Here’s the situation. You and your friend are nineteen, and you’re helping out three Dutch girls write about the Philippines. They say that they’re interested in the Aetas of Sta. Juliana, Tarlac. Because of difficulties along the way, you were only able to set an appointment on the same day of your departure from Manila. With no prior knowledge of what’s going to happen and no certainty on where you’re going to spend the night, you decide to take the bus, and pray to God that everything will be alright.

The perfect recipe for a smooth sailing trip may not be found in this adventure, but the fruits of spontaneity, a bit of luck and a great amount of help from the people of Sta. Juliana, proved to be worth the unknowns that we signed ourselves for.

It went something like this.

The stars on our first night were amazing. It seemed like the heavens exploded into little twinkling lights that teased your eyes and took your breath away. They danced on top of the nipa roofs like little fireflies. It was as if the vast universe was there in front of you, though you just coulnt’t touch nor reach it. I had never seen so many stars in one place!

That first night, I couldn’t sleep. I would close my eyes, drift off for a while, and would wake up every few minutes or so. In those sleepless moments, I tried figuring out how I came to be there; what circumstances brought me to where I was.

Never in my wildest dream did I imagine riding a 4×4 to an Aeta village, arriving there at dusk and counting on their kind hospitality to let us spend the night. It’s a good thing that Filipinos are famous for being accommodating.

We talked the night away by the fire. The Aetas joked and laughed, although most of the time we couldn’t understand them. I could see that they were both excited and curious by our presence, but more excited, I suppose.

Morning came and I started to miss the fireflies that lit up the sky the night before. The day was cloudy and the sun was not visible. Later on, a jeep came in to pick us up and we had to say goodbye to the village. The conversations and the bonfire from the night before, and some outdoor brushing and other nightly rituals were now just pleasant memories.

As we drove away, I saw the little sitio from afar and it looked beautiful by the mountain. We saw the children wave goodbye to us from the hill. I wasn’t sure when I would see them again, but I am immensely thankful that they let us into their village and somehow, into their lives.

The lahar deserts and some small rivers greeted us as we rode the jeep. We passed by a lake where a man rowing a boat reminded my Atenean colleague, Jem, of Elias, Ibarra’s good friend from Noli Me Tangere. My mind wandered off and began to wonder whether the mountains and the lakes were this beautiful in Rizal’s time. I bet it was even more breathtaking.

Day two of our Aeta adventure has just started. With the help of our guide, we decided that we would be going to the different sitios in Sta. Juliana, by none other than a very special mode of transportation—the carabao-pulled cart!

Our ride awaited us outside the barangay hall. Through mud, sand, water and tall grasses, it pulled us girls while our guide rode on the animal’s back. The ride was funny and bumpy, and interesting and exciting, with the occasional water and mud splashing. Unfortunately for Jem and me, we sat in front of the cart and were sometimes whipped in the face by the carabao’s tail. No hard feelings, though.

We passed through the lahar deserts, through the tall grasses and hills, and trudged on to visit the sitios and its people. I remember this one green passageway—resembling a cove—that opened up to a hill with mountains and mountains of greenery for a view. The ride was amazing and super lekker (enjoyable), as our Dutch friends would say.

The people of the sitios were equally amazing. They are very blessed to live in such a beautiful place. I look at them with admiration and respect for the simple way they live and the things that they do. Maybe someday, I could come back and talk to them some more and understand things better. For now, our small meetings will suffice.

On our way back from the sitios, one of the cart’s tires got flat, so we had to walk three-quarters of the way. From time to time, I would look back and would see the mountains and the lake glistening under the sun. The tall grasses were dancing with the wind and the mountains at our side—both green and rocky—looked majestic! I felt like I was a character in Magic Temple (you may have seen this from childhood) or The Lord of the Rings. This is probably how they traveled before—by foot, under the sun, and amongst great sights. The rivers we passed by would give us a reprieve from all the walking, with the cool water and sand massaging our feet. It was all wonderful.

The trail lasted for about an hour and as we ended the trek, I took one last glimpse. The mountains and the waters were still shinning from the sun. They looked distant, peaceful and beautiful. I couldn’t believe I had walked that far, crossing rivers and hills. I found it hard to comprehend that I had accomplished all those things in a trip quite unplanned and so spontaneous; none of us had ever been to the place and we didn’t know anyone who lived there.

With all the sights and surprises, this adventure with the Dutch exchange students was definitely beyond my borders.

Communication junior, Janna Mae L. Estares along with other Ateneans, assisted a group of Dutch exchange students in writing about the sights and sounds of the Philippine islands. Her Aeta adventure took place last November 3 and 4.