Bagong Silangan - History

History

Bagong Silangan shares its history with San Mateo, Municipality of Rizal as the first was once part of the latter. In fact, notable events such as The Battle of San Mateo took place here. In the early 1960s, Bagong Silangan was known as a rich agricultural area where rice was the main product. During the latter years, a drastic conversion brought relocation efforts for informal settlers from the downtown, therefore establishing the barangay as a separate entity and later formally recognized as part of Quezon City. The sudden expansion of built-up area of the Metro led the informal sectors flock the area as a site of downtown substitute. Thus, the barangay became infamous as a squatters' area. When former Mayor Ismael A. Mathay, Jr. granted the rights of land ownership to the barangay people, some long-termed conflicts were solved. Since then, population has been rapidly increasing and a continuing growth of children dependents is visible.