Mount Pinatubo Conservation

Botolan, Zambales

In 2013, Congressman Joseller "Yeng" Guiao of the 1st district of Pampanga presented to Congress the need to safeguard and preserve the historical significance and natural environment of the legendary Mount Pinatubo volcano from further destructive practices and unfettered development. The objective of the bill is to make Mount Pinatubo more attractive to tourists, both local and foreign, while at ...

the same time protecting and preserving its bare natural assets and resources, with the assistance of the local Aetas, for the sake of future generations.

Mount Pinatubo Conservation News

  • The Aetas Of Mount Pinatubo And The Trip That Almost Did Not Happen

    Two weeks before the climb I was informed by my contact in Capas that the local government of Botolan, Zambales is charging each climbers an additional Php700.00. I was worried that those who confirmed would back out because of the sharp increase in total fees. And yes one by one they backed out. But I was determined to continue the climb even if it means commuting so long as we reached 5 to share the cost of the 4x4. In the end we reached 10 just enough to rent a van ;)

    Mt. Pinatubo is one of the most expensive mountain to climb but I do not regret spending money to see how massive destruc ...

  • Aeta Family In Zambales Cited For Uplifting Lives Of Fellow IPs

    The Domulot family of Botolan, Zambales, was recognized as one of the six exemplary Filipino families during the 5th Jollibee Family Values Awards (JFVA).

    Their advocacy of uniting the different Aeta tribes around Mt. Pinatubo and protecting their rights, earned them the distinguished recognition.

    The JFVA is the leading fast-food chain's annual search for exemplary Filipino families whose works of compassion and generosity make a significant difference in their communities. Now on its milestone 5th year, the campaign hopes the new batch of winning families will serve as role models and ...

  • A rare floral gem from the Mt Pinatubo area

    Vanda luzonica is one of the unique and distinctive orchid species from the Philippines that is worth saving. Its natural habitat was the Pinatubo volcano area, which was devastated during its last eruption. Luckily, local residents in the area acquired samples of the plant. Now, it is being propagated in gardens and in laboratories.

    The genus name Vanda, which came from a Sanskrit word, was adopted by William Jones for epiphytes and later retained by Robert Brown and established the genus in 1820. The specific name "luzonica" refers to Luzon island, where this orchid occurs. The plant wa ...

  • Greener mountains for an Aeta community

    The mountain peaks of Bamban, Tarlac already provide a picturesque view of lush forests, but one male Aeta has bigger dreams for the place he calls home.

    Edwin Lacsamana, a 47-year-old native pastor in Sitio Baguingan Aetas in Barangay Sto Niño, hopes to see more fruit-bearing trees dotting the view.

    "Ang pinaka-pangunahing problema dito [ay] kinakailangang makapagtanim kami ng mga matataas na kalidad ng prutas (The primary problem here is that we need to plant high quality fruits)," he said, adding that the Aetas' current fruit and root crop harvests do not give them enough income.

    ...

  • Farmers and Aeta families reclaim river hold feast

    Celebrating their struggle against destructive quarrying on Malele River, upland farmers and Aetas held a festival at the foothills of Mt. Pinatubo on Saturday with a vow to rehabilitate the water source that feeds their farms.

    At past 8 a.m., leaders and members of Nagkakaisang Mamamayan para sa Kalikasan at Agrikultura (Namaak) and Pagkakaisa ng Aeta ng Pinatubo (Pagkakaisa) opened the Fiestang Ilug (Feast of the River) by praying and releasing 3,000 tilapia fingerlings into the Malele River in Barangay (village) Planas here.

    Amid the dry season, water continues to spring out of forest ...

  • Cooperation With Aetas Resistance Nature Conservation And Fair Trade

    Nearly everywhere in the world indigenous people are already extinct or severely threatened by other peoples. Likewise, the native people of the Filipino archipelago, the Aeta, have been reduced over the past centuries to only a few thousand remaining individuals, mainly living in the mountainous regions of Luzon, the largest island of the Philippines.

    During the Spanish occupation between the mid-sixteenth and the beginning of the 20th century, Aeta were mostly threatened by land grabbing and resettling into reservations. Upcoming mining, increasing deforestation, illegal lumber ...