ANGELES CITY — “Through a tournament like this, we want to make sure that our Aeta community in Barangay Sapangbato will learn how to preserve their cultural heritage.”
Thus, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. declared as the city government-organized and -sponsored First Angeles City Ayta Tribal Games went underway on Oct. 23 in Barangay Sapangbato.
Lazatin believed holding tribal games is a way to preserve the unique biodiversity of the Aeta community in Barangay Sapangbato which relies on the knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities who live in direct contact with nature.
Members of the Aeta community from Sitio Balaraw, Sitio Bliss, Sitio Babo, and Sitio Target competed in different tribal games as a way to showcase their culture and natural heritage, especially in the fields of sports and biodiversity conservation.
Featured competition included archery, javelin throw, and blowpipe.
Gender and Development Office chief Mina Cabiles represented the mayor during the tribal games. Also present were newly appointed Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) city councilor Carlos Salvador, and Barangay Sapangbato kagawad Jun Jun Tolentino.
The winners for Tribal Archery Category A were Eddie David of Sitio Target (1st place); Aron Sevilla of Sitio Balaraw (2nd place); and Reynald Pamintuan of Sitio Babo (3rd place). Benjie Puno of Sitio Babo took home the first place in the Category B with Narcito David of Sitio Target, and Jerryboy Miranda of Sitio Bliss capturing the second and third places, respectively.
Alex Cosme of Sitio Target threw the farthest in the javelin throw to get the first place in the Category A with Armie Unlad of Sitio Balaraw, and Jessie Laxamana of Sitio Bliss completing the podium.
For Category B, Arot Sevilla of Sitio Target and Sil Boclay of Sitio Bliss finished first and second places, respectively.
Carlito David of Sitio Target got the victory in the blowpipe games beating Jun Tolentino of Sitio Babo (2nd place), and Maru David of Sitio Bliss (3rd place).
The first-place winners received a plaque and P10,000 cash prize each; P5,000 and a plaque for the second placers; and a plaque and P3,000 for the third placers. Angeles CIO
