Last October, I went on an trip to Zambales with my block as part of our fieldwork for our Social Science class. We were to research on the Aeta community in the resettlement areas of Zambales and how their lives have been changed by the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo explosion.
It was honestly so astonishing how beautiful the area was. Near and far, nature displayed beauty. From the small piles of differently coloured rocks and the collection of fallen leaves to the tall, green mountains that seemed to reach the sky, Zambales was beautiful. My eyes couldn't believe just how real the view was. Zambales was a beautiful painting that seemed to had come to life right before my very eyes. There was this sense of tranquility in the atmosphere that left me speechless. There was this unspoken harmony in nature that I found so beautiful.
Spending time with the Aeta community was such a blessing as well. Getting to know their story and how they live their lives now was eye-opening. If there's anything I learned from the Aeta community, it's that they are one of the most resilient people that I've known. To have been driven out of their ancestral homes by a volcanic eruption that no one could've possibly fully prepared for and be placed in towns in provinces and left their without support and yet still remain so strong and alive decades after is a sign of their resilience.
Being in Zambales was definitely a breath of fresh air. I have been blessed to hear their stories and witness their lives, and I would love to come back and be with the Aetas again.
Until Next Time!
~ Luis
Previous Post: 17 Things About Being 17
0 comments:
Post a Comment