Zambales Aeta youths get boost

BOTOLAN, Zambales — A total of 370 youths from the Aeta community here recently received their Christmas gifts from the Philippine Army and a non-governmental organization in Barangay Mambog here.

3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion acting commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Jeszer Bautista revealed that the 370 Aeta youths are from the Bihawo Elementary School in Sitio Bihawo.

The gifts given to the beneficiaries include school supplies, vitamins and various toys from the NGO Doraymond the Adventure.

This is the second time that the NGO has provided assistance to the indigents of Zambales. On 27 November, the organization has already doled out Christmas gifts to 156 Aeta students of the Asian Development Bank Spouses Association Aeta Elementary School.

The school is located at Sitio Banag, Barangay Palanginan, Iba, Zambales, and is headed by Madelo Regodon.

The beneficiaries, along with their teachers, expressed their gratitude to the Philippine Army and the Doraymond the Adventure organization for the early Christmas gift. The said area is part of the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area of Zambales.

Bautista also expressed his gratitude to the NGO for the early Christmas gift, citing that with the help of NGO's, the whole of nation approach to suppress local insurgencies will be achieved without bloodshed.