Santa Maria, Bulacan

Municipality of Santa Maria
Bayan ng Santa Maria
—  Municipality  —

Seal
Nickname(s): Egg Basket of the Philippines
Motto: Santa Maria, Sa pag-unlad, Kasama Ka!
(Santa Maria Progresses with You!)
Map of Bulacan showing the location of Santa Maria
Coordinates:
Country  Philippines
Region Central Luzon
Province Bulacan
Barangays 24
Congressional District 4th District
Founded 1792
Government
 • Representative, 4th Congressional District Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica (Liberal)
 • Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
 • Mayor Bartolome R. Ramos (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
 • Vice Mayor Russel G. Pleyto (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
Area
 • Municipality 90.92 km2 (35.1 sq mi)
 • Land 89.88 km2 (34.7 sq mi)
 • Water 1.04 km2 (0.4 sq mi)  1.15%
 • Urban 28.16 km2 (10.9 sq mi)
Elevation 16.972 m (56 ft)
Population (2007 census)
 • Municipality 205,258 (3rd)
 • Density 2,257.56/km2 (5,847.1/sq mi)
 • Metro Manila
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
 • Summer (DST) Manila (UTC)
Zip Code 3022
Area code(s) 44
Languages Tagalog and English
2010 Income P368,481,495.13 (1st)
Website santamariabulacan.gov.ph

Santa Maria (or Sta. Maria) is a 1st class urban municipality[1] in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. The municipality of Santa Maria lies 32 kilometres (20 mi) northeast of Manila and is located at the eastern portion of Bulacan. The town is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Angat and Pandi; portion of San Jose del Monte City on the south; Norzagaray and other portions of San Jose del Monte on the east; and the municipalities of Marilao and Bocaue on the western side. Santa Maria is 18 kilometres (11 mi) away from Malolos City, the provincial capital, and 38 kilometres (24 mi) from City of San Fernando, Pampanga, the regional center of Central Luzon.

According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 205,258 inhabitants, up from 144,282 people in 29,886 households in census 2000.

Contents

Geography

Land area

Sta. Maria has a land area of about 9,092.5 hectares or 90.925 square kilometers. The town is generally plain although hilly at the northern portion. It has a lone body of water - the Santa Maria River.

Topography

The topography of Santa Maria is generally flat, however, it is becoming hilly towards the north. This area covers the barangays of Silangan, Mag-asawang Sapa, Pulong Buhangin and some parts of Balasing with landscape ranging from 8 to 18 percent slope. The rest of the barangays have a slope range from level to undulating

Land use

Basically agricultural, about 29.02 square kilometres (11.20 sq mi) or 30.54% of the town's land area is devoted to crop production. Approximately 26.66 square kilometres (10.29 sq mi) of riceland in Santa Maria are rain-fed and 2.36 square kilometres (0.91 sq mi) are irrigated. An area of 32.74 square kilometres (12.64 sq mi) are classified as non- productive agricultural area or open grasslands.

Mineral resources

The town has rich deposits of gravel and sand and volcanic tuff or adobe. Quarrying has been a good source of livelihood among the citizens.

Climate

The prevailing climatic conditions in the municipality is categorized into two (2) types: wet and dry season.

The annual mean temperature in the area is 27.7 °C (81.9 °F). The warmest month is May with a mean temperature of 29.9 °C (85.8 °F) while the coldest is January at 25.2 °C (77.4 °F).

The mean annual relative humidity in the area is 77% which is not high. The mean monthly relative humidity is lowest in March at 64% and highest in September at 84%.

Climate data for Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 34
(93)		 34
(93)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)
Average low °C (°F) 20
(68)		 19
(66)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 20
(68)		 21
(70)
Precipitation cm (inches) 1.7
(0.7)		 0.7
(0.3)		 0.5
(0.2)		 2.4
(0.9)		 15.3
(6)		 35.5
(14)		 50.4
(19.8)		 51.6
(20.3)		 37.4
(14.7)		 22.5
(8.8)		 16.3
(6.4)		 6.8
(2.7)		 240.8
(94.8)
Source: Weatherbase[2]

Demographics

Population Census of Santa Maria
Census Pop. Rate
1995 101,071
—
2000 144,282 7.94%
2007 205,258 4.98%

According to the 2007 Census, the population of Sta. Maria grew by 60,976 from 144,282 in 2000 to 205,258 in 2007, making it the third biggest LGU in Bulacan in terms of population. The municipality has a population density of 2,257.56 persons per km² in 24 barangays.

No. Barangay Area (in km2) Rank Population (2000) Population (2007) Population Density (2007) Annual Growth (average)
1 Bagbaguin 7.6358 7 7,586 10,389 1,360.56 4.6%
2 Balasing 6.3713 15 4,208 6,230 977.82 5.77%
3 Buenavista 2.4647 21 1,438 2,201 893.00 6.3%
4 Bulac 5.2009 14 5,145 7,600 1,461.28 5.74%
5 Camangyanan 2.4761 18 2,991 4,045 1,633.61 4.4%
6 Catmon 8.2860 5 8,586 11,913 1,437.72 4.8%
7 Caypombo 4.1626 2 7,731 15,698 3,771.20 10.65%
8 Caysio 3.1198 20 1,871 2,679 858.70 5.25%
9 Guyong 3.6191 6 9,174 11,858 3,276.50 3.7%
10 Lalakhan 0.3354 22 1,880 2,116 6,308.88 1.7%
11 Mag-asawang Sapa 1.1327 16 4,405 5,640 4,979.25 3.6%
12 Mahabang Parang 1.0466 19 2,374 3,317 3,169.30 4.9%
13 Manggahan 1.6386 23 1,606 1,948 1,188.81 2.8%
14 Parada 4.0669 12 5,654 7,823 1,923.57 4.75%
15 Poblacion (Santa Maria town proper) 2.8032 3 12,210 14,073 5,020.33 2.05%
16 Pulong Buhangin 14.3817 1 23,069 33,799 2,350.13 5.6%
17 San Gabriel 3.6787 10 5,332 8,058 2,190.44 6.05%
18 San Jose Patag 2.5218 9 6,716 9,925 3,935.68 5.74%
19 San Vicente 7.2537 4 7,921 12,717 1,753.17 7.0%
20 Santa Clara 2.1470 8 8,010 10,052 4,681.88 3.3%
21 Santa Cruz 2.2705 13 4,718 7,747 3,412.02 7.3%
22 Silangan 0.9387 24 1,493 1,855 1,976.13 3.15%
23 Tabing Bakod (Santo Tomas) 1.2530 17 5,357 5,522 4,407.02 0.44%
24 Tumana 2.1202 11 4,807 8,053 3,798.22 7.6%
– TOTAL – 3 144,282 205,258 2,257.56 5.16%

Total income in Santa Maria was P303,992,842.87 in 2009, up from P278,636,399.31 in 2008. In 2006, income was P211,143,000.00 and in 2007 it was P216,086,000.00.[3]

Religion

The majority of the population are Christians. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion with 91%[4] of the populace professed themselves as Roman Catholics. Other religious groups with strong presence in the municipality are the following: Iglesia ni Cristo, Members Church of God International, United Methodist Church, The Church of God, Jehovah's Witness, Jesus Is Lord Church and other evangelical or "born-again" groups, Pentecostal, Islam, and others.

Residential

There are about 45 subdivisions in the municipality of low, medium and high density category. The existing residential hub occupies 1,360 hectares (13.60 km²) of land distributed unevenly in its 12 barangays. These subdivisions used to occupy the stretch of the roads but now they are now developing the inner portions of their barangays. It is expected that within the next ten years, land use development in Santa Maria will represent the sub-urban mix which means that the government will provide development where the level of accessibility is very high. This will provide for the clustering of lower density land uses to help meet housing, employment and public services needs of the people.[4]

History

Santa Maria was part of Meycauayan until 1792 when it became a separate pueblo. Santa Maria was then known as Santa Maria de Pandi. In 1793, the seat of the civil affairs was established in the Poblacion. Andres dela Cruz was appointed "gobernadorcillo" (little governor). There were 82 gobernadorcillos or capitanes who served the Spanish colonial administration from 1793 to 1899 with Pascual Mateo as the last.

Under the Americans, the title "captain" was changed to "presidente". The first to hold the position was Maximo Evidente who served from 1899-1900. Of the 12 others who succeeded him, the most popular were Agustin Morales (1928–1934) and Fortunato F. Halili (1934–1937). Morales was responsible for the construction of the first main water system in the town. Halili, who never drew his salary as executive, later on became Governor of Bulacan.

During the Japanese Occupation, Dr. Teofilo Santiago, dubbed as Dr. Kamoteng Kahoy for his widespread campaign among the town's citizenry to plant cassava, became mayor of Santa Maria. Santiago was also responsible for the launching of the poultry - a raising project which earned for the town the distinction of being "The Egg Basket of the Philippines". He was also the "Father of Santa Maria Dairy Plant". After the Liberation, Capitan Ireneo Hermogenes was appointed Municipal Mayor from March 20, 1945 to October 1945. He was succeeded by Marciano Bautista.

The post-liberation period saw Conrado Ignacio as the first elected Mayor of Santa Maria (1947–1955). He was succeeded by prominent personalities in Santa Maria local politics such as Ricardo G. Nicolas Sr. (1956-1959/1964-1967), Eriberto Ramos, Sr. (1960–1963), Paulino M. Luciano Sr. (1968–1971), Ricardo D. Nicolas, Jr.(1972–1978) and Paulino Luciano, Jr. (1979–1986).

After the People Power Revolution in February 1986, President Corazon Aquino appointed Dr. Alfredo Perez, who was then the vice-mayor of the town, as Officer-in-Charge of the municipality until May, 1986, when he was replaced by Ricardo Nicolas, Jr. In December 1986, however, Nicolas was appointed OIC Vice Governor of Bulacan and was succeeded by Benjamin G. Geronimo (1987–1988) and Atty. Ramon H. Clemente (1988).

During the 1988 election, Eriberto Ramos was elected Mayor and served until June 30, 1992. On July 1, 1992, he was succeeded by Reylina G. Nicolas. Under the Nicolas administration, Santa Maria rose from a third-class municipality to a first class municipality. In the 2001 elections, Nicolas ran for Representative of the 4th Congressional District of Bulacan and won a landslide victory with more than 80,000 votes over her closest rival. Nicolas was succeeded by Bartolome R. Ramos.

During the 2004 elections, Jesus Mateo defeated the incumbent Ramos and became mayor of the municipality until 2007. One of Mateo's accomplishments as mayor of Santa Maria was the establishment of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Santa Maria extension campus in 2005.

Santa Maria today

Until the 1990s, Santa Maria was a little-known rustic area north east of Metro Manila with a rural economy that took advantage of the surrounding agricultural areas.

Today, Santa Maria's position as a growth center in the eastern portion of Bulacan covering the most densely populated City of San Jose del Monte and the municipalities of Norzagaray, Marilao, Bocaue, Angat, Pandi, and Dona Remedios Trinidad (pop. 1,148,927) makes the municipality one of the most progressive in Bulacan.

From an idyllic, sleepy community, Santa Maria is steadily transforming into a bustling industrial and commercial hub. It is currently considered as the wealthiest municipality in Bulacan with an income of P278M (2008).

Government

Municipal officials (2007-2010)

Mayor: Hon. Bartolome R. Ramos [1]

Vice-Mayor: Hon. Russel G. Pleyto [2]

Councilors

Municipal mayors

Mayor Term
Agustin Morales
1928-1934
Pedro J. Mansilla
1938-1940
Teofilo Santiago
1941-1945
Ireneo Hermogenes
1945
Marciano Bautista
1946-1947
Conrado H. Ignacio
1947-1955
Ricardo G. Nicolas, Sr.
1956-1959
Eriberto Ramos
1960-1963
Ricardo G. Nicolas, Sr.
1964-1967
Paulino Luciano, Sr.
1968-1971
Ricardo D. Nicolas, Jr.
1972-1978
Paulino A. Luciano, Jr.
1978-1986
Dr. Alfredo M. Perez (OIC)
February 1986-May 1986
Ricardo D. Nicolas, Jr. (OIC)
June 1986-December 1986
Benjamin G. Geronimo (OIC)
1987-1988
Atty. Ramon H. Clemente (OIC)
1988
Eriberto Ramos
1988-1992
Reylina G. Nicolas
1992-2001
Bartolome R. Ramos
2001-2004
Jesus "Ato" Mateo
2004-2007
Bartolome R. Ramos
incumbent 2007-2013

Festivals

The celebration of the town fiesta in the municipality is a month long celebration in February highlighted with festivities like musical variety shows, performed by popular personalities, outdoor sports exhibitions of national acclaimed players, concert at the park by well known bands and cultural shows presented by the Santa Maria Dep. Ed family.

Most notable during the month of February is the availability of the famous "Tuge", a ready to eat root crop sold by vendors that signify the ambiance of the festivity together with the cool breeze which last right after the celebration of the town fiesta.

Tourism

Historical places

Pavilion

Within the heart of Santa Maria is a new pavilion that was built and completed on February 2006. It is now the central pillar of all happy family celebrations that catered to all its citizen and neighboring town folks. Its famous name "Casa Burgos" was derived from one of the three famous Spaniard friars collectively known as "Gomburza", which was also the origin of an old street's name in Santa Maria, namely Padre Burgos Street (now C. Ignacio Street). Visitors and guests are awed by its lush and beautiful garden setting that became the focal point of most garden weddings and the likes. A place to visit when you are in Santa Maria, Bulacan.

Another pavilion was later built at barangay Bagbaguin, it is much larger than Casa Burgos and can cater to a larger number of people. It has an ample parking space, and has a smaller pavilion for smaller groups. The place was called Grace Harbour.

Sports and recreation

Sports and recreation activities in the locality are usually basketball, softball, bowling, badminton, tennis and chess. The most common sports and recreational facilities in the town are basketball courts located in school compounds and in other part of 24 barangays. These courts also serve as multi-purpose pavements. A tennis court and a gymnasium named after the late Ricardo D. Nicolas, Jr. was constructed at the FFHNAS campus in Barangay Guyong. There are also two badminton courts in the town.

Shopping

Santa Maria has one public wet and dry market, the Pamilihang Bayan ng Sta. Maria, in Poblacion and several private wet and dry markets (one each in Caypombo and in Pulong Buhangin).

On February 25, 2009, Waltermart Sta. Maria, the first shopping mall in the municipality, formally opened. The mall is located in Barangay Sta. Clara. The mall has a supermarket (Waltermart Supermarket IGA), department store (mi Department Store), school and office supplies store (Expressions), bookstore (National Bookstore), drugstore (Mercury Drug), 3 state-of-the-art cinemas, hardware (Handyman), and several restaurants (Jollibee, KFC, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Greenwich, etc.)

Aside from Waltermart, Sta Maria has several supermarkets and convenience stores in Barangays Poblacion and Bagbaguin: Three (3) branches of Mercury Drug, two (2) 7-Eleven, two (2) Ministop Reby's Store, C. P. Pineda Supermarket, Hipolito Supermarket, Antonio's Mini Mart, etc.

Economy

Major Industries
Pyrotechnics, Food/Food Processing, Furniture, Garments,
Footwear, Metalcraft, Poultry and Hog Raising, Textile, Rattan
Major Products
Garments, Chicharon, Noodles, Balut, Sweet Preserves,
Bakeries, Processed Meat, Dairy Products
Commercial Banks
Rural Banks
Hiyas Banking Corporation (Head Office - Market Site, Poblacion Branch)
Santa Maria Rural Bank (Poblacion, Bagbaguin &
Pulong Buhangin)
Farmers Bank (Pulong Buhangin)

Sta. Maria is predominantly agricultural. However, commercialization and industrialization is fast developing in the municipality. At present, there are more than 6,100 registered commercial establishments, most of them are in Barangay Poblacion, Pulong Buhangin, Caypombo, Sta. Clara, and Bagbaguin. There are more than 30 banking and financial institutions in Sta. Maria. These includes commercial, savings and rural banks.

On March 3, 2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation No. 337 designating the Sta. Maria Industrial Park as a Special Economic Zone (Ecozone).[5]

Agriculture

Crop Production
Rice, orchard products (such as mangoes,star apple or caymito, tamarind and other fruit bearing fruits), corn and vegetables are the major agricultural produce of the municipality.
Livestock and Poultry Raising
Among the livestock reared and tendered in the municipality are hogs and cattle while poultry farm housed chickens and ducks
Fisheries
Although a landlocked municipality, Santa Maria is able to produce fresh water fishes such as tilapia. Some fifty-eight (58) families from Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Cruz, San Jose Patag, Caysio, Bulac, Catmon, Balasing, Camangyanan, Sta Cruz, and San Gabriel are engaged in fisheries production[6]

Food Processing

There are about 36 food processing establishments in Santa Maria. Of these are bakeries/bakeshops, ice-cream/ice-drop factories, native delicacy makers, 2 sweet preserve processors, sitsaron factories, noodle factories, and balot producers.

Among the biggest food processors are Jess-Nor, Dunkin Donuts, DELFI, Integrated Food Manufacturing Corporation and Sapporo Noodles Factory.

Agro-industrial sector

Industrial activities in Santa Maria are mostly agro-based. For the past two decades, there has been a great boom in its poultry and hog raising industries. Presently, there are around more than 150 poultry and piggery farms.

The boost in agri-business necessitated the establishment of feed mills and feed trading centers. Now, there are eight commercial feed mills and 15 feed trading centers operating in the town.

There are 20 rice mills in Santa Maria that accommodate the milling and storage needs of the farmers for their palay harvest. The rice brunts (darak production) of these mills complement the feed requirements of the livestock raisers.

Cottage industry

Others

Transportation and communication

Bridges

As of 2004, Santa Maria has a network of ten (10) bridges passing rivers and other waterways of the town. All are made of reinforced concrete design girders which are in good condition and passable.

Communications

Communication facilities in Santa Maria are provided by government telegraph (BUTEL), postal system, the Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Company (PLDT), Radio City Telephone Company (RACITELCOM), Digitel telephone Company, the three major cellular companies (Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Sun Cellular) and two MVNO: (Talk N' Text and Touch Mobile).

Basic services

Health

Santa Maria has one government-run hospital (Congressman Rogaciano Mercado Memorial Hospital) and seven private hospitals (Garden Village Country Hospital; Santiago Pediatric Hospital; Ed & Tita Cruz Maternity and Surgical Hospital; Mendoza General Hospital; St. Mary's Hospital; Mateo's Diagnostc Clinic & Gen. Hospital; and AJIA Diagnostic Clinic).

Animal health

Santa Maria also have Veterinary Clinics to name a few: "JNA Animal Clinic" and Mendoza Veterinary Clinic in Poblacion, and the Animal Pet Corner Center in Caypombo.

These veterinary clinics handle farm animals and pets. Services range from simple to major surgeries (c. section, neutering etc.), microchip implantation "Pet-ichip", vaccinations, laboratory works (heartworm check, parvo/distemper test, blood biochem profile, urinalysis, CBC, x-ray etc.), confinements, emergency cases, grooming and etcetera.

Peace and order

Santa Maria is generally peaceful being served by 37 policemen and 15 firemen. The backlog of manpower requirement is complemented with 480 barangay tanods coming from 24 barangays. Crime incidence is low with 37 cases reported and 33 case were solve resulting to 89.19% crime solution efficiency.[4]

Other services

Water supply is provided by LWUA (Local Water Utilities Administration) through the Sta. Maria Water District.

The Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) serves the energy needs of Santa Maria. All twenty-four (24) barangays of the municipality are electrified.

Education

Number of Schools

Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Santa Maria extension campus
Literacy Rate 98%
Pre-Elementary [2003]: Public: 25
Private: 17
Elementary [2007]: Public: 31
Private: 31
Secondary [2007]: Public: 4
Private: 30
Tertiary [2007]: Public: 2
Private: 3

The following are institutions of higher learning found in Sta. Maria, Bulacan:

College/University Location
Immaculate Conception International College of Arts & Technology (ICI) - Sta. Maria Poblacion
La Consolacion University Philippines - ICI Sta. Maria Extension Poblacion
St. Paul School of Sta. Maria Poblacion
Grace of Shekinah School Poblacion
Immaculate Conception Academy Poblacion
St. Vincent Learning Academy San Vicente
Holy Child Montessori Parada
Angel John Integrated Academy Lalakhan
Darwin International School Pulong Buhangin & Bagbaguin
Fortunato F. Halili National Agricultural School Guyong
Sacred Heart Academy Poblacion
Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Sta. Maria Campus Pulong Buhangin
STI College - Santa Maria Campus Poblacion
Asian College of Science and Technology - Santa Maria Poblacion
JPI Technologies Training and Services, Inc. - Santa Maria Poblacion
St. Joseph College of Bulacan San Jose Patag
Smarties Academy of Sta. Maria, Bulacan Poblacion

Notable People from Sta. Maria

Sister cities

These are Santa Maria's sister cities and municipalities with strong relationship and partnership.

See also

San Roque, Pandi, Bulacan Pulong Yantok, Angat, Bulacan Partida, Norzagaray, Bulacan
Batia, Bocaue, Bulacan Norzagaray, Bulacan
   Santa Maria, Bulacan    
Turo, Bocaue, Bulacan Patubig, Marilao, Bulacan Dulong Bayan, San Jose del Monte

References

  1. ^ NSCB - ActiveStats - PSGC Interactive - Municipality: SANTA MARIA
  2. ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines". Weatherbase. 2008. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=984300&refer=. Retrieved 2008-10-08. 
  3. ^ Commission on Audit (COA) http://www.coa.gov.ph/Reports/AFR/2009AFR_Local_Vol3.pdf
  4. ^ a b c Official Website of Santa Maria, Bulacan
  5. ^ http://www.santamariabulacan.gov.ph/business/default.asp
  6. ^ http://www.santamariabulacan.gov.ph/business/agriculture.asp

External links

Municipalities
Component cities
Santa Maria, Bulacan Philippines
Barangays