“Meron Ng Signal Sa Bundok!” Impact of Modernization brought about by Information Technology (IT) and IT-Related Technologies to the Aeta Youth in Brgy. Camias, Porac, Pampanga.

Abstract

Three factors affect modernization: technological progress, economic modernization, and globalization. Studies about the impact to the youth in urban setting on modernization brought about by IT and IT-related technologies have been conducted, but only few are done on the Indigenous People (IP) or people from the rural areas. The researcher thus find it significant to focus on the impact brought about by the technological progress in Information Technology (IT) and IT-related technology among the Aeta youth. Originally. the Aetas were not familiar with IT and IT-related technologies until the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption in 1991. Because of this incident, most of the Aetas were relocated in different parts of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga. On the other hand, some were not affected by the said eruption like the Aetas in Barangay Camias. However, they were still affected by the changes that happened with most of the Aeta community, specifically the introduction of IT and IT-related technologies. As these technologies were slowly becoming part of their everyday life, the study aimed (1) to determine the impact of IT and IT-related technologies to the modernization of the Aetas’ customary practices: (2) to know the effect of IT and IT-related technologies on the Aeta youth's sense of identity as an Aeta; and, (3) to determine the changes of lifestyle in the community. Furthermore, the study provided a list of the community’s ritual for future use of the concerned individual that can help the community in obtaining their goal: to publish their history. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used for this study. For the qualitative research method, the researcher conducted a key informant interview to the elders of the community to serve as the baseline of the study and to validate the questionnaire that will be given to the Aeta youth. For the quantitative method, the researcher gave a selfadministered survey and an assisted self-administered survey to the Aeta youth. Quantitative analysis of the survey made use of descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages. Results of the study showed that the customary practices of Aeta youth of the previous generation were different from the current generation. Likewise, because IT and ITrelated technologies were part of their community, it affected their lifestyle in terms of their actions, clothing-preferences, manner of speech, attitude, and aspiration in life. However, the Aeta youth’s sense of cultural identity has not changed as they still participate during their rituals, with the elders still see the “Aeta identity” among the youth. Furthermore, some of the youth wanted to have formal education to contribute for the preservation of their culture and for the betterment of their community. The researcher recommends communicating with the properauthorities to formalize the research process and for the safety of future researchers. Increase in the number of respondents both in the qualitative and quantitative methods were also suggested so that the population can be more represented, making the study more generalized to the Aeta community. Lastly, the researcher proposes that the Aeta youth in particular and the Aeta community in general make use of the advantages of modernization brought about by the IT and IT-related technologies for the betterment of the community.