  |
The Aeta (pronounced as “eye-ta,”), Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They are considered to be Negritos, who are dark to very dark brown skinned and tend to have features such as a small stature, small frame, curly hair, small nose, and dark brown eyes. They are thought to be among the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations.
The Aeta were included in the group of people termed 'Negrito' during Spanish colonial rule as Negritos. Various Aeta groups in northern Luzon are known as 'Pugut' or 'Pugot,' a name designated by their Ilocano-speaking neighbors, and which is the colloquial term for those with darker complexions. In Ilocano, the word also means 'goblin' or 'forest spirit.'
Contents |
History
- See also: History of the Philippines (pre-1521)
The history of the Aeta continues to confound anthropologists and archaeologists. One theory suggests that the Aeta are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines, who, contrary to their sea-faring Austronesian neighbors, arrived through land bridges that linked the country with the Asian mainland about 30,000 years ago. Unlike many of their Austronesian counterparts, the Aetas have shown resistance to change. The attempts of the Spaniards to settle them in reducciones or reservations all throughout Spanish rule failed.
Mining, deforestation, illegal logging, and slash-and-burn farming has caused the indigenous population in all parts of the Philippines to steadily decrease to the point where they number in the thousands today. The Philippines affords them no protection. In addition, the Aeta have become extremely nomadic due to social and economic strain on their culture and way of life that had previously remained unchanged for thousands of years. The Aeta have no sense of money or land ownership and sometimes can be seen camping out in city parks or panhandling.[citation needed]
While resisting change from the other society for hundreds of years, the Aetas have adjusted to social, economic, cultural, and political pressures with remarkable resilience; they have created systems and structures within their culture to cushion the sudden impact of change.
Demographics
The life expectancy at birth of the Aeta is just 16.5 years,[1][2][3] with only a third of children surviving to adulthood at 15 years[4][2] – at which point life expectancy is still only 27.3 years.[2] Young women reach full adult height (average 140 cm) at age 12 or 13.[1][3][2]
Culture
Language
All Aeta communities have adopted the language of their Austronesian neighbors, which have sometimes diverged over time to become different languages. These include, in order of number of speakers, Mag-indi, Mag-antsi, Abellen, Ambala, and Mariveleño.[citation needed]
Religion
There are different views on the dominant character of the Aeta religion. Those who believe they are monotheistic argue that various Aeta tribes believe in a supreme being who rule over lesser spirits or deities, with the Aeta of Mt. Pinatubo worshipping 'Apo Namalyari.'
The Aetas are also animists. For example, the Pinatubo Aeta believe in environmental spirits such as anito and kamana. They believe that good and evil spirits inhabit the environment, such as the spirits of the river, sea, sky, mountain, hill, valley, and other places.
No special occasion is needed for the Aeta to pray, although there is a clear link between prayer and economic activities. The Aeta dance before and after a pig hunt. The night before Aeta women gather shellfish, they perform a dance which is partly an apology to the fish and partly a charm to ensure the catch. Similarly, the men hold a bee dance before and after the expeditions for honey.
Clothing
Their traditional clothing is very simple. The young women wear wrap around skirts. Elder women wear bark cloth, while elder men wear loin cloths. The old women of the Agta wear a bark cloth strip which passes between the legs, and is attached to a string around the waist. Today most Aeta who have been in contact with lowlanders have adopted the T-shirts, pants and rubber sandals commonly used by the latter.
Practices
The Aetas are skillful in weaving and plaiting.
Women exclusively weave winnows and mats. Only men make armlets. They also produce raincoats made of palm leaves whose bases surround the neck of the wearer, and whose topmost part spreads like a fan all around the body.
Medicine
Aeta women are known around the country as purveyors of herbal medicines.
Art
A traditional form of visual art is body scarification. The Aetas intentionally wound the skin on their back, arms, breast, legs, hands, calves and abdomen, and then they irritate the wounds with fire, lime and other means to form scars.
Other 'decorative disfigurements' include the chipping of the teeth. With the use of a file, the Dumagat mutilate their teeth during late puberty. The teeth are dyed black a few years afterwards.
The Aetas generally use ornaments typical of people living in subsistence economies. Flowers and leaves are used as earplugs for certain occasions. Girdles, necklaces, and neckbands of braided rattan incorporated with wild pig bristles are frequently worn.
Music
The Aeta have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles - ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drone without any accompanying melodic instrument.
References
- ^ a b Science: Volume 319, Issue 5859, January 4 2008. Editors' Choice: Highlights of the recent literature: Live Fast, Die Young by Caroline Ash
- ^ a b c d Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences December 18, 2007 | vol. 104 | no. 51 | 20216-20219 Life history trade-offs explain the evolution of human pygmies, by Andrea Bamberg Migliano, Lucio Vinicius, and Marta Mirazón Lahr
- ^ a b Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences December 18, 2007 | vol. 104 | no. 51 | 20216-20219 Life history trade-offs explain the evolution of human pygmies, by Andrea Bamberg Migliano, Lucio Vinicius, and Marta Mirazón Lahr
- ^ The Telegraph: Pygmies life expectancy is between 16 and 24, By Roger Highfield, Science Editor, Last Updated: 10:01pm GMT 10/12/2007
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008) |
Article is licensed under GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from Wikipedia.org Original article is here.
Aeta - Live Search NotizieRisultati della ricerca
Yahoo! News Search Results for Aeta
Binulu, other activities highlight Porac Fiesta (Sun Star)PORAC -- The Binulu Festival, Mutya Ning Porac and Most Outstanding Poraquenos 2008 are just some of the highlights in this year's Porac Town Fiesta in celebration of the feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Indigenous way of cooking still alive in Pampanga town (Sun Star)PORAC -- Whoever said the "old way" of cooking is no longer in use? Cooks and chefs can actually learn from residents of this town. Instead of using pots and pans in cooking their food, they used bamboo.
CDC lauds indigenous peoples law (Sun Star)CLARK FREEPORT -- Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Benigno Ricafort has lauded Republic Act (RA) 8371, otherwise known as Indigenous People's Right Act (Ipra).
Show castoffs reassess the game (Philippine Daily Inquirer)MANILA, Philippines—Only 10 of the 18 castaways remain on Devil’s Island, slugging it out for the coveted title, “Pinoy Sole Survivor,” and the P3 million cash prize.
Education briefs: Mayor among honorees (The Arizona Republic)Education items from Phoenix
Focus: Dead men tell tales (BusinessWorld Online)What happens when you die? Before Christianity took over the Philippines and sent souls of the dearly departed to heaven or hell, our ancestors believed that spirits, or anitos, went on existing in a world parallel to ours.
Live Search: AetaRisultati della ricerca
Alabama Educational Technology Association :: Welcome to AETA!Alabama Educational Technology Association ... 2009 Winter Mini-Conference Watch for More Details and Registration
AETA: the specialist in FTTx, GPON, VDSL, SHDSL, IP, E1, ATMLast updated January 29, 2007
Aeta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe Aeta (pronounced as “eye-ta,”), Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines.
AETA Web SiteArizona English Teachers Association-A state affiliate of the NCTE-
AETA AUDIO SYSTEMSVous avez manqué l'IBC d'Amsterdam et ses nouveautés? Pas de problème, nous serons présents au Tonmeistertagung...
New Site for the American Equestrian Trade Association AETA.USThe official site for AETA, The American Equestrian Trade Association ... Don’t Delay: Make Your Trade Fair Hotel Reservations at Our New Host Hotel
Kiviks Musteri
American :: Embryo :: Transfer :: AssociationAmerican Embryo Transfer Association 1111 N. Dunlap Avenue Savoy, IL 61874 USA (217) 398-2217, FAX: (217) 398-4119 aeta@assochq.org
Stop AetaWHAT IS (AETA) THE ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT? The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) is a bill which sought to amend the 1992 Animal Enterprise ...
AETA meaning - Acronym Atticsort by Rank | Alpha; Possible Meanings Rank; Azerbaijan English Teachers Association *** Australian Electric Traction Association *** Animal Enterprise Terrorist Act
