Balsa?, baha!, BEC [Published in the 2012 St John the Baptist Parish Souvenir Program as "Balsa?, baha!"]

Barangay San Perfecto is named after Saint Perfect, a priest and the first of Christian martyrs beheaded by the Saracen Moors (c. 850) in Cordoba, Spain. He is relatively unknown today but he remains relevant to current world affairs, dying in defense of his faith. He is immortalized by his contemporary, Saint Eulogio, in the latter’s “Martyrs Memorial”. His feast falls on 18 April. A couple of parish publications provide conflicting data on the origins of the territory: “... used to be part of Barrio Balsa.” (A Century of Growth, 1994) and “Barrio Balsa was divided into three barrios of Rivera, Salapan and Progreso” (Echoes of a Hundred Years, 1999). Original land titles (titulos), however, inform that lots in the barangay were once part of San Juan Heights Subdivision that was developed together with Sta. Mesa Heights, New Manila Heights and other planned choice locations in the suburbs of Manila. That it was once part of a territory called Barrio Balsa is, however, highly credible considering that, pending completion of public flood defense infrastructure, the barangay is largely flood-prone as it may have once rested on the wetlands of the San Juan River. Notwithstanding, Barangay San Perfecto remains a triangular territory bounded by two major arteries of the city – N. Domingo and F. Blumentritt (up to the old stone aqueduct / arko) - and the decommissioned MWSS main pipe. It consists of several blocks and streets largely named after Christian saints (Remigio, Jorge, Joaquin, Venancio, Sotero, Gabriel, Toribio, et al) while some are named after historical events, personages, and places. The site of the old water pipe (Tubo), once carpeted by sunflower blooms (according to oldtime residents), is now home to a considerably large informal settlement. The heart of the barangay rests on an area along San Perfecto Street where the Barangay Hall and the Barangay Chapel (Kapilya ng Nazareno) are located. The annual Jan 18 Nazareno barangay fiesta gave San Juan City its reputation as the “home of the other big celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene” (p. 70, Metro Manila, 1999). The Nazareno is the patron of the barangay, its image prominently displayed in the barangay seal. Regular Sunday masses and seasonal church activities are held at or originate from the kapilya (novena to the Nazareno, barangay Way of the Cross, various processions, Mayflower offering and catechism for children, choir practice, meetings) under the aegis of the San Perfecto Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC). Listen to the San Perfecto (SP) BEC choir sing at the 6 o’clock Sunday morning mass at the parish church and at the 7 o’clock evening mass at the Kapilya. The SP BEC Youth Ministry recently conducted the “great hit” 2013 Mary Days of May.