A Long Walk To Wherever

"You are going to live in huts on top of a mountain," our facilitator said during the orientation for our immersion. We were to climb a steep mountain and live with the Aetas, one of the hundreds of Indigenous groups in the Philippines, for three days. No technology and electricity, except for simple radios and flashlights. The source of water would be about three hundred meters away from the community. 

After crossing vast farmlands and a dead river, we finally reached the foot of the mountain. We stared in awe at how high the mountain we were about to climb was; we did not have gears for climbing. After five minutes or so, a group of short, dark-skinned, and curly-haired people appeared. They offered to carry our bags to make it easier for us to climb. After enduring cuts and bruises, slips and falls, we finally reached the top where we could breathe the clean, cold air. We were welcomed with a celebratory bonfire. 

True enough, we lived in huts with no electricity, and the only source of light was a lamp in every home.

After spending some time with my foster family, my friend went up to me and invited me to come along with her and her foster father. She said he was going to show her their farmlands. Curious, I went along with them. I soon realized that their farmlands were on the next mountain.

Upon arriving, my friend and I immediately sat down to rest while her foster father proceeded to gathering crops. "We do this every two days or so," he said in Filipino. He could not speak it well for they have their own language, but it was easy to understand him. It made me wonder why they had to gather crops that often. Their community was literally on the next mountain, and they can use carabaos to gather a week's worth, or more, of crops. 

"We only take what we need," he said, while handing out a cup of diluted coffee. "We have to make sure the others could still bring home something."