Beside the white-coated Balzain Bridge and in front of a shop of a tombstone-maker stands the Pattaui neighborhood in Balzain East in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Recently, the community near the heart of the city has talked about the possible sale of the compound to make way for an infrastructure project. Whatever the case may be, life goes on for its residents.
A typical weekend in the neighborhood of Balzain East starts with some people sweeping outside their house and others busy doing the laundry in the back, with the scent of the sweet detergent diffusing in the air. Most residents stay at home during the afternoon, amused and entertained, as they watch their favorite noontime shows while the rest stay in the beauty parlor and sari-sari store, waiting for customers. Kids like to play around when the sun nearly paints the sky orange. During the evening, as stores in the compound close for the day, streetlights illuminate the area.
The Pattaui compound comprises residents who are mostly related to each other by blood. The rest are borders and family friends who have already become accustomed to life in the compound.
In the middle of the compound is the ancestral house, owned by the Pattaui family since the 1950s. Surrounding the antique home are the houses of each Pattaui sibling, alongside the local store and beauty parlor. Houses in the compound are presumed historic sites because it satisfies the criteria of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). Under the guidelines of the NHCP, a house is considered a historic site or structure if it is at least 50 years old and must be 70% authentic and not gone under significant renovations.
However, no formal declaration from the NHCP says that they are historic sites. Nonetheless, these houses have been silent witnesses to the many events in the city. The houses have experienced the tragic 1990 Luzon killer quake, where a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook the northern and central parts of Luzon resulting in thousands of fatalities. When strong typhoons such as Lawin hit northern Philippines in 2016, the houses in the compound were damaged but managed to stand still.
Among the great grandchildren of the Pattauis is Chezka Racelis, 19, born and raised in Balzain East. Chezka considers her childhood to be her best years in the neighborhood. She and her friends would play traditional Filipino games until their parents scold them or simply hang out in front of their Aunt Edna’s sari-sari store while sipping their favorite Sparkle soft drink.
“Masaya talaga lalo pag naglalaro kaming magpipinsan noon,” Chezka beamed with delight. “Tapos halos kompleto pa dito sa compound, may tindahan, may beauty parlor, dati may computer shop din dito pero napalitan na.”
Among the most memorable occasions for Chezka is Christmas eve. Before the pandemic, residents would gather for a Christmas feast in the open area of the compound — big enough to fit the almost 40 population of the neighborhood. Karaokes, parlor games, and boodle fights are the popular gimmicks during big celebrations.
Joy Mangulad, one of Pattaui's grandchildren, feels lucky to live in the neighborhood. Yet, if she had the financial means, she would build her own house outside the compound because Balzain East has long been a flood-prone area — a bitter truth that Joy had to admit.
The Pattaui compound is located approximately two kilometers from the Pinacanauan river, the largest tributary of the Cagayan River. When the Pinacanauan river rises, water swells to nearby low-lying areas, one of which is Balzain East. During these challenging times, residents automatically evacuate themselves and their belongings to an elevated area. The Pattaui compound may be a fun-loving neighborhood but it's not a walk in the park to live there especially during typhoons.
When asked to choose whether to stay in the compound or build a new house outside her usual environment, Chezka laughingly said, “Sa iba na ako mag-i-stay dahil bahain dito.”
At first, it feels ordinary for Chezka and Joy to talk about the frequent flooding in the Pattaui compound. Yet, this has long been a problem of areas in Cagayan Valley which, ultimately, leads to loss of lives and properties.
The restricted flow of Cagayan River significantly contributes to the flooding in Cagayan Valley according to former director of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute Fernando Siringan in his Facebook post. Cagayan Valley has long been a catch basin of water from the surrounding mountain ranges and the narrow channel of Cagayan River slows down the flow of water to Appari, where the river meets the sea, causing the overflow of water in the channel which ultimately leads to flooding in the Cagayan Valley. Thus, it is expected that low-lying areas in the province, such as the Balzain East, are likely to experience severe flooding.
While typhoons are inevitable occurrences, the severity of floods can be lessened through flood management strategies such as planting native trees, constructing secondary channels, and strengthening drainage systems.
One of the local government’s responses to this problem of frequent flooding in the province is constructing a drainage system that runs from Barangays Caritan to Balzain. According to the local newspaper The Northern Forum, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Loreta M. Malaluan said the drainage system will divert the flow of water from the Cagayan River to a more efficient channel to lessen the effects of flooding come rainy seasons and typhoons.
Started on Nov. 16, 2021, the construction is already halfway complete and, unfortunately, the project would hit a portion of the Pattaui compound. Thus, whether the residents like it or not, they should either sell the compound to a private individual or to the government for a minimal price.
Every now and then residents like Chezka and Joy feel nostalgic and regretful of the compound’s sale. “But if I were to choose, I think I want to preserve the area because there’s a lot of happy memories there,” Joy said with a hint of hope on her face. Yet, as much as residents like Chezka and Joy would like to preserve the area, they could only hope that the infrastructure project would legitimately address the flood problem in the area, even if that means letting go of their ancestral lot.
The compound’s sale is no longer a question of if, but a matter of when. Of the two choices the Pattaui estate has been posed — to sell to a private individual or to the government — they are choosing the former. Now, a tarpaulin on the front entrance of the Balzain East compound says in bold, red letters: “Lot for Sale.”
For now, the typical weekend occurs. When the day finally comes that Chezka, Joy and the other residents must bid farewell to their home, they will have to evacuate for the last time. This time, they will need to take not only themselves and their belongings, but also vibrant memories that will have to be attributed to the past.
“Mas naging masiyahin ako dito sa compound,” Chezka said with a beam of satisfaction. “Mas naano ko yung sarili ko, mas nahanap ko ’yung totoong ako.”
“I will feel sad, of course,” Joy said with a faint smile. “But change is part of life, we need to embrace it.”
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