DAGUPAN CITY—For these 20 Aeta couples, love was indeed in the air when they exchanged “I dos” in a civil and Christian pre-Valentine’s wedding held in a mountainous area in sito Mabato, barangay Paete, San Narciso, Zambales last Saturday.

House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, who acted as the ninong (godfather) of these katutubos, also known as lumads, told local newsmen here the other day that it was perhaps the first wedding rites held in this relatively new upland settlement.

“I asked them to give their bride a Valentine’s wedding, mag lips to lips naman sila,” de Venecia said. He described them as about four feet tall, kinky haired and dark skinned. Some of the couples had been living in together for many years already.

He gave them as wedding gifts toiletries and wine. He was with San Narciso Mayor William Lim who officiated the wedding and an evangelical preacher, First Lady of Zambales Mrs. Marilyn Magsaysay, Dagupan City broadcaster Joel Balolong of Bombo Radyo and de Venecia’s close aide Nelson Sotto who also acted as the Aetas’ godparents.

“Masarap yong camote nila (Their sweet potatoes tasted good),” de Venecia said.

The Aetas were advised by Neneng Sibug whose husband was the late Congressman Sibug who represented the tribal communities with Ronnie Adamat who also used to be congressman and now a member of Consultative Commission who brought de Venecia there.

“ The Aetas were jubilant. They were so poor,” de Venecia said.

Touched by their pathetic condition, de Venecia promised them livelihood project of hollow blacks plant made of lahar and rattan factory. The Aetas have their bow and arrow and hunt boars and deer for their livelihood.

Their settlement is about 20 kilometers away from the town proper and near Mt. Pinatubo. There are about 50 families living there. He also gave them Philhealth cards so that they can avail of free hospitalization.

De Venecia saw miserably dilapidated their one classroom with no sides for about 46 grade one pupils only with one teacher and he immediately called up Francis Chua, president of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce who promised to construct a two-room school building.

“One hundred times mas masahol pa dito yong classroom nila (Their classroom is 100 times worse than this),” de Venecia said as he pointed to a shanty at the back of his residence in Bonuan Binloc here which is a junkroom.

After the ceremonies, they partook of grilled tilapia, mudfish and pinakbet.

He is optimistic the Aetas will be successful once they already have their livelihood.

De Venecia promised them to return once the classrooms are already finished.

When the speaker went there on board a chopper, they had to make an emergency landing in Clark, Pampanga because a bird was sucked by the chopper’s engine so the chopper was trembling.