Dictionary of Essential Biota among Agta of Alabat Island of Quezon Province

The study aimed to look into habitual indigenous language used by the Agta vis-à-vis wildlife with aesthetic value, domestic and medicinal activities; to generate a dictionary of essential biota used by the Agta. This study is participatory action research method which applied both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data primarily comprised of the demographic data from the census of simple demographics of the respondents while the qualitative data focused on defining concepts and social constructs through interview and focused group discussion (FGD).The locale of the study was the Aeta community in Alabat, the first district of Quezon. There were five elderly from the Agta in Alabat Island who acted as participants of this study for they were the ones who still use the indigenous language. Based on the findings, a small number of Ayta speaks an indigenous language called Inayta, younger generations do not use Inayta anymore but understand some words and expressions. Partial traditional aspects of Ayta lives are present, due to their tiring farm-related work as laborer, they even regulated to plant trees that attract animals that are the sought-after sources of subsistence even the useful plants for immediate needs for medicinal use. The recorded information gives us an important lesson vis-à-vis reasoning assets of Aytas younger generation have to be viewed and evaluated taking into consideration their Inayta language parallel to their ecological and cultural contexts that place very different demands on day-to-day life. Moreover, there is sufficient Inayta language knowledge among elders of the community around the Ayta of Alabat on medicinal plant species, domestic value and aesthetic influences to contribute not only to a sustainable provision of floral and faunal species but also a potential to share this knowledge beyond mutual language in the Philippines. Imperative message can be developed by releasing such information from the monopoly of a few to the wider population through an “accelerated” social construction process relative to public awareness campaigns and agendas that will save this dwindling language.