In February 2024, social workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Central Office went to Capas, Tarlac to listen to the Aetas from Barangays Maruglu and Sta. Juliana express their needs which could help them improve their lives.

Three months later in May, the social workers from the DSWD’s Pag-abot Program returned to the Aetas’ municipality with no less than Secretary Rex Gatchalian joining the team.

Secretary Gatchalian and his social workers made true their promise to the Aetas of Capas. They came with 50 carabaos in tow, the beast of burden which the Aetas have requested during the February dialogue.

The DSWD chief personally turned over the carabaos to the 50 families of the Tarlac Aeta community to help them in their farming activities.

“Ang utos ng ating Pangulong BongBong Marcos ay siguraduhin na ang serbisyo ng DSWD ay para sa lahat. Wala dapat naiiwanan at narinig ho namin nung nagpunta kami dito yung request nyo para sa mga kalabaw kaya nga inayos ng Departamento namin na makabili para sa inyo ng mga kalabaw. 50 yan na mga kalabaw, so magagamit na ho natin yan, isa lang ito sa maraming marami pang programa na ilulunsad ng DSWD para masigurado na yung kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na yung katutubo nating kababayan ay napapangalagaan,” Secretary Gatchalian told the Aetas during the turnover of the carabaos to the beneficiaries in May 2024.

Now a year later, the DSWD’s #Kwento ng Pag-asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP) team visited the two Aeta communities to check on the current state of their livelihood.

It took hours for the #KPAP team to reach Barangays Maruglu and Sta. Juliana as they crossed rivers numerous times and interspersed with hours of trekking upland. The terrain was difficult to traverse. Sometimes there were roads and sometimes there were just pathways.

For the #KPAP team, the journey was for a much-needed shoot. But for the Aetas, it was a glimpse of their everyday life. A life that pushed them before to periodically leave their village and seek livelihood elsewhere.

Some travelled to Manila to take their chances. Some went down to Tarlac’s town proper to find opportunities. And when they have earned enough, they go back to their homes. They did not mind the dangers as providing for the basic needs of their families was their priority.

It may sound cliché, but this was their reality. Until Pag-abot made the step to reach out “para abutin sila” at their home base.

One of the beneficiaries, Totoy Fajardo, narrated the situation of the Aetas in the sitio as he started describing their daily struggles.

“Mahirap-hirap yung buhay po dito kasi tignan niyo yung daan namin, ilog po yan, eh kung walang sasakyan na maka-akyat wala kaming pagkain. Kumain nalang po ng kamoteng kahoy, kamoteng gagapang at tsaka saging pong nilaga,” Totoy shared with #KPAP.

For Totoy, it was a great relief when his family received assistance from the DSWD through the Pag-abot.

“Maganda naman po na naibigay ang kalabaw kasi malaki pong tulong…Talagang pasalamat po sa Presidente, sa mayor po, sa barangay,” he said.

A member of the Aeta Indigenous Group (IP), and now working as a social worker (SW) at the DSWD Field Office 3- Central Luzon, Enrique Saplala said the outreach was important to keep his fellow IPs out of harm’s way and return them to their upland homes.

SW Saplala said it was necessary to make a keen assessment of the IPs expressed needs, as well as their situation, so that the right intervention can be provided. To date, 90 Aeta beneficiaries have already been given assistance.

“Based po sa data naming ay umabot na sila ng 90 yung nabigyan ng mga kalabaw tapos eto po yung magagamit nila para sa paglilinis, pagtatanim. Bilang isang social worker tinitignan din namin yung expressed need pero tinitignan din namin base sa aming assessment kung sustainable yung ibibigay namin na tulong sa kanila para matiyak namin na magagamit nila ng tama ang tulong ng government,” SW Saplala explained.

Like Totoy, Naru Capuan also received a carabao and Php10,000 as financial assistance from Secretary Gatchalian in May 2024.

According to Naru, he used to travel to Manila to beg alms as food is scarce in the mountains of Capas. The little he earned in Manila was what he used to start a small livelihood when he got back. But all that changed with the Pag-abot Program.

“Lumuwas po kami sa Maynila kasi wala kaming makakain sa bundok. Yung naipon sa Manila, yung kaunting pera gagamitin namin dun sa carabao. Malaking pasalamat po namin sa Pag-abot dahil malaki pong tulong nila sa amin sa mga katutubo, binigay nyo po yung mga kailangan namin. Di na po kami babalik sa Manila,” Naru narrated to the DSWD #KPAP team.

Although used to living a simple life in the mountains, Naru dreams of a better life and is aware that one has to work hard to achieve that dream. He believes that the key to fighting the never-ending battle with poverty is through education.

“Gusto naming matuto yung mga bata na mag-aral para yung buhay namin hindi na po kami maghihirap. Pangarap ko yung magpaaral ng anak. Yung buhay mo parang hindi umaangat kung wala kang napag-aral,” Naru pointed out.

Imyak Gonzales also shared the difficulties living in the mountain. With lush surroundings, one would think that food comes easy.

Imyak said that despite the dangers, going to Manila proved a viable choice before as it was difficult to find sufficient food in the mountains. He was one of those who periodically went to Manila, staying “duon lang sa tabi ng tulay.”

One year later, Imyak happily shared how the DSWD-provided carabao has changed his life.

“Maganda na ngayon dahil may panghila ng kami ng kahoy at gamit sa pagtatanim. Eto po yung kalabaw para sa amin maganda ang naitulong dahil ito na po yung makakatulong sa aming hirap dito sa malapit sa Mt. Pinatubo,” Imyak said.

To some, the carabao is just a tool for farming. But to the Aeta beneficiaries, the carabaos are their partners in their daily toil to provide for their families.

For David Dela Cruz, the land which they till is located upland with three-hours of trekking. With the carabao, he has a strong companion going up and down to plant, making farming more manageable.

Like any true-blooded farmer, David treats the carabao as a member of his family that also needs to be taken care of.

In providing services to the Aetas, Capas Mayor Roseller Rodriquez said that the local government is focusing on addressing the literacy challenge among the IPs.

“Pinapalakas namin ngayon is yung education ng mga bata, mga katutubong bata. Nagtayo kami ng mga halfway houses, nagrenta kami ng mga bahay para yung mga katutubo namin na galing ng bundok meron silang matitirhan pag mag-aaral sila dito sa mga main barrios. Naglabas kami ng ordinansa na automatic na scholars ang mga katutubong college students at meron silang regular supply ng bigas at pagkain,” Mayor Rodriguez told #KPAP.

The carabao and financial assistance provided are just the initial support from the Pag-abot program.  

As stressed by Secretary Gatchalian in 2024 during the handover of the 50 carabaos, the DSWD is committed to addressing the needs of the marginalized communities, including the Capas Aeta community, in line with the President’s directive that no one should be left behind.

Launched in July 2023, Pag-abot aims to reach out and address the concerns of families and individuals living and staying on the streets and provide them with the right intervention and opportunities to steer them toward improved and dignified lives.

For the Aetas of Capas, the Pag-abot did not just hand them the right intervention in the form of the carabaos and financial assistance.  The program has gifted them with renewed hope, a dream for a better tomorrow, and a reason to smile for being included in the country’s development.

The #KPAP is the award-winning online documentary program of the DSWD aired every Tuesday over the agency’s social media accounts. It is hosted by Information Officer Bianca Piedad-Tamondong of the Digital Media Service (DMS) under the Strategic Communications group.# (GDVF)