I.
Introduction
Indeed, history is all around us. It is very rich and intriguing. One just have to dig a
little deeper to learn about it. Knowing the overflowing history of your birthplace is heart-
warming. Conducting a research about Bayanan made me discover things that I never
imagine existed.
Bayanan is a part Muntinlupa City. It is the second smallest barangay inside the
municipality, it measures 784,082 sq. kms and just about 1.68% of the total land area of
Muntinlupa. From the population of 28,649 in 1990, the population in Bayanan rose to
36,673 in 2015. Also, Bayanan is a part of the first District. Its adjacent barangays are
Alabang and Putatan.
II. Body
a. The History of the Local Place
Unraveling the history of Bayanan is not easy-peasy, it’s very rich and a lot to
take in. That is why I organized every ideas during my research. And, I gathered
two main history of Bayanan.
1: In my online research, I’ve come to know that our natives had this style of
naming some places in the Philippines. That style is associating Botanical
references in naming a certain place. With that, it was said that Barangay
“Bayanan” came from the word Bayan, or báyan (memecylon ovatum) also
known as palumpong (which also means shrubs). This plant produces lilac
flowers and have rounded leaves. Also, these plants are still around. So Bayanan
is a place where báyan grew in abundance – thus the name, it does not came from
bayan which means town.
2: Another historical information that I came across with is that, during the time
of the Spanish era, nomads or people without fixed habitation were asked “Where
did you came from?” and in return they answered “There, in a place bayan-
bayan.” The term bayan-bayan later on was pronounced as Bayanan. Hence,
Bayanan came from the word “bayan-bayan”.
The Historical and Heritage Sites of the Place
In the course of the Japanese era (1942-1945), a garrison called kamatchutay was
built in barangay Bayanan. This garrison served as a fortress of Japanese troops
where they stayed and they are in charge of defending it.
b. The Native Customs of the Place
Since Muntinlupa is near the capital of the Philippines, most of its residents
speaks Tagalog and English. Their most common source of living is through
fishing in the Laguna de Bay, which is still kept until the present time. Barangay
Bayanan also celebrates Feast day of Mary, Mother of God, who they put
devotion into, every January 1 of the year.
c. The Religions of the Place and their Ceremonies
As early as 1601, during the Spanish colonial period, Muntinlupa became under
the supervision of the Augustinians. From that, it is assumed that the religion in
Bayanan is Catholic. In early 1970s, the devotion of people in Bayanan to Mary,
as Mother of God, rapidly exists which calls for permanent place of worship. And
on September 5, 1980, the parish was officially founded. Later, more religions
were established in Baranggay Bayanan. These are, Dating daan, Iglesia ni Cristo,
Born again, Christians, and Adventists.
III. Research Argument
The local and oral history are both essential. Because they both reflect the past and/or
origin of a certain place. One is formal and one is informal. In terms of distinguishing the
history of Bayanan, the first one is more appealing to me than to the second one. It is
because provided the evidences that there are other places named by botanical references.
IV. Bibliography/References
http://withonespast.com/2014/10/29/behind-the-names-of-the-barangays-in-muntinlupa/
https://web.facebook.com/socialsciencePLMUN/posts/history-of-muntinlupathe-city-of-
muntinlupa-has-been-referred-to-as-the-site-of-/1468984473392043/?_rdc=1&_rdr
https://pintakasi1521.blogspot.com/2019/01/mary-mother-of-god-of-bayanan-serene.html
https://youtu.be/MEsf6XdcrjE
https://www.philatlas.com/luzon/ncr/muntinlupa/bayanan.html
https://www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/?page_id=1975
