Sociology of Place: The Case of Pamasawata in the Philippines

Pamasawata is an interesting case in understanding and applying the discourse on the sociology of place. The place of Pamasawata is situated at the margins. It is separated by a highway (Circumferential Road 3), secluded by a waterway (Maypajo River), bordered by different cities (Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas), and walled by factories and companies. This situation makes the place out of the way from the rest resembling a ghetto. In such an isolation, they are also neglected. The residents came from different parts of urban poor communities in the National Central Religion (NCR) and moved to that place for possible permanent residence. They have built their houses and formed their communities in the place. By convention, the place is called Pamasawata, but it comprises three communities: Dawata, Kumpol, and Pamasawata. The land area is under the name of the National Housing Authority (NHA). Although the people have submitted their proposal to the area, the NHA reserves its plan. The people know that the agency has planned to put up a mid-rise condo building, which they have outrightly rejected for their inability to pay the cost. Using Thomas Gieryn’s metatheoretical premises, place involves location, materiality, and meaningfulness. Pamasatawata is a unique spot since it provides people with a place of residence that has spared them from paying rent and fare. They build their houses from their wages and savings. They invest in the improvements of their place. Thus, the place is doubly constructed, physically as well as semantically. In Pamasawata, the people find the place as their home and develop their intimacy with the place.