When education means everything: The dream of every Aetas in Sitio Dalig

As they say, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” —Nelson Mandela. Indeed, there's no doubt about it.

In Sitio Dalig, Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac there’s a group of Aeta who still believe in these quotes.

Arnel Dela Cruz, 33 years old, a vegetable farmer, and a father of two said that life in their Sitio was very difficult.

“Kung sa buhay lang po talagang mahirap.” (If only in life it's really hard.)

And he followed it up with words “pero nakakaraos naman po kami kahit panghapon pakain [hapunan], umaga, kung minsan hindi makakakain ng umaga para makapaghanap ka ng puso ng saging ‘yan ang ibebenta namin dito,” he said.

As per the saying “Isang kahid, isang tuka” (one scratch, one peck), this might be the right description for Arnel's life. But despite the challenges they faced every day he still gave a positive response in life and is still grateful that his family survived every day and still has food to eat.

In a question “What is the thing that their Sitio most needs?”

“Ang pinakakailangan po namin dito ma’am…, kung may tutulong sa amin ay kinakailangan po sana namin dito maam ng paaralan ay ang mga bata hindi nakakapag-aral,” Kuya Arnel immediately replied. (What we need the most here ma'am..., if someone would help us we would need school here ma'am because the children can't study.)

Dela Cruz stated that even if the children could attend school and study, they would not complete their studies at the time of the rainy season because their Sitio was far away from the closest educational institution.

“Hindi po nakakapag-aral ma’am, nakakapag-aral [man] ipapaenrol ng magulang pero kapag tag-ulan na hindi na makakapag-aral,” he said.(They can't study ma'am, if they can study [even] the parents will enroll them but when it rains the students won't be able to study.)

Furthermore, he reiterated why he wanted to every Aetas have access to education because he would not want anyone to insult or deceive them.

A ‘school’ for the Aeta youths is the most needed thing in their Sitio, a school that will give them an education that everyone should have, and a school where one dream could start and grow.

Meanwhile, Romel, a 17-year-old Grade 8 student, is hopeful that, regardless of their socioeconomic condition, he will one day become a teacher.

He explained that it took him almost two hours to get to school because there was no public vehicle in their area. And there is no school in their Sitio, and the nearest one is in town.

If people can see a light even at the darkest periods of their lives, how about the government lending them some so they can see clearly?

A better future is also tied to education—Romel and other Aetas remain optimistic despite the least enviable testimonies in their attempt to achieve their aspiration of entering the academic world. They continue to uniformly see education as the most reliable path to a better life, particularly in the best of circumstances.

Every child has the right to an education that is accessible and easy to obtain. An education that is free and without constraints. A school where students can study and learn without having to walk for an hour.

It is not difficult to bring light and hope to everyone, particularly for indigenous people. To let them feel that they belong to society is what they also dream of and deserve.