Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Pamulaklakin Forest Trail











The Pamulaklakin Forest Trail is in the Subic Bay Freeport area. It cannot be accessed by jeepney or public tricycles. This is an ecological area that has been preserved by the indigeneous Aetis Tribe.  The Aetis have a village on the land and they live there with their families in much the same manner as their ancestors.  Hunting wild boar and plant gathering are a part of their daily lives.  We did not trek up to the Pastolan Aeta Village but you can book a tour and take the two hour hike (each way). The tribe suppliments their life style by allowing tourists on their land in guided tours.  These tours are educational and interesting.  The tour that I took focused on medicinal plants and the materials needed to build huts and living quarters.  After hiking for a couple of hours, we settled into an outdoor cabana and watched while Mang Casey, an Aetis elder, showed us how to make eating and cooking utensils from bamboo.  Mang has let jungle survival courses on the land.  The participants are not allowed to take food or water into the jungle but instead are trained to live off the land.  US military forces have trained at this site in the past.  If you come to the Zambales area, I highly recommend this trek.

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