Johnny

“Hanggang buhay ang bundok, kami ay mayaman. Hanggang di nasisira ang katubigan at
bundok, buhay ang mga katutubo”--Johnny.

Johnny, one of the IP speakers of the event, is a tribe member of Adeling in San Jose, Tarlac
alongside with the Aetas. He mainly talked about how their (Adeling) culture is evidently
changing because of government, tourism, and other underlying factors consequently linked to it.

“Magkakalaban ang mga tribo noon, pero sa panahon ngayon di na dapat maglaban-laban
dahil may mas malaking kalaban.”​, he said.

He mentioned his brothers were able to preserve their rich cultures from their conserved
mountains, falls, environment, even up to their relationship with each other. However, their tribe
is slowly decreasing in number and their customs are slowly changing nowadays.

Johnny brought up issues regarding education, “Ang aming paaralan ay napakataas, mas mataas
pa sa paaralan na ito. Ang bundok, tinuturuan kami kung paano mamuhay, paano mabuhay,
manghuli ng mga hayop.”

He explained how their way of learning enabled them to survive and go along with their
environment. However, having the new curriculum seems challenging for them since they would
be forced to go out of their comfort zone, not that they don’t want to learn about the new
technology. “​...sana maisali rin kami sa kurikulum, sa pinag-aaralan. Ngayon iba na,
pinagkakakitaan.”

In their community, everyone owns everything. They share their resources, knowledge, and
respect. However, their tribe is now used for tourism: “​pinapasayaw, pinagkakakitaan, di
nirerespeto.”

“Sabi nila pag turismo may pera, pero samin di tama na pagkakitaan ang mga bagay na
sagrado samin”, ​he added. He gave several instances including: relocating the tribe for dam
construction in one of their sacred place, giving them job in their new location to teach jungle
survival, paying them only 10% of what was actually earned, making a new dam without them
benefiting from it since it would only go straight to Hacienda Luicita’s irrigation. Then he
mentioned the US Embassy and our government, “Bakit kailangan kaming pumunta sa US
embassy? Dinidiktahan ang gobyerno natin.”
He emphasized on how they used to be divided and how now, they joined together to protect
what is rightfully theirs. Also, to protect the environment and secure their home. They are willing
to sacrifice to save what is left for their future generations; preserve their culture. .Ending his
speech, he said, “Nabuhay kami sa mga kabundukan, nag-aral. Andyan ang pagkain, malinis na
inumin. Pag dating dito sa kapatagan, lahat kailangan ay pera dahil binibili.”