Mt. Pinatubo: A Dilemma Turns to Tourist Attraction

Mt. Pinatubo is located in the boundary of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga where indigenous people, the Aetas, are living in its dense forest before the eruption in 1991. The mountain is considered as dormant and known to be as geothermal site before the eruption. The word Pinatubo is came from “Tagalog” and “ Zambal” word which means “made to grow” which may suggest a knowledge of its previous eruption in about 1500 AD.

The volcanic eruption in 1991 is the largest terrestrial eruption in 20^th century after the eruption of Mt. Kaimai in Alaska in 1912. It released 10 to 100 km³ of materials, 6 to 16 km³ of ash and 20 million tons of SO₂ . The aerosol formed a layer of sulphuric acid haze that makes global temperature dropped by 0.5ºC. The Mt. Pinatubo eruption resulted in severe damage in nearby area in Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga due pyroclastic flows and ash deposits. And later during the rainy season, a devastating lahar flows along the rivers that destroy many properties in nearby communities.

After the eruption in 1991 a large caldera is formed and filled with rains and now become a good tourist attraction because of its beautiful geographic formations going and inside the lake. An estimated of 4 to 5 hours travel from local tourism office in Bgy. Sta. Juliana in Capaz, Tarlac is needed and you will see the beauty of lake not thinking anymore the damage it brought in the past. Along the mountain hiking, several small streams, river, rocky roads, bumpy and dusty terrain are encountered before you reach the crater. On the lake, you can swim, make boating and picnic - a truly adventure experienced for each tourist who visit Mt. Pinatubo.

Aerial View from Google Earth

Aerial View from Google Earth

Image via Wikipedia

Mt. Pinatubo before eruption in 1991

Source from Wikipedia
Ash Plume during eruption

Image by schmeebis via Flickr

boating in Mt. Pinatubo lake

cliff going down the lake

rock and deposit formations

beautiful entrance in Mt. Pnatubo Lake

Sulphur Stream

Aeta: Indigenous People of Northern Philippines

The Aeta’s are thought to be earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations. They are one of the indigenous people in Luzon parts of the Philippines. They are classified as Negritos, having dark skin, curly to kinky afro-like textured hair, small nose and dark brown eyes. They are thought to be the descendants of original inhabitants of the Philippines which arrived through land bridges that linked the country with Asian mainland about 30,000 years ago.

Aeta’s have very low life expectancy ranging in just 16.5 years - this is one of the reasons why their population is decreasing with time. Their language is already influenced by Austronesian Filipino neighbors. Some of them were able to speak Tagalog, Sambal, Kapampangan and English especially those who attend formal school. Some believe they are monotheism believing in “Apo Na” as their God especially those within Mt. Pinatubo. Some are also animists who believe in environmental spirits such as anito and kamana. Today some Aeta’s were already Christian after some visits of foreign missionaries in their locations.

Male Aeta are born hunters while women are skillful in weaving winnows and mats. Their traditional visual art is body scarification and their traditional clothing are loin cloths and bark cloth for male and female respectively. Nowadays, they were influenced by Austronesian Filipino people to wear casual clothing like T-shirts, pants and sandals.