The Indigent

This "discourse" was formed in my mind after I talked with an officemate a week ago, since they were talking about Divisoria. I asked her how it was nowadays. She answered that it was basically the same, except for the increase in the number of Aetas begging for money and picking-up trampled vegetables.

I was saddened by the fact that these indigenous people had to experience these things. Minority na nga sila, they still had to live a subsistence existence. Of course their plight touched the messianic complex in me.

I can't entirely blame the incompetence of past administrations for their failure to take care of the Aetas' welfare, since they are the ones who refuse to interact with the "lowlanders".

The question now in my mind is: is it okay for us to educate or teach these people modern methods in order to support their daily needs? In short, are they willing to learn new technology that would alter their way of life? Remember, we are also trying to preserve our history, our roots for us to remember where we came from. Teaching them would demolish their traditions, much like what the Spaniards did to the alibata written on banana plants and leaves. Are we willing to teach them the future at the same time lose the past?

It's the nostalgia that sets in me. Our ancestors have lived in our archipelago for the last thousands of years. In other countries, their settlers have established great civilizations that we have become great powers of today.

What hurts me more is not our lack of support for these peoples, rather, it is the lack of respect for our fading heritage.