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.
