Earth Vagabonds Ati projects for Kurong Village
- Drinking water
- Electricity
- Henhouse to provide/sell eggs
- Gardens to grow food
- Fruit trees for food and landslide prevention
- Fishing boats and gear
- Footbridge for easier village access
- Community center rebuilt typhoon shelter
- Hoop, swings, sunset seating
- *Salaries paid to Ati for all projects
- *All projects are finished except for fishing
We met the indigenous Ati people in Malay, Aklan, Philippines by chance, luck, fate — whatever you want to call it — at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.
Where did we get all this money to help these people? Generous overseas donors.
Here are some photos of our work with the Ati. Each blog has images of specific projects.
Here are all blog posts we’ve written involving our Ati friends. The most recent entries are at the top.
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2021: A final roundup from the Philippines
What a year!
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Seasonal celebrations, a full social calendar, another special year
Theo’s third Christmas and New Year in the Philippines.
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Travel lifestyle interrupted; God’s will confounds
A week of ups and downs.
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Extraordinary Ati weaving projects underway
See what our Ati friends can make with these tools!
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Fishing nets for our Ati friends
Another self-sustaining effort
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The good, the bad, and the ugly
Updates from Malay, Aklan, Philippines.
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I said ‘No’ to the Ati
Theo didn’t like this request.
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Ati fishing refurbish report
Another Ati refresh moves forward.
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Growing greens update
Pandemic farming with the indigenous Ati tribe.
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Pump panic in Ati Kurong Village
Juli saves the day & Theo gets emotional.
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Ati village now features hoop, swings, sunset seating
A sense of pride, community, and fun in Kurong Village.
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Smoke on the Water, Stairway to Heaven, & Thunderstruck
Rockin’ out more Ati improvements.
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Art, homes, lives; duality and unity
A crazy artist, poor Ati, homeless refugees and me — we are all the same.
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Theo channels his inner gamer in Philippine FarmVille
Flashback to the Facebook game.
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Water slide, water work, water help for Filipinos
A slip-‘n-slide, an overflow, a hydraulic consultation.
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Sprouting seeds, growing hope with our Ati friends
Back to basics for food security.
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Ati tree tale trilogy
Part 3 of planting fruit trees with our indigenous Ati friends.
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Big tree brigade to Kurong Village
Ati children get involved in this sustainability project.
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A truck full of trees for the Ati
Gifts that will bear fruit.
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Concrete progress in Kurong Village
Our Ati friends are grateful for ongoing help!
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Victory gardens for Ati tribe & Filipino friends
Planting plan to help sustain people.
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Monsoon showers, more spigots, & customer service
Ati project update in rainy season.
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Next project with Ati tribe: Roof repair
Tedly’s crew is back in action.
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The $7 electric bill
Pump talk with Tedly.
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Real talk update on Independence Day
Virus, vaccinations, variants, vacations.
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Home, helping, and happy anniversary
Has Theo lost his wanderlust?
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Amazing Ati bridge engineering. You gotta see this.
Theo has been busy with more than just the water pump project.
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Ati water pump project is HUGE success!
Drink freely, Ati friends!
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COVID death on Boracay, community pantry controversy
As Boracay sits empty without tourists, some Filipinos are simply desperate.
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Updates from pandemic paradise in the Philippines
Beach walks, movies, eyeglasses, Ati, and more.
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Early Christmas for Ati children in Malay, Philippines
Something for everyone.
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Updates: QR codes, Santa, Ati, life in the Philippines during a pandemic
Keepin’ the party goin’.
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Thanksgiving dinner and holiday shopping trip
Theo kicks off the American holiday season – in the Philippines.
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Theo studies hydraulic engineering (really!)
He could use a little extra help.
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Ati tribe in upper village has power in Malay, Aklan!
The most inspiring story you’ll read all week.
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Typhoon approaches, Mom Diane’s plans, Ati power
Hoping for the best on all fronts.
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Power progress for Ati tribe in Malay, Philippines
Theo is exuberant over what he witnessed.
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Malay resident cards, getting comfortable, Ati update
No vagabonding for now — we are settling in.
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Poles prove power project progress for Ati tribe
Electricity is coming to indigenous Ati homes.
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Weekend update from paradise: tourists, dentist, party
Boracay beach visit extended.
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Christmas season in the Philippines starts in September
Tedly is Santa’s helper.
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Egg economics: Sobering summary of Ati project
Costs, profit breakdown.
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Fresh egg competition for indigenous Ati
Free markets are alive and well on Panay Island.
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The news never stops – even on bed rest!
Ati eggs, new American neighbor, fish scores, back to Boracay & bed rest.
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The other Ati project: drinking water improvements
Where there is a will, there is a way.
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Measurements for electricity to upper Ati village in mainland Malay
Tedly is up for the challenge.
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Days of relaxation and rain — and anxiety
Beaches and chickens and letting go.
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Without electricity yet, Ati solar light works for now
Let there be light, for more eggs and income.
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Ati chicken update: 1 death, many eggs
A little bad news, a lot of great news.
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Great news: Ati eggs for sale!
We have eggs. Lots of eggs — already!
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Chicken soup for the soul, Ati style
If it’s God’s will, there is a way through.
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Ati Chicken delivery on God’s time, not ours
There’s been a slight delay.
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Jackpot in Kalibo: helpful stores for foreign visitors
From giant stores to micro businesses.
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Indigenous Ati to get electricity in upper village
Now we wait for the electric company.
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Ati project & pandemic stress reliever
Ellen sees Tedly needs a break.
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Pride over Ati work on sustainability projects
Hard-working Ati are fast learners.
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Supply shortages hit Malay, Aklan
New challenges to overcome.
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$7 new customer fee for electricity to Ati village causes angst
A kind offer turns angst into jubilation.
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2 steps forward, 1 step — sideways
Obstacles can be overcome with consistent effort.
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Progress, predators, power on ‘Ati mountain’
The chickens are coming soon, and other projects have started.
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Sore feet, beer & boats, haircuts at home
Tedly ‘works’ hard in early retirement, so he put his sore feet up this weekend.
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Supply shopping with Ati – a Philippine indigenous tribe
Tedly, the Ati chief and Ati secretary take many trips to town.
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Chicken order for Ati henhouse & some travel news
Egg-laying hens will be delivered.
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Pandemic walks with Ati soothe soul, seem surreal
Tedly goes back to an earlier time and easier way of life.
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Earth Vagabonds expense report for June 2020
We’ve never ‘given away’ so much money.
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Help with medical bills for Ati; Tedly grateful for good health
Some people needed urgent medical care.
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Pandemic in paradise; Tedly’s birthday; Ati & virus updates
A peaceful day in a turbulent world.
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Chicken shopping for Ati henhouse on mainland Malay
Chicken shopping. For an indigenous tribe. In a pandemic. True story.
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Ati payday for hard work, and a personal note
Ati chicken coop tour; breast cancer diagnosis anniversary.
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Ati hen house project: Slow, steady progress
One stick at a time, by hand, to rebuild a chicken coop.
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Sincere Thank You for the Ati donations!
Your generous donations really will make a difference!
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Ati donations will go a long way in Malay, Philippines
You asked how to donate. Here’s how.
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Payday for hard-working Ati people in Malay
A rewarding pandemic experience.
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Carrying cinder blocks up mountainside with indigenous Ati tribe
A weighted hike to help our fellows.
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Building a chicken coop with the Ati people
Working for a sustainable future.
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Ati community projects will improve lives
Working to bring electricity to the Ati tribe.
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Thinking of Ati tribe one rainy night
Dry, fed, internet connected. Luxuries not lost on Tedly.
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Indigenous Ati people in the Philippines
A lucky beach meeting turns into an opportunity to meet and help an indigenous tribe.