Over 350 members from the Aeta community cheered for national athletes at the world-class New Clark City sports complex as they watched the ongoing competitions held here for the 30th South East Asian (SEA) Games.
Most of the families have never witnessed big sports events before, and so watching the games being held in New Clark City is an overwhelming sight for them.
Just like Lily de Guzman, 46, who works as a housekeeper in the said sports complex. Cleaning inside the Athletes’ Village and the Aquatics Center was part of her daily routine before the biennial games started last month. Watching the competitions live along with her family, brought her to tears as this was her first time to witness such a modern facility and cheer for the Philippine team at the same time.
“Kaka-birthday lang nitong bunso ko,” says De Guzman, referring to her 5-year-old daughter Bettany. “Parang regalo ko na ito sa kaniya kahit wala kaming masyadong handa nung birthday niya.”
Before De Guzman was employed in New Clark City, she used to travel three (3) hours from the upland to sell crops. She’s content with her current job in the sports complex as she was able to spend more for the needs of her children’s schooling.
Meanwhile, Arturo Pabustan who works as a security officer in New Clark City is also thankful for the employment opportunity he had in the city.
“Marami sa amin ang natulungan ng New Clark City. Karamihan sa amin na nasa bundok, bumaba dito sa patag at nabigyan ng trabaho dito,” Pabustan said.
On claims that aetas were displaced because of the New Clark City project, construction worker Ernesto De Guzman said that the claims are not true.
“Hindi naman totoo na pinaalis kami sa aming lugar. Maganda naman ang pakikitungo ng BCDA [Bases Conversion and Development Authority] sa amin.”
He added that employment was the top opportunity that the Aeta community received from the New Clark City project.
To date, there are 500 aetas employed in New Clark City. In a previous statement, MTD Clark, Inc. President Engr. Patrick Nicholas David said that the aetas will still be employed even after the SEA Games. MTD Clark, Inc. is BCDA’s joint venture partner for New Clark City Phase 1.
“New Clark City continues to improve lives and create opportunities for all Filipinos. We have done this for our national athletes, and we’re also doing it for our brothers and sisters from the Aeta community,” BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon said.