Community center

The smallest unit of government in the Philippines is the barangay. The closest English word for it would be 'village.' Each barangay has at least a small room where the elected officials can meet and where the secretary and one or two other staff members can stay to process forms, set appointments, and settle disputes and complaints. I remember when our barangay hall was one dark and tiny room with two small desks and one shared typewriter. Through the decades, the barangay has set aside money from its budget and requested funding from our congressmen and mayors to add more facilities. Now, our barangay hall is two stories high with several multi-function rooms that can be rented for parties and events, and there's a playground, tennis and volleyball courts, a covered basketball court and a small gym. The park now even has a grand-looking entrance. The last time I went there, they had torn down one side of the tiny senior citizen center to make it bigger.