PROFILE: BRGY.

INARARO, PORAC, PAMPANGA

History
Nobody could exactly relate how the barrio acquired its
present name. But in the local dialect, the word “Inararo” means
“cultivated place.”*
It was according to local history the name given by a lowlander,
as reference to the place,who was then visiting the place during
planting season.
After the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption, Brgy. Inararo was one of
the barangays of Porac, which was completely buried by ash fall and
later on lahar flows.

Location, Area, and Population

The barrio is located on the northern portion of Porac along the
Zambales ridge toward Pinatubo. Before the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo
eruption, it consisted of 67 houses clustered into five in a group on a
level portion of a reservation area of about 1,700 hectares. It has a
total population of 284 inhabitants in 1980 and 434 in the year 2000
or around 101 households.*
Today, only about 25 families have returned to the old
community, with about 180 households still living at the
resettlement area at Brgy. Villa Maria, Porac, Pampanga. The total
population is 735, which includes 59 senior citizens and 368
children.

Education
The InararoAetas acquired their early education through
customs and traditions passed on through generations. As of the
1990 census of DepEd, the Inararo Primary School has a total
enrollment of 16 students managed by a lone teacher.*
The school was submerged by ashfall and lahar during the
eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
Today, the Inararo Aetas are enrolled at the nearly Villa Maria
Elementary School and Villa Maria Integrated High School. Most of
their children then pursue college education at Mary the Queen
College (Guagua) and Don Honorio Ventura State University (Porac).

Religion
During the time of Msgr. Felipe Pangilinan, the Catholic religion
was introduced to them. Their belief in the spirits called anitos is
considered as their way of respect to their dead ancestors.*
 Today, there are several ecumenical churches at Inararo
resettlement site.

Livelihood
They are engaged in various agricultural activities. In addition,
they hunt on wild animals, catch frogs and snakes. They work as
guide and demonstrators to pilots and air-crew members of the USAF
stationed at Clark Air Base in nearby Angeles and Mabalacat
undergoing survival training in the mountains. They also work as
security guards, laborers, besides gathering salvaged materials,
entertainers and makers of various handicrafts.*

Solid Waste Disposal

The prevailing practice on waste disposal on the upland
communities is dumping of waste in the backyard. Proper and
hygienic human waste disposal practices are observed with the use
of water closet, however, closed/open pit still significantly
practiced.*
At the resettlement site, this description might be true. But not
at the old community, where there are no sanitary toilet available.
Open defecation is “normal” practice.

Access to Health Services

The Rural Health Center of Porac and other NGO’s conduct
medical missions, orientations about proper health care and sanitary
measures. At present, IP’s suffer malnutrition, pulmonary problems,
and sometimes fever and flu. The Aetas cure their health problems
through traditional medicine.*

Access to Potable Water

At the resettlement site, most of the residents fetch their water
from deep well and spring.
At the old community, with the installation of ram pump, they
can now access potable water a few meters away from their
households.

*data/information from Municipality of Porac