FROM my Social Studies subject, I learned that the word 'barangay' was coined from the Malay word 'balangay,' which means a sailboat. A barangay, or village, as the smallest political subdivision in the Philippines, dates to pre-colonial times. According to historians, even before the Spaniards 'discovered' the Philippines in the 16th century, Filipinos lived in communities that were organized into independent villages called barangay. Each was composed of 120 to 400 individuals and headed by a ruler called datu or chieftain who wields immense powers and carries enormous responsibility. One such notoriously famous is Datu Kalantiaw. He makes the rules, implements them and metes punishment based on his wise judgments.

When the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, they divested the chieftains of such distinct governing powers. The conquistadores installed cabezas de barangay as political lieutenants at the grassroots. From then on, and until we finally attained national independence, the number of these political subdivisions steadily grew.