Last Sat, Feb 13, 44 young and adult tribesmen from four Aeta communities in Zambales gathered at the Pastolan Aeta Village at the Subic bay Freeport to compete in tribal games that included archery, javelin throw, and blowpipe.
“The POC pooled resources together with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta to organize the tournament,” reports Allan Macatuno in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Jeff Tamayo, second vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), said the tribal games were “meant to encourage various communities of indigenous Filipinos to keep their traditional identity and skills alive.”
Tamayo explained, “We want to make sure that our IP (indigenous people) [communities] will learn how to preserve their cultural heritage through a tournament like this. We don’t want to see tribesmen’s children being uncomfortable wearing their ‘bahag’ (G-string) or [to be] oblivious to their jungle survival skills.”
On of the participants, Wilson Pelayo, 21, an Aeta from Sitio Libas in Barangay Old Cabalan in Olongapo City, said, “This kind of competition allows our tribes to be recognized for our tradition and culture. We’re working together to make sure that we will never lose our cultural identity.”
Tamayo added that the tribal games would also help the POC “scout for athletes who would be trained and sent to the World Indigenous Games.”
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