Embo (barangays) – Wikipedia

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Barangays in National Capital Region, Philippines

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Embo (sometimes capitalized as EMBO; from “Enlisted Men’s Barrio”) refers to a collective term for barangays administered in a de facto state by the city government of Makati but de jure of the city government of Taguig after the Supreme Court sided with the City of Taguig denying any further legal remedies to Makati. The barangays were originally established to house military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The area is part of the larger disputed Fort Bonifacio area which is claimed by the city government of Taguig. As of April 2023, the barangays are in the process of transition and handover from Makati to Taguig.[2][3]

Etymology[edit]

The collective for the Embo barangays were derived from enlisted men’s barrios (EMBOs).[4][5][6]

History[edit]

Fort William McKinley and surrounding areas, including the present-day Embo barangays, circa 1930s

Part of the Embo area was formerly known as Mamancat, Masilang, San Nicolas,[7] and Malapadnabato,[8] respectively, all former parts of the town of Pateros.[9] Mamancat (now Comembo) was known as a trading hub alongside its more developed neighbor, Aguho (now Barangay Agujo, Pateros) during the Spanish colonial era.[10] San Nicolas, which comprises the present-day western portion of West Rembo, is the location of the Ermita de San Nicolas de Tolentino that was established in 1686 and is believed to be first settled by Chinese traders.[11] Malapad-na-bato used to be linked to Pasig via an old bridge. Masilang comprises the present-day South Cembo.[9]

At the end of the Philippine–American War, the United States colonial administration established the Fort William McKinley at the center of present-day Metro Manila. During World War II, the military reservation would be used as the headquarters of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) until the Imperial Japanese military took over it. After the conclusion of the war, the Philippines would be granted full independence by the United States in 1946 but retained control over its military bases.[5]

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Fort McKinley would only be turned over to the Philippine government in 1949. The reservation was renamed as Fort Bonifacio and the government made plans to create settlements for military personnel within the vicinity of the installation.[5]

Cembo would be the first settlements among the EMBO barangays to be established. In 1949, when the first batch of enlisted servicemen from the Infantry Group, Philippine Ground Force from Floridablanca, Pampanga arrived to settle in the area.[12] In 1954, East Rembo was established as settlements for Fort Bonifacio-based enlisted men serving in the armed forces upon the authorization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the office of General Alfonso Arellano, commanding General of Fort Bonifacio.[13]

In 1956, two more more settlements would be authorized:[5] West Rembo and Pitogo.[11][14] In 1957, Comembo, in the site formerly known as Mamancat, would be settled by personnel from the Combat Engineering Group of the Philippine Army.[10]

Pembo would be established to for personnel of the First Ranger Regiment, who were also known as the Panthers.[15] In 1966, Cembo Annex was separated from Cembo proper and was renamed South Cembo.[16]

President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation No. 2475 which transferred control of the Fort Bonifacio area to the municipal government of Makati in 1986 which also reserved the area for military personnel and their dependents.[17] In 1990, President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 518 to award land titles in the EMBO area to bona fide occupants.[6][18]

In February 1996, a new barangay named Rizal was created from Pembo through Makati City Ordinance No. 96-010. Prior to the creation of Rizal, Pembo was larger than the neighboring municipality of Pateros with a land area of 123 hectares (300 acres) and a population of 65,000 in 1995.[15][19]

The Fort Bonifacio area including the Embo barangays would be subject of a territorial dispute between the city governments of Taguig and Makati. In 2022, the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that Makati should stop exercising jurisdiction over the Embo barangays although the Makati government has maintained that will continue to do so until it exhaust all legal remedies.[4]

In April 2023, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has junked the motion for reconsideration that was filed by the City Government of Makati to override the court’s earlier decision, siding with Taguig. The Taguig city government has released a statement “welcoming the new Taguigeños”, referring to the residents of the affected Embo barangays, and that they will start working on the transition and handover of the Embo barangays.[2]

Subdivisions[edit]

The Embo barangays are constituted as subdivisions of the city of Makati.[5][20] These barangays are part of Makati’s 2nd congressional district.[21] Barangay Pitogo is also grouped with other barangays with “Embo” in its name.

Barangay Alternate name Etymology Population (2015)[1] Area (km2)
Cembo Barangay 25 Central Enlisted Men’s Barrio 26,213 0.22
South Cembo Barangay 24 15,103 0.20
Comembo Barangay 28 Combat Enlisted Men’s Barrio 16,818 0.27
East Rembo Barangay 27 Riverside Enlisted Men’s Barrio 28,114 0.44
West Rembo Barangay 26 29,899 0.55
Pembo Barangay 29 Panthers Enlisted Men’s Barrio 48,275 0.64
Rizal Barangay 33[22] 42,635 0.59
Pitogo Barangay 23 From pitogo, a local term for a palm plant.[23] 14,395 0.14
Total population and area 178,817 3.05

Education[edit]

All EMBO barangays have public elementary schools. However, public high schools are located only at some of the barangays. West Rembo in particular is designated by the local government of Makati as the city’s Center of Education and Cultural Affairs. It is the site of various public schools of the city like the University of Makati, Fort Bonifacio High School & Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino High School, Fort Bonifacio Elementary School.[11]

Religion[edit]

The Roman Catholic population is served by multiple parishes. The Mater Dolorosa Parish in East Rembo of the Amigonian Fathers and Brothers which was established on September 8, 1987 through a decree by Jaime Cardinal Sin. It originally covered the barangays of Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, and Pembo. Cembo would later be transferred to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.[24] The Saint John Of The Cross Parish would be established for Pembo on August 9, 1991.[25] On June 18, 1992, the Santa Teresita would be established in West Rembo. In 1998, a standalone parish for Comembo was proposed which was realized within the span of two years.[24]

A locale of Iglesia Ni Cristo is located at Barangay Pembo.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b “Population of the National Capital Region (Based on the 2015 Census of Population)”. Philippine Statistics Authority of the Republic of the Philippines.
  2. ^ a b Hicap, Jonathan (April 3, 2023). “Taguig LGU lauds SC decision over Fort Bonifacio ownership”. Manila Bulletin.
  3. ^ Cayabyab, Marc Jayson (April 5, 2023). “Makati raises ‘constitutional’ issues in BGC land dispute”. The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Garcia, Patrick (April 28, 2022). “Contested areas in SC ruling to remain under Makati City’s jursidiction – LGU”. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Limos, Mario Alvaro (September 24, 2019). “The Military Roots of Cembo, Rembo, and Pembo Districts”. Esquire Philippines. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Rufo, Aries (March 17, 2015). “How a Binay dummy got a P1B Makati property”. Rappler. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  7. ^ Map of Manila and Vicinity (Map). 1:25000. Office Engineer Officer, Philippine Division. January 1905. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. ^ “Malapadnabato, Province of Rizal, Calabarzon, Philippines”. mindat.org. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Manila South, Philippine Islands, Manila City, Luzon (Map). 1:12500. Its A.M.S. S901. United States. Army Map Service. 1945. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  10. ^ a b “Comembo – History”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c “West Rembo – History”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  12. ^ “Cembo – History”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  13. ^ “East Rembo – History”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  14. ^ “Pitogo – History”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  15. ^ a b “Pembo – History”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  16. ^ “South Cembo – History”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  17. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 2475, s. 1986 (January 7, 1986), EXCLUDING FROM THE OPERATION OF PROCLAMATION NO. 423, SERIES OF 1957 WHICH ESTABLISHED THE FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY (NOW FORT BONIFACIO) MILITARY RESERVATION SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF PASIG, TAGUIG, PARAÑAQUE, MAKATI AND PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA, A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE LAND EMBRACED THEREIN SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAKATI AND DECLARING THE SAME OPEN TO DISPOSITION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ACT NO. 3038 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 274 IN RELATION THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC LAND ACT, AS AMENDED., retrieved April 6, 2023
  18. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 518, s. 1990 (January 21, 1990), EXCLUDING FROM THE OPERATION OF PROCLAMATION NO. 423 DATED JULY 12, 1957 WHICH ESTABLISHED THE MILITARY RESERVATION KNOWN AS “FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY” (NOW FORT ANDRES BONIFACIO) SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF PASIG, TAGUIG, PATEROS AND PARAÑAQUE, PROVINCE OF RIZAL AND PASAY CITY (NOW METROPOLITAN MANILA) AS AMENDED BY PROCLAMATION NO. 2475 DATED JANUARY 7, 1986, CERTAIN PORTIONS OF LAND EMBRACED THEREIN KNOWN AS BARANGAYS CEMBO, SOUTH CEMBO, WEST REMBO, EAST REMBO, COMEMBO, PEMBO AND PITOGO, SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAKATI, METROPOLITAN MANILA AND DECLARING THE SAME OPEN FOR DISPOSITION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 274, AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 730 IN RELATION TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC LAND ACT, AS AMENDED, retrieved April 6, 2023
  19. ^ “Rizal – History”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  20. ^ Gamil, Jaymee (August 7, 2013). “Makati mayor sees ‘takeover’ of Bonifacio Global City in 2 weeks”. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  21. ^ Murcia, Alvin (February 14, 2022). “Bongbong barnstorms Makati”. Daily Tribune. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  22. ^ “Republic Act No. 10961” (PDF). Makati Web Portal. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  23. ^ “Pitogo – Introduction”. Makati Web Portal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  24. ^ a b “Historical Background”. Mater Dolorosa Parish. March 13, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  25. ^ “Our History”. St. John of the Cross Parish. Retrieved April 30, 2022.


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