BARANGAY ONE

        Brgy. One is located at the north-eastern portion of the Poblacion of Bantay.  Formerly, it was identified as ‘cayapa’  referring to that eminent tree that grew and stood therein for centuries. 

        The cayapa tree stood at the center which is the distinguished landmark of the place as it provides shade, shelter and a quiet place to rest for the folks.  It serves as a recreation area and on December, after coming from ‘misa de aguinaldo’, all would gathered around the tree and burned its leaves to comfort themselves from the cold and then enjoy chatting about the Christmas season.  Residents enjoyed so much the place that they made a wide bamboo bench around the tree and became the rendezvous of the young, as well as for the old, on moonlight night.  The spirit of camaraderie is very much alive in the place with the tree as the heart and core of fond memories, where songs are composed and sang, where ladies are serenaded, and where love is experienced. It also bears witness and testimony to countless courtship and relationships.  With the tree, it seems the place is so unique and peaceful where one could find solace and solitude under its branches. In sum, the tree is well loved by the town folks and is considered part of their lives. Unfortunately, in 1946, the cayapa tree was burned by the Japanese. However, its significance remains and lingers until the end of time and the worthiness of said tree is retold to next generations.  As a tribute, there is a road leading to where the cayapa tree was formerly found which is now called ‘cayapa’ street.

        Originally, Brgy. One is just a part of the Poblaciones (supra, at page 6) then it was designated as a ‘Purok’ following the arrangement or subdivision prepared by the parish church for the procession at the town proper. It became a ‘Barrio’ in accordance with the apportionment into districts for purposes of  the elections by precinct pursuant to RA 3590 (1963, The Revised Barrio Charter, supra, at page 9). With the issuance of PD 86 (1972, where citizen assemblies were created in barrios, supra, at page 10), it was transformed into a ‘Zone’; then followed by PD 557 (1974, where the ‘barrio’ and citizen assemblies created under PD 86 became barangays, supra, at page 11), it was renamed and now called as Barangay 1. It has 359 voting population and largely of the residents are educated and professionals who are profoundly religious due to their proximity to the parish.