Barangay Sampaga

Barangay Officials
Rodel R. Banaag Punong Barangay
Susan A. Villena Brgy. Kagawad
Frederick C. Malapit Brgy. Kagawad
Edgardo L. Ronquillo Brgy. Kagawad
Mitos C. Mendoza Brgy. Kagawad
Eddie D. Lumanglas Brgy. Kagawad
Christopher John D. Balmes Brgy. Kagawad
Ariel C. Ebreo Brgy. Kagawad
   
   
Arlyn Faet G. Galura SK Chairperson 
Cedrick M. Deli SK Kagawad
Dante R. Espeleta SK Kagawad
Kimberly E. Ebreo SK Kagawad
Niño Wilkins E. Belino SK Kagawad
Randal Gerald B. Medrano SK Kagawad
Billy Russel C. Abistado SK Kagawad
Leslie R. Mendoza SK Kagawad

 

Physical & Demographic Characteristics
Land Area (has) : 377.7674
Projected Population 2022 (CPDO)
:
4,765
Classification  
RURAL
Number of Purok/Sitios : 3
Boundaries : North - Dumantay
South - Dumuclay
West - Pallocan
East - Tulo

 

Other Information

 

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL DATA OF SAMPAGA

     Since the date of its establishment up to the present, the barrio has been popularly called “Sampaga”. There was no recorded data as to fixed date of establishment of the barrio. The original families here were pure Tagalogs.

     There were so many interesting facts as to how the barrio derived its name. A most distinguishing incident that is worthwhile mentioning is as follows: A well respected old lady in the barrio related this legend.

     Formerly the landsite of Sampaga was covered with shrubs known as “Sampaga". Young maidens gathered these cute whitish and fragrant flowers for their lay as well as offering for the saints in their altar. Under the Spanish regime there were so many soldiers who invaded this barrio. As one of the Spanish soldiers strolled along the street, he happened to pass by a beautiful native of the place. She was busy gathering the wonderful sampaguita flowers. A Spanish soldier, being a stranger of the place asked the name of the barrio in Spanish language. The girl thought that the soldier was asking the name of the flowers she was picking and she replied sampaga. Sampaga is a Tagalog name for Sampaguita. The Spanish soldier misunderstood it for the name of the barrio.

     There have been a number of tenientes del barrio who headed the barrio:

1. Florentino Gutierrez
2. Roman Ramirez
3. Justino Ramirez
4. Ignacio Tamayo
5. Donato Alvarez
6. Benito Cantre

     There are commendable customs and worthy traditions worth mentioning being shown by the barrio folks.

     The children show their respect for elders by addressing them with: "po" or "opo". They kiss the hands of their parents after the evening prayer. They do the same when they meet elder people at night and when old relatives come to their house for a visit. The neighbors help one another in such activities as building a fence, planting or harvesting rice and helping in moving a house.

     During Christmas and barrio fiesta the members of the family get together for reunion. They invite visitors to dine with them not minding the amount of money they spent for the occasion. Not only during these occasions do they show hospitality and generosity. Whenever a stranger or visitor comes to the house, he is offered something to at least quench the thirst.

     The custom of begging alms during All Saints Day and Christmas Day is also practiced here most especially by the young ones. Usually they hold picnics after collecting a sufficient amount.

     When someone dies in a certain family the folks show their condolence by offering material and spiritual help to the dead and to the bereaved ones. They attend the funeral land give some amount of money for the expenses to be incurred. For nine consecutive days prayers are offered for the eternal repose of the souls.

     During the Spanish regime people believed in the power of "anting- anting". Males were trained as "insurrectos". There were also several of them who were recognized Spanish veterans and were rewarded in the form of pensions. The head of the barrio was the "cabeza de barangay". If the barrio people could not pay their taxes, the cabeza was the one who paid for them to the Spanish officials. Then the persons whom he paid for, would render services to the cabeza. Sometimes they were paid with gold, which was the medium of exchange during that time. Although neighboring barrios experienced robbery and cattle rustling, this barrio had not experienced then, because the people showed alertness and bravery towards those bandits.

     The Japanese next occupied the barrio. At the beginning of their occupation people from neighboring places like Sta. Clara Aplaya, Sta. Rita and Batangas town evacuated in Sampaga. People from Sampaga were very hospitable in accommodating these evacuees. They offered wholeheartedly their food, shelter and whatever kind of comfort they could afford. Then, when the Japanese showed their cruelty to the people the families lived as a "clan". Most of them lived on the "air-raid shelter" or dug-out.

     The barrio people were brutally treated during that time. For three consecutive years the people were obliged to contribute anything to Japanese soldiers. The collection of food like eggs, chickens and rice was headed by the teniente de barrio. He was highly respected because if it is not because of him, many lives would be lost. The males were obliged to work on the tunnel without pay. There were several people from the barrio who were suspected to be guerrillas and they were arrested and were severely punished.

     In spite of the bombing by Japanese airplanes people managed to sell their products to town, but upon reaching the Calumpang River, sometimes they were harassed by the Japanese soldiers. Their products were confiscated. Then time came when all makes were summoned to town by the Japanese emperor. There was a plot that these people would be killed, but luckily that did not materialize. Life then was such an unhappy one.

     The suffering of the barrio people under the Japanese terrorism ended, upon the arrival of the Americans. These Americans friends made a camp here that lasted for two years. They rationed food to the natives, especially canned goods, and chocolates. People's standard of living was raised. Cleanliness and sanitation was imposed to barrio people. Americans bartered their surplus goods with the products of the natives.The coming of the Americans was really a blessing to the barrio people.