Pinagsama

Pinagsama ( lit. 'Combined') is an administrative division in Metro Manila, the Philippines. It is an urban barangay located in the western portion of the city of Taguig.

From a thriving community of mixed residential and commercial developments along Circumferential Road 5 (C-5), the area has become an important residential, commercial and industrial center in Taguig, and is the fifth most populated barangay in the city.

The McKinley Hill development adjacent to Bonifacio Global City can be found in the barangay.

Etymology
The barangay's name, Pinagsama, is a Tagalog word meaning "combined" or "united." This name was conceived due to the adjoining existence of various territorial villages such as Wildcat Village, 16th ISU Village, ISG Central Village, G2 Village, Upper West Village, Panam Village, Palar Village, Pinagsama Village Phase 1 and Phase 2, AFP EP Village Phase 1 and Phase 2, Heritage Park, Parcel of the Inner-Fort Bonifacio, and McKinley Hill.

History
Barangay Pinagsama was split from Barangay Western Bicutan by virtue of Taguig City Ordinance No. 67 Series of 2008 dated September 15, 2008. An official plebiscite was held in Western Bicutan on December 12, 2008, with an overwhelming majority in favor for the creation of the new barangay. The first set of barangay officials were appointed by Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga on April 4, 2009.

Despite being recognized as a barangay of Taguig, it was among the excluded barangays from the Internal Revenue Allotment. To address this, on July 1, 2019, Taguig's 2nd district Representative Lani Cayetano filed House Bill No. 349, aiming to officially establish Pinagsama as a barangay of Taguig. Her successor, Pammy Zamora, filed a similar bill in House Bill No. 3026 on August 2, 2022, during the 19th Congress.

Landmarks
Barangay Pinagsama is home to the McKinley Hill development, as well as foreign embassies and educational institutions.

Educational institutions
Pinagsama is home to three public schools of Taguig and 23 private basic education schools. Enderun Colleges, MINT College, and two international schools are also located in McKinley Hill. The Fisher Valley College is another tertiary educational institution in the barangay.

Foreign embassies
There are four (4) foreign embassies located in Barangay Pinagsama:
 * 🇶🇦 Qatar
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Geography
Pinagsama is bounded by barangays Fort Bonifacio and Rizal and the Manila American Cemetery to the north; barangays Pembo, Rizal, Ususan, and North Signal Village to the east; barangay Central Signal Village to the south; and barangay Western Bicutan to the west. The northern portion of the barangay, including Palar Village and McKinley Hill, overlaps with barangay Post Proper Southside, which was claimed by Makati until its transfer to Taguig in 2023, but its unclear boundary persists due to the Makati–Taguig boundary dispute. Pinagsama Creek, a tributary of the Taguig River, cuts through the northern half of Pinagsama and Ususan.

Official seal
The current seal, adopted in 2017, encapsulates key elements symbolizing the protection provided by the barangay government, depicted through a gold shield against a blue backdrop representing leadership and peace. The quadrant features representations of a united family on the upper left and businesses in the eleven zones, with the replica of the St Mark's Campanile at Venice Grand Canal Mall as a prominent landmark, on the upper right. On the lower left, the highway icon recognizes the significance of Carlos P. Garcia Avenue in the barangay's progress, while trees on the background represent the environment's importance. On the lower right, a weighing scale on the lower right embodies justice and a laurel wreath signifies victory in governance. The seal also notes the establishment year, 2009, and the "Barangay Pinagsama City of Taguig" in royal blue font color signifies peace and power. The white icons represent purity and success, and the three golden stars symbolize Discipline, Public Service, and Excellence, with a golden line representing stability in governance.


 * Former seals