17/06/2026
4x4 LAHAR GAMERS PRESENTS
“PROJECT PINATUBO”
Who Are the 4x4 Lahar Gamers?
The 4x4 Lahar Gamers is a group composed of Benz, Toldars, Kuya Pita, Kuya Loloy, and Cocoy. They are experienced 4x4 vehicle owners and drivers based in Botolan, Zambales.
They are accredited and hired by the local government unit (LGU) to transport tourists from the town of Botolan to Mount Pinatubo. With their knowledge of the challenging lahar trails and river crossings, they play a vital role in ensuring the safety and accessibility of visitors traveling to one of the Philippines’ most iconic destinations.
Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo is located in Botolan, Zambales. It is an active volcano known for its massive eruption in 1991, which devastated nearby communities and dramatically changed the landscape. Over time, the volcano’s crater transformed into a beautiful lake, making Mount Pinatubo one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
Beyond its tourism value, Mount Pinatubo is also an ancestral domain and home to hundreds of Indigenous Peoples (IPs), particularly the Aeta communities, who have lived in the area for generations.
The Mount Pinatubo area is surrounded by several barangays, including Poonbato, Belbel, Burgos, Villar, Moraza, Cabatuan, Maguisguis, and Malomboy. These barangays are composed of hundreds of sitios, many of which are located in remote and hard-to-reach areas within the mountain’s ancestral domain.
What is Project Pinatubo?
Project Pinatubo is an initiative dedicated to helping Indigenous Peoples (IPs) living in the remote communities surrounding Mount Pinatubo. Our goal is not to assist just one sitio, but to extend support to as many sitios as possible.
Why focus on these communities?
Because they are among the hardest to reach. The roads leading to their villages are extremely challenging—not only rocky but also covered with lahar deposits from past volcanic eruptions. Reaching them often requires crossing 3 to 10 lahar rivers and traveling through scorching terrain. What may seem like a short distance can take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours to travel.
Access to basic services and opportunities is very limited. Many residents rarely leave their communities, and for some, election day is one of the few occasions when they travel down to the town or city.
Despite these challenges, the Indigenous Peoples of Pinatubo remain resilient. They rely on sweet potatoes, taro, and other root crops grown on their farms, which help sustain their families and protect them from hunger.
Together with Bambu Technologies Lakbike Bai laya Through Project Pinatubo, we aim to bring assistance, hope, and opportunities to these underserved communities while recognizing and respecting their strength, culture, and way of life.
Today, our target community is a sitio in the eastern part of Barangay Nacolcol, located approximately two hours from Botolan Town through rough and challenging terrain.
We cannot accomplish this mission alone. We are humbly reaching out for your support through donations of essential items such as canned goods, rice, milk, coffee, hygiene kits, and other basic necessities.
Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a meaningful impact on the lives of the Indigenous Peoples and families living in these remote communities.
Together, let us make a difference and bring hope to those who need it most.
DM us or PINKED GORILLA for donations
and together let's reach the Unreached!😉
