With their communities located directly east of the Philippines Capital of Manila, the Remontado Agta reside in the same cluster of land along the Philippines' Luzon Island within the Quezon Province. The Remontado Agta are known by a variety of alternative names, despite the declining limited population numbers of this Tribal Filipino group. As Remontado translates as "From the Sea" and Agta translates as "Human," this people group lives both on the coast and in the highlands within this central grouping of islands. Along with other related Dumagat people groups, the Remontado Agta take pride in the reality that they escaped Spanish imperialism earlier in history. Within their communities primarily separate from Filipino modernization, this people group maintain a strong egalitarian society, benefiting from the leadership administrated by revered and experienced elders.
The Remontado Agta people group speak Dumagat, Remontado and Agta, along with a combination of other dialects. This people group members are known to be fluent in Tagalog. However, with the exception of Tagalog, each of the present-day dialect languages spoken by the Remontado Agta are classified as being severely endangered, with limited adults passing down these languages to children. Select schools teach Dumagat, but the number of active speakers is not steadily increasing, especially the popularity of both Tagalog and now English, both official languages spoken in the Philippines. The Remontado Agta people group continue their longevity by hunting, fishing, farming, and preserving forest gathering with semi-nomadic lifestyles. Music held at their tribal feasts, gatherings, and ceremonies is highly valued. The Remontado Agta utilize story-telling to remain connected with their ancestors and breathe new life into the traditional practices still valued.
The Remontado Agta traditionally followed animism. This people group specialized their idol worship upon the forests of their residence, the rivers that flow through their villages, and other inanimate objects surrounding them, all with specialized traditional rituals. One such ritual expected living Remontado Agta to sing over their recently dead members to ensure their safe voyage into the afterlife, with nine days of corporate singing for each of the deceased. With those practicing animism, some of the Remontado Agta still participate in wakes and burials where they reflectively consider the changes of how their ancestors now pass from this existence.
Despite this people group's high reverence of beliefs, God is working among this people group, as Remontado Agta are consistently and enthusiastically choose to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord. Roman Catholicism has become the most popular Christian denomination among the Remontado Agata, as well as a trend of this people group choosing to follow various Protestant denominations.
The Remontado Agta's livelihood is impacted by the current modernization efforts within the Philippines. With land rights and cultural preservation at risk, the tribe retains their rights to resist the active development of the Kaliwa Dam in the Quezon Province. Such urban modernization would interfere with the tribal and sacred lands belonging to and valuing the history of the Remontado Agta people group. On the same forefront, the Remontado Agta are suffering the present-day losses with urbanized effort to log, mine, and destroy agriculture that this people group need to preserve in order to survive as well as remain on their lands. With a lack of transparent advocacy and even some members maintaining an active aversion to further modernization efforts, the Remontado Agta tribes thus lack access to the resources that belong to them on their own land, thereby leading them towards poverty both economically and holistically.
Pray that God continuously protects the homes and historical lands belonging to all Remontado Agta tribe members, despite the active construction efforts that will eventually force the Remontado Agta to relocate from their beloved lands.
Partner with God in intercession for Remontado Agta Christians to always flourish in faith maturity and guiding inspiration, so they can continue to be salt and light to their nonbelieving community members.
Request for God to work throughout the Remontado Agta Christian church populations as they continue sharing the gospel faithfully as God calls them to gather corporately.
Ask God to inspire all Remontado Agta Christians to instruct the younger generations of believers, constructing a reciprocal discipleship model that brings more people to know and accept Jesus, both among the Remontado Agta as well as the greater Dumagat population of the Philippines.
Scripture Prayers for the Agta, Remontado in Philippines.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
