LOCAL HISTORY

SANTA CATALINA

Writers:
CHARLES S. CADAYDAY
NEIL REYNOLD O. ALAM
EVELYN S. SUMUGAT
EVA P. LAJOT

March 2018
 HISTORY of Santa Catalina

The town of Sta. Catalina was formerly named Tolong. It was said that in the early days,
about
1572, there existed a settlement in LUNSOD (now Daan Lunsod), SECOPAN (now Secopong),
and
CAWITAN separately ruled by three warring brothers. When Captain Miguel de Loarca, a member
of
Legaspi’s expedition sent his troop for a mission to conquer Negros Island, these sites were
penetrated and later fused after the Spaniards resolved the conflict among the chieftains. It was
then
decided to make Daan Lunsod the center of political and community activities.

In the process of setting the culture specifically the language used as tool of
communication
of both the invaders and the oppressed was disclosed. On the part of the Spanish conquerors,
they
learned that KAMOTOLO (mispronounced by them as KAMOTOLON) meant “SON TRES
PERSONAS” or in English counterpart, “THE THREE OF YOU”. Referring to the brothers who
once ruled the land perhaps, in giving them honor, the place was named TOLON. Eventually, this
was changed to Tolong. Tolong became a municipality in the year 1855 and Bayawan in 1872.

The move of the Spanish Government for territorial authority in the island became
inevitable. As the population rapidly increased, better governance was sought by them. To
achieve such, they formed and organized the Province of Negros Oriental in the year 1890,
completely separating it from Negros Occidental. Dumaguete was made as capital and Tolong
was thought to be the second to the last in the south.

By the time of the American regime, sometime in 1903, Tolong and Bayawan did not meet
the minimum population requirement to qualify for a Municipality. Thus, the two were fused
making Bayawan (which then named as TOLONG NUEVO) as the main municipality and Tolong
( then called as TOLONG VIEJO) reduced to a mere Barrio.

When World War II broke out, the Japanese occupied Dumaguete on May 26, 1942. Since
Tolong was the headquarter of Guerillas under the leadership of Col. Abside with Lt. Gonzalo
Melodia, the Japanese visited the place with caution, landing only at dawn and leaving in the
morning. The province was liberated on April 26, 1945 through the combined forces of the U.S.
Army and the Filipino Guerillas.

After the war in 1945, Congressman Enrique Medina, who considered himself as a son of
Tolong Viejo, Sponsored a move to separate Tolong Viejo from Tolong Nuevo.

The municipality was renamed Santa Catalina on December 27, 1948. Hon.Telesforo
Belloso was the first appointed Mayor of the town. Immediately after, Tolong Nuevo passed a
resolution to rename their municipality to their former name, Bayawan. Hence the name of Tolong
Officially disappeared.

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 Santa Catalina, officially the
Municipality of Santa Catalina, is a 1st
class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines.

MAP OF STA. CATALINA

Location within
the Philippines
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 Coordinates: 9°19′59″N 122°51′57″E

Country: Philippines

Region: (Region VII, Central: Visayas)

Province: Negros Oriental Santa Catalina

District: 3rd District of Negros Oriental

Founded: December 17, 1947

Electorate: 41,132 voters (2016)

Area:
• Total 523.10 km2 (201.97 sq mi)

Hometown Language:
Minagahat language, the indigenous language of Southern Negros as listed by the
Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino.

Population: (2015 census)[3]

• Total 75,756
• Density 140/km2 (380/sq mi)

Time zone: PST (UTC+8)

ZIP code: 6220

PSGC: 074618000

IDD : area code +63 (0)35

Climate type: tropical climate

Income class: 1st-class Municipality

Etymology:
The town of Santa Catalina got its name after the supposedly miraculous image of the
patron saint, Santa Catalina de Alejandria, installed in the community chapel.

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Geography:

Topography of Sta. Catalina

Hilly Areas
Lowland Areas

The topography of Santa Catalina is predominantly slightly rolling hills (75% of its area),
25% is flat, and the remainder is steep terrain. There are 8 rivers and 27 springs.

Climate:
Dry season: November to April
Wet season: May to September
Average temperature: 36 °C (97 °F)

Due to its hilly land formation, most of the barangays in Santa Catalina are landslide prone
areas most especially during wet season. The barangay officials must be vigilant to protect their
constituents.
During dry season the hilly barangays of Santa Catalina are harvesting bananas,
sugarcanes, and corn. Along the coastal areas most of the fishermen catch more fishes during this
time and in the lowland areas are also harvesting rice, sugarcane and other valuable crops. These
boost the income of the municipality, and at the same time the town celebrates fiesta on April 24-
25 in honor to the patron saint Santa Catalina De Alexandria.

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OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA CATALINA

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 The seal of Sta. Catalina reflects its location, resources, valuable crops and infrastructure of
the locality vital to the development and progress of the place as first-class municipality of the
island.

The political leaders after Hon. Belloso were the following:

HON. HERMINIO T. ELECTONA (1952 – 1968) and the first elected Municipal Mayor

HON. JOSE N. NAPIGKIT (1968 – 1971 )

HON. HERMINIO T. ELECTONA (1972 – 1979), later was elected as Board Member of the
Province of Negros Oriental.

HON. JOSE N. NAPIGKIT (1980 – 1986)

HON. HERMINIO T. ELECTONA (1986 – 1987) AS OIC Municipal Mayor

HON. JOSE N. NAPIGKIT (1987 – 1988),

HON.LEON MAURICIO LOPEZ (1998 – 2007),

HON. RUBEN PALACIOS MELODIA (2007 – 2010),

HON. LEON MAURICIO LOPEZ (2010 – 2013)

HON. NATHANIEL MACAHIG ELECTONA, (2013 – 2018)

HON. NELSON C. LOPEZ, (2018 – PRESENT)

The municipal leaders listed above lead Sta. Catalina to improve the lives of the people in
the municipality by creating projects that benefits the Santahanon. As a matter of fact, Santa
Catalina is considered as the first class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental.

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DEMOGRAPHIC

Year Population +%p.a

1948 8,819 -
1960 15,743 +4.95%
1970 39,601 +9.65%
1975 51,949 +5.59%
1980 56,751 +1.78%
1990 53,560 -0.58%
1995 62,526 +2.94%
2000 67,197 +1.56%
2007 72,629 +1.08%
2010 73,306 +0.34%
2015 75,756 +0.63%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Reference:
“Province”: PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12
November 2016..

The population of Santa Catalina is increasing based on the data presented above. This is
because of the proper implementation of health programs, growing economy and at the same time
the abundant harvests of the municipality.

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BARANGAYS:

Santa Catalina is politically subdivided into 22 barangays

Barangay Urban/Rural Geographic Character Population Population

(2007) (2010)
Alangilan Rural Coastal/Farm 4,346 4,361
Amio Rural Hill/Farm 2,197 2,118
Buenavista Rural Hill/Farm 1,270 990
Kabulakan Rural Hill/Farm 2,821 2,480
Caigangan Rural Hill/Farm 1,553 1,386
Caranoche Rural Coastal/Farm 3,742 3,913
Cawitan Rural Coastal/Farm 5,602 5,809
Fatima Rural Coastal/Farm 1,517 1,370
Mabuhay Rural Coastal/Farm 1,892 1,847
Manalongon Rural Coastal/Farm 4,319 4,842
Mansagomayon Rural Hill/Farm 1,421 1,011
Milagrosa Rural Hill/Farm 4,148 3,385
Nagbinlod Rural Hill/Farm 2,512 3,012
Nagbalaye Rural Coastal/Farm 4,941 4,957
Obat Rural Hill/Farm 2,572 2,599
Poblacion Urban Coastal/Farm 11,788 12,511
San Francisco Rural Coastal/Farm 3,940 4,052
San Jose Rural Hill/Farm 2,490 2,539
San Miguel Rural Hill/Farm 939 1,282
San Pedro Rural Coastal/Farm 3,517 3,319
Santo Rosario Rural Hill/Farm 1,379 1,315
Talalak Rural Hill/Farm 3,738 4,257

Most of the barangays identified are in rural areas because they are located in coastal and
mountainous areas where the livelihoods are mostly dependent in Agriculture.

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INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ( KATRIBU)

NAME OF BARANGAYS NUMBER OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Alangilan 152
San Pedro 77
Amio 99
Manalongon 85
Aw-a, Poblacion 112
Caranoche 48
Tropicana,Poblacion 49
San Miguel 95
Kabulakan 63
Guba 158
Obat 23
Caigangan 117
Milagrosa 112
Fatima 200
Nagbalaye 177
Talalak 165
Nagbinlod 100
Cawitan 126
TOTAL 1,958

Goal of the KATRIBU ( Kahugpungan sa mga Tribung Bukidnon)

“ Ang Katribu usa ka lumadnong institusyon na katambayayong sa local ug mga nagpakabanag
ahensiya sa pangagamhanan diha sa pagsiguro ug pagpatunhay sa mga katilingbanong
programang pangkalambuan ngadto sa sector sa mga tribung bukidnon.”

Mission: “Ang admitibung tahas sa katribu aron pagpataas sa ang-ang sa kahimtangon sa mga
tribung bukidnon diha sa natad sa pang ekonomiya. Lumadnong pagdumala ug lumadnong
pangkultura pinaagi sa pagpahigayon ug mga malangkubon nga guimbuhaton.

Vision: “Us aka lig-on ug solido nga kahugpungan nga nagasakay sa koliktibong pangindahay sa
maayong kaugmaon sa katawhang tribung bukidnon.

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EDUCATION

DISTRICTS and Public Schools District Supervisors/District-in-Charge

STA. CATALINA DISTRICT 1 Sonny V. Uy

STA. CATALINA DISTRICT 2 Rhodaline G. Dizon
STA. CATALINA DISTRICT 3 Charmaine B. Jainar
STA. CATALINA DISTRICT 4 Renato G. Tano

Name of Public Elementary Schools

Ambrosio M. Ramirez Elementary School

Amio Elementary School
Avocado Elementary School
Aw-a Elementary School
Bago-Bago Elementary School
Baknit Elementary School
Buenavista Elementary School
CaiganganElementary School
Caniogan Valley Elementary School
Caranoche Elementary School
Carmen Teves Tia Memorial Elementary School
Cawitan Elementary School
Danao Elementary School
Elias R. Macias Memorial Elementary School
Fatima Elementary School
Hingles Elementary School
Jagna Elementary School
Kabulakan Elementary
Kakha Elementary School
KanggabokElementary School
Mabuhay Elementary School
MalatubahanElementary School
Manggolod Elementary School
Mansagomayon Elementary School
Marcelino E. Elligan-Banlas Elementary School
Nagbalaye Elementary School
Nagbinlod Elementary School

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Obat Elementary School
Omol Elementary School
Omoso Elementary School
San Francisco Elementary School
San Isidro Elementary School
San Jose Elementary School
San Miguel Elementary School
San Vicente Elementary School
Sta. Catalina Central Elementary School
Sta. Catalina Science Elementary School
Sto. Rosario Elementary School
Sto. Tomas Elementary School
Talalak Elementary School
Tamlang Elementary School
Tubod Public School

Public High Schools

Amio Comprehensive High School

Avocado Community High School
Budlasan High School - Pinamentigan,Budlasan
Casiano Z. Napigkit National High School .
Cawitan High School
Don Emilio Macias Memorial National High School
Eligio T. Napigkit –Malatubahan High School
Kakha High School
Nagbalaye High School
Nagbinlod High School
Obat National High School
Pedro R. Abul Memorial High School
San Miguel High School
Santa Catalina National High School
Sta. Catalina National High School
Sta. Catalina Science High School
Tamlang High School

These are the different public schools both elementary and secondary in the municipality of
Santa Catalina to insure the literacy and quality education of the school children. These schools
are divided into four districts recently namely: Sta. Catalina District 1, Sta. Catalina District 2, Sta.
Catalina District 3 and Sta. Catalina District 4.

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"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Santa_Catalina,_Negros_Oriental&oldid=8
28605012"

LANDMARKS OF STA. CATALINA

SANTA CATALINA TOWN HALL

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 Santa Catalina Town Hall is situated in the heart of the town. It caters all government
transactions like processing of business permits, birth certificates, community tax certificates and
etc. It serves also as office of the Municipal Mayor and elected town officials. This town hall serves
as a symbol of change and development whose prime movers are the elected municipal officials
expected to perform their duties with the utmost of their abilities and power for the welfare of their
constituents.

SANTA CATALINA TOWN PLAZA

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 Santa Catalina Town Plaza is a space of relaxing ambiance conducive for resting and doing
some recreational activities. It is a playground of the little children, a practice area of athletes and
dancers, a bonding point of friends and lovers, a venue of town celebrations and a spot of
meditation and exercise.

SANTA CATALINA CATHOLIC CHURCH

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 According to the Difinatorio of June 11, 1580, the beginning of Christian Organization of
Negros Island was due to the Augustinian Friars.

Before 1855, the Recollect Friars who took over the mission of Tolong constructed a church
made of light materials. In that same period, Poblacion of Tolong was moved to a site further down
the coast where the church was built, the present location of Sta. Catalina. This becomes a
famous landmark and permanent symbol of the town.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sta_Catalina_Negros_Oriental

BALETE TREE OF SANTA CATALINA

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 This centuries old Balete tree growing along the national highway in the corner of the town
plaza is a living permanent symbol. It is a common belief of the town that Balete Tree is a home of
the “ Engkanto”local term of fairies, the supernatural beings having the power to punish those
people tried to cut it. Although it is surrounded many scary stories, this tree gives a cool ambiance
and vibrant feeling to the tired travelers and town people resting under its wide cool shade
specially during hot summer season.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS OF SANTA CATALINA

A. WATERFALLS

TALOSTOS FALL

A spectacular 50-feet waterfalls located at Barangay Amio,Sta. Catalina. Accessible by

riding “Habal-habal” a local term for motocycles used by the local inhabitants as their means of
transportation.

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 MANTANGLA FALLS

A towering waterfalls located at Barangay Caigangan Sta. Catalina. Travel can be made
easy by riding an All-Terrain Vehicle or “Habal-habal” a local term for motocycles used by the local
inhabitants as their means of transportation.

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BAKNIT FALLS

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 A 7-layered waterfalls flowing on huge naturally carve rock formation located at Barangay
San Francisco. This adventure-filled wonder is usually accessible through riding horses and
walking but during dry season riding a motorcycle can be made available.

MANTABIOS FALLS

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 This three-layered waterfall is surrounded by dense vegetation and reachable through a
500 meters walk from the provincial road of Barangay Kabulacan.

BUG-AS FALLS

This waterfall has abundant flow of clear waters smoothly gliding on the firmly postured
rocks. It is located at Sitio Jagna, Barangay Nagbalaye Sta. Catalina.

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B. SPRINGS
MANTANGLA SPRING

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 This pure, safe and fresh water quenches the thirst of the local residents and tourists.
Situated at Barangay Caigangan Sta. Catalina.

C. CAVES

PAMU-AT CAVE

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 This unique conical formation of calcite rocks is developed and preserved inside for
centuries of nurture and safeguarding. Situated at Barangay Obat, Sta. Catalina.

MAGLANGIT CAVE

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 This welcoming trunk-like stalactites and mounting stalagmites is a favorite
destination of nature lovers situated at barangay San Francisco, Sta. Catalina.

D. Beaches
CARANOCHE BEACH

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 A lengthy sandy seashore rich in shells and azure blue sea abundant in fishes and is
a favorite location during summer vacation not only the local people of the area but the
foreigners as well.

E. Mangrove Areas

CARANOCHE MANGROVE

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 Situated at the mouth of Sicopong River is the haven and breeding place of various
sea animals. This vast and thick mangrove vegetation can give the visitors a refreshing and
pleasurable experience.

F. WILDLIFE SANCTAURY
G.
MONKEY SANCTUARY

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 A 2-hectare haven of monkeys and countless flora and fauna continually protected by the “
Bantay Lasang” and local residents of the area headed by Mr. Dionisio Valor, chieftain of
Bukidnon Tribe at Barangay Kabulakan, Sta. Catalina.

H. FESTIVAL

PAKOL FESTIVAL

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 This award-winning merriment of bountiful harvest emerges from one of the major crops of
Sta. Catalina, the various varieties of bananas. Pakol Festival coined from the name of famous
local banana named “Pakol” and serve as food for the monkeys.

ARTIFACTS

Bolo (Sundang)

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This artifact was used by the people of the locality as a simple cutting tool.

Pestle and Mortar ( Lusong)

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This stone tool was used in pounding hard spices used by the people in cooking their food.

Winnowing Fan ( Nigo)

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 This old tool was used to separate rice hulls from its grains by throwing the grains up into
the air, the lighter rice hulls will be blown away. This is the traditional way of the locals to purify
their staple food(rice).

Coconut Grater ( Kaguran)

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 This artifact was used in grating the coconut meat manually into smaller pieces in order to
get its delicious coconut milk used as ingredient of vegetables cooking, dessert purposes and
medicinal intentions.

Earthen Jar ( Banga )

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This container was made out of clay and used as water storage of the locals.

PICTURE GALLERY OF MUNICIPAL MAYORS OF STA. CATALINA

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PICTURE GALLERY OF MUNICIPAL MAYORS OF STA. CATALINA

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 HON. NELSON C. LOPEZ
Municipal Mayor
2017-2019

HON. PEVE O. LIGAN

Municipal Mayor
PICTURE GALLERY OF STA. CATALINA DISTRICT SCHOOLS
2019-Present

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STA. CATALINA DISTRICT 1

 SCHOOL

STA. CATALINA DISTRICT 2

AMBROCIO M. RAMIREZ CENTRAL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

STA. CATALINA DISTRICT 3

STA. CATALINA CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

STA. CATALINA DISTRICT 4

CARANOCHE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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