|
Historical Background
Santa, formerly
called Sta. Catalina de Alexandria, Virgen y Martir,
is one of the thirty four (34) municipalities of the
Province of Ilocos Sur. It is the second oldest town
of the province, founded after its Patron Saint Sta.
Catalina de Alexandria, Virgen y Martir. It was also
known as encomienda of Narandan, which served as the
hospital of the Spaniards.
Creation of the
Municipality
According to Augustinian maps of 1831 and 1834, Santa
was founded in 1576. The Augustinian established
missionary centers in the towns of Vigan in 1575 and
Santa in 1576. On the founding of Bantay in 1591 as a
pueblo, Santa was made its “visita” until 1713 when
it became an independent vicariate. The prestige of
the town was boasted in 1802 when the provisional
diocesan was established and was housed in the rectory
of Santa until 1834.
Historical Roles and
Events
The
“Malong Revolt” disturbed the quiet life of the town
in 1660-1661 when Andres Malong of Binalatongan rose
in arms to protest the abuses in the collection of
tribute and in the conscription of men for “palo y
servicios”. Malong proclaimed himself “King of
Pangasinan” and tried to extend his kingdom by sending
his Count Pedro Gumapos in Ilocos.
Gumapos pursued the treating Spaniards who camped in
Agoo. The Spaniards and the loyalists made their last
stand in Pideg, Santa, Ilocos Sur. Pedro de la Peña,
depending the Pideg Pass awed by the great number of
the rebels who camped in Narvacan, went to the rebels
and offered them free passage across Pideg Pass.
On December 14,
1762, Diego Silang led the “caillianes” (common tao)
in the most obstinate insurrection against Spaniards
in the 18th century. He crystallized the
discontent of the “caillianes” caused by the tribute
and forced labor. He proclaimed “Free Ilocos” and
made Vigan, capital.
When the Spaniards
failed to stop Diego Silang, in combat, Miguel Vicos
aided by Pedro Becbec murdered Diego Silang, but his
death did not end the revolt. Gabriela, the wife of
Diego Silang, with the help of her uncle, Nicolas
Cariño won over the Spaniards and their loyalist
soldiers in the battle of Banaoang, Santa on August
24,1763.
Disasters and
calamities occurred in Santa. A destructive flood
called “Layos Bungsot” of 1852 eroded the first
poblacion founded in 1576 and caused the town center
to be transferred to a new site, which is about four
(4) kilometers south of the first site.
Fr. Pedro Torrices
started the new church in 1849-1855 and Fr. Luis Lagar
finished it in 1875.
In 1905, another
destructive flood, “Layos Nawnaw” motivated the people
to transfer the poblacion to Pasungol in the southern
part of the town in 1907.
Don Domingo Bueno y
Ramirez, the Presidente Municipal, transferred the new
government and the new poblacion was laid out.
Circumferencial roads were constructed. An hermita,
made of bamboo and cogon, was put up and a one-storey
primary school building was laid out.
The guerilla
activities of Gen. Manuel Tinio dominated the
Philippine-American War in Ilocos. The civil
government of Ilocos Sur began to function in 1889
with Don Mena Crisologo; former Ilocos Sur delegate to
the Malolos Congress as the first Civil Governor.
On the resumption of
the Commonwealth Government, Pres. Osmeña appointed
Hon. Sixto Brillantes after being elected assemblyman
of the second district of Ilocos Sur.
On December 19,1941,
the Japanese soldiers landed in Santa. The people
fled to the mountains where they suffered from
privations, hunger and diseases. The Japanese
soldiers held a garrison at the south of Quirino
Bridge and massacred seventy (70) civilians in Barrio
Rizal on January 26, 1954.
These turn of
events, no matter how depressing and destructive they
were, brought back the residents together to restore
the present site of the local government.
Economy
Geographical constraints of the municipality provide
minimal agricultural land area. Only 767 hectares is
allocated for agriculture. Local folks produce rice
and corn, which is just enough, for the population
needs. Fishing is the most important occupation of
the people along the coastal barangays, which is
seasonal and providing seasonal employment.
Livelihood of the municipality includes; bolo making,
(blacksmithing), basket weaving, loam weaving and
embroidery and other small cottage industries.
At present, these
economic activities are still flourishing, because the
quality of the products is competitive. Increase
production inputs gave better chances of expansion.
On the agricultural sector, grape farming becomes a
booming economic activity. Idle lands were utilized
for this purpose.
Socio-Cultural
The
socio-cultural activities of the town of Santa are
indicative of the customs, traditions and religious
activities inherited from the Spaniards in the
Philippines. People celebrate annual town fiesta
every 25th day of November by commemorating
the Patron Saint, Sta. Catalina de Alexandria.
Another Patron Saint, San Roque is commemorated every
16th day of August, which coincides with
the “Layos Bungsot” of 1852. “La Naval” is also
observed. Christmas and Lenten Seasons are celebrated
as these mark the homing instincts of Santaians away
from home.
The
proximity of the town to the national highway and
other towns encourages mobility in terms of trade,
social, economic and cultural activities.
Politico-Administrativo
Santa’s present
existence is the crystallization of its resilience and
genius for survival. It survived after the two
destructive floods, which eroded the poblacion causing
relocation of the town hall for the third time. This
put to a test, the people’s determination and grit,
patience and perseverance, and resolved to build
another town center. This effort was led by Fr.
Martin Bustamante y Bello and Capitan Domingo Bueno y
Ramirez. Since then, Santa stands as the most
astonishing and admirable achievement of the people.
It has become a monument of enduring strength of
human spirit, of people’s genius for survival. It has
molded the kind of people who is now the epitome of
industry, patience and frugality.
Many things
transpired then and now, the poblacion settling on a
setting that provides a panoramic view of the
mountains and the sea overlooking the peripheral
circumference of the town proper. Political leaders
have come and go with their legacy to the people in
the improvement of the existing town hall and other
government buildings. Since then, the spillover
effect of the improvements took their form towards the
adjacent areas. Beautification of the town plaza and
the improvement of the peripheral roads and highways
were also initiated by them
In February 1986, one of
the most important changes in the history of the
Philippines was the people-powered revolution. Mrs.
Corazon C. Aquino ousted President Ferdinand E.
Marcos. A revolutionary government led to the
replacements of the political-administrative
leadership by Officer-In-Charge, and Santa was one
among the many towns of the country whose mayoralty
post was conferred to Jose V. Bello IV, who was
installed on October 14, 1986.
On 11 September
1997, a righteous and trustworthy person was
catapulted into the highest position in the locality
by operations of law, it was this date that a tragic
vehicle accident happened at Tagudin, Ilocos Sur which
led to the untimely demise of the late Mayor Jose V.
Bello, IV.
By operations of
law, Vice Mayor Jesus B. Bueno, Jr. inherited the
mayoralty post and after serving for 6 months, his
leadership had been tested and was able to
successfully withstand all these through the
overwhelming votes of the people.
The Santanians worst
nightmare was ended as the town was awaken in her deep
sleep. The dwarf and sleepy town was transformed into
an active and giant town roaring and boasting in the
entire archipelago of Ilocos Sur for its achievements,
activities and contributions in the quest for a
sustainable development. The town catapulted from 6th
class municipality to 4th class one
indicative of the transparent and effective fiscal
management of the present administration.
Another highlight of
Mayor Jesus B. Bueno, Jr., political career was his
election as President of the League o Municipalities
of the Philippines, Ilocos Sur Chapter unopposed, an
honor represented to the people of Santa as a concrete
evidence of his unique leadership style.
|
