AETAS

BRIEF HISTORY
• The Aetas, pronounced as “eye-
tas,” are among the earliest known
migrants or inhabitants of the
Philippines. Over the years, the
majority of their population
managed to keep their cultural
practices and traditions. But sadly,
as one of the indigenous groups
thriving in the country, they also
face challenges such as
displacement, marginalization, and
poverty.
• According to historians, the Aetas
(also known as Agtas) are
Australo-Melanesians. Historical
accounts suggest that they’re of the
same group as those of Aborigines
in Australia and Melanesians of
Solomon Islands. While they
closely resemble physical
characteristics such as curly hair and
dark colored skin, it is not clear as
to how they arrived in the
Philippines.
• One theory suggests that the Aeta are
the descendants of the original
inhabitants of the Philippines, who,
contrary to their sea-faring
Austronesian neighbours, arrived
through land bridges that linked the
country with the Asian mainland
about 30,000 years ago. Unlike many
of their Austronesian counterparts, the
Aetas have shown resistance to
change. The attempts of the Spaniards
to settle them in reservations all
throughout Spanish rule failed.
• Aetas are characterized by their skin
color, height, and hair type. They
mostly have dark to dark-brown skin,
curly hair, and are usually below five-
feet tall. Traditionally, Aetas are
hunting and gathering indigenous
people. They’re actually among the
most skilled when it comes to jungle
survival – they are even able to make
use of plants as herbal medicine and
possess tools and weapons. While
they’re nomadic, they are able to build
temporary houses made of sticks.
 Most Aetas practice
monotheism and are animists.
They worship a Supreme Being
and at the same time, also
believe in environmental
spirits. They believe that
various places in our
environment are being
governed by both good and
evil spirits.
As for their clothing, they wear
plain and simple attire.
Traditional Aetas, who are skilled
in weaving and plating, wear wrap
around skirts or bark cloth (for
women) and loin cloths for men.
They are also into music and the
arts – making use of ornaments
as accessories and have ensembles
of instruments to create
melodious rhythms.
DEMOGRAPHICS AND GEOGRAPHY
CULTURES
CHALLENGES
 References
• http://www.trekkingpinatubo.com/aeta-tribe/
• https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/ar
ticles/the-aeta-the-first-philippine-people/