I found a copy of Republic Act No. 6712, the law creating the Municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino. Thanks to websites that serve as a database of Philippine laws. Our statutes can now be read, copied, and shared by almost anyone, not just yellowing and gathering dust on some hands-off shelf.
According to R.A. 6712, Senator Ninoy Aquino shall comprise eight barangays, seven of which belonged to the Municipality of Kalamansig, namely, Buenaflores, Bugso, Kadi, Kiadsam, Kulaman, Malegdeg and Sewod. The eighth village is Langgal, which belonged to the Municipality of Bagumbayan. Barangay Langgal is where I grew up.
From the original eight barangays, twelve more were later added, bringing the present number to twenty. The newer barangays are Banali, Basag, Buklod, Gapok, Kapatagan, Kuden, Lagubang, Limuhay, Midtungok, Nati, Tacupis, and Tinalon. Most of these twelve villages were formed out of the territory of Langgal. So far, however, I have not been able to find the law or laws that created these barangays, so I will not comment further on their scopes or history.
Back to the republic act, I find the last sentence rather strange: "Enacted without executive approval, February 17, 1989." I feel like Corazon Aquino, the Philippine president that time, didn't want to give her husband's name to the place. I know that statutes need not be signed by the president to be valid and executory, so long as they meet some equivalent requirements, but I wish the use of the late hero's name had the express blessing of his wife.
Read the full text of R.A. 6712 at PhilippineLaw.info.
