AETA COMMUNITY IMMERSION AT CAPAS TARLAC

 Here's the article I wrote for Project Bahaghari. This was our itinerary and series of activities that we had during the immersion. (Unedited file)

This is not a perfect write up but still, this moved me and left a teary eye. It was so rare for me to write an article or story that can actually make me cry while I read it.

Congrats, self. I am humbly proud of you.

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Project Bahaghari: Ikatlong Yugto (Paskong Bahaghari)

Sitio Manabayukan, Capas, Tarlac

Dec. 22-23, 2017

This Christmas of 2017 became so meaningful not only for the Indigenous people of Sitio Manabayukan, Capas, Tarlac but also for all the volunteers of Project Bahaghari, sponsors and donors who made this event so possibly attainable. The receiver and the giver has so much things to be thanked for. So, yes, this is literally a win-win kind of situation for both parties. Blessings over blessings, indeed!

Some of us may already know that ‘Paskong Bahaghari’ is one of the outreach events of this humble, youth and non-profit organization named Project Bahaghari. Paskong Bahaghari is an immersion that usually takes two days on far, secluded and mountainous Aeta or tribal communities. We share gifts, clothes, toys for the kids, Noche Buena and grocery package to hundreds of families. Aside from the gift giving, we also provide a short program and feeding. The short program consists of some Parlor games with gifts as prizes, puppet show and sing and dance activities. This is for the kids and of course people who are kids at hearts can also join.

So why are we doing this?

And we think that the answer is simple. We just wanted to color the world with hope and love!

The Preparation.

It was on the second week of November 2017 when the planning for another outreach event of Project Bahaghari volunteers started. Who could imagine that a simple group chat box created would have a great impact on all the people involved for this Christmas project?

Promotional posters, plans, invites, Marketing strategies were then made to raise funds for the 2017’s version of Paskong Bahaghari.

We are beyond grateful to the power of Social Media, word of mouth, and friends of friends that we were able to collect enough funds and donations that we can share this season of giving. We at Project Bahaghari are so honored to be the bridge that connects the needy and the generous people who has something to give.

Here’s the itinerary that we had for this two-day immersion.

Day 1. December 22, 2017 | Friday

Volunteers had a meet-up at Morayta and Cubao simultaneously at 3 a.m.

The group who met up at Morayta went to Capas, Tarlac through a rented L300 van. This van had the boxes of consolidated in kind donations. While the group who met at Cubao went to Capas via public bus.

Upon reaching Capas, Tarlac and having the complete meet up of volunteers, the group was divided again into two. The first group went to the grocery (RCS Capas Tarlac), to buy bulk goods for the Noche Buena and grocery package.

Each Noche Buena package consists of:

1 Kilo Spaghetti Noodles

1 Kilo Spaghetti Sauce

Corned Beef

Luncheon Meat

Cheese

Cup cakes

While each grocery package consists of:

3 pcs. Noodles

Coffee

Rice

Biscuits

The second group went to the wet market (Capas Public Market) to buy ingredients for the feeding program and food for the volunteers.

When both group were done buying all the things needed, we then rented a jeep that took us to Kap’s house. Travel time was about thirty minutes.

Gladly and feeling grateful, the grocery offered us a free truck delivery of the goods up to Kap’s house.

We deeply thank Kap for warmly welcoming the whole group on his humble home. He also assisted us on renting 5 units of 4x4 trucks that took us and all the goods that we brought to the mountains of Sitio Manabayukan.

It took us an hour to reach and meet the lovely indigenous people of Sitio Manabayukan. Aside from the rough yet flowery road, river and greeny mountains that filled our eyes, locals didn’t fail to amaze us. They also warmly welcomed us, waves are unlimited and kids surrounded us with plastered smiles on their faces.

We had their church as our temporary base camp. Donations and goods were unloaded from the trailers and then when everything was settled, we had a brief orientation of what would be the other activities for the rest of the day.

Some of the volunteers were assigned to prepare the lunch, some still cleaned up the base camp, while the others happily played with the kids.

By three in the afternoon, we had our late lunch. We didn’t notice time as we were filled with many things to do and this whole amazing experience!

At past 4 p.m., we headed to the river because it’s bath time! It was a short trek going to river and some kids accompanied us. 

After an hour, we went back to the base camp, to dry ourselves and change clothes and started the interview. Volunteers were partnered and each team must interview at least three families.

Through this activity, we felt closer to the families we are going to help, understand more their hard situation and we also had the chance to laugh and cried with their real life stories shared.

If you were going to ask every volunteer who conducted the interviews, for sure, each one has moving stories to tell, and will let you feel that we have so many things to be thanked for. We are a lot fortunate than these poor families living in the mountains of Capas, Tarlac.

Some of the realizations we had that we wanted to share to the world:

For the families living in here, rice is a luxury item and eating three times a day for is already considered a lucky day.

When the water’s river is high during rainy season and tropical depressions, they can’t go downtown to buy food and they will just be contented on edible plants they can harvest anywhere. Most common food that they can depend on are root crops. 

One of the families we interviewed has an income of Php. 2,000.00 per month or 67 pesos per day. As we compute, this is not enough for the basic needs for five members of the family.

But despite of all of the hardships they are going through every day, families here have only simple wishes – and that is to be complete and healthy during their meals.

Having their kids finish school may be already considered as a very ambitious dream, but they still strive to make this come true. Most of the parents haven’t finished or even didn’t had the chance to experience learning so they hope that their children will be able to step out of this hard life they are currently going through by graduating from school.

And we in Project Bahaghari are one with their dreams! We also pray and wished that these kids will be able to finish school and have a better way of life someday because they all deserve it.

At 6 in the evening, we had our dinner first before proceeding with the repacking of bulk goods. We packed 100 Noche Buena package and 100 grocery package.

We also sorted the donated clothes.

Our light supply was only limited but that didn’t stop us from doing things that we needed and wanted to do at the same time. The community doesn’t have stable electrical supply. They depend on the solar panels. 

By 10 pm, we were already done with the packing. Empty boxes spread on the floor of the church served as our sleeping mats. Before going to sleep, we had again a brief orientation of what will be the activities tomorrow. And then all the lights were off. This was a long and tiring yet worthy and happy day.

Time to sleep for we need energy at tomorrow’s main event.

Day 2.  December 23, 2017 | Saturday

The sun wasn’t up yet but volunteers were already awake to prepare the food for breakfast.

Other volunteers cleared and cleaned the base camp.

When breakfast was ready, we prayed and thanked God for everything that we have and for the time that we were able to share our time, love and effort as gifts for these native people that we learned to love in just a short span of time. We filled our stomach first and then later on our hearts will be filled with so much gratitude and happiness.

At 8 in the morning when everyone’s already settled, we had the distribution of claiming stubs for the grocery and Noche Buena package.

We guided the families to fall in line properly. Kids line are separated to parents’ line. 

After the stubs distribution, we then had our program proper. Kids and parents went inside the church.

Some of the volunteers assisted on the program while the others helped in preparing the food for feeding.

Kids enjoyed the parlor games prepared for them. Even the parents joined on some parts of the game. Prizes were given to the winners. Some of the prizes were toys but they were more than happy when our prizes for them are packs of rice, instant coffee and powdered chocolate drink.

After an hour, feeding time followed.

We prepared pancit and macaroni soup for them. Families went home and got back quickly just to get their eating bowls. Some of the volunteers served the food. Then some volunteers served as marshals so there will be a proper line up while the others prepared for the final activity - the distribution of goods.

After eating their meals, the families then lined up again outside the church to finally get their Noche Buena and grocery package, toys and clothes.  Volunteers already know their designated areas of distribution and thankfully, it was a fast and smooth flow of gifts dispersal.

When the distribution was finally done, we then prepared to go home bringing the wonderful experience we had on this immersion.

Christmas is truly Christmas when blessings are being shared.

We deeply thanked everyone who has been part of this project.

To all the donors and sponsors, to all our family and friends who supported us and to all the people who spread the word, shared our campaigning posts, thank you so much! Words will never be enough to thank all of you.

Angao, Aeta! Wuhoooooo!

Maraming Salamat po!

-Project Bahaghari Team