Alta, Northern in Philippines

Introduction / History

The Alta peoples live in northern Luzon, the northernmost island in the Philippines. They are subdivided into four subgroups, each having their own language.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Northern Alta people find their food and medicine through hunting, fishing and farming. They grow bananas, camote and coconuts. In wild areas they find honey, ferns and crabs.

One of their main challenges is that their language is not being taught to the younger generation. For that reason, their language is likely to become extinct by the end of the 21st century.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Northern Alta people have their own ethnic religion. Ethnic religions are a broad category of religious beliefs and practices linked with the adherents' ethnicity. Conversion typically equates to cultural assimilation to the ethnic group, so their communities are often hostile towards anyone who turns from their traditional ways. They have a Christian influence, but there is work to do before they have a viable church planting movement.

What Are Their Needs?

The Northern Alta people need someone who cares about them to help them adjust to a rapidly changing world that does not allow for tribal peoples to keep good land.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Northern Alta people will have a spiritual hunger and a thirst for God’s righteousness.

Pray that the Northern Alta leaders will look to Jesus to show them the way to adjust to all the changes around them.

Pray for a disciple making movement among the Northern Alta people in the Philippines.

Text Source:   Joshua Project