Even in the old days, the Cabeza de Barangay was already the chief of the smallest political unit of the land. The office was inherited from the first datus who ruled the islands long before the Spanish came. His Majesty, King Felipe II decreed that the native nobility should retain the honors and privileges they enjoyed before their lands became the crown's subjects. It was a bold move to swiftly colonize the country and to ensure the allegiance of the tribal leaders; to keep them from turning against their new masters.
The Cabeza de Barangay was a hereditary position. When the office of a cabeza fell vacant because of resignation, or lack of an heir, a new appointee was chosen. The Gobernadorcillo and the other cabezas choose among their bloodline a new representative. Sometimes, they gobble up the the land ruled by a fallen cabeza to expand their own realm.
The patronage politics ebbed and flowed for eons until the arrival of the Americans. The barangay became known as the barrio and the cabeza lost its power and prestige when the post became an elective position.
Finally, anyone could be a village leader.
Finally, anyone could be a village leader.
Her victory became less and less assured as the days went by. The Barangay Elections was just around the corner and support for her leadership waned as entire households switched allegiance. Blame the talebearers for much of the gossip and character assassination, but when one of the kagawads challenged her position, the exercise in suffrage became interesting in this part of Sampaloc.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the district, a family friend announced her intention to run for office. Joining her slate is another family friend who, in the long years of active presence in the community, merely stayed in the curb. The death of the incumbent leader triggered a power vacuum. Without a captain who would support the goals of the old homeowners' association, the family friend was told to challenge the kagawad chosen to take the cudgels of leadership from the fallen champion.
These were the two faces of the Barangay Elections witnessed and followed by the household today. In her desire to make things right, my mother's ex-favorite civic activity was to summon a meeting discussing the affairs of the compound. Dubbed as "driveway politics," by pundits and scholars alike, the issue centers around the complex and intricate concept known in legalese terms as "right of way" of the driveway.
The matriarch always complained about the neighbor two doors away of putting things at the driveway entrance. This blocks our passage, as well as the passage of other tenants. The issue almost sparked a family feud involving authorities and hired goons. The Barangay stepped in to mediate the issue. To appease my mother, the Kapitana involved her in civic activities. Her responsibilities now include the entire community. Distracted, an uneasy peace has settled in our compound. With the death of the other household's matriarch, (Mrs. T, Fullmetal Dreams) and the spiral of the challenger family into a sort of civil war, we would go unchallenged for the next two years.
However, my mom's close association with the Kapitana has drawn us into the trouble ridden world of Barangay life. Gone are the petty issues of driveway politics. You can say that the mudra wielded a little influence in the neighborhood. And when the time for solicitations came, the kapitana personally sought our commitment to vote for her in the coming elections.
Pronouncements of allegiance was easy to say. But in truth, my mom is registered in our other address where the family friends and her closest confidants have decided to cast their lot in the Barangay elections.
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