23 December 2007 to 20 July 2008
Sitio Sta. Rosa, BambanPan Paruman (Roman Sanches) is already 91 years old. An old guerrilla warrior belonging to Squadron 30, Bruce Guerilla (South Tarlac Military District), he cherish the ancestral land that
occupies most of the Aeta domain in Sitio Sta. Rosa. This upland areas of Bamban covering more than 10,000 hectares has been granted by the Government as ancestral domain with the issuance of CADC 107 sometime in 1997. What makes this particular land of Pan Paruman different from other Aeta domain in Bamban? It is here where you can still find local aquatic turtles, snakes, and other wildlife specie like monitor lizards. And there is a reason for other Aetas and "unats" to fear should they threaten to hunt and get "barag", turtles, even wild chickens.
The area is the site of Tiayag, a protruding cliff-like hill which dominates the lower, north-west portion of Sta. Rosa where the Marimla River traverse. The sound of the gushing waters of Marimla with hundreds of rocks on the riverbanks is there to appreciate what a beautiful landscape is Tiayag. Pan Paruman has its shed built on the dominating riverbank where you can see the Marimla snaking on circuitous routes on the enchanted Tiayag. Historically, the site was an escape route of the Aeta Squadron 30 along with other Bruce Guerrilla units such as the Bamban Battalion.
Pan Paruman has been a long friend of the Bamban Jaycees/BHS members. Having known the old warrior for sometime, he gave his vision of a wildlife sanctuary where young generation of Bamban can see the wildlife of Tiayag, like the aquatic turtles gently display themselves on the banks of Marimla and Tiayag Creek. The idea is worth an endeavor for the Bamban Kayabe. On December 23, 2007, a Committee for the particular project was created and tasked to do the job of creating a sanctuary for the wildlife of Tiayag, Sitio Sta. Rosa. Jose Marie Sibal, or Joy as we call him, was chosen as the Committee Chairman. Joy has the blood of the Aeta running in his veins. His mother, Carmelita Gutierrez, is the daughter of Marcelo (Apung Selu) Guiterrez originally from Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac. Her father who worked before as the Municipal Planning and Development officer in Bamban, belonged to the Aberling Tribe; a mix Aeta and Zambal. Pan Paruman conducted a ritual to appeas the Deity living in the area. The cliff-like hill of Tiayag, according to him, is where the spirit of "Tiayag" lives, looking after any human who hunt or get turtles, "barag", or any wildlife animals living in the area. For such violation, sickness, or even death, can come to the person.
Survey of the land as designated by Pan Paruman has been conducted for several occassions. It is situated on a small plateau near the riverbanks of the Marimla, about 200 meters away his shed. However, turtles hibernate on hot climate days of March through May. His sons helped the team to evaluate and made assesment as to the population density of the turtles. This is very important since non-Aetas, particularly the Kapampangans living in the vicinity of the Aeta domain considered turtles as delicacies. Streamers were put on the village of Sta. Rosa for the preservation of such wildlife in the area.
Rainy season came in full bloom in the month of June. Waters from the numerous small creeks came cascading down from the Tiayag Hill and nearby ridges of Mabilog. By July, turtles can already bee seen "sun-bathing" on the edges of the riverbanks. Plans were made to set-up a screen premises where you can put several turtles which is near the small creeks. Several visits were made by the Team. On July 20, four such premises were established on the designated sites as given by Pan Paruman. About 13 members of the Bamban Kayabe/BHS with five of Pan Paruman's grandsons participated in collecting turtles and putting them in the premises. It is a small work for the preservation of wildlife, but a giant achievement for the ecology and distinct environment of the Aetas, for the generation of Bambanense and Aetas to see the spectacular wildlife at Taiyag.
Rhonie Dela Cruz
With Pan Paruman and his Aeta Tribe
occupies most of the Aeta domain in Sitio Sta. Rosa. This upland areas of Bamban covering more than 10,000 hectares has been granted by the Government as ancestral domain with the issuance of CADC 107 sometime in 1997. What makes this particular land of Pan Paruman different from other Aeta domain in Bamban? It is here where you can still find local aquatic turtles, snakes, and other wildlife specie like monitor lizards. And there is a reason for other Aetas and "unats" to fear should they threaten to hunt and get "barag", turtles, even wild chickens.
The area is the site of Tiayag, a protruding cliff-like hill which dominates the lower, north-west portion of Sta. Rosa where the Marimla River traverse. The sound of the gushing waters of Marimla with hundreds of rocks on the riverbanks is there to appreciate what a beautiful landscape is Tiayag. Pan Paruman has its shed built on the dominating riverbank where you can see the Marimla snaking on circuitous routes on the enchanted Tiayag. Historically, the site was an escape route of the Aeta Squadron 30 along with other Bruce Guerrilla units such as the Bamban Battalion.
Pan Paruman has been a long friend of the Bamban Jaycees/BHS members. Having known the old warrior for sometime, he gave his vision of a wildlife sanctuary where young generation of Bamban can see the wildlife of Tiayag, like the aquatic turtles gently display themselves on the banks of Marimla and Tiayag Creek. The idea is worth an endeavor for the Bamban Kayabe. On December 23, 2007, a Committee for the particular project was created and tasked to do the job of creating a sanctuary for the wildlife of Tiayag, Sitio Sta. Rosa. Jose Marie Sibal, or Joy as we call him, was chosen as the Committee Chairman. Joy has the blood of the Aeta running in his veins. His mother, Carmelita Gutierrez, is the daughter of Marcelo (Apung Selu) Guiterrez originally from Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac. Her father who worked before as the Municipal Planning and Development officer in Bamban, belonged to the Aberling Tribe; a mix Aeta and Zambal. Pan Paruman conducted a ritual to appeas the Deity living in the area. The cliff-like hill of Tiayag, according to him, is where the spirit of "Tiayag" lives, looking after any human who hunt or get turtles, "barag", or any wildlife animals living in the area. For such violation, sickness, or even death, can come to the person.
Survey of the land as designated by Pan Paruman has been conducted for several occassions. It is situated on a small plateau near the riverbanks of the Marimla, about 200 meters away his shed. However, turtles hibernate on hot climate days of March through May. His sons helped the team to evaluate and made assesment as to the population density of the turtles. This is very important since non-Aetas, particularly the Kapampangans living in the vicinity of the Aeta domain considered turtles as delicacies. Streamers were put on the village of Sta. Rosa for the preservation of such wildlife in the area.
Rainy season came in full bloom in the month of June. Waters from the numerous small creeks came cascading down from the Tiayag Hill and nearby ridges of Mabilog. By July, turtles can already bee seen "sun-bathing" on the edges of the riverbanks. Plans were made to set-up a screen premises where you can put several turtles which is near the small creeks. Several visits were made by the Team. On July 20, four such premises were established on the designated sites as given by Pan Paruman. About 13 members of the Bamban Kayabe/BHS with five of Pan Paruman's grandsons participated in collecting turtles and putting them in the premises. It is a small work for the preservation of wildlife, but a giant achievement for the ecology and distinct environment of the Aetas, for the generation of Bambanense and Aetas to see the spectacular wildlife at Taiyag.
Rhonie Dela Cruz
With Pan Paruman and his Aeta Tribe
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