One of the communities intensively placed under study by various research group exemplifying the poor and inhuman living conditions is Payatas., an informal (“Squatter”) settlement in District 2 of Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is described as a clear marker of poverty where children are scavenging instead of being sent to school. It is in the same district where Sitio Veterans, Barangay Bagong Silangan is situated and which has also been a case study site of Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC) SY 2005-2006. It is also one of the selected research sites among the five (5) pilot areas the GOP-UNICEF Fifth Country Program for Children. Being an adopted Barangay of the School, it has now to take steps to minimize, if not to totally eradicate this harmful antisocial behavior in the community and take immediate action to help make life more meaningful and worth living for them.
The descriptive method of research was used in the study in identifying the existing practices of the households and other components of the community and determine its relationship with the existing phenomena. It utilized mostly secondary data such as books, related artic les in the internet, and previous researches conducted. The questionnaire was the instrument used in gathering more information on the demographic, economic, political and cultural & socio-economic profile of the household respondents. The frequency and percentage were used to analyze and interpret the data.
The following are the salient findings of the study: Sitio Veterans, Barangay Bagong Silangan situated in the 2nd District of Quezon City was named after the first settlers in the place who are known to be Filipino Veterans Soldiers who fought the Japanese during the Second World War ll (1939-1942). Population grew as immigrants from various parts of the country migrated in their desire, to own a piece of land and which eventually, also became the relocation area of informal settlers evicted from various parts of the Metropolis. The location area as separated by Marikina River in the east and marked by a nearby Barangay which is the famous Payatas where the foul-smelling dumpsite is located, is far from the main road giving them less access to transport services. Majority of the household respondents are residents from 1-5 years with ages ranging from 0-10 years and 21-30 years and whose current level education is the elementary level. Most are government or private employees and laborers and whose salaries range from 6001-8000Ph.p below. There are several existing cooperatives but most of the households are not members and not aware of their existence. The deep well is their major source of water, almost a hundred percent enjoying electric services of MERLACO, and a great number using the cell phone in communicating. Almost 50% of the parent respondents’ level of education is only in the high school level. Disposal of garbage is done thru garbage collection or by burning and the most common ailments in the community is cough and colds. The household strongly believes that the Barangay Leader is the decision maker in terms of community issues and concerns and who is responsible for their implementation. Tagalog is the common language used in communicating by majority. It turned out that majority of the couple-respondents are married and only a few who are “live-in partners” with Roman Catholic still the number one religion at 91% of the total household respondents. It showed that there exist a socio-cultural phenomenal situation in Sitio Veterans that calls for this they in order to explore the factors associated with the problem and where the conclusions to be arrived at can be used by the TIP Administrators.
Sitio Veterans, therefore, is a young community, which consists of migrants from different origins, with ethnic differences in terms of ways of life, culture, and religion that bring about diverging and conflicting interests that tend to divide people. Its location being separated by Marikina River in the east leading to the municipality of San Mateo is far from the main road giving them less access to transport services. Having their own motives and strategies not directed toward the common objectives or welfare of the Barangay, the existence of many cooperatives did not want to be left behind as majority use the cell phone being the product of modern technology unmindful of the cost it may entail by its use as a means of communication. There is lack of awareness on the degree of importance of education as the level of education of the parent-respondents follows that of their children as the study revealed that both parents and the children have attained only elementary education. Although majority, recognize the responsibility of a clean and healthy environment as evidenced by their diligent disposal of garbage, there was lack of awareness on the hazards brought about by burning as means of cleaning up. There is a clear indication of a clear and proper governance and administration of the current Barangay council as evidenced by their strong faith on the power and authority of the Barangay Leader as a decision maker. Tagalog is commonly used by the majority of the household in trying to understand coordinating their different ideas, community is their strong belief that Marriage is Holy Sacrament that binds couples and families together as shown in the findings where 70% of the total are married couples and a small percentage being live-in partners. And with the existing phenomenal situation in Barangay Bagong Silangan which with poverty as a contribution factor, there is indeed a need for this ethnographic study in order to understand and the use the findings for as empirical basis for decision making.
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