Barangay Poblacion

Everyone belongs to many different communities or groups that were defined by shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Being able to be part of one of this has a great impact on one’s own personality. Let me share to you the community where I belong…

I live in Poblacion, it is one of the 19 barangays of the Municipality of Pulilan. It is composed of 10 puroks. It has a Total Population of 12,409 people, a Total Households of 2,482, and a Land Area of 2.27 km2. It is considered as the most populous barangay and the busiest for it has the main roads of Pulilan and the center of commerce and industry.

It is geographically bordered by Tenejero at North, Paltao at east, Lumbac at west and Angat River at south.  It is also considered as an urban area for almost all the establishments and businesses were present in Poblacion.

Poblacion is administrated by its duly-elected Barangay Captain, Honorable Ryan P. Espiritu. He is aided by his 7 Barangay Council and SK Chairman, Vien Angelo Arceo, as a representative of the youth in our Barangay.  Helping him to implement its programs and projects were the 10 Barangay Health Workers, 10 Mother Leaders and 1 LLN. In terms of the current administration, I think that Poblacion is currently in good hands, many projects and programs for the people were implemented and done by the current officials. And the response of the people to the current administration is good.

     

In terms of the people living in my community, I can say that men and women have equal rights here, that in every 1 male there is a female counterpart. Original settlers and native of Poblacion are primarily Tagalog, but now, there are many immigrants that comes from the nearby places and municipalities that lives here in Poblacionlike the Kapampangans, ilocanos, ilonggos, and pangasinenseand it attributes to the growing population of our barangay. Mostly, the immigrants live in the place here called Castillo Compound, Barangay Sopas and Sinipit Area, these areas were considered as squatters’ area, and for most people were immigrants from Bicol, Visayas, and other areas. 

Most residents of our community were related by blood that is why the people here were known to each other. If you want to look for a certain people in the area, you just have to state his surname and surely without going to the barangay you can locate the person that you are looking for.

People here were 99% literate, can be able to read and write simple message in any language or dialect. Mostly are Roman Catholics, this is evident by the strong faith and devotion to the towns Patron Saint, San Isidro Labrador with is standing proudly at the center of Poblacion. They were also open to any changes and has a positive outlook in everything especially in their life and their health.

In every households here composed of mother, father, children and distant relatives that’s why close family ties were common in our area. Many couples were married, in civil union and mostly were common law but it doesn’t change the fact that love, respect and harmonious relationship were present in every families. Also the people here shows respect and care to each other but simple misunderstandings were also happening from now and then.  I also come from a close-knit family, where any decision taken is first elaborately discussed and then decided upon. I think that we got this ties because of the impact and influence of the community where we belong.

 

In terms of the Environmental Conditions of my community, as I mentioned above Poblacion is bounded by different barangays from north to south. In the north of Poblacion there was the rice fields that was one of the major source of income of the people. Despite some ricefields area, Poblacion is still considered as an urban area, 1/3 of the land area is composed of roads, commercial houses and establishments.




Also located at the center of Poblacion was the Municipal Hall of Pulilan, the Fire Station, Police Station, Post Office, and Rural Health Unit 1 where I am working as a Community Health Nurse from Monday to Friday.

The houses here were built with a combination of wood and concrete, concrete and wood per se, shanty and some were ancestral houses. 99 % of households had its own water supply from NAWASA, water stationsand artesian well and they have access to safe water supply. And also 99 % of households had their own toilets maybe owned and shared with another households.

In terms of waste disposal, there was a scheduled day at time of garbage collection for every purokin our community set by the Local Officials of Barangay.

In terms of Education, here are some of thewell-known schools located here in Poblacion:

St. Dominic Academy Inc. was located beside the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church. It was a private institution and was administrated by nuns and priest. I spent my high school days in this institution and I am not in this place without this school. This school molds me to be a Christ-like student and a taught me to achieve my goals in life.

Another private institution was the His Sanctuary Christian School and it was known because of the actress Sharlene San Pedro who was enrolled in this institution.

This public high school was built in the honor and memory of Engr. Virgilio V. Dionisio, a well-respected citizen of Poblacion. This school was named after him Engr. Virgilio V. Dionisio Memorial High scool.

Montessori School of Pulilan, Inc. was another private institution owned by the Hilario Family. This is located at the back of St. Dominic Academy. Here I spent my elementary days and taught me to be an achiever and just fly high until I reach my goals.

Another school was the biggest Public Elementary School in Pulilan, the Pulilan Central School were most of the students from different barangays of Pulilan were enrolled here because of its free education for all. As of now, this was under renovation and building more rooms in order to cater more students in the future.

Polytechnic University of Pulilan was the only college institution located in Pulilan. It was located along the main roads of Poblacion and this was governed by the Local Government Unit and offers free education to all Pulilenos. They only offers courses related to business and entrepreneurship.

In terms of Health, Rural Health Unit I was located on Poblacion and caters almost 200 clients a day. It offers free services to all like anti-rabies vaccination, consultations, pre-natal check-ups, laboratory, tooth extraction and many more. It was opened Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

Aside from RHU1, there are some private health institutions like Jesus, The Good Shepherd Hospital, small clinics like Pulilan Doctor Multi-specialty clinics, St. Claire Lying-in clinics, Manalo-Cruz Maternity and Lying-in clinic and many more. That’s why people here has really access to health services.

Poblacion was considered as a safe place for the people living here because aside from the police who are roaming around, there were also Barangay Tanods who were present 24 hours a day to assist everyone in need especially the students to cross the streets and minimize the traffic. They were also roaming around at night to ensure that crimes and other misfortunes were prevented. 

In terms of economy, aside from rice production, poultry and hog raising, Poblacion was considered the center of commercialization and industrialization for almost all the establishments were located here

Elvis Halo-halo was famous for its delicious foods and best taste halo-halo in Pulilan. It is open everday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

In terms of transportation system, Poblacion can be access through private vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, jeepneys, and tricycles. And the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) is the only expressway in Pulilan that pass through the main roads of Poblacion. Other arterial roads that passes in Poblacion was the Pulilan Regional Road (Pulilan-Calumpit). 

In terms of Communication Services, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Digital Telecommunications Philippines (DIGITEL) and DATELCOM are the main landline telephone service provider in Poblacion while the major cellular companies here are Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Sun Cellular Telegraph and express mail services are being provided by the Municipal Post Office and private companies like LBC, Cebuana and others.

In terms of power and supply, the MERALCO is the sole company that provides electric services in Poblacion and NAWASA through the Pulilan Water District that provides water system and services to all the household in Poblacion.

Aside from the information that I mentioned above about my community, here are some of the place that has Historical and religious edifices that could be a tourist destination for foreign people:

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church is where the carabaos kneel during the feast as a tribute to the Patron Saint of the town of Pulilan. This is a famouse pilgrimage site during the Holy Week and Museo San Ysidro Labrador is also situated here. As of now, it is now under renovation, changing the structure to its original design.

Pulilan Municipal Trial Court or Museo de Pulilan is the new name of it after its restoration in 2013. It is located near the Municipal Hall Compound and is one of the famous tourist destination not only in the municipality but in the whole province of Bulacan because of its cultural and historical features, paintings and old documents about the flourishing history of the town. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo of the inside of the museum for it is prohibited to take one. 

Next is, the Adriano Salvador Heritage House, as it is dubbed as the "Malacanang of Pulilan", in 1908 this historical house served as the joint municipal of two ancient towns of Quingua (Plaridel) and San Isidro (Pulilan).

Cassanova-Aguirre Ancestral House is one of the well-preserved old house in Bulacan. It is located near the boundaries of Barangay Poblacion and Lumbac. This is a famous tourist spot in the entire town because of its preserved beauty and scenic view. It is also known as the site of the 2006 Filipino romantic film, Moments of Love, starring IzaCalzado and Dingdong Dantes.

Aguirre Centennial House is located inside the Butterfly Haven Resort and one of the main tourist attraction inside the resort because of its unique and distinct architecture. This 100-year old house is owned by the family of Revenue Deputy Commissioner Lita Aguirre. Unfortunately, I wasn’t be able to go inside the Pulilan Butterfly Haven and take pictures for I had to pay 2000 pesos and write a letter.

Here are some of the activities and recreational facilities that are present or happening in my community:

1. Clean-up Drive every Saturdays

2. Bayanihan During typhoons/ Giving of Oral Prophylaxis during floods

3. Re-painting of the San Francisco Court 

4. Feeding

Other Facilities Present In Poblacion

Municipal Park and Gat. Jose P. Rizal Statue

Mercado De Pulilan located at Municipal Park every Sundays

Pulilan Gymnasium  

BahayPagbabago

Save the Unborn- Knights of Columbus Statue in front of San Isidro Parish Church

Villa Lorenzo Resort

Casa Francisco

So now, you had a full information about the community where I belong, let us now critic if my community is a one healthy community. I think that all the people here are all aware of us being a community that’s why during disasters and floods we help each other to save our own families. We respect each other as respect begets respect, we participate in decision making by using our one single vote to elect our chosen barangay officials, we are aware and utilize all the facilities around, we had an open channel of communication for most of us can use cellphones, we are able to solve some disputes through the barangay and we are able to preserve some of our historical and natural resources. 

This look back to the community where I belongs makes me grateful…"And I think to myself what a wonderful world"…. These few words from the lyrics of the song by Louis Armstrong that comes to my mind when I look at what my community has come to achieved, when I look at everything around me. I am inspired by the people that surrounds me starting in my childhood and through them I am not in my place right now without them guiding me and accepting me and giving a piece of them for me to a whole person. 

This is Abigail N. Hechanova, and this is my beloved community.. I am now signing off.