Less is More. Sectoral Exposure: Aeta

Living on top of the mountain is fraught with difficulties. That’s what we, formands of ten, forethought of that life as it was first described to us: scarcity, no electricity, long-water-fetching distance, the absence of comfort rooms, basking-under-the-heat-of-the-sun work in the field, deferred enjoyment from techno gadgets, and ten-day detachment from our relatively “comfortable” life. A somewhat indeed but not quite to teeter us, for our ten-day immersion among the Aetas of Barangay Diaz, Porac, Pampanga taught us something more, especially about the poor Christ easing the degrading poverty in the periphery.

Less is more. It appears ironic and paradoxical, but has truth. Personally, I was surprised on the first hearing that the Aetas of Dias have a faith of Catholicism solid and robust. And they owe that from Saint Martin de Porres who is always with them since the time when Mount Pinatubo burst. I was also awe-struck at knowing how they had defended their faith against other sects which guised themselves to be generous but schemed to shatter the statues of saints including the image of Saint Martin de Porres. By such great faith of the Aetas, Christ enriches their hearts and holds them into contentment.

In the encyclical letter of Pope Francis, Laudato Si, it is stated that the emptier the heart of the person is, the more he seeks to gain, buy, and consume. It is perhaps the mightier reason why folks of Barangay Diaz are satisfied with only having little. It is because Christ fills their hearts with His very self and love. In other words, they are not abandoned. As Christ is in their hearts, Mother Nature is on their side. And she provides them with everything they need, with far better provisions than those urban inhabitants who continuously exploit and make her cry. The Aetas have less, but they are much richer than many of us.

With just ten days of living with them, we had enough to know the difference. Less is more.

They have less of what we call material things but they live out their values and sense of family. It is worth noting that sharing and caring for a neighbor’s need are treasures of them. When they see that no smoke comes out from their neighbor’s house, it means they have nothing to cook. So, they speedily give food to that family.

One of them recounted to us a story about a man caught stealing form his banana field. But instead of condemning that man, he just let it pass because, for him, that thief badly needed it much more than what his family needs. Family values are also a gem found abundant among them. It is perhaps the reason why they manifest concern and respect to their neighbors as part of their wider family.

I admire their riches. Our much like or wanting to save our common home is a not to rejection to the cry of the poor especially to its guardians in the mountains. But I am quite saddened at the news about what happened to the Lumad of Mindanao. They lost themselves by losing their lands from the hands of the greedy. These Lumads need our ears to listen to their cry. They need our communal prayer so that they would still find hope and trust in the heavenly Father. As prayer can move a mountain, our collective prayers can as well move them back to the mountains which they call home. It’s where they belong. The poor need us. Let us help them.

It is true that life is difficult on the top of the mountain. That’s if we don’t see Christ there. With my nine companions, I entertained fear in my heart and premonitions in my mind as to what were in store for us among the Aetas. But at the very moment, I encountered Christ among them, everything turned so gentle and calm. The ten of us thought of having only a vacation, instead of immersion. Now, I understand whey Peter in that Transfiguration story suggested to build tents for Jesus and Moses and Elijah. Just as Peter witnessed the tremendous delight of being with Jesus and Moses and Elijah, similarly our experience of Christ with the poor folks of Barangay Diaz, Porac, Pampanga spurred us to enjoy our ten-day “vacation.” We didn’t feel the difficulty and loneliness because we found enjoyment with only having what is available. When simplicity of heart overpowers the situation of poverty, wholesome relationship with the family, with neighbors, and with nature is spawned in the whole community. Indeed, less is more. I pray to find it not only in the mountain but anywhere in the world. And if it is made possible by the Aetas, it could also be achieved by other people.