Barangay Bagumbayan is a community that knows exactly who it is: a consistent “Hapag” awardee, a drug-free zone, and a stronghold of agricultural heritage. But during the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Workshop held on October 29 and 30, 2025, the community faced a more difficult question: Who do they want to become?

The answer lies in a fascinating juxtaposition found only in this barangay. In Bagumbayan, the path forward involves holding onto the “lusong” (mortar) and “kudkuran” (grater) of the past, while simultaneously demanding the solar power and digital connectivity of the future.

The Clash of Mud and Memory

The workshop’s “Photovoice” session stripped away the romanticism of rural life to reveal urgent infrastructure gaps. While the community prides itself on being a peaceful, “sweet corn” capital, the reality in Zones 2, 4, and 5 tells a different story.

Residents documented a trifecta of hazards: impassable muddy roads, unchecked waste, and—most critically—darkness. Despite the barangay’s peaceful reputation, the lack of streetlights in Zone 5 and the “hanging wires” in Zone 2 pose a daily threat to safety. The consensus was clear: You cannot have a truly resilient community if your residents are walking through mud in the dark.

A Modern Mandate with Old-School Values

The resulting Strategic Plan is a masterclass in balancing heritage with modernization.

Political Innovation: The council introduced the “Pamangkut-anon sang Barangay”(Barangay Inquiry), a bold mechanism for transparency that holds officials directly accountable to the voters—a modern take on the traditional “Bayanihan” spirit of shared responsibility.

Economic Industrialization:

Moving beyond simple farming, the plan targets the processing of corn and organic farming, aiming to keep more value within the local economy.

Cultural Non-Negotiables:

Even as they plan for solar energy and internet access, the strategic plan formally preserves local superstitions and practices—from the prohibition of sweeping at night to the preservation of the “Daigon.”

The Verdict

Barangay Bagumbayan has ratified a vision that is “God-fearing, respectful, and united.” They have chosen a unique lane: they will not sacrifice their identity for development. Instead, they are integrating their deep-seated traditions into a modern governance framework.

The message from the Multipurpose Gym is loud and clear: In Bagumbayan, the future will be solar-powered and economically robust, but it will still respect the elders, and it will definitely respect the “old ways.”