A person, neither a resident nor cognizant of Biñan, may traverse the
city; taking in the environment with a negative first impression and,
eventually, raise a rhetoric question tainted with sarcasm: “You call this a
CITY?”
Why so?
The
National Hi-way: A Fairly Thorough Thoroughfare
The district-turned-city, inaugurated in February 2, 2010 by a majority
vote which ratified Republic Act 9740 which proposed the conversion; is
accessible via three exits from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX): Southwoods,
Carmona, and Mamplasan. All these lead to the National Hi-way which shoots
through three barangays of Biñan: the northernmost of Canlalay; onward to San
Antonio; and finally, Platero; before entering the neighboring city of Sta.
Rosa to the south. The main thoroughfare, like that of a number of routes in
Manila, is plagued by frequent traffic congestion. Patriotic denizens may
counter this criticism by emphasizing the same occurring in the National
Capital Region (NCR); that their territory is no different from the latter with
regards to this flaw.
They shall argue that, as in Manila,
·
There are traffic
patrol officers who are not located at their assigned stations; dallying at
sidewalks and side stores instead of attending to the discordant flow of
vehicles.
·
The lethargic repairs
and renovation done on major roads are contributing factors which enhance
traffic build up.
·
Damaged or
unsynchronized traffic lights cause uncoordinated traffic movement, leading to
vehicular accidents which, in turn, are followed by intense arguments between
motorists.
·
Obstinate and
undisciplined individuals, who disregard “no crossing signs” and constructed
pedestrian overpasses, disturb the flow of traffic when motorist are compelled
to take measures in order to avoid hitting them.
A
Little of Everything
Biñan holds the privilege of boasting the presence of recreational,
educational, commercial, business and industrial establishments in its
locality. Among these are:
·
Splash
Island-located at San Francisco along the
(SLEX); it is dubbed as the “premiere water recreational park of the
Philippines”.
·
Pavilion
Mall-a commercial edifice, situated between
Barangay Sto. Niño and Barangay San Antonio; bears the reputation of being
managed by ‘Ayala Malls’: accredited for the construction of the renowned Ayala
Center at Makati City, Manila.
·
Brent
International School Manila-settled at Mamplasan,
Biñan in 1997, this is the fourth campus in the line of Brent schools put up in
the Philippines (a); acclaimed for its Western-style education as that of its
predecessors; and notable for having charge of Manny “Pacman” Pacquaio-the
celebrated national prize fighter’s five children. (b)
·
One
Asia Business Center-strategically located
at Jubilation, New Biñan at the Mamplasan area, it is a 10-hectare state -of-the-art
business and commercial hub south of Manila intended for the enhancement of
economic development not only of the city of Biñan but also its neighboring
provinces of Sta.Rosa, San Pedro as well as progressive provinces south of
Manila. Unfortunately, other than the Pavilion Mall along the National Hi-way,
the mentioned establishments are to be found in the outer areas of the city,
making them less conspicuous to individuals who are unaware of their existence.
What the latter more feasibly can take note of are the less developed or
neglected sites.
Most of the barangays which constitute Biñan
have the countenance of districts of Manila such as Tondo, Quiapo, and España:
with narrow side-streets and corridors barely 20 feet in breadth, lined with
barrows such as parlors, pawnshops or plebeian eateries; and sidewalks plagued
by vendors with their various trades spread out along the pathway, making passage
difficult for both pedestrians and motorists.
God, Man, and Country: Historical and
Religious Heritage
In line with ancient religious structures as the Manila Cathedral and
Quiapo Church, the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church stands at the downtown
city plaza of Barangay Poblacion. It is etymologically related to the city’s
name, as the story goes:
Two
Spanish missionaries-After Captain Juan de Salcedo landed in Biñan, Spanish
missionaries, Padres Alfonso de Alvarado and Diego Espinar planted a wooden
cross where the San Isidro Labrador church presently stands then celebrated a
Thanksgiving Mass; and began baptizing curious natives. Folklore claims that
the elders, in relation to the baptism performed in the area; decided to call
it “Binyagan”.- a place of baptism.
The
Spanish tongue found it difficult to pronounce the locally given name; and
decided to brand it, instead, as “Biñan”.
As with the Luneta Park (formerly Bagumbayan) and Fort Santiago within
the walled city of Intramuros in Manila, Biñan bears a significance with
regards to the life of the national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
In Poblacion, as well, his
mother’s ancestral home; The Alberto Mansion, once stood. As a boy, Rizal moved
here from Calamba to receive his first formal education under Maestro
Justiniano Aquino Cruz. In October 22, 2012, the structure collapsed from its
roof. As of the present, this 19th century edifice no longer stands
where it used to after its recent demolition was authorized.
Some
‘Stuff’ That Dreams Are Made Of
At Malate, Manila, the first ‘Aristocrat’ restaurant was established in
the early post-war years at the conclusion of World War II; vaunting its
celebrated “kare-kare” entrée, and
expanding its enterprise internationally.
‘Tuding’s’ , a prominent eatery known for its pork chop and ‘tapsilog’ meals, had its roots
established at Manabat St., Barangay San Antonio at Biñan in 1985; during the
pre-EDSA Revolution period.
Another factor which gives Biñan the privilege of being ‘geographically
noted’ is their delicacy which bears a nomenclature recognized nationwide as
the “Puto
Biñan”. Unlike others in its classification; this rice cake is
distinguishable for its flat and wide, pancake-like shape; its ingredients of
salted eggs, baking powder, sugar syrup and generous topping of grated cheese;
and its fluffy softness which, as patrons have given to testimony to, allows it
to melt in one’s mouth.
Lords
of the Flies and Of Mice and Men
In Biñan, as in other areas of Laguna, ordinances have been raised discouraging
the use of plastic bags: that paper bags should be applied in its place; and use
of the common “bayong” or straw
bags/baskets being one of those edicts. Such recourses concerning environmental
hazards show an exaggerated disregard for OTHER causes of quandaries in the
community such as wood, rubber, or the by-products of certain oil-based
products and the public attitude with regards to the disposal of these objects.
The Puregold supermarket branch at Pavilion Mall in Barangay San Antonio
takes the order into practice only on Wednesdays, when it burdens customers
with the difficulty of utilizing paper bags; and graces them with plastic bags
on other days of the week. Citizens are not apprehended or admonished for
littering and ridding themselves of their garbage in critical facilities such
as creeks and waterways. And the straw bag-proposal was either short-lived or
ignored.
“Come,
Hell and High Water!”
In September of 2009, and October of 2010; storms ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pedring’
respectively made its landfall on Philippine soil. Its effects on both Biñan
and Manila proved to be the source of tribulation for inhabitants of specific
localities. The Morayta, España, and Recto regions in Manila, to name a few, do
not have much an advantage over most of Biñan’s barangays regarding the subject
of flooding and its devastation. A resident, during an interview, attested to
the fact that flood water occasionally rises to chest level of residents of his
height, during days of continuous rainfall or storms. (c) Manileños and
Biñanenses know no difference in the common havoc brought about by this
adversity to personal and business establishments.
Any discriminating opinions against the worthiness of Biñan to be
identified as a city may be considered as unfair or prejudiced; especially by
those who are its native occupants. It shows its potential in keeping in stride
with other major metropolis; possessing both positive and negative facets and
constitutions. If its establishments and structures are not as spectacular and
grandiose as that of Manila’s; its deficiencies are also retarded in
comparison; and if the Philippines’ capital city has its advantages over Biñan;
the latter, too, has its own over the former. As a jest: If the entrées of
‘Aristocrat’ have received acclaim in different countries of the world; Manila
has had no delicacies or provisions named after, nor for, it; and the fact that
Biñan has no history of overthrown heads-of-state; reinstated in public offices.
Perhaps, in the future, there will be another period when the ‘Manila
Sound’ classification will be vogue once more; and another musical group with
the appellation of a sausage will practice it: composing a song about how a
Filipino has found no sense of belonging in foreign countries he has visited; and
a chorus that begins with the word “BIÑAN”.
Footnotes:
(a) Brent
School Baguio (1909), Brent International School Manila at Pasig (1984), Brent
School Subic (1994)
(b) Emmanuel
Jr. Michael, Princess, Israel and Queen Elizabeth Pacquiao
(c) Rico
Obcena,vulcanizing shop operator at Barangay San Vicente; height: 5’8”
Online sources:
-www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biñan
-www.brent.edu.ph
-http://doonposaamin.ph/articles/food-to-eat/5-delicious-things-to-remember-the
puto-bintildean-for
-www.googlesearch.com
