In the bustling city where roads, skyscrapers, and other modern structures now stand, pocket communities have thrived for decades—long before these infrastructures were established.
A small community called the Minipark, once part of Makati but now within Taguig, was home to military personnel and their families. Meanwhile, some have already vacated the area and sold rights to the current tenants.
Although the current residents knew it was government property, they had already invested in further developing and establishing their homes and livelihoods within the community. Not long after, the displacement threat loomed, and residents could no longer remain silent given their decade-long residence.
Minipark’s history
Grace Tampa, 69, vividly recalled what the Minipark community once looked like. With overgrown grasses and trees, she was among the first families to settle in the area in 1989.
“Taong 1990 ibinigay ang Minipark bilang pansamantalang tirahan ng mga sundalo. Sundalo kasi yung pinsan ng asawa ko kaya nakapunta kami rito dahil sa kanya. Nakikitira lang kami, hanggang sa may mga ilang sundalo na umuuwi sa probinsya at binenta yung lote niya sa amin sa halagang P5,000,” Tampa shared.
Today, more than 500 families consisting of around 5,000 individuals are currently residing at the Minipark community.
Meanwhile, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) came and asserted ownership of the land in 1992, citing provisions of Executive Order No. 40 signed under the former Ramos administration of the same year. Under EO 40, around 214 hectares in Fort Bonifacio were earmarked for development and disposition to raise funds for BCDA projects and to use such funds to accelerate the sound and balanced conversion into alternative productive uses of the Clark and Subic military reservations and their extensions.
As a response, the residents established the Minipark Neighborhood Association (MNA) to denounce such orders.
By 1994, BCDA attempted to demolish their homes. Violent dispersal, harassment, and intimidation threats sowed fear, forcing many to leave. The community’s fight for housing security continued until 1996.
“Lumalabas kami, nagbabarikada kaming mga babae. Sumasama pati mga kabataan, sila ang nagbibigay ng alert sa amin kung may dadating na demolition team,” Tampa added.
After nearly half a decade, in 1997, the BCDA eventually agreed to halt the demolition in the absence of proper relocation for residents of the Minipark.
However, despite this agreement, the MNA later discovered the formation of another association in their community.
“Naglagay kasi ng mga tagging sa bahay namin. Tapos 1999, nagkaroon ng panibagong asosasyon, green tag ang nilagay sa kanila. Iyon pala, sila yong tinayo para hikayatin kami sa Minipark na magpabayad,” Tampa said.
Beyond the harassment and smear tactics, the BCDA’s aggressive land conversion strategy escalated in a two-hour gun battle between the residents during a demolition in 2000. The incident led to the death of three residents they referred to as a “broad daylight massacre”.
That same year, the residents entered into another agreement with the BCDA. This time, the residents and BCDA signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) indicating their voluntary and peaceful relocation to a medium-rise BCDA housing project near Diego Silang Village in Taguig City.
Some have been relocated, particularly those who had agreed to self-demolish in exchange for compensation.
“Wala naman akong magawa kung may project sila na ikauunlad ng lugar, ang hiling ko lang kung maaari lang huwag na kaming aalisin. Bigyan kami ng lugar na dito lang din kasi nandito na ang buhay namin. Sa pagbabayad, hindi lang yung basta bayaran lang eh ang mahal ng bilihin ngayon,” Tampa lamented.
The issue between the urban poor and BCDA is not isolated to Minipark.
In 2015, the Maysapang in Taguig also faced demolition and eviction threats after BCDA laid claim to their community despite decades of occupation. Similar to Minipark, the Maysapang community also endured violent demolition led by R-II Builders and Jericko Security Agency. Deception and intimidation tactics have also been reported, with several residents convinced to self-demolish in exchange for meager compensation.
Current woes
Residents also heard accounts about a planned transport infrastructure project called the Luna Ramp that would wipe out the Minipark community.
“Iyon ang sabi nung nakausap ko sa Local Land Titling and Management Office (LLTMO),” said Felipe Brioso, 65.
Brioso is the current president of Minipark Community Alliance, the reestablished name of MNA.
According to Brioso, the officer told him that the project name “Luna” was chosen as an homage to the late Manuel “Lito” Luna Cayetano, the patriarch of the political clan of Cayetanos in Taguig City.
Aside from the looming threat of the Luna Ramp, Minipark residents have also grown increasingly suspicious of activities conducted in their community since 2016.
“Nagkaroon ng census noon. Pero may duda kami kasi katulad sa akin, yung isang bahay ng anak ko walang tagging pero sa amin meron. Pabalik-balik pa na nagsurvey, nagkamali raw. Nakasibilyan naman bumabalik tapos pinapipirma yung mga tao. Tatanungin pa kung may kuryente kang sarili, ilan electric fan mo, may refrigerator ka ba? Susukatin yung bahay mo. Parang hindi nalang survey sa population iyon,” Brioso shared.
In the upcoming State of the Nation address of Marcos Jr., many urban poor demand accessible, affordable, and safe housing. Not the kind that pays them off cheaply or relocates them without regard for the essential needs a community needs to thrive.
Up to this date, the Philippines has an estimated 6.5 million housing unit backlog that primarily affects low-income families and informal settler communities, including the Minipark.
For Brioso and Tampa, they are open to progress and modernization but emphasize the importance of the community’s participation so that they would be heard, included, and respected in their fundamental rights.
