ARNEL Pineda has taken on a far bigger role on top of being the lead vocalist of the American rock band Journey. The singer-songwriter’s latest passion: Peacemaking.

“I introduced myself as one of their biggest supporters in bringing about peace,” said Pineda, the United Nations’ newest ambassador of peace, referring to his encounter with “bakwit children” or young people who fled the war in Mindanao and forced to live in an evacuation center in Sarangani.

“I’m amazed that they were able to survive the hostilities. We shouldn’t expect that peace is easy to come by in Mindanao or in other parts of the Philippines. Alongside this, land and livelihood should be provided to our Muslim and Christian brothers and sisters. I’ll do my bit in helping end the violence there,” he said in a recent visit to the Clark Freeport.

Pineda has been sharing the message of unity in this new journey.

“No one is big or small. We are all significant. Let’s join hands so we can attain peace and progress,” he said.

Taking on the peace cause is Pineda’s way of “being Filipino” as he shines in the international music scene.

“Mapagmahal at mabuting Pilipino [Affectionate and a good Filipino]” was how Charito Planas, executive director of the Nayong Pilipino, introduced Pineda to the Aeta people who gathered during the launch of the Aeta Village at the park’s extension in Clark.

Hard times

Born to Kapampangan parents in Sampaloc, Manila, Pineda worked on the streets at a young age after his mother’s death and the family was mired in debt. He sold scrap bottles and metals, and later cleaned ships docked at a pier in Manila.

In those hard times, he kept his optimism high until he found his break in local music circles.

“I’m proud to be a Filipino and I encourage you to be proud of our being Filipino,” Pineda, 41, told the young Aeta people from Barangay (village) Sapang Bato in Angeles City.

For Pineda and other guests, members of the tribe performed the duroro (prayer hymns to Apo Namalyari, the deity of Mount Pinatubo), matubag (war dance) and atang (offering).

Pineda lit the bonfire that signaled the community dancing. He sang two songs for them as gratitude, wishing he could learn their tribal music soon.

“I’m very grateful to them. Kung hindi sa kanila, hindi mayaman ang kultura ng Pilipinas [If not for them, our culture would not be rich],” he said.

Aside from living traditions, the village features Aeta survival skills in hunting, mountain living and fire making.

The people not only built four houses there on funds provided by the provincial government. They also planted vegetables in every available space.

The Aeta Village occupies a northern corner in the 3.5-hectare park that showcases pre-colonial and colonial times in the country’s history. Its addition completes the pre-colonial section.

It also features replicas of the Ifugao rice terraces, Kalinga houses and Maranao Torogan homes.

No dole-outs, please

Wyda Cosme, the first Aeta law graduate, said people helping the tribe survive should avoid giving dole-outs. “The help we need are the kind that will enable us to stand on our own feet,” Cosme said. “Farming assistance is one of them.”

Conching Pamintuan, who, at 65, still tills the land, said Aeta culture is tied to the people’s farming activities.

“Pinatubo’s eruptions [in 1991] destroyed our forests and the rivers but we returned to our villages to farm again to teach our grandchildren to love our land and our culture,” Pamintuan said.