By JOANNA AGLIBOT | August 17, 2026

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — Heavy rains on Aug. 10 did not dampen the resolve of around 600 Aeta folk who traveled from their communities in Zambales, Pampanga and Tarlac for this year’s Aeta Day.

Leaving Mt. Bagang in San Marcelino, an important gathering place for the community, they gathered indoors at the Rabanes Barangay Hall not only to celebrate their identity and culture, but also to renew their commitment to stand together in defending their ancestral lands.

The gathering was organized by Mansaway, a local Aeta organization, with Pamilalamu-Church, Ayta Partnership in Central Luzon, and Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas in observance of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, celebrated every Aug. 9.

Its theme, “Ka allwan nin pamilalamu ni aw Ka Aytahan” (Day of Unity of the Aeta People), captured the central message of the celebration: unity amid continuing challenges to indigenous territories.

CONTINUING STRUGGLE

The call for unity comes as Aeta communities in Central Luzon continue to confront issues involving their ancestral lands and surrounding environment.

They urged broader support in protecting their ancestral lands from potentially harmful renewable energy and extractive projects, including the US-led Pax Silica Initiative.

In Zambales, their concerns ranged from the long-running impacts of mining and development in the uplands to tourism activities around Mt. Pinatubo and more recent renewable energy projects.

More recently, Aeta leaders in Subic raised concerns over an open dump, while those in Mt. Bagang in San Marcelino questioned tree-growing activities in areas they consider part of their ancestral territory.

But for the communities gathered, defending ancestral land was not simply an environmental issue. It was tied to food, livelihood, culture, identity and their ability to determine the future of their communities.

CALL TO ACTION

Rica Torres, coordinator of Mansaway, said Aeta communities in the region continue to confront challenges, including threats to their ancestral territories and the difficulties of defending their land, livelihoods and rights.

She said the concerns may differ from one community to another, but the gathering showed a common thread: the need for Aeta communities to strengthen their collective voice.

Funa-ay Claver, secretary general of Katribu, meanwhile, said the Aeta’s collective resistance could inspire other Filipinos defending their rights.

“The unity and strong opposition of the Ayta to destructive projects inspire all Filipinos to continue fighting, standing firm, and strengthening our collective assertion of our rights,” she remarked.

By the end of the gathering, Mansaway, Pamilalamu and the participating delegations reaffirmed their commitment to work together in defending Aeta ancestral lands, rights, culture and self-determination.

Trolie Romualdo, an Aeta Amianan Zambal and chieftain of the Iram resettlement site, who was among the 25 Aeta participants from Olongapo City, said the gathering showed him how collective action could strengthen their resolve to defend their rights.

“That was when I truly felt that when there is unity, you become stronger and can better defend your rights,” he said.

For the indigenous tribes in Central Luzon, Ayta Day became more than an annual celebration of identity and culture; it was also a reminder that while the challenges facing each community may differ, their response can be collective. ▲

COVER PHOTO: Aeta communities in Central Luzon reaffirm unity with support groups in defending ancestral lands, culture, and identity during the August 10 Ayta Day celebration in Zambales (Philippine Collegian)