History of Barangay San Jose East
Barangay San Jose East came into existence as it is today when the then barangay Calambog was divided into two barangays shortly after liberation (around 1946). Calambog was an old settlement whose name was said to be derived from the “mambog” trees that grow quickly in the area. At that time, Calambog has a peculiar settlement pattern: one which has its eastern, middle (where the barrio chapel was located) and western portion occupied.
According to stories, Calambog was divided into two not really to facilitate the administrative function of the barangay considering the scattered settlement pattern but to facilitate the route of the annual “aurora” – a traditional penitential procession done for nine consecutive nights during summer to ask for divine intercession for rains to irrigate their farms. For that, the villagers decided that the proper boundary is the place where the barrio chapel is situated being the center of the scattered settlement. As to who gets what regarding the barrio chapel’s bell, “hamurawon” posts, the wooden altar and the image of their patron saint, the difficult question was settled through a lottery which gave San Jose East the “hamurawon” posts and the bell while San Jose West got the wooden altar and the image of San Jose – their patron saint. For a while, San Jose East adopted San Pascual, San Vicente Ferrer and Sta. Maria as their patron saints until in 1957, when Mr. Francisco Panes donated an image of San Pascual Baylon – sculpted by Mr. Jose Pante and patterned from the image of the patron saint of Tinambac, Camarines Sur.
The first settlers of San Jose East were the families of Pante, Panes, Vargas, Manrique and Ballesteros with farming as their major source of living.
Based on the book Canaman Through the Centuries, an public elementary education is already available in the barangay as early as 1949.
In the 50’s the people at San Jose East get their drinking water from open wells (“bobon”) and still uses the Canaman River as their main alley of transportation. They use the human-powered “barotos” as their means of transportation – most of the time, they go to the poblacion (eastward) during “pa-taob” (high tide) and going back (westward) when the water is “pa-ati” (low tide) taking the power of the river’s current to their advantage.
In the 70”s, deep wells were constructed which resulted to the diminished popularity of the “bobon” and the people begun using the newly introduced modern farming system. The revolutionary RI varieties of rice were used which permitted them to harvest twice a year.
The 80’s gave them more infrastructures as barangay pathways, concrete solar dryers and other utilities were constructed. However, source for drinking water can no longer be found in the barangay hence the people are forced to “import” drinking water from other place. They buy drinking water per container at cost from the neighboring places served by the Metro Naga Water District, i.e. Naga City or Tibgao, Canaman and later on Poro, Canaman. The 80’s also saw the coming of the supply of electricity from CASURECO II. This development paved the way for the introduction of the people to televisions and refrigerators – and “more sophisticated” radios/cassettes. At this time, the provincial road already reached Poro and is now about 1.2 km. from the “visita” of the barangay making it a very feasible alternative route going to the poblacion or Naga City.
The 90’s saw the coming of more infrastructures like concrete pathways, concrete barangay hall, concrete “pantalan” (wharf) and also saw the advent of motorized bancas plying the Calambog-Poro route to facilitate their transportation. It was also at this decade that the barangay got its own motorized banca. At this time, tricycles and motorized pedicabs are already regularly plying the neighboring barangay Poro to poblacion route giving them more facilities to reach the poblacion and Naga City.
The new millennium presented new opportunities to the people of San Jose East as infrastructures and utilities were improved. Year 2009 & 2010 marked a milestone in the barangay when the farm-to-market road breached barangay boundaries and entered Barangay San Jose East territories. Today, the barangay proper is already reached by farm-to-market road much to the delight of all the constituents.
Physical Characteristics
Barangay San Jose East is located in the western part of the municipality of Canaman and is about 5.5 kilometers from the poblacion. It has an aggregate area of 109.8252 has. or about 2.5% of the total land area of the municipality. It is made up of three puroks namely Zone 1, Zone 2 & Zone 3.
It is bounded on the north by Barangay Liñaga with the Canaman River as the natural boundary, on the south by Barangay Sua, on the west by Barangay San Jose West and on the east by Barangay Poro. The barangay’s terrain is generally flat with slope of 0-3%. As to the soil type, Barangay San Jose East has Libmanan Clay and Canaman Clay. It is predominantly an agriculture area with 70% or 77 has. of its land devoted to rice farming.
Educational, Health and Service Facilities
Barangay San Jose East is served by a complete Elementary School with three teachers and 70 pupils. The nearest High School is located in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Canaman which is about 5.2 kms from the barangay. Tertiary Education facilities can be found in Barangay Baras (about 6.5 kms. From the barangay) and Naga City (about 10 kms from the barangay). A Day Care Worker (funded by the barangay with municipal counterpart) undertakes day care services to the children aged 3-5 years old.
Health services in the barangay is undertaken by four Barangay Health Workers and supplemented by once a month visitation by the Municipal Midwife. The residents can also access the services of the Municipal Health Office located in the town proper situated 5.5 kms from the barangay.
Mode of Public Transportation
Before the advent of the farm-to-market roads, people of San Jose West depend on the Canaman River for their transportation. However, the new millennium paved the way for land transportation. Today, fifteen tricycles regularly ply the route of San Jose East to Canaman Poblacion with a fare of P12 one-way. It can be noted that a growing number of residents have opted to buying motorcycles for their transportation needs.
Credit Institutions
The barangay is served by several credit institutions (private and government) including those offered by private individuals. TSPI and CARD Bank are the prominent private lending institutions in the barangay. The Municipal Government also offers micro-lending services to identified sectors, including the micro entrprenuers and farmers. Private individuals (5-6 type) and compradors also offer credit services to individuals in the barangay.
Water & Electric Supply
In the past, drinking water is not a problem in the barangay. In the early 1900s people get their drinking water at the Canaman River. In the 1940s, water at the Canaman River is no longer fit for drinking hence the people resorted to open dug wells for their drinking water. Later on, in the 60’s, shallow wells and deep wells became their source of potable water. However, in the 80’s, water from the deep wells is no longer potable – either it’s murky or it’s salty or both. A notable number of efforts were made to look for a place inside the barangay where they can find potable water but all the efforts were all in vain. This forced the people to buy water from nearby barangay reached by the services of the Metro Naga Water District (Barangay Linaga at P2 per container) or from water lorries that ply the area (at P6 per container). It can be noted that up to this day, most of the people still bathe and wash their clothes at the Canaman River – they usually do it at the “pantalan” so that they do not have to carry the water needed for that activity to their houses.
As to electricity, all the three puroks of Barangay San Jose East has electrical facilities through CASURECO II. However, there are still several households (13 households) with no electrical connections due to economic reasons.
Waste Management
The barangay has no Materials Recovery Facility and no established waste management system. Most of the residents dispose their wastes thru burning or in open pits. Some irresponsible residents throw their garbage in the river. It can be mentioned that the barangay is reached by some “Bote-Bakal-Plastic” buyers.
Peace and Order
The barangay is generally peaceful. Only minor incidents such as public disturbance usually caused by intoxicated residents were recorded in the barangay blotter. Peace and order in the barangay is handled by the 12 Barangay Tanods with regular detail duties and foot patrol every night.
Barangay Officials
Barangay San Jose East has the following Barangay Officials, to wit:
Punong Barangay: Policarpo Vargas
Barangay Kagawads:
1. Emma Cortina
2. Gerardo Vargas
3. Juvy Vargas
4. Priscilla Vargas
5. Domingo Pante
6. Henry Vargas
7. Modesto Vargas
8. Imelda Morante – SK Chairman
Barangay Secretary: Rollyn Bermudo
Barangay Treasurer: Divino Ballesteros