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EVACF aims to support the endangered Aeta people, displaced by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, to conserve their indigenous culture while sustainably developing a new foundation for their communities and families through building schools, livelihood projects, training and loan programs, educational scholarships and adult literacy initiatives.

AN APPEAL FOR HELP FOR THE AETA PEOPLES

THE ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP OF TRIBES OF MT. PINATUBO REGION, PHILIPPINES

DISPLACED PEOPLE

Aeta are a displaced people in entirety. The Aeta once lived by foraging and hunting. Their homes were simple constructions made from branches and leaves. The jungle and forests provided their every need and that mountain on which they had made their homes from the dawn of history was Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines. On 15 june 1991 their mountain provided the world with the greatest eruption of the twentieth century and their lushly canopied homeland disappeared forever.

SOCIALLY EXCLUDED PEOPLE

Dark skinned with round eyes, button noses, tight curly hair and miniature height, the Aeta are quite different in appearance to the majority of Filipinos. This, plus the fact that most are illiterate, traditionally do not use money, use ancient sanitary customs and know very little of "civilization", results in their being socially challenged and exploited.

Post-Pinatubo eruption, the majority of Aeta lived in crowded resettlement camps. Circa 1994 a few Aeta tried returning to as close a proximity as possible to where they originally lived. However, the jungles, forest, fish and animals were all gone under the ashes and lahar of the eruption. Those Aeta struggled to survive. However as years passed and Pinatubo turned green again with baby forests and undergrowth,so the numbers of Aeta returning grew and with them a new development occurred: that of the Aeta establishing villages.

SURVIVORS OF CONFLICT

Aeta homelands were, and in many ways still are, in areas inhabited by NPA (National Peoples Army) guerillas but Aeta never became involved with them. Aeta were famous as jungle fighters and survivors fighting for the Allies in World War II. Having such a fierce reputation, the Aeta nevertheless used passive resistance with NPA guerillas which the guerillas in turn respected. It was - and still is - a conflict which is survived bravely.

BEREAVED

Aeta are bereaved; they lost loved ones in the eruption; they lost their old way of life forever; they lost their mountain homeland forever; they lost the mountain they worshipped and now where once it towered there is a vast crater with a lake surrounded by high jagged walls covered in lahar which races down in rivers to create more destruction at every rainfall. Aeta are sad, shocked and shy of their future. Their world is shattered! They need help for their culture and family groups to survive. Without help they will slip into the cities to become BEGGARS and STREETCHILDEREN. The Aeta do not want this fate and it must not happen to these lovely, unique people. PREVENTION is better than CURE, so PLEASE HELP.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Volunteer

If you live in Manila volunteer a few hours each Tuesday morning to assemble EVACF orders in Dasmarinas Village, exchange ideas, discuss projects and have fun.

Phone 7760607 for more details.

Donate

Donate all or part of the funds (Click here for details)
To send an Aeta student to university;
Or donate educational supplies for Aeta children;
Or donate towards the building of new schools, gardens, literacy projects .........
Donations can be deposited into the charity's special deposit account. Details:
Name of Bank: Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company
Swift Address: MBTCPHMM
Branch Code: 159
Name of Branch: ADB Branch
Account Name: Entrepreneur Volunteer Assistance (EVA) Charity Foundation
Account Number: 159-3159239242

Visit

Travel to Pampanga to visit livelihood projects, assess the performance of EVA's loans, and the progress of livelihood equipment and training recipients, 3A3R literacy activators and 3A3T Pinatubo Trekkers.

Phone 7760607 for more information.

Attend

Join us at evacf fund raising events ...... Go to Calendar of Events
Buy

Buy EVA's beautiful handicrafts, which are the main source of financial support for the organization.

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FUND RAISING

Fundraising

The Aeta people are both displaced as a result of the eruption of Mt Pinatubo but also survivors of the long standing conflict in their traditional homeland (Read More). EVACF supports the production and sale of pottery to fund projects to conserve their culture and enable sustainable development.

Lahar-glazed Pottery

Mount Pinatubo Ashglaze Stoneware is sold to raise funds for Mt. Pinatubo livelihood projects and University scholarships for Aeta students. The pottery is sold in boxes made by livelihood projects using local raw materials.

Mt. Pinatubo Ashglaze is made from the finest ashes produced from the most devastating Eruption of the 20th Century. It is non-toxic, lead-free, microwave and oven proof and can be bought at Silahi's, Intramuros, Manila.

Master Potter and EVA Volunteer

Potters in the town of Antipolo make the pottery with the help of master potter and EVA volunteer Lanelle Abueva Fernando, who spent three years in Japan studying Japanese stoneware and glazes. When Mt. Pinatubo erupted, Lanelle decided to give assistance to those displaced by the eruption, by dedicating her Pinatubo stoneware to charitable work, because she could not bear to profit from the suffering and destruction she had witnessed.

Ashglaze

Only the finest of fine ash produced by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption can be used to make the Mt. Pinatubo ashglaze. The lahar must be sifted to yield the ash that is suitable for glazing and one sack of lahar produces only about a quarter cup of ash.
Livelihoods

Lovely paper scrolls, handmade by the special people of Cupertino Center Workshop, are included with all first class items and hand woven mats with some providing livelihoods for local people.

For more info and if you want to help, pls visit their website at http://www.evacf.org/