The Aeta tribal people of the Philippines are indigenous people that were semi-nomads living in the forest moving from place to place in search of fertile land and abundant forest products.  As a result of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, the people were forced out of their habitat and into the villages and cities.  This relocation resulted in their being caught up in a vicious cycle of poverty, disease, hopelessness and dependency.

The sponsor site in Margarita is based in Sta. Juliana Capas, Tarlac, Philippines and works in partnership with the Order of Camillus to provide assistance to the Aeta people. The vision of the Aeta people is kassarinlan, kalusugan, karunungan & kaginhawaan - to be self-determined, healthy, educated and free of debilitating poverty.  Chalice, the staff at the Margarita sponsor site and the Camillian Fathers share this vision - to date there are over 1200 children receiving benefits through sponsorship at this site.

 The village of Sta. Juliana is located a three-and-a-half hour drive north of Manila, with over 40% of its residents earning less than $24 CDN per month. Education is considered a luxury that few can afford.  Parents feel it more important for their children to learn to feed themselves, by helping in swidden farms, than to go hungry sitting in a classroom.   To deter the alarming amount of school dropouts, a program was established giving children from far-flung villages placement in a boarding house close to their school or will distribute food baskets to families that permitted their children to remain in school. In addition to these incentives, sponsored children are provided with school fees, uniforms and supplies, thus making the quest for knowledge an easier experience for the children and their families.

The Aeta have a distinct culture.  The villager people meet in groups called Damayans.  These groups handle such things as project planning, conflict management or dispute resolution, but often meet just to keep in touch. Meetings are held on a regular basis with decisions being made that will benefit the community as a whole.  When projects are undertaken, the people join forces all working towards the same end.  Recently the Damayans had the men of the village building the Aeta Tribal Training Center and a cooking area for the children’s boarding house. Meanwhile, the women milled rice and cooked meals for the workers.

Healthcare is a major issue among the Aeta, with tuberculosis and malaria reaching almost epidemic proportions.  Through the intervention of Chalice and their associates, children are being immunized against childhood diseases and receiving regular medical and dental checkups.  The men of the villages laboured digging trenches and laying pipe to bring fresh water into villages.  This fresh water has made a huge impact on the health of the villagers and their children.  Since the establishment of the Margarita sponsor site, several programs have been set up to assist the Aeta with mitigating the hardships they have suffered.  Farmers have been given courses in root crop production.  Seeds for these crops were provided and agri-lending was initiated.  Expectant mothers now receive prenatal checkups, classes and vitamins, resulting in a drop in the infant mortality rate.  Several of the Aeta people are being assisted with acquiring birth certificates, which will enable them to be recognized by the government and enjoy the protection of the law.

These changes brought on by Chalice and their associates will serve as a bridge allowing the Aeta people to exhibit pride in their heritage while stepping forward into an empowered future.