Barangay Apas History

History And Transformations Of Barangay Apas

Barangay Apas Is located almost at the utmost center of Cebu City. Barangay Apas’ contemporary famous landmarks are the Cebu IT Park, formerly known as Asiatown IT Park, Marco Polo Plaza, Citylights Garden, TwinTowers, Montebelo VillaHotel, Gaisano Country Mall and The Central Command, Camp Lapulapu. Barangay Apas started its history with the foundation of the Camp Lapulapu during May 17, 1942.

Central command of the Armed forces of the Philippines was initiated during the regime of the Americans, where its main purpose was to defend against insurgents and to defend against the Japanese imperial army. Its reach was not just in Visayas but also in Mindanao. Central command controlled both state men

Nino, SItio Baca, Don Bosco, Panabang, Plaza, Fatima, Pangutana, Back GMA, La Guardia, PC Hills, CRCI, Lower Betania, Upper Torralba, Rotunda, Skyview Park, San Antonio Village and Middle NIvel Hills.) organized barrio councils registered with the Cebu City Government and the presidential Assistant on Community Development, Office of t he President on May 6,1960, four years ahead of Barrio Lahug, its neighbor and elected their first barrio barangay council oin 1961 (Barangay Apas official document,

He stated, “The wives of the soldiers, coming from provinces upon arriving at the Camp Lapulapu main gate, will inquire “nangutana” from the guard on duty.” The wives will ask for the whereabouts of their husband, and that was how the name “Pangutana” was made for the Sitio located in front of the Camp Lapulapu main gate. Apas, on the other hand, was where the seven original households were located and where the Signal transmitter Station was also located, now formerly known as Central Apas. Their names then were generally accepted by the public and officially accepted by the then III Military Area Command, recognized by the Cebu City Government. Pangotana and Apas are historically linked, that one cannot exist alone and separately. (ibid) There are a lot of “professional squatters” in Barangay Apas. And for that reason alone, they are at the chopping blocks of those who want to be part of the inner circle of IT Park. In 2010, a private land owner, namely Aletha Suico-Magat, wants toclaim his land at Sitio San Miguel, destroying 150 houses in the process. His lawyer stated that, “the occupants could not be considered beneficiaries of the socialized housing program of the government because they are allegedly “professional squatters.” http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/02/28/1295467/apas-lot-row-settlers-professional-squatters