GE ELECT 2 SSP

(Teaching Philippine Indigenous Culture)

The Indigenous Peoples of Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Group Members:
Jervy Cantila
Angel Siaboc
Judilyn Baguio Macascas
Katherine Puti-An
Sumaira Belano
Xyrelle Hilary Baluran Borongan

Submitted To:
Jessa Mae Albaracin
I. Introduction

The Negritos, an indigenous people with a rich and ancient history, hold a unique place in the cultural
mosaic of Southeast Asia and the Philippines.

Characterized by distinctive physical features and diverse traditions, the Negritos are among the earliest
inhabitants of these regions.

The Negrito is called by different name such as Ayta, Aeta, Ita, Agta, Ati, Ateng and Mamanwa.

However, In contrary to popular belief, The Negritos are not really black. Instead, their skin color is dark
brown, with a yellowish or saffron "undertone" on the less exposed parts of the body.

They are usually divided into three main groups:

 The Aeta from Central Luzon;

 the Agta of Southeastern Luzon;
 and the Dumagat (also spelled Dumaget) of Eastern Luzon

They are also commonly confused with the Ati people of the Visayas Islands

AETA POPULATION 50,236 – JUNE 20, 2020

Aeta – Central Luzon

 Ambala Aeta – Zambales, Bataan

 Abellen Aeta (also Abenlen, Abelling or Aburlin) – Tarlac
 Magbukún Aeta (also Magbikin, Magbeken, or Bataan Ayta) – Bataan
 Mag-antsi Aeta (also Mag-anchi or Magganchi) – Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga
 Mag-indi Aeta (also Maggindi) – Zambales, Pampanga

Agta – Southeastern Luzon

 Alabat Agta (also Alabat Island Agta) – Quezon

 Agta Cimarron – Camarines Sur
 Manide (also Abiyan Agta or Camarines Norte Agta) – Camarines Norte
 Rinconada Agta (also Iriga Agta) – Camarines Sur
 Tabangnon (also Partido Agta, Katabangan, Katubung, or Isarog Agta) – Sorsogon,
Quezon, Camarines Sur

Dumagat – Eastern Luzon

 Alta
 Northern Alta – Aurora
 Southern Alta (also Kabulowan Alta or Edimala) – Quezon, Nueva Ecija
 Arta – Quirino
Atta

 Faire-Rizal Atta – Cagayan province

 Pamplona Atta – Cagayan province
 Pudtol Atta – Cagayan province

DUMAGAT

 Casiguran Dumagat – Aurora

 Central Cagayan Dumagat – Cagayan
 Palanan Dumagat – Isabela
 Paranan Dumagat (or Pahanan Dumagat) – Isabela
 Disabungan Dumagat – Isabela
 Dupaningan Dumagat – Cagayan
 Madella Dumagat – Quirino
 Sinauna Tagalog (also Remontado Dumagat) – Rizal, Quezon
 Umiray Dumagat – Quezon

II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Aetas are found in Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Panay, Bataan, and Nueva Ecija, but were forced to
move to resettlement areas in Pampanga and Tarlac following the devastating Mount Pinatubo
eruption in June 1991.

The Elders have a priority in making decisions as to what and when to hunt in a band.

The Primitive Aetas have no permanent house or building and have no desire to live in one. They
believe that they would be violating intrustions and orders of their ancestors

Matusalem - the who left intrustions for the people.

Oma – Is a term for planting field in Aeta/Negritos

the general occupational emphasis seem to be on hunting fishing and gathering sikay ( a root)

There are different views on the dominant character of the Aeta religion. Those who believe they are
monotheistic argue that various Aeta tribes believe in a supreme being who rules over lesser spirits or
deities, with the Aeta of Mt. Pinatubo worshipping "Apo Na".

The Aetas are also animists. For example, the Pinatubo Aeta believe in environmental spirits. They
believe that good and evil spirits inhabit the environment, such as the spirits of the river, sea, sky,
mountain, hill, valley and other places. Kamana the forest spirit appears and disappears providing
solace and hope during difficult times.
The Negritos believe in great creator such as;

Tigbalog – who gives life and directs activity

Lueve – who directs production and growth

Amas – who moves to pity, love, unity and piece of heart

Binangewan – the spirits who bring change, sickness and health punishment.

Those spirits live in the Balete Tree.

When the head of the family observes that his son desires a certain girl as wife, he plants plenty
of sugar cane in a kaingin - (partly cleared land) from which he will make a big supply of basi
(wine) and kilang ( a sweet preserve drink) for use during the negotiations and the forthcoming
marriange.

All Children needing names go to located house of gods. The girls who are unnamed are called
bais and the boys laay – the children’s general name.

Aeta bows were usually constructed of thin planks from the root of the anahaw palm tree.

SICUMETA – BOW

BAGSEK – ARROW

Historians believe Negritos arrived in the Philippines in small migrations from mainland
Southeast Asia. Negritos are the only surviving members of the original hunter gatherers that
lived in Southeast Asia, alongside their cousins the Semang Negritos of Malaysia.

It is believed that the Aeta arrived in the Philippines between 13,000 and 10,000 years ago from
the Asian continent While some Negritos developed to live as agriculturalists as populations
developed across the Philippines, others have continued to live as hunter gatherers, as evidence
suggests they lived before other people arrived on the archipelago.

Today, Negritos mainly live in peace alongside the majority population of their homeland.
However, they do struggle with discrimination and offer struggle with poverty.
III. Cultural Diversity

Their distinct cultures and traditions enrich the country's cultural diversity, contributing to the colorful
tapestry of Philippine heritage.

LANGUAGE

Philippines:

 Aeta: The aeta people in the Philippines speak various Aeta languages.
 Agta: Agta groups also have their own languages, which are specific to their
communities.

Malaysia and Thailand:

 Semang Groups: Negrito groups like the Batek, Jahai, and others speak languages that
belong to the Asian language family.

COSTUMES

 Philippines: Traditional attire may include woven clothing made from natural materials
like abaca fiber or bark cloth, loin cloths, and cloth wrapped.

 Malaysia and Thailand: Clothing varies among different groups. Some may wear loin
cloths, bark cloth while others use clothing fashioned from natural materials found in
their environments.

TRADITIONS:

 Hunting and Gathering: Many Negrito groups have a tradition of hunting, gathering, and
fishing. They have extensive knowledge of their local ecosystem and utilize a wide range
of natural resource.

 Oral Traditions: Negrito communities have rich oral traditions, including storytelling,
songs, and dances.

 Ceremonies and Rites of Passage: Like many indigenous groups, Negrito communities
have ceremonies making significant life events.

 Dance and Music: Dance and music play crucial roles in Negritos cultures. They are used
for various purposes, including celebrations.
CULTURAL PRACTICES AND BELIEFS

 Animistic Beliefs: Many Negrito groups adhere to animistic belief system. Rituals and
ceremonies are conducted to communicate with or appease these spirits. Offerings,
chants, and dances are common forms of interaction.

 Nature-Centric Spirituality: Negrito cultures often have a profound reverence for nature.
They view the natural world as sacred and interconnected

 Hunting and Gathering Rituals: Rituals associated with hunting and gathering are
significant. They may involve ceremonies before a hunt or communal celebrations after a
successful one

 Dance and Music: The dance and music of the Negritos are not only a form of artistic
expression but also a means of preserving their cultural heritage and maintaining their
spiritual and communal connections with the natural world.

COMMONALITIES

 Hunting and Gathering Traditions

 Animistic Belief System
 Oral Traditions
 Reverence for nature

DIFFERENCES

 Geographic Location
 Language Families
 Social Organization
 Cultural Practices

IV. Social Structure and Lifestyle

Social Structure The social organization of the Aeta revolves around the nuclear family as the
basic social unit of the community. However, this nuclear family is interdependent on other
nuclear families bound together by kinship.
LIFESTYLE

Negritos lived as hunter-gatherers, practiced fishing, marginal cultivation and symbiotic

relationships with neighboring non-Negrito people, while some also used agriculture, such as
plant harvesting.

Trading wild meat and forest products to the Filipino farmers around them in exchange for rice
or corn.

WAY OF LIFE EVOLVE OVER TIME

It has been found that the physical and morphological phenotypes of Negritos, such as short
stature, a wide and snub nose, curly hair and dark skin, “are shaped by novel mechanisms for
adaptation to tropical rainforests” through convergent evolution and positive selection, rather
than a remnant of a shared common ancestor.

V: CHALLENGES FACED

 Lack of access to healthcare and malnutrition levels are high.

 The Aeta are losing more people than they are gaining.
 Language loss and Land loss Discrimination
 Unable to protect their culture.

VI: Cultural Preservation and Revival

Disappearing languages because of logging and mining However, native habitats are shrinking as
a result of logging, mining and large-scale agriculture. There is great pressure on indigenous
youth to switch to another language, because it would provide a better future in the cities where
they move to. In reality, because of discrimination and a large educational gap, these youth
become an underclass, and have a disproportionate chance of alcohol and drug addiction. But the
disappearance of the native language goes hand in hand with the disappearance of unique
knowledge about conservation of the tropical rainforest.

Hunting and Gathering the Negrito people of the Philippines have shown that it is possible to
reverse the process of disappearing cultures. The Negrito are the oldest indigenous group in the
Philippines. ‘Negrito’ is a collective term for various ethnic groups such as the Agta and Aeta,
coined by the Spanish. They make their living from hunting and gathering. A few years ago, the
culture and language of the Negrito were threatened to be lost completely.
Jenne de Beer, cultural anthropologist and for many years’ consultant to the Negrito leaders and
teachers, spoke about the initiatives that the Negrito started themselves, aimed at the revival of
the Negrito culture and language. The main goal is to increase the confidence of the Negrito,
because they are often discriminated against and belittled in Philippine society. During cultural
festivals, own knowledge and traditions are celebrated and made visible, so that a positive image
of Negrito culture is promoted. Moreover, by focusing attention on indigenous languages and
indigenous knowledge in regular primary education, the self-confidence of youth and pride for
their cultural heritage are growing. This confidence motivates youth to stay in school, makes
parents more involved in education and ensures the protection of knowledge.

VII: Government and NGO Initiatives

The Philippine government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have implemented

various initiatives to address the needs of the Negritos, also known as the Aeta, Agta, and Ati.
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP): The NCIP is a government agency that is
responsible for the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples (IPs), including
the Negritos.

EDUCATION

Providing access to quality education and scholarships to promote literacy and empowerment
among Negrito communities.

GOVERNMENT PROGRAM: The Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) program.

HEALTHCARE

Ensuring healthcare services and medical facilities are accessible to Negrito populations,
addressing their unique healthcare needs. GOVERNMENT PROGRAM: The Department of
Health (DOH)'s Indigenous Peoples Health Program (IPHP)

LAND RIGHTS

Advocating for land rights and helping protect Negrito ancestral lands from encroachment.

GOVERNMENT PROGRAM: The Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) program,

which recognizes and protects the Negritos' ancestral domain. The CADT program is
implemented by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)

ADVOCACY

Raising awareness and advocating for the rights and well-being of Negrito communities at the
national and international levels.

GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY PROGRAM: Public awareness campaigns Promotion of Negrito

agricultural products
SOCIAL INCLUSION

Promoting social inclusion and combating discrimination and stereotypes faced by Negrito
populations.

GOVERNMENT PROGRAM: Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA)

NGO INITIATIVES

The Aeta Development Foundation (ADF). ADF implements various programs and services to
support the Aetas, such as:

 Education and training programs for Aeta children and adults.

 Healthcare and nutrition programs for Aeta communities.
 Livelihood development programs for Aeta communities.

The Philippine Association for Indigenous Peoples Advancement (PAIPA). PAIPA implements
various programs and services to support the Negritos, such as:

 Legal assistance to Negritos who are facing human rights violations.

 Advocacy for the implementation of the IPRA. Training and capacity building for
Negrito communities.

END