How did the barangay come to be?

Answer 1

Barangay came from the word Balangay which is a huge wooden water vessel used by ancient Filipinos as a mode of transportation during pre colonial era. In each vessel a clan or a family is assembled and they live inside the balangay as they journey from island to island. Upon settling in to the land people are organized in groups so that head of the community or the Datu can easily manage them, also it is an efficient way of distinguishing people from other families these groups assemble as how they are formed in the balangay later the word changed to barangay, a well organized independent village.

Answer 2

The barangay in the Philippines originated from pre-colonial settlements led by a datu (chief) and governed by a council of elders. The Spanish colonial government organized these communities into barangays for easier governance and conversion to Christianity. Today, barangays serve as the smallest administrative division in the Philippine government.