Photos

The nomadic Aetas or Negritos are the indigenous people of many parts of the Philippines including Aklan province on Panay Island. Like many other indigenous people, they have been marginalized and displaced from their ancestral domains. This was taken, ironically, in the Ati-atihan (Aeta-like) festival in Aklan province that pays tribute to the Aeta during which people dress up like the Aeta - a time of merriment, dancing in the streets, drumming and drinking. But this real Aeta was roaming the festival begging for money, usually to buy alcohol. But things are changing. Indigenous people of the Philippines are now claiming rights to their ancestral domains and laws (Indigenous Peoples Rights Acts of 1997) are behind them.