Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City

INTRODUCTION

Guadalupe Nuevo is part of the North Central Cluster along with Pitogo, Pinagkaisahan, Post Proper Southside, and South Cembo. Being situated at the north central cluster, part of Guadalupe Nuevo lying along EDSA and Kalayaan Avenue are generally classified as commercial areas while inner portions are mostly residential.

 

Predominantly, the type of business establishments located within the barangay are small and medium stores, banks, restaurants, hotels/tourism-related establishments, among others. Also, the largest public wet market of Makati is located at the barangay.

 

Based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, Guadalupe Nuevo has a percentage share of 3.5% or 18,271 population count versus the city’s population, with an estimate of at least 3,655 households. By population density, on the other hand, considering its land area and population count, the barangay has 32 residents per 1,000 square meters.

 

 

HISTORY

In the year 1900, the United States Government built several camps for its soldiers in the Archipelago. One of the camps was named Fort McKinley and was located in Makati.

 

The barrio nearest to Fort McKinley was Guadalupe. It was still sparsely populated especially the area that was literally at the doorstep of the army camp. As the number of Filipinos who enlisted in the US Army swelled, their families migrated to Makati, mostly in Guadalupe, to reside. Thus, the inhabitants of Guadalupe increased by the hundreds long before the advent of the Second World War.

 

Survivors of World War II credited their fortunes to the sudden arrival of the American-Filipino liberating forces in February 10, 1945. However, deeply devoted Catholics attributed their escape to the town's patroness, the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and the Holy Child whose feast day was celebrated on the same day of their liberation.

 

The more habitable part of Guadalupe near the Poblacion and the swamplands lie at the doorstep of the Army camp. It was very practical for the maimed, sick, homeless and desperate war victims to settle in the swamps and hills and wilderness of Guadalupe. They were to start life anew, and they called their new haven, Guadalupe Nuevo.

 

The people who settled in Guadalupe Nuevo were industrious, hard working, enterprising, foresighted and ambitious. They were soldiers, farmers, fishermen, traders, masons, carpenters, small-time businessmen and a stray of teachers and government and private company employees. 

 

Through their combined efforts, they were able to resurrect a derelict barrio into one of the progressive places in Makati.

 

Today, Guadalupe Nuevo is peopled by professionals, big-time businessmen, industrialists, political and civic leaders, retired soldiers and employees.