Grandmaster Jose "Uti" Baet was an accomplished wrestler, studied with Aetas, and taught Grandmaster Felipe "Garimot" Baet (4th generation), who in turn studied with the Mangyans.
An indigenous group of people, the Aetas (also spelled as Ayta/Ita), had lived on the slopes of the volcano and in surrounding areas for several centuries, having fled the lowlands to escape persecution by the Spanish during their conquest of the Philippines which began in 1565.
With more than twenty full-length Filipino dance works – among which are suites from the Cordillera, Bagobo, T'boli, Tausug, Maranao, the Aetas and the Talaandig among others – the ROFG has served to preserve the dance heritage of the Philippines.
Aetas |