A Technical Report: Documentation of Philippine traditional knowledge and practices on health and development of traditional knowledge digital library on health: the Ayta community of Alabat Island, Quezon
Research was conducted among the Alabat Ayta people in Alabat island, Quezon. The island consists of 3 towns (Perez, Alabat, and Quezon). It may be reached from the main island of Luzon through boat from Atimonan, Quezon. It is about 1 hour by fast craft from the port of Atimonan to the port of Alabat. There are other ports in the island – in Perez and in Quezon town.
The Alabat Ayta people are found in the following communities:
In Alabat town:
The people may also be found in other villages in Alabat island especially when there is available means of livelihood. Some families are currently settled in Barangay Pinagtubigan Este (Perez town).
The Ayta settle in the foot of Mt Mabilog and Mt Kamagong. Mt Mabilog is a protected area and is considered the watershed. The Ayta may cross the mountain from Barangay Bacong to meet their relatives and friends in Barangay Villa Norte, and vice versa.
The Alabat Ayta people
The Alabat Ayta people trace their immediate roots to the Aytas in Lopez, Quezon, particularly in Barangay Villa Espina. Barangay Villa Espina is considered the center of the Ayta culture in Bondoc peninsula (current chieftain is Ros Datario). It is said that the same language is spoken in Guinayangan, Quezon and in Labo and Sta Elena in Camarines Norte.
According to the old people in Alabat town, the Ayta first came to the island during the second world war. The Ayta come and go, depending on the livelihood. Some families decided to stay, such as those of the chieftain’s.
The Alabat Ayta is differentiated linguistically from the Tayabas Ayta (whose language is now extinct) and the Katabaga/Katabagan in Mulanay and other parts of the Bondoc peninsula in Quezon. Cabihog is an alternative term used for Ayta in Camarines Norte.
The Ayta Alabat people consider Mt Kamagong and Mount Mabilog as sources of their medicinal plants as well as sources of food and livelihood. Presently majority of the people derive their livelihood from sources outside of the 2 mountain systems, ie, they work as agricultural workers, construction workers, and household helpers.
The number of Ayta in the island varies with the season of livelihood. As of 2016 February, according to the chieftain, the number of families in the island are as follows:
The chieftain can recall only 8 speakers of Ayta or Inayta in Alabat. She related that similar language is spoken in Lopez, Quezon (mostly in Bgy Villa Espina), and in Sta Elena and Labo in Camarines Norte.
The research was able to document the use of 143 plants (See Table) and one mineral (apog used in betel chewing) as medicinal. No animal or animal part was reported to be used as medicinal by the informants.