Aetas gather for Clark cultural fete, sportsfest Options

[Fil-Am]

Tuesday, September 09, 2003
Aetas gather for Clark cultural fete, sportsfest
By Fred Roxas

CLARK ECOZONE -- More than 400 Aetas participated in the "Pamilamu-lamu Nin mipatel" a cultural re-enlightenment and sportsfest that highlighted tribal heritage in Clark as part of the celebration of the 100 years of the former US military facility.

Angelo C. Lopez, manager of Public Relations Department of Clark Development Corp. (CDC) said that the event was organized to acknowledge the Aetas as the original settlers of Clark Field when it was designated by American troops as military reservation in 1903.

"Pamilamu-lamu Nin Mipatel (One Family, One Gathering)" was a two-day event held last Sept. 4 and 5 at the Parade Grounds and Bayanihan Park, which pitted various Aeta tribes in traditional games and modern sports.

The event included jungle survival techniques (fire starting and cooking using indigenous materials), dance interpretations, basketball, archery, palo-sebo, pig catching, sulbatana (blow gun), tug of war, sack race, obstacle course and other track and field events.

Participants in the games came from the towns of Mabalacat, Porac, Floridablanca, and Angeles City in Pampanga and Bamban, Capas and San Jose Maamot in Tarlac.

During the two-day 18-event sportsfest, the Aetas from Porac snatched 14 awards with six first place wins, four second places and four 3rd places followed by Angeles with 9 awards with six first places and three 3rd places.

The San Jose Maamot bagged eight awards with two first places, three each on second and third places; Capas won five with two first places, two second places and one 3rd place; Mabalacat garnered four awards with one each of first and second places and two third places.

Madapdap won two awards, one each for first and second places; Bamban with three awards, one for second place and two for third places; and Floridablanca with two awards, one each for second and third places.

In the cultural event, Porac bagged the first place on the Paniningas ng Apoy while the San Jose Maamot got the second place. Angeles adjudged as the winner in the ethnic dance followed by Porac and Mabalacat.

Bamban team won the Cooking in Bamboo while the San Jose Maamot won the second place.