Barangay South Cembo, Makati City

INTRODUCTION

Barangay South Cembo, a District II barangay, belongs to the North Central Cluster along with Pitogo, Guadalupe Nuevo, Post Proper Southside, and Pinagkaisahan. The barangay is teeming with a variety of plants and trees and some of which are big Acacia trees planted during the American occupation of Fort Bonifacio in the 1900s. Because it is situated on a hilly part of Fort Bonifacio, it commands a panoramic view of skyscrapers in Makati, Mandaluyong and Pasig. Land use classification is mostly residential, only few were converted to mix-use.

 

As per 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), the total population count of the barangay is 14,672 and an estimated number of households of 2,935. The average population density of South Cembo is 73 per 1,000 square meters.

 

 

HISTORY

It was in early fifties when the Philippine Army established its permanent headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, formerly known as Fort McKinley.

  
During the incumbency of the late Brig. General Alfonso Arellano as Philippine Army Commanding General, he set aside a small portion of the sprawling military camp for enlisted personnel’s temporary housing area. The place is located near Gate No. 1 (North Gate) adjacent to Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo. The area was called then up to now as CENTRAL ENLISTED MEN’S BARRIO or CEMBO.

Cembo Proper then has an original five (5) districts. But within a few years, the barrio had limited area for new occupants. New occupants were given lots at the southern part of the barangay proper or at the other side of the creek. This led to the creation of another district - the 6th district or Cembo Annex.

During the creation of Cembo Annex, the incumbent Barangay Captain of Cembo Proper was the late Lt. Alejandro Aquino, who designated the Lt. Bernardo Rimando as the 1st district leader of Cembo Annex. Also, the late Lt. Miguel Bumanglag and the late Lt. Alfredo Badas, both residents of Cembo Annex were appointed as Group Leaders (1st and 2nd Group, respectively) of the newly created district. 

 

Later in the early sixties, Msgt. Alfredo Santelices became the 1st district leader of Cembo Annex coming from the district itself and was chosen through a consensus by residents and other six (6) group leaders were elected. They were: Msgt. Pedro M. Sacro, Tsgt. Teodorico Bernardo, Ssgt. Pedro Jose, Tsgt. Francisco Macadangdang, Ssgt. Fidologo Ricasio and the late Msgt. Federico Quejada. 

As Cembo Proper became densely populated and its Barangay officials could hardly provide basic services, which may be due to the district’s geographical location coupled by the Post barrio’s limited resources, the residents clamored for the separation of Cembo Annex from Cembo Proper. 

 

In 1965, Msgt. Santelices and Msgt. Sacro began working through negotiations with the Post Authorities for the independence of Cembo Annex. It was in December 31, 1966, when they submitted a written petition as required, to the Post Authorities requesting the ultimate separation of Cembo Annex from Cembo Proper and at the same time renaming it to SOUTH CEMBO, in accordance with the Old Barrio Charter (RA 3590). At that time of its creation Barangay South Cembo had only 232 residential houses and a population of 859. 

The following year, the Headquarters of the Philippine Army approved the petition and subsequently, the late Federico Quejada was appointed as the 1st Barangay Captain of South Cembo. After his term, the late Major Ciriaco Bumanglag succeeded him. Due to the exigency of the service, then AFP Sgt. Major Bumanglag resigned as Barangay Captain and was succeeded by Lt. Goito Alvarez. Not long after, Lt. Alvarez replaced Lt. Lucio Arbitrario. And again, due to the exigency of the service, Lt. Alexander Murillo, then concurrent Assistant CRO, Hqs Support Group, PA replaced Lt. Arbitrario. 

Then came the first direct election of the Barangay officials not only in South Cembo but also in the other Barangay of Fort Bonifacio. The incumbent Lt. Murillo was elected as the first Barangay Captain. Not long after however, Lt. Murillo resigned for good when he went to the United States. Lt. Ramon Andres, being No. 1 Kagawad, took over the chairmanship of the Barangay.