Region 3:

Central Luzon
Lesson 1- Aeta
BACKGROUND:
Aeta are ethnic groups found in the
Philippines.

They are described as:

Dark skinned
Short, small framed
Kinky haired
Snub nose
Big black eyes
DIFFERENT NAMES GIVEN TO AETA:
PUGUT AN ILOCANO TERM FOR SOMEONE AS DARK
SKINNED.
AETA/ AGTA IN NORTHERN LUZON
MAMANUA IN MINDANAO
ITA INSULTING
BELUGA COMPLIMENT; HYBRID, SIMILAR TO
MEZTIZO FOR FAIR SKIN FILIPINO.
 WHERE DOES AETA ORIGINATED?
THE HISTORY OF THE AETAS CONTINUES TO CONFOUND
ANTHROPOLOGISTS AND ARCHAEOLOGISTS. ONE THEORY
SUGGESTS THAT THE AETA ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF THE
ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES, WHO, CONTRARY
TO THEIR SEAFARING AUSTRONESIAN NEIGHBORS, ARRIVED
THROUGH LAND BRIDGESTHAT LINKED THE ISLANDS WITH THE
ASIAN MAINLAND.
 Unlike many of their Austronesian counterparts, the
Aetas have shown resistance to change. Aetas had
little interaction with the Spaniards as they remained
in the mountains during the Spanish rule. Even the
attempts of theSpaniardsto settle them in
reduccionesor reservations all throughout
Spanish rulefailed.
Aetas are known to be resistant to change.
particularly in their way of life. As Spaniards
found out when failed to settle them in
reservations.

During the American Rule,

They rejected efforts to interpret farming
into their culture.
 Cultural practices of Aeta

Aeta Economy is composed of hunting and

food gathering.

They are skilled with the use of bows and

arrows as their primary weapon.
Often employing a variety of techniques.

They are Agile in using traps to capture

animals for food. Such as spear traps and pit
traps.
They practice scarification.
They also chip their teeth for decorative process.
 they also do boring. ( making holes) of the nose, which is
decorated by a silver or bamboo.

They also produce

necklace,
anklets and bracelets
as jewelries.
Literary work 1:
Aeta Riddles
Aetas literary work/ Arts are limited to legends, riddles,
narratives, and myths.

Some of their riddles take the form of bugtong which is

structured in two lines and rhymed.
Muminudukum
A ningngijitam.
( Pinnia)

Assini nga pinasco ni Apu

Nga magismagel you ulo na.
( Simu)

Lijar tangapakking nga niuk

Awayya ipagalliuk
( Danum)
 Since Aeta are skilled craftsmen, they also produce their own
musical instruments, which accompany their dances
 They make harps and guitars from bamboo joint
flutes from mountain cane, and coconut resonator.

The most common

type of flute is the
nose flute.
 2 forms of Aeta dance

1.Festive dance
. Ceremonial dance
2
 Festive dance
festive dancing usually held when meeting
friends, after a good harvest or hunt, and
other festivities.

Ceremonial dance
usually religious and always held during a full
moon.
Combined together, music and dancing form a
ritual for good luck and mourning of the dead.
Literary work 2:
Aetas Music
 The Agta of Peablanca, Cagayan Valley has
different songs

The Aget ( wild pig ) is a hunting song sung

solo.

It consist of four musical phrases, ending in

a pause.
Ho wa kay ti ho ni ko panghuyutan
Ay yo ha yo
Pan yambutan nining almungan
Yabi ya bing ya saunghaay
Kay ti ing panghuyutan
Pam yam butan alimungan
Ng u mi ya aw kulyawan
Ay-ay panagmbutan alimungan
The ingalu or lament for the dead is
sung during the wake: