Maria Ofelia Arellano shares her experience of settling in the area over 45 years ago, when she and her family were struggling financially. They moved to a plot of land they could barely afford, with Maria pawning her machine to make the down payment. Initially, the neighbourhood lacked basic infrastructure such as water, electricity, and transportation, but Maria and her family worked hard to build their home. She recalls the challenges of collecting firewood for cooking and washing clothes in the river. Over time, things improved with the help of a community initiative that provided plumbing, making life easier. Despite facing many hardships, including the pandemic, Maria remains resilient and finds comfort in the peaceful community she helped build.