The Ati People

The church that we have been working with in Boracay is called "The Church on the Rock" and is led by Pastor Rolando and his wife Teresa.  Boracay literally is a small "rock" in the Philippine sea - a total of 4 square miles in size.  The pastor and his wife have been ministering on Boracay for many years and in the last few years have established over 15 "feeding stations" across the island to serve the women and children whose husbands and fathers are working across the islands.  Each feeding station is visited once or twice per week and often times this is the only full meal that the kids receive.  Recently, on the main island of Panay - a short 10 minute ferry ride from Boracay - they have established 5 feeding stations among the Ati people.  The Ati were the original inhabitants of this area and have been marginalized by the Filipinos much like the aborigines of Australia and are treated as third class citizens.  Their features are different than the typical Filipino in that they have much darker skin and most notably very curly hair.  We spent two days among the Ati providing them with vitamins, food and basic medical care.  To reach the Ati we had to hike into the jungle up a small mountain to arrive at their village that was comprised of about 300 people.  There were about 60 kids at each location ranging in age from new borns to 15 years old.  Upon our arrival the kids would be patiently waiting and once we were all gathered they would recite in unison "Good afternoon visitors!  You are welcome!"  We would then begin with songs leading into a skit or story that would be translated into Tagalog (pronounced Ta Gall Lo).  We would then do some sort of craft, give each child a chewable vitamin and then serve them a hot meal.  During this time they would bring to us those kids who had cuts or bruises that needed tending to.  At one station a man was brought to me that had been in a motorcycle accident three days earlier and was severely cut and scraped and infection had begun to set in.  I tended to his wounds as best I could with our modest medical kit while learning that he was a father of 5 who drove the motor scooter as a form of livelihood.  His motor bike was totaled in the accident (caused by a drunk driver) and his wife did not work.  After consulting with the pastor and his wife we decided to transport him to the hospital and we paid the bill (about $22USD) that would provide him with treatment and antibiotics and then gave him and additional amount of money to provide food for the family for a few days.  There was so much need in all the villages we visited that it was hard not to be overcome by the enormity of it and how little you could really do. The entire experience was really impactful on our whole family - especially the boys who would spend time playing with all the kids, leading them in songs, and just giving them attention.  This is one vacation that we will all remember for a long time.