mostly smiling children. Sir Ricky Quibinco, the moderator of Pathways-DALAN then introduced us to the community. We found it easy to open up a conversation with them for they were very much accustomed to visitors. They showed us the crafts that they have made of which some we decided to buy for a very affordable prize.

After that, it was the time for us to give our donations. As they received their gifts, each of them expressed their gratefulness differently. Some of them said, “Thank you”, some “Merry Christmas”, some “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” and some just gave us a very big smile. Despite the coldness of that afternoon Barotac Viejo seemed to be such a warm place for us.

And when all was done, we ended the event with a group picture taking. All of us were fulfilled of the day except Mr. Ricky Quibinco who decided to adopt an Aeta boy for a week!