Olongapo City

                     Rizal Triangle

                 

Monuments of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, are found all over the country as well as in a few cities in the world. In Olongapo city, the land where Rizal's monument stands has a triangular shape thereby bearing the name Rizal Triangle Park instead of the usual Rizal Park. Residents simply refer to it as Triangle, for short.

 

                                                                   LEO's Park

Students of the nearby city college frequent Leo's park to review lessons, take snacks, or chat with friends. The body of a U. S. Navy plane, which was originally displayed at Subic Naval Base, found a new home at Leo's Park located at Old Hospital Road. 

Corner Fendler Street, and 5th Street

Arlene's Inn, David Salon
Former location - Mariposa Bar

Of Barrios and Barangays

Pre-Spanish time Olongapo warrior. From Ulo ng Apo rotunda

From a small fishing village, Olongapo has grown into a bustling city with seventeen barangays. This series of posts present interesting historical facts and trivia about Olongapo and its barangays. Part 1 traces Olongapo's early history. 

From Balangay to Barrio and Back

Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines, the basic political unit in the islands was called "balangay" or "barangay" after the Malay word for a water craft, about eighty feet in length, used to carry around fifty passengers who were moving out from their village to form a new settlement elsewhere. A barangay might be an independent village or a part of a confederation of different barangays formed for mutual defense or for other strategic purpose.

During the Spanish times, the basic divisions of towns (pueblos) and cities (cuidad) was changed to Spanish word "barrio." However, in some towns, "barangay" remained in use but changed the meaning to a sub-barrio or a hamlet. Even when the country became under the United States and gained its independence, the word "barrio" continued as the official name of the municipal units.

Finally in 1974,  President Ferdinand Marcos put an end to the usage of "barrio" by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 557 declaring all "barrios" in the Philippines as "barangays."