A green mango a symbol of Mariana. This unassuming fruit adorns the barangay seal. It represents the mango trees Doña Hemady planted. They lined Gilmore and Broadway Avenues. Welcome to Barangay Mariana in Quezon City. This vibrant community wasn’t always a bustling urban center.
Originally it was a quiet hinterland. It bordered the San Juan River. Manila’s noise and pollution pushed middle-class families here. They sought a peaceful escape. This is how New Manila was born. Mariana is a vital part of New Manila.
In the 1920s Doña Magdalena Hemady changed everything. A Lebanese immigrant she purchased vast friar lands. She created Manila Heights Subdivision. It was the Philippines’ first gated community. It was outside Manila’s walls. This luxurious enclave attracted the elite. Victoria Avenue Broadway Avenue Gilmore Avenue and Pacific Avenue (now Doña Hemady Avenue) became its grand thoroughfares.
World War II brought changes. The area survived with minimal damage. The post-war era saw the rise of schools churches and hospitals. St Paul University Quezon City and Jubilee Christian Academy established campuses here. The Mount Carmel Shrine a beautiful church opened in 1964. St Luke’s Medical Center also moved to this thriving neighborhood.
In 1961 Quezon City Ordinance No 4816 created the barrio of Mariana. It was named after Mariana Wilson. She was a respected community leader. She spearheaded many social activities. Mariana officially became a barangay in the 1970s. New Manila eventually opened to the public. It transformed from a gated community. Low-density homes were replaced by townhouses condominiums and mixed-use complexes.
Today Mariana is a dynamic barangay. It boasts a grid road system. Victoria Avenue Broadway Avenue Gilmore Avenue and Doña Hemady Avenue are still major thoroughfares. The LRT Line 2 serves the area with Gilmore and Betty Go-Belmonte stations. Buses and jeepneys provide transport links to Manila and other parts of Metro Manila.
Mariana remains a vibrant place. Its history is visible in its streets and buildings. Its people continue to make it a special part of Quezon City. The green mango on the barangay seal is a constant reminder. It symbolizes Mariana’s growth from a quiet hinterland to a thriving community. Remember Doña Hemady’s vision. Remember Mariana Wilson’s community spirit. You’ve experienced Mariana’s rich past and its vibrant present.