that thing called RAGSAK: Aetas

The Aeta (Ayta, pronounced EYE-tə), or Agta, are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They are considered to be Negritos, who are dark to very dark brown-skinned and tend to have features such as a small stature, small frame, curly to kinky afro-like textured hair with a higher frequency of naturally lighter hair color (blondism) relative to the general population, small nose, and dark brown eyes. They are thought to be among the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations.

The Aeta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of the Philippines. Aetas are considered as the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations. They are nomadic and build only temporary shelters made of sticks driven to the ground and covered with the palm of banana leaves. The well-situated and more modernized Aetas have moved to villages and areas of cleared mountains. They live in houses made of bamboo and cogon grass. Aetas are found in Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Angeles, Olongapo, Panay, Bataan and Nueva Ecija. But because of the Mount Pinatubo eruption, some of them moved to resettlement areas in Pampanga and Tarlac.

All Aeta communities have adopted the language of their Austronesian Filipino neighbors, which have sometimes diverged over time to become different languages.These include, in order of number of speakers, Mag-indi, Mag-antsi, Abellen, Ambala, and Mariveleño. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeta_people

Gala, Zambales.

Up in the mountain are our brothers and sisters. They are called the Aetas or Ita (tagalog). It's so amazing listening to their sharings! They speak tagalog well so we had great conversations. I appreciate how they became resourceful, simple and remain humble. Most of the kids there go to school. There are two ladies who are now taking education in college and hopefully will graduate next year and serve their fellow aetas and inspire them to finish school too. Sharon is the name of the woman with a kid below, that little boy is her grandson. She said she's been there for a very long time already. She knows and shared a lot! She isn't just the community head but the photographer! When I was talking to one of the aeta ladies, the conversation went this way:

Me: What did you do with your hair, why is your hair straight?

Aeta: I went to the beauty shop and they rebonded it. (laughing)

Me: Why you don't like curly hair anymore?

Aeta: I just want to experience the rebonded hair.

Me: How was it then?

Aeta: I will never rebond my hair, it is not good, see this? (showing a part of her hair, now becoming curly) it's expensive. I prefer my Ita hair. (laughing out loud)

Me: See, God is so great for giving you that hair, you have to take care of it.

Aeta: Do you have FB (facebook)?

Me: Yes, I have.

Aeta: Please add me.

Me: Sure, please be the one to add me.

There was an exchange of FB name. (",)

Pictures you will see below depicts the beauty and simplicity of life of the Aetas.