Australian-Filipino Youth Engage Aeta Communities Through CFO YouLeaD Program

Australian-Filipino youth participating in the 2026 Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD) program have taken part in a cultural immersion with Aeta communities in Zambales to strengthen their connection with the Philippines.

The immersion was organized by the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) and involved delegates from the Australian Filipino Community Services. The initiative aims to expose Filipino youth abroad to the country’s Indigenous cultures and local realities.

The first leg of the visit took place in Subic, Zambales, where the delegates joined a forest immersion and cultural exchange with the Tingtingin Aeta community under the guidance of community leader Nanay Erlinda.

The group later traveled to the Yangil Aeta community in San Felipe, located along the slopes of Mt. Pimmayong. With the help of local guides, they trekked through forest paths and river crossings to reach the ancestral community.

During the visit, participants learned about environmental issues in the area and a community-led biocharcoal project using cogon grass. They also joined seed-potting activities aimed at supporting reforestation efforts.

The cultural exchange featured local food, traditional games, archery lessons, and Aeta dances, giving the delegates a firsthand experience of Indigenous customs and daily life.

According to the CFO, the YouLeaD program is designed to help second-generation Filipinos abroad build lasting ties with the country by promoting cultural understanding, civic responsibility, and active participation in national development.