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THE AETAS OF LOMIBAO

THE AETAS OF LOMIBAO

LOMIBAO IS AN AETA VILLAGE FOUND AT THE NORTHERN PART OF ZAMBALES. IT IS A MOUNTAIN VILLAGE NEAR THE VOLCANO CALLED MT. PINATUBO WHICH ERUPTED IN 1991. THIS VOLCANO HAD DESTROYED MANY COMMUNITIES, KILLED MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING THE AETAS, AND BURIED MANY VILLAGES UNDER TONS OF VOLCANIC DEBRIS CALLED LAHAR.

 

AFTER THE VOLCANO ERUPTION IN 1991, THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO RESETTLE THE AETAS INCLUDING THE AETAS AT LOMIBAO IN THE LOWLANDS. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL YEARS WHEN THE LAHAR SUBSIDED, THESE AETAS WENT BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE VILLAGES NEAR THE VOLCANO. THEY STARTED LIFE ALL OVER AGAIN.

 

THE AETAS ARE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE AND THEY LOVE TO STAY AND LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE AETAS ARE SOMETIMES CALLED NEGRITOES. THEY LOOK LIKE THE AFRICANS BUT SMALL IN HEIGHT RANGING FROM 4 TO 5 FEET IN HEIGHT. THEY ARE DARK SKINNED WITH KINKY HAIR AND FLAT NOSES. THEY ARE SOMETIMES CALLED PYGMIES IN HISTORY BOOKS. THE AETAS ARE CONSIDRED THE ABORIGINES OR FIRST SETTLERS OF THE PHILIPPINES. BEFORE SPAIN CAME AND COLONIZED THE PHILIPPINES, THE AETAS WERE ALREADY LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

 

THE AETAS AT LOMIBAO AFTER THE VOLCANO ERUPTION HAS STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE BY FOOD GATHERING AND HUNTING. HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT FIND FOOD AND ANIMALS TO HUNT BECAUSE THEIR FARMLAND AND HUNTING GROUND WERE ALL DESTROYED BY THE VOLCANO ERUPTION. SOME OF THEM CAME DOWN TO THE CITIES, ROAMED IN THE STREETS, AND  BEGGING FOR FOOD. THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO HELP THEM BY GIVING THEM FOOD RELIEF AND BY RETURNING THEM BACK TO THER MOUNTAINS.

 

AFTER MANY YEARS SINCE THE VOLCANO ERUPTED, THE PLANTS IN THE MOUNTAINS SPROUTED AGAIN, ANIMALS STARTED TO ROAM AROUND, AND SO THE AETAS STARTED TO PLANT, GATHER FOOD, AND HUNT. THEY SELL THEIR PRODUCE IN THE MARKET OR BARTER THEM WITH RICE, CLOTHES, AND SOMETIMES CIGARETTE AND WINE.

 

THE MAIN PROBLEM OR NEED OF THE AETAS TODAY IS THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN. THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY FOR CENTURIES  THEY HAVE NOT IMPROVED THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. THERE ARE NO SCHOOLS IN THE MOUNTAINS. THEY TRIED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN IN THE LOWLAND TO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOL BUT THEY WERE DISCRIMINATEAD AND INSULTED BY THE LOWLANDER FILIPINOS. THE AETAS  DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOLS.

 

MANY OF THEM WHEN THEY GOT SICK DIED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND SERVICES BY THE GOVERNMENT. WHEN THEY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL, NOBODY ATTENDED TO THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS. REASON FOR THIS WAS, THEY ARE VERY POOR AND THEY DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO PAY OR BUY MEDICINES. ONE THING MORE, THEY ARE ALSO DISCRIMINATED AND INSULTED EVEN IN HOSPITALS BECAUSE OF THEIR DIFFERENT LOOK.

 

THE AETAS ARE ALSO ANIMINISTIC PEOPLE. THEY BELIEVE IN THE SPIRIT WORLD BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW THE GOD OF THE BIBLE. WHEN AN AETA GOT SICK IN THE VILLAGE, THE FAMILY WILL CALL THE VILLAGE DOCTOR WHO CHANT AND DANCE CALLING THE SPIRITS TO HEAL THE SICK AETAS.

 

TODAY, THE AETAS WERE BEING EVANGELIZED BY MANY CHRISTIAN GROUPS OR CHURCHES. MISSIONARIES GO TO THE MOUNTAINS AND SHARE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

TODAY, MANY OF THEM HAVE FOUND THE LORD AND DELIVERED FROM ANIMISTIC BELIEFS.

 

OUR CHURCH, THE TO GOD BE THE GLORY CHURCH AND MINISTRIES, IS ONE GROUP WHO FOCUS IN EVANGELIZING AND MINISTERING TO THE AETAS. WE HAVE TRAINED PASTORS AND MISSIONARIES AND SENT THEM TO PREACH THE GOSPEL AND PLANT CHURCHES IN THE AETA VILLAGES. TODAY, WE HAVE PLANTED 15 AETA CHURCHES IN DIFFERENT VILLAGES.

 

THE LORD HAS ALSO HELPED US ESTABLISHED AN AETA CHILDREN’S HOME CATERING TO THE PHYSICAL, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE AETA CHILDREN AND YOUTH. WE NOW HAVE 120 AETA CHILDREN BEING TAKEN GOOD CARE IN THE AETA CHILDREN’S HOME.

 

THE LORD HAS ALSO HELPED US ESTABLISHED A CHRISTIAN ACADEMY EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE AETA CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THIS SCHOOL OFFERS FREE KINDERGARTEN, ELEMENTARY, AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION TO THE AETA CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

 

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OUR LORD HAS ALSO HELPED US ESTABLISHED A MEDICAL CLINIC FOR THE AETAS. OUR SON IMMANUEL IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR INCHARGE OF THIS CLINIC. HE ALSO CONDUCT MEDICAL MISSIONS IN THE VILLAGES OF THE AETAS.

 

ONE OF THESE CHURCHES THAT OUR LORD HELPED US ESTABLISHED IS CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN LOMIBAO. WE NAMED IT AS THE AETAS BIBLE STUDY CENTER OF LOMIBAO. OUR MINISTRY HAS SENT BROTHER LEMUEL SULIT AS THE PIONEERING PASTOR TO THIS CHURCH. LEMUEL IS AN AETA. HE STAYED IN THE CHILDREN’S HOME AND STUDIED IN OUR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. WE ALSO SENT HIM TO A TRAINING SCHOOL FOR CHURCH PLANTERS. AFTER HIS GRADUATION, WE SENT HIM TO START A BIBLE STUDY IN LOMIBAO.

 

BROTHER LEMUEL HAS A WIFE AND TWO SMALL KIDS. THEY ARE LIVING BY FAITH IN GOD’S MERCY AND PROVISIONS. HE HAS BEEN PREACHING THE GOSPEL FOR  2 YEARS NOW AT LOMIBAO. THERE ARE NOW CHRISTIAN CONVERTS IN  THIS VILLAGE. BROTHER LEMUEL AND THE AETAS AT LOMIBAO ARE NOW PRAYING TO BUILD A CHURCH WHERE THEY CAN GATHER TOGETHER, WORSHIP THE LORD AND LISTEN TO THE PREACHING OF HIS WORD.

 

WILL YOU PLEASE PRAY WITH US THAT OUR LORD WILL PROVIDE OUR AETA BRETHREN AT LOMIBAO A CHURCH BUILDING WHERE THEY CAN WORSHIP THE LORD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD RICHLY BLESS AND REWARD YOU AS YOU POSITIVELY RESPOND TO THIS NEED OF OUR AETA BRETHREN AT LOMIBAO.