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.

Since 1988 up to now, the ACH is God’s instrument in helping alleviate the lives of the poor Aetas in the Philippines. The ministry has helped many poor and destitute Aeta children not just physically and spiritually, but educationally as well. Some of these children have grown up spirtually enlightened and delivered from life of paganism and animism. They have known and received in their hearts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, baptized in water, and now living as salt and light in their respective communities.

Mateo (9 years old) and Lucas (6 years old) Dela Junta are siblings. They are a product of a broken home and they lived with their father. But their father was very cruel to them. A police officer in Olongapo City, Zambales witnessed their father’s maltreatment to Mateo and Lucas – He saw the father hurting, spanking and beating mercilessly these helpless Aeta kids. So the police officer reported the incident and brought the kids to the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development Office right away. These children were then brought by the DSWD staff to the Aeta Children’s Home because they knew that the ministry caters to the Aeta children, providing not only their physical needs but also their mental, emotional and most especially their Spiritual needs. They know that Mateo and Lucas would be well-taken care of here.

Bernalyn was born a normal, beautiful Aeta baby girl. Born as the only girl in the family, everyone doted after her. But when tragedy struck their family, Bernalyn or Berna as we fondly call her was the one most adversely affected. Her parents, Bernido and Juliet separated and Juliet suffered from depression. Because of that, she neglected her children and failed to give them appropriate attention. Berna and her brothers ended up roaming around the village and begging for food. This caused Berna to be very sickly and malnourished.

She was one of the pioneering children in the Aeta Children’s Home. Editha was then only 12 years old when ACH took her and her 4 siblings under its care. Their life was very poor, with her parents relying only on hunting and farming to sustain their needs. As much as her parents would like to bring her and her siblings to school, they cannot afford to. “Before, instead of going to school, I would go to the fields and help my father plant sweet potatoes that we can eat as well as sell in the market. As much as I’d like to go to school and learn, my father can’t afford to allow me,” recalls Editha. So, her family was thankful when ACH took Editha and her siblings under its care. Through ACH, Editha was able to finally enter school, just like the other children. She was also taught proper hygiene, good manners, and right conducts. Most importantly, through ACH, Editha came to know the Lord Jesus Christ and cultivate a relationship with Him.