Welcoming us with the vibes of Christmas, the baranggay hall of Baranggay Barangka has one of its famous giant christmas tree already set up in front of the office. However, it is not the only thing that the baranggay has taken pride of. One of the sixteen barangays in Marikina City, Barangka is one of the oldest barangay in the city. In fact, it was the first place in Marikina that has been discovered by the Augustinians. They arrived in the zone named chorrillo (now a street called Chorillo) where they found a small stream. Afterwards, Jesuits came and found the place now called Jesus dela Peña (means Jesus of Rocks). In these places, members of the Society of Jesus established a parish named Mariquina. Moreover, early citizens of Marikina mostly settled in this barangay since it is along the riverbanks where they can get a livelihood. The name "Barangka" came from Spanish word for canyon, "barranca," which means paahon or steep or ravine. 

Paula (left) and Allyssa (right) 

in front of the Barangay Hall of Barangka

(c) Bernadette Sison and Allyssa Laconico

In this barangay, there are seven puroks that comprises it namely: 

1. Ateneo Housing
2. Chorillo
3. Dela Costa Homes (DLCH)
4. Loyola Residence Civic Organization (L.R.C.O.)
5.  Loyola Subdivision
6. Tuazon, and
7.  Urban Bliss (UBB)

These areas has been blessed to be recipients of the numerous social services and programs that the baranggay officials are conducting and implementing with Kapitan Efren "Bulik" Managuit as their spearhead and his seven kagawads in his assistance.

Fortunately, last November 23, 2017, we were lucky enough to hitch an appointment with barangay captain and two of Kagawads in order for us to conduct an interview. When we arrived, we were greeted by the accomodating officials especially the captain. Kapitan Efren or Kapt. Bulik, as many Barangkeños called him, has been the baranggay captain for three terms or roughly ten years. Kgwd. Boyet Mascariña and Kgwd. Ronnie Tiburcio, on the other hand, are both on their second term as kagawad. They have been in service for about six years and still plans to continue serving the residents of Barangka by running as kagawad and captain, respectively, in the upcoming local elections.

Kgwd. Boyet Mascariña (first from the left) and Kgwd. Ronnie Tiburcio (first from the right) spared their time to answer the questions of the students from St. Scholastica's
Academy- Marikina.  (c) Allyssa Laconico

Through the proper guidance and support of the City Council and the City Hall of Marikina City, Barangay Barangka takes its initiative to provide the constituents’ needs through various “barangay-level social services and programs”. Specifically, they aim to serve all people regardless of their background, age, gender, culture, race, religion, status, and most importantly, their problem, crises, and issues. To make it more concrete, these are just some of the most prominent social services they offer:

Arroz Caldo and a juice prepared for the kids
in the community. (c)Jed Gadon

Barangay Barangka aspires to combat the problem of malnourishment within their community. With this, they perform feeding programs frequently, targeting the children in the poor communities who, at the same time, are underweight. This program is usually present in the urban poor community, puroks, and even in public schools.

Barangay Barangka gives due importance to the youth and their capability of bringing a much brighter future for the community. Given this, they design programs for the teenagers to even more hone their intelligence, capabilities, and talents. Specifically, they consistently execute the program called “Youth Task Force” mainly comprised of the Sports enhancement. This sports enhancement program does not simply allow the teens to participate in different sports, but to also develop good characteristics like unity, camaraderie, and productivity. Through this activity, the administration also aims to reduce the possibility of the youth engaging in juvenile crime and negligence.

Members of the Team Barangka: Inter Barangay (c)Rain Escuadro

Part of Barangay Barangka’s effort is to allow their constituent to practice their right to participate and be involved and empowered as individuals. Herewith, street dance is supposedly an annual competition held to encourage the people to show their skills and talents. Surprisingly, this event does not seem to be a competition because winning the trophy and cash price is not what really matters to them, but rather, it is the act of uniting, cooperating, and collaborating to produce a community as one.

Purok Tuazon shows off their admirable moves as they venerate Santo Niño with their Sinulog Dance. (c) Paula Arganda

Considering the geographical location of Barangka, the West Valley Fault is evidently present in the vicinity of their barangay. The administration assures that the people are well-educated of what to do in case of an earthquake. Specifically, they equip the people with knowledge and skills by providing them the necessary information dissemination, symposium, and earthquake drill.

Students of Barangka Elementary School having a drill and practicing evacuation in Loyala Subdivision. (c) Presinto Dos Marikinacps

In collaboration with several higher private and public institutions and departments, Barangay Barangka makes effort to grant the volunteers and rescuers with proper education and training especially in times of accidents, disasters or calamities. Even without an official payment or fee, people still choose to be a volunteer to exercise their right to involvement and participation, as well as to contribute to the overall community effort.

Professionals volunteered to teach the residents of Barangka training and proper education to be used in case of emergency. (c)Google Images

    Targeting the less fortunate sector of Barangay Barangka, the administration also provides financial assistance programs. The barangay officials are the ones who specifically refer these people to higher departments such as DSWD, OSCA, PCSO, and Mayor’s office, which has the budget to use and allocate for their fellow poor constituents. Usually, this financial assistance is used by people in responding to their basic, educational, medical, and even burial needs.

Barangka Credit Cooperative, though an private institution, has been open arms helps the residents of Barangka in their financial problems. (c)Google Images

Barangay Barangka envisions a health and enthusiastic community. In line with this, their administration guarantees to regularly carry out medical missions and assistance to the different people in their barangay. Medical consultations, Eye and ear examinations, X-ray, Ecg. Rbs, and Dental check up are the usual available services offered by the barangay. In addition, they also distribute vitamins and maintenance medicines for the children and the senior citizens, respectively.

Through the Facebook group of Barangka residents, people are more informed of the medical missions to happen in a certain purok. (c) Brgy. Barangka, Marikina Facebook Group

      Though each barangay has a budget allocated to them by the government, sometimes it is not enough to fund all the programs and activities that are being held within the area. Moreover, not only to projects that the money is being used but also the facilities and equipments needed for the daily operation of the barangay. However, despite of the financial problem they have been facing, they are grateful for the public and private institutions that are willing to help them not only through donations but also through assistance in some of the social programs. These institutions are the following:

Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD has been of help to the barangay especially in assisting medical needs of the residents. They have different branches like financial, medical and etc. that caters to different necessity of people. However, most importantly, they lend a hand in children and teenagers who rebel against his/ her parents that are referred by the barangay officials. Kgwd. Boyet Mascariña even mentioned that the department helps the adolescent correct his/ her mistakes especially in our society that has a stigma to rehabilitation being only for addicts.

A DSWD social worker assisting medical bills and presciptions for the elderly (c)Google Images

Mostly concerned to the Senior Citizen residents of the barangay, Office of the Senior Citizens (OSCA) shares its budget to its primary clients. Especially in this age, elderly has their own maintenance of their medications. In this way, they provide medicines to them upon the present of their medical certificate and doctor's prescription. They also gather the elderly for meetings and check-ups in Barangka Multi-Purpose Hall as to access their current situation.

Dental Assistance for the Senior Citizens (c) Tzu Chi Foundation

Homeowners of the barangay helps in terms of peace. For example, the Urban Bliss Barangka (UBB) Homeowners has a project in their purok called "Peace Brigade." Additionally, each homeowners has their own set of officers that spearheads the purok in maintaining peace and regulating rules which are strictly implemented. Loyola Residence Civic Organization (L.R.C.O.) Homeowners, specifically, gather the people in an assembly for the officers to announce and inform its residents of the rules and regulations agreed upon by the officers.

LRCO Officers after their inaguration and their assembly. (c) LRCO Homeowners Fanpage

Fortunate ones shares their blessings to kids in need.
(c) Google Images

Homeowners from neighboring city, Loyola Grand Villas, shares their fortune to Barangkeños every December. They want everybody to feel the celebration of Christmas by sharing gifts to the kids. As well, they sponsor the Christmas party of the employees of the barangay office, not only in Barangka but also in Tumana.

            Despite the great effort exerted by the current administration to provide their constituents with the social services they need, there are still some visible unresolved problems within their barangay. Most often, these problems are mainly caused by lack of budget, equipments, manpower and experts, and even cooperation among the people. As a concrete example, these are the most prominent unresolved problems of Barangay Barangka:


The most appropriate department that should be handling the case of abandonment, especially among the children, is the DSWD. In truth, the rampant case of abandonment and street people are not fully resolved in Barangay Barangka. Specifically, the lack of experts in legal matters is what hinders them from attaining the ultimate solution to this problem.

The proper treatment for those who abused the use of illegal drugs as well as those who experience mental health problems is yet to come in Barangay Barangka. Rehabilitation Centers and Mental Health Centers, unlike the Medical Health Centers, are not available in Barangay Barangka. With this, the only thing they can do is to make referrals and not deprive the people who are in need of their deserved special attention and medication.

Despite the availability of the newly renovated health center in Barangay Barangka, it cannot be denied that they still experience at least a minimal shortage, insufficiency, and scarcity in the medical supplies, machineries, and equipments. For instance, the dengue and pneumonia vaccination is yet to come in their community mainly because of the lack of budget allotment. However, compared to the previous administration, they are exerting much effort on this matter aiming to provide their constituents better health services.