Santa Ana, officially the Municipality of Santa Ana (; ; ), is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
in the
province
A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Cagayan
Cagayan ( ), officially the Province of Cagayan (; ; ; isnag language, Isnag: ''Provinsia nga Cagayan''; ivatan language, Ivatan: ''Provinsiya nu Cagayan''; ; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Cag ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. In the 2020 census, it had a population of 35,688 people.
History
The first inhabitants of the region were Negritos and (woodcutters) under
Don Julián Astigarraga (Capitán Vasco, 1854-1901) of
Aparri
Aparri (ibanag language, Ibanag: ''Ili nat Aparri''; ; ), officially the Municipality of Aparri, is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of , Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a ...
. Some fishermen from
Minanga came and settled in
Palawig. In 1891,
Felipe Agarpao organized a (society) called ''Inanama'' with some settlers. The purpose of the organization was to acquire and occupy land in the area. That same year, Briccio Campañano of
Lapog, Ilocos Sur and others from
Ilocos came to Palawig to apply for homesteads in the sitio of
Marede. These settlers organized another called ''Dagupan''.
In 1900, the woodcutters from Aparri arrived by boat. The clearing of forests began shortly after.
From 1919 to 1935, several groups of settlers from the Ilocos Region came to claim territory aboard (light boats). The once-forested areas were only accessible via rivers and the sea. Before reaching settlements in the northern and eastern portions of the region, they had to navigate along the
Palawig River.
The name Palawig was coined from the local term , meaning “river mouth”.
In 1935, the of Inanama and Dagupan were united into the polity of ''Da Inanama''. Headed by Navarro, they began working for the
secession
Secession is the formal withdrawal of a group from a Polity, political entity. The process begins once a group proclaims an act of secession (such as a declaration of independence). A secession attempt might be violent or peaceful, but the goal i ...
of Palawig as a municipality independent of
Gonzaga. Their application was held in abeyance because their population did not meet the minimum required by law. The proposal was later suspended in 1941 due to the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
After the war, Palawig and other neighboring ''barrios'' were eventually separated from Gonzaga, and the town was created by
President Elpidio Quirino
Elpidio Rivera Quirino (; November 16, 1890 – February 29, 1956) was a Philippine nationality law, Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 6th President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953.
A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered p ...
via Executive Order No. 289 on 21 October 1949. Contrary to the usual assumption, the town is not named for
Saint Anne
According to apocrypha, as well as Christianity, Christian and Islamic tradition, Saint Anne was the mother of Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary, the wife of Joachim and the maternal grandmother of Jesus. Mary's mother is not named in the Bible's Gosp ...
, mother of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...
, but is an
acronym
An acronym is a type of abbreviation consisting of a phrase whose only pronounced elements are the initial letters or initial sounds of words inside that phrase. Acronyms are often spelled with the initial Letter (alphabet), letter of each wor ...
of the surnames of the then-three provincial officials: Governor Nicasio Arranz and Provincial Board members Federico Navarro and Roberto Avena. The association with Saint Anne was a
back-formation
Back-formation is the process or result of creating a neologism, new word via Morphology (linguistics), morphology, typically by removing or substituting actual or supposed affixes from a lexical item, in a way that expands the number of lexemes ...
in keeping with the tradition of religious, Hispanic
toponym
Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of ''wikt:toponym, toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage, and types. ''Toponym'' is the general term for ...
s.
Geography
The municipality contains the north-easternmost point of
Luzon
Luzon ( , ) is the largest and most populous List of islands in the Philippines, island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the List of islands of the Philippines, Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political ce ...
and also includes
Palaui Island. It is the home of the
Cagayan Special Economic Zone and the
Camilo Osias Naval Base in Barangay San Vicente.
Santa Ana is situated from the provincial capital
Tuguegarao
Tuguegarao ( or ), officially the City of Tuguegarao (; ; ; ), is a 2nd class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the 2020 ...
, and from the country's capital city of
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
.
Barangays
Santa Ana is politically subdivided into
barangay
The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...
s. Each barangay consists of
''puroks'' while some have
''sitios''. The town is divided into two sections by the Palawig River, east and west.
* Casagan - E
* Casambalangan (Port Irene) - W
* Centro (
Poblacion
''Poblacion'' (from Spanish '' población'', meaning "population"), sometimes abbreviated as Pob., is a term used in the Philippines to refer to the administrative center, downtown, old town, or commercial area of a city or municipality. It ...
) - W
* Diora-Zinungan - W
* Dungeg - E
* Kapanikian - W
* Marede - E
* Palawig - E
* Batu-Parada - E
* Patunungan - E
* Rapuli (Punti) - W
* San Vicente (Fort) - E
* Santa Clara - E
* Santa Cruz - E
* Tangatan - E
* Visitacion (
Poblacion
''Poblacion'' (from Spanish '' población'', meaning "population"), sometimes abbreviated as Pob., is a term used in the Philippines to refer to the administrative center, downtown, old town, or commercial area of a city or municipality. It ...
) - W
Climate
Santa Ana has a
tropical monsoon climate
An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a sub-equatorial, tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a tropical climate subtype that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category ' ...
(''Am'' according to the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
) with hot, humid conditions prevailing year round. The average annual high temperature is and the average annual low temperature is . Santa Ana receives of precipitation annually.
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Santa Ana was 35,688 people, with a population density of .
Economy
The economy of Santa Ana is composed of both
agriculture
Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
and the commercial sectors. Most of the commercial and industrial activities are located in the vicinity
Port Irene as part of the
Cagayan Special Economic Zone in Barangay
Casambalangan.
Some of its agricultural and aquatic products are rice, corn, peanut, fish, lumber, shells, etc. Among its natural resources are limestone deposits at Bawac Mountain, coal at Carbon Mountain, Santa Clara and
guano
Guano (Spanish from ) is the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats. Guano is a highly effective fertiliser due to the high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, all key nutrients essential for plant growth. Guano was also, to a le ...
deposits in Kapannikian Cave.
Tourism
Aside from the Cagayan Special Economic Zone, which hosts casinos and other gaming facilities, Santa Ana has other scenic spots and historical landmarks. These include:
*
Cape Engaño Lighthouse/Cove (
USA Survivor 27 and
28 filming area)
*Siwangag Cove (USA Survivor 27 and 28 filming area)
*White
beach
A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from Rock (geology), rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle beach, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological s ...
es like Anguib Beach, Mapurao Beach, Nangaramoan Beach, and Puzo Robo Beach
*Gotan
mangrove forest
Mangrove forests, also called mangrove swamps, mangrove thickets or mangals, are productive wetlands that occur in coastal intertidal zones. Mangrove forests grow mainly at tropical and subtropical latitudes because mangrove trees cannot withsta ...
and waterfalls
*Suncity Casino in Barangay Tangatan
*Buwacag Falls at Santa Clara (open for public), Padlas Falls at Casambalangan, and Lamesa Falls at Casagan (not yet ready for public)
*Dumasag River at Rapuli
*Takuli riding (a traditional
kayak
]
A kayak is a small, narrow human-powered watercraft typically propelled by means of a long, double-bladed paddle. The word ''kayak'' originates from the Inuktitut word '' qajaq'' (). In British English, the kayak is also considered to be ...
) and firefly watching at Barangay Casagan
*Belt Fishing at Diora-Zinungan
Santa Ana is the
Game fish, game fishing hub of the Philippines. It has hosted international
decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of 10 track and field events. The word "decathlon" was formed, in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek δέκα (''déka'', meaning "ten") and ἄθλος (''áthlos'', or ἄ ...
s, where athletes run the rugged terrain of Punta Verde to
Cape Engaño, then swim in the
Philippine Sea
The Philippine Sea is a List of seas#Marginal seas by ocean, marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean east of the list of islands of the Philippines, Philippine Archipelago (hence the name) and the List of seas#Largest seas ...
.
Government
Local government
Santa Ana is part of the
first legislative district of the province of Cagayan. It is governed by a mayor, designated as its local chief executive, and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the
Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the municipal councilors are elected directly by the people through elections held every three years.
Elected officials
Education
The Schools Division of Cagayan governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the
Philippine Department of Education in the
Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley (; ), designated as Region II, is an Regions of the Philippines, administrative region in the Philippines. Located in the northeastern section of Luzon, it is composed of five Provinces of the Philippines, Philippine provinces: ...
region. The Sta. Ana Schools District Office governs the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality. These include schools with culturally integrated curricula for
Indigenous Aeta students.
Primary and elementary schools
* Apolagan Elementary School
* Casagan Elementary School
* Casambalangan Elementary School
* Diora-Zinungan Elementary School
* Dungeg Elementary School
* Kapanikian Elementary School
* Marede Elementary School
* Pagadalan Dagiti Agta iti Sta Ana Cagayan Association (PAG-ASACA) - Bantay Balligi
* Pagadalan Dagiti Agta iti Sta Ana Cagayan Association (PAG-ASACA) - Domasag
* Pagadalan Dagiti Agta iti Sta Ana Cagayan Association (PAG-ASACA) - Palaui
* Palaui Elementary School
* Palawig Elementary School
* Pananacpan Elementary School
* Pasmakanan Elementary School
* Patunungan Elementary School
* Racat Elementary School
* Rapuli Elementary School
* RJ Dama Christian Academy
* San Vicente Elementary School
* St. Anthony's College (Elementary School)
* Sta. Ana Central School
* Sta. Clara Elementary School
* Tangatan Elementary School
* The Promised Land Christian School of Santa Ana
* Top Achievers Private School (Elementary School)
* Visitacion Elementary School
Secondary schools
* Casambalangan National High School
* Sta. Ana Fishery National High School
* St. Anthony's College (High School)
* Top Achievers Private School (High School)
Higher educational institution
* St. Anthony's College
Culture
Every year from May 26 to May 30, the town hosts the ''Viray Festival'', organized by the local government with the support of the regional tourism office and the private sector. Launched in June 2005, the Viray Festival was conceived to dramatize the significance of the , which played a key role in the lives and history of the town.
A is a large, flat wooden boat which, before the emergence of gasoline-fed engines in the early 1950s, was propelled by sails. Traders used large measuring long, wide and high. Fishermen, on the other hand, used smaller ones, usually long, wide and high. Equipped with oars to reach nearby fishing grounds, these types sailed for longer distances.
Due to its capacity to carry great quantities of cargo, the was the only means of transport used by the first settlers of Santa Ana.
Leaders and well-off families gained income from the services of the viray, ranging from fishing, commerce and trading to means of transport during the years when Santa Ana was in its prime. They used the viray for fishing, as the boats could carry fishing gear, provisions, supplies, and people. It was assisted by small during fishing operations.
An annual fluvial parade of colorful boats is held during the first day. The second day of the festival features a grand
carabao parade where each of the sixteen composing the municipality take their turn to show off their artistic talents. On the third day, both locals and visitors line up along the main street to watch people participating in the
street dancing competition.
Sports
Santa Ana is also known for
kiteboarding and
windsurfing
Windsurfing is a wind-propelled water sport that is a combination of sailing and surfing. It is also referred to as "sailboarding" and "boardsailing", and emerged in the late 1960s from the Californian aerospace and surf culture. Windsurfing gain ...
. In 2015, the Philippine Windsurfing Association and the Philippine Kiteboarding Association organized a competition off Anguib Beach.
In 2016, the
Beach Volleyball Republic league hosted the third leg of the Nationwide On Tour on Anguib Beach. Beach volleyball players
Charo Soriano and
Filipino-American Alexa Micek won the third leg of the tournament.
Media
* 107.9 MHz TAPS Radio Santa Ana
References
External links
*
Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>
Philippine Census InformationManidad Island in Santa Ana Cagayan Valley
{{Authority control
Municipalities of Cagayan
Port cities and towns in the Philippines
Beaches of the Philippines
Political divisions established by Philippine executive order