BARANGAY ESPERANZA

 

Brief History of Barangay Esperanza

Barangay Esperanza was once a sitio called Kansim-ong, a Visayan phrase for ‘no happiness’. As a sitio, it had in fact “no happiness” with very little access to government services and support like schools, water, agricultural extension and other basic infrastructures. The area had been visited and devastated by storms. Life was hard as fishing and farming offered very little to alleviate their property. For the residences, the name of their sitio truly reflected their situation. 

In order to be officially entitled to more government support and services, residents decided to work for upgrading the status of their village from sitio to barangay in 1962. Apolinario Dellara, a former chief of police gave Kansim-ong a new name, Esperanza. This is the Spanish word for “hope” (paglaum in Visayan). The first Teniente del Barrio was Ruben Esperon. With these changes, the residents looked forward to a better life for them.

Below is a timeline that shows the significant events in the barangay. The construction of this timeline was the first activity undertaken during the conduct of the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). The participants identified significant years and events that had deep implications on them.

YEAR	EVENT
1962	v   Barangay Esperanza was created and Ruben Esperon was appointed as its Teniente del Barrio   v   Barangay site was identified   v   Established a primary school with Lourdes Llamera as its pioneer teacher
1964, November	v   The barangay experienced a storm named “Remeng” which destroyed houses and farms including the primary school and the barangay stage   v   The bridge “connecting” them to the mainland was a Monkey Bridge   v   There were only abot fifty households in the barangay
1965	v   Santos Cresencia was elected as its new Teniente del Barrio
1967	v   The Philippine Independent Church (PIC) and the Roman Catholic Church established footholds in the barangay

 

 

 

YEAR	EVENT
1968-1972	v   The school building was improved with galvanized iron as its roofing   v   More teachers were assigned and they were Rosita Liza, Urbana Pabita, and Luciano Lliones
1972	v   Martial Law was declared   v   Livelihood became very hard for the residents
1973	v   Malayan Wood Product, Inc. (MWPI) began its logging activities in the barangay and neighboring Panamaon   v   Logging operations lasted for three years   v   Logging activities covered more than 100 hectares   v   Siltation, forest denudation, and floods began
1974	v   Corazon Liwat Moya Mining and Logging Company began its mining and logging activities
1973-1978	v   Government services were extended such as a complete elementary school, Masagana ’99, Program COCOFED, Rural Improvement Club, and construction of a wider road   v   Siltation, forest denudation, and floods were again experienced because of the activities of two logging companies
1977-1984	v   School site was used by squatters as many settlers came to the barangay due to the job opportunities with the mining and logging companies   v   Small scale mining called “bali-bali” began   v   Gold was discovered bvy joey Sabaldan   v   Heavy siltation affected Layonggan Bay   v   Rice paddies were covered with mud due to floods
1980	v   MWPI – Mining Division Operation began
1982	v   Typhoon Besing destroyed the school and barangay hall
1983	v   Three rooms were added to the school

 

 

YEAR	EVENT
1985-1990	v   Barangay Hall and Stage were renovated   v   Roads were paved   v   Beginning of water system development   v   Magic Election was held, first official to be given honorarium   v   Bil-at Dako Chrome Operation began   v   Basketball court and Multi-purpose Hall, funded by the Congress, were constructed   v   MWPI was changed into KROMINCO   v   Wharf was constructed
1991-1998	v   Typhoon Ruping caused the destruction of roads, crops, bridge and houses, and flashfloods occurred   v   Additional classrooms were constructed   v   Establishment of Nursery / Day Care Center, Clinic / Health Center, Water System, and Linao Spring Resort   v   Fencing of Basketball Court   v   Additional concreting of road – 60 m.   v   Concrete fencing around barangay hall