Saturday, April 05, 2008 Tulabut: When Aetas Dance By Noel G. Tulabut My Palm Notes
IT WOULD be such a delight to see one day rows upon rows of computer programmers or technicians that are kinky haired or at least another Wayda Cosme (a legal/contracts review officer in CDC) in a decent corporate entity, or better yet an Aeta lawyer presenting his case before a court of law.
It was a moment of celebration for our Aeta brothers.
A prayer or Dururu, as they call it in Aeta tongue, was uttered as an expression of thanksgiving last Monday near Clark's parade grounds.
They recited it right before they received 13 brand new vehicles (Mitsubishi L300 FBs and Adventure) from Clark Development Corporation. The vehicle turnover was part of Joint Management Agreement (JMA) entered into by the CDC, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and 12 Aeta tribes within the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title inside Clark's Sub-Zone area.
Right after the prayer, the Aetas offered a dance too which is normally part of their expression of feelings. That time, it was an expression of jubilation for the blessings they received from CDC.
The dance was joined in by CDC top honcho Levy Laus, right-hand man Philip JB Panlilio and 600th Air Base Wing Commander Alejandro Camagay as they shared the joy of the no-longer-neglected brown brothers.
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Mr. Laus did not only turnover keys to the 13 vehicles. Symbolically, he gave Aetas key to a new hope, to a bright future, to an expanded horizon for our lowly brothers.
I have not seen them so jubilant and so excited, with their main tribal leader Oscar Rivera, chairman of Bamban Aeta Tribal Association, boldly saying in his speech that they have not seen so much concern and care by Clark officials. Not until this initiative and implementation of this community program for the Aetas under the watch of Laus.
Mr. Rivera, understandably with his over excitement, even sideswiped at GI Joe -- the former tenant of Clark -- for neglect of their plight in the past.
The occasion was a sight to see as it was my first time to see a squadron of vehicles being driven by Aetas. The sight was also symbolic at how Aetas could now drive to their own paths to progress in the near future.
This foresight is also shared by Laus as he foretold of how Aetas' livelihood could change dramatically for the better given CDC's assistance in partly managing their ancestral lands within Clark's boundaries.
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The vehicles cost about P8.5 million and they will be most useful in the livelihood of tribesmen as their produce can now easily be transported to their respective markets.
Their children could now also be assured of a more decent education as these vehicles should now be used to ferry kids to and from their schools.
Education, in fact, is what is in store next under CDC's program of community work. This was intimated by no less by CDC VP and Finance Chief Noel Manankil who is in the thick of Aeta concerns under the joint management agreement. Manankil even emphatically said that Aetas are "part of his constituency".
It would be such a delight to see one day rows upon rows of computer programmers or technicians that are kinky haired or at least another Wayda Cosme (a legal/contracts review officer in CDC) in a decent corporate entity, or better yet an Aeta lawyer presenting his case before a court of law.
These dreams and wishes can become a reality. I just hope that nobody throws a hurdle at CDC or the NCIP in achieving this vision for our Aeta brothers.
