St.

Scholastica’s Academy
City of San Fernando, Pampanga
School Year 2018 – 2019

Pugtugon Sa Mabuting Kalusugan,

Para Sa Mga Aetang Nasa Kabundukan

12 – St. Amalberga

#12 Gomez, Rica Janne M.

#13 Gozun, Raesa Isabel T.
#14 Halili, Christian Nicole T.
#15 Ibe, Gianina Lee T.
#16 Ignacio, Mary Louise T.
#17 Lacanlale, Cielo Andrei G.
#18 Lopez, Maria Laura D.
#19 Lucas, Jaemaima Jane
#20 Lulu, Shielney G.
#21 Maglaqui, Sharon Jane Angeline Q.
#22 Manalili, Monica Sofia F.

October 2018
I. Introduction/Rationale
The Aetas are considered to be one of the first native settlers in the Philippines. Some social
scientists consider the Aetas of Mt. Pinatubo as the most important ethnic group because of their
preserved cultural identity. It is estimated that more than 800,000 Aetas in the Philippines live in
Mt. Pinatubo. In Zambales, Aetas are located in the 19 towns of this province. When the Spaniards
arrived, Aetas were pushed into the mountainous barangays of Zambales. In the town of Botolan
alone, 11 barangays in the periphery of Mt. Pinatubo are homes to Aetas. In this place, they live
in a very simple life. They have their own system of farming. They plant sweet potatoes, bananas
and vegetables.
However, since they live in mountainous and remote areas, Aetas do not have access to
medical facilities and are seldom visited by health workers who could administer to their health
care needs. According to Dr. Jason Abello, health coordinator at Our Lady of Peace in Parañaque
City, many people in the Aeta community have died from serious illnesses without seeing a
doctor. Some of these serious health issues include tuberculosis, pulmonary disease, measles,
diarrhea, dengue, and malaria. Sadly, those who don’t have the capacity to pay for a medical
check-up, end up dying. Indeed, there is a need to provide basic health services and to educate
them about treating common health problems. In an effort to address the issue, our group aspires
to build a small medical facility for the settlers. A clinic would be a huge help for them since their
location hinders them to have access to good medical facilities.

II. Context/Profile of the Target Community

The Aetas live in the northern part of the Philippines on the island of Luzon. They are an
indigenous group found in Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Angeles, Olongapo, Panay, Bataan and
Nueva Ecija. One of the areas where the Aetas had lived for thousands of years was Mount
Pinatubo. Its eruption on June of 1991 was one of the worst in history and was devastating to the
nearby Aeta population. Around a quarter million people lost their home and many of them were
Aetas. Due to the Mount Pinatubo Eruption, some of them moved to resettlement areas in
Pampanga and Tarlac. Aetas are nomadic and build only temporary shelters made of sticks driven
to the ground and covered with the palm of banana leaves. Aetas have become extremely nomadic
due to social and economic strain on their culture and way of life.
III. Action Plan
Objectives
 To focus on the health issues affecting the Aetas in Zambales;
 To assess the health care needs of the Aetas given their low status in life;
 To supplement the Aetas with proper nutrition;
 To provide adequate medical supplies for the community;
 To promote proper health care in the community;
 To provide accessible health care facility that can respond to their health care needs;
 To maintain good health and wellness among the Aeta community;
 To educate them concerning proper hygiene and proper first-aid response; and
 To employ and direct community resources and volunteers in an effort to guarantee that
health care services are accessible to those in need

Strategies/Actions
Our group came up with a plan that concerns our very own katutubo, the Aetas,
where we can give them the opportunity to have a healthy lifestyle and support their
medical needs. They live in mountainous and secluded places making it difficult for them
to access hospitals in the urban and even some rural areas. Different strategies will be used
to attain the objectives of the action plan. The strategies are as follows:
a. Recruitment of Volunteers
A speaker will be invited to have a talk in different hospitals here in Pampanga to
get recruits or volunteers for the construction of the clinic, doctors and nurses as well.
Seeking of hospitals who are willing to donate free medical supplies to the clinic will
also be done.
b. Seminar
Seminar for the Aetas will be conducted regarding basic and proper health care.
Different talks, discussions and demonstration will be learned in this seminar.
c. Trainings
The Aetas will be given the opportunity to be “trained” and be knowledgeable on
how to respond to basic illnesses and what medication to use. Our volunteer doctors
and nurses will facilitate this activity.
 d. Free Medical Check-up
The medical check-up will consist of dental and health check-up. Different
procedures and medication will also be provided here. This will continue until the clinic
is constructed.
e. Construction of Clinic
Through the collective effort of the group and different NGOs, the money gathered
will be used for the construction of the clinic. Our group also have to contact some
hospitals if they have doctors that are willing to volunteer to our said health clinic. If
the construction is completed and the staff is already provided then the health clinic
will be open.
Persons Involved and Responsible
The people who are involved in making the action plan come to life are the students
in St. Scholastica’s Academy, CSFP particularly the grade 12 students in St. Amalberga.
With and through the help of the people involved in the action plan, the students from SSA
yearns for a successful building of the Clinic for the Aetas in Zambales. Also, this project
sought help to some NGOs including:
1. PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc. (PFPI)
A private and charitable organization under control by their chairman, Angel
Alcala, Ph.D where it upholds the mission to improve health and contribute to
environmentally sustainable development, specifically under-served areas of the
Philippines. It designs and implements projects in population, health, and natural
resource management in collaboration with local government and private sector partners.
2. Habitat for Humanity Philippines
Habitat for Humanity was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller. It has been built
for rehabilitation and repair homes for people of communities in over 70 countries.
Driven by their mission is to put God’s love into action, they want to reach out families
who live under bridges, in disaster-prone communities, depressed areas, and assist them
into homes with safe, more affordable living conditions that lead to improve health,
stronger childhood development, and financial ability for a better future.
 Funds/Resources Needed and Source of Funds
The funds and expenses needed in the construction of a health clinic for the Aeta
community is indicated in the table below. The sources of the funds will come from the
people and the organizations involved in the building of the clinic.

Expenses Estimated Cost

Construction of the health clinic (included
here are the materials needed and the salaries P3,500,000
of the construction workers)
Health equipment P1,700,000
Furnitures (chairs, tables, beds, etc.) P50,000
Electricity (electric fans, air conditioning, P40,000
etc.)
Other facilities (water, comfort rooms, etc.) P20,000
Blessing of the clinic (to be done after the P20,000
construction of the clinic)

TOTAL: P5, 330,000

Time Frame
Action/Strategy Time
Finding and recruiting of volunteer doctors
a. Recruitment of Volunteers and nurses will take about 1 month. Hopefully
we can gather many volunteers as possible.
This will be a 2-day seminar that will be held
b. Seminar a week prior to the construction of the health
clinic.
This 3-day training will be done after the
c. Training seminar. Registered nurses and doctors will
teach our fellow Aetas on how to respond to
basic illnesses and what medication to use.
d. Free-Medical Check up Every month, free check-up will be done with
the help of volunteer doctors and nurses.
The construction of the health clinic is
expected to be finished with 6 months.
e. Construction of Health Clinic Nevertheless, it is our goal to finish the
construction as soon as possible while
assuring the safety and convenience of
everyone.
Expected Outcome
With the help of medical assistance, and building health center in the community
of Aetas, the occurrence of illness and diseases such as diarrhea, measles, and pneumonia
should be lessen and to put an end with the increasing number of malnutrition. Talks and
seminars about proper hygiene and knowledge about first-aid for the Aetas community
would help them live in a healthier environment.
Starting our project by building the health center will be the dawn of giving
importance to our native ancestors. With this the Aetas should live in a healthier and fruitful
way. By this, we show them their worth and preserve their “bakas” as Filipinos.