BRIDGING THE GAP
Jalandoni Street
The naming of a street is generally decided upon by the local government unit for identification purposes. It is usually a tribute to a hero or a leader, a saint, a prominent personality, or the peculiar condition of the place.
Jalandoni Street is specifically a passage of three barangays along its vicinity - Hipodromo, Bagumbayan, and Wilson. It is essentially a commercial site with a small portion considered as residential area. According to its old residents, Jalandoni Street existed even before the Second World War. Although the informants do not know why the street is named Jalandoni, they believe that it was a tribute to a prominent person. The writer surmised that the name, although this will still require verification, is in honor of Maj. Gen. Jalandoni, a noted Ilonggo military officer.
The area where Jalandoni Street is located was a swampy place before, according to some residents of Barangay Hipodromo and Barangay Bagumbayan. The street itself was a rough road--a mixture of dust, rock and mud for a long time. It was only improved in the late 1970s and early 1980s. At first, the street was finished with thin cement but did not last long. Then, it was covered with asphalt and later, cemented again.
Most of the inhabitants of the barangays along Jalandoni Street settled in the area before the Second World War. Barangay Hipodromo was the site of horse stables before. One resident described it specifically as a "cuadra" for horses. Barangay Bagumbayan, on the other hand, was the former Barangay Fortunata. After the Second World War, it was renamed Bagumbayan.
There are two schools found in the vicinity - the Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus and the Seventh Day Adventist School. Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus is one of the oldest institutions in the area. It was known as Colegio del Santo Angel before World War II, according to some people living around it. It is located at the center of Jalandoni and Ledesma streets.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, two hotels were erected on Barangay Hipodromo--the Fine Rock Hotel and the Centennial Hotel. There are also two gasoline stations in the area - Petron on Corner Delgado-Jalandoni Streets and Shell on Corner Jalandoni-Ledesma Streets. Aside from these establishments, there are also mini-marts, small carinderias, and fashion boutiques. Moreover, there are also a tire supply outlet and a bicycle supply store.