Krus na Ligas

Krus na Ligas is a barangay in Diliman, Quezon City in the Philippines. It is located within the premises of the University of the Philippines Diliman. It has a population of 21,513 based on the census conducted in 2015.[1][2]

Krus na Ligas
Barangay
Krus na Ligas
Location in Metro Manila
Coordinates: 14°38′39″N 121°03′49″E
CountryPhilippines
RegionNational Capital Region
CityQuezon City
District4th District of Quezon City
Government
 • TypeBarangay
 • Barangay CaptainMa. Maurina Magalong
Population
 (2015)
 • Total21,513
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
Postal Code
1101
Area code(s)02

History

Krus na Ligas was founded in the 17th century by Marikina townsfolk who settled in the hilly area to cultivate the land. The residents called their community Gulod (Tagalog for hilltop). It became a visita of Marikina, and as popular folklore has it that a small chapel was built near a cross-shaped marking nut tree known in Tagalog as ligas stood.[3][4] It was first recorded in 1705 with 30 families residing in the community.[5]

After the Battle of Pasong Tamo on 26 August 1896, during the Philippine Revolution against Spain, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Guillermo Masangkay, Pio Valenzuela and other Katipuneros camped in Krus na Ligas and met in one of the houses fronting Plaza Santa Inez before heading to San Juan del Monte.[4][6][7]

In 1939, Krus na Ligas together with the barrios of Balara, Diliman, Barangka, and Jesus de la Peña were separated from Marikina to form part of Quezon City. Jesus de la Peña and Barangka would later be reverted to Marikina. On April 2, 1949, a vast tract of public land which tilled by residents of the surrounding communities including Krus na Ligas was authorized by President Elpidio Quirino to be sold to the University of the Philippines for one peso, for it to build its new campus outside of Manila.[7][8] Significant portions of the farmlands of Krus na Ligas would be turned into government housing projects that would be latter known as Sikatuna Village, UP Village and Teacher's Village. Despite the growth the university campus, sections of Krus na Ligas remained farmlands well into the 1990s, until the remaining farmland was used for a housing project for university personnel, displacing the last farmers in the area.[3]

Land dispute

The inclusion of the settlement of Krus na Ligas into the UP Diliman campus effectively turned the residents of the barrio into illegal settlers. This resulted into several court cases attempting to secure legitimate ownership of the land the residents claim to have been in their family for generations, long before UP Diliman was even established. Attempts to settle land ownership between the residents and several UP Administrations have repeatedly failed.[8][9] During the administration of Edgardo Angara as UP President, an agreement was reached to donate 15.8379 hectares of land to the Quezon City government—acting as trustee of the residents—in exchange for the removal of structures on the boundary of the university and the community of Krus na Ligas; construction of a fence to demarcate such boundary; and relocation of families living on the university side of the boundary.[9][10] However, the failure of the residents to fulfill the specified conditions caused the revocation of the donation.

In 2008, the new charter of the University of the Philippines was passed by Congress prohibiting the sale of any of its land.[11] Attempts to allow the legitimate residents of Krus na Ligas to finally attain ownership of their land was then sought through an amendment of the university's charter.[8][12] In September 2019, Republic Act No. 11454 was made into law. This law included amendments to aforesaid charter to allow the sale of some portions of the land, subject to conditions.[13] It remains to be seen how the law and land distribution will be implemented.

Despite the dispute, Krus Na Ligas remains to be a very important residential community for UP students and employees.

References
  1. "Barangay Population Data". Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  2. "Krus na Ligas, Quezon City". PhilAtlas. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  3. Baldemor, Allyn V. (January–March 1992). "Pesanteng UP". Sinag (in Tagalog). Speakeasy. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  4. Chua, Xiao (2016-11-06). "Krus na Ligas sa UP Diliman, Bahagi ng Ating Kasaysayan" (in Tagalog). Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  5. Olivares, Lakan (2018-06-30). "University of the Philippines, Quezon City: Holy Cross Parish Church, Krus na Ligas". Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  6. "Holy Cross Parish". Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  7. dela Cruz, Jovee Marie N. (2015-06-13). "Barangay Krus na Ligas in UP may soon be sold to residents". Business Mirror. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  8. Pazzibugan, Dona Z. (2015-05-23). "Bill lets QC folk own UP land". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  9. "G.R. No. 122947". Supreme Court of the Philippines. July 22, 1999. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  10. Llanes, Ferdinand C., ed. (2009). UP in the Time of People Power, 1983-2005: A Centennial Publication. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press. pp. 51–52. ISBN 978-9715426237.
  11. "Republic Act No. 9500, §23". April 29, 2008.
  12. Pazzibugan, Dona Z. (2015-05-23). "Bill lets QC folk own UP land". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  13. Corrales, Nestor (2019-09-10). "Duterte signs law allowing UP to sell Krus na Ligas land to QC gov't". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
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