Santiago, officially the Municipality of Santiago (Ilocano: Ili ti Santiago; Filipino: Bayan ng Santiago), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 19,471 people.[5]
The town was named in honor of Saint James (Spanish: Santiago). One of the town's attractions, Santiago Cove, is dubbed as the "Boracay of Ilocos Sur" because of its white sand.[6]
As soon as the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, Spain sent missionaries to proselytize Christianity, one of their purposes for colonization. Christianity then spread throughout the Philippines. The Spaniards established settlements called pueblos and divided these into sitios for easier proselytization and evangelization. From then on, tribunals were built for the Spanish government, and churches and convents were constructed for the missionaries to live.
In June 1578, Spain started the Moro Wars in Jolo. This aggressive act marked the beginning of a long, bloody conflict between Spaniards and the Moros in the Philippines. In 1602, Spain sent punitive expeditions to Zamboanga, Cotabato, and other places to curb the rising tide of Moro depredations. Numerous watchtowers were built along the seacoasts from Mindanao to Luzon. Armed galleys and frigates patrolled the sea-lanes. The Moros stopped the raids for a while.[citation needed]
The Moros renewed their piratical forays. In 1717, they swept the Visayan Islands and attacked Aparri and Northern Luzon. According to an old resident, Moro pirates entered the pueblo known today as Santiago prior to their return to Jolo. Guards in the watchtowers sounded their trumpets warning all the people of the pueblo of the arrival of the pirates. The church bells also rang alarming the people that pirates were fast approaching the shore. The people rushed and got their available arms like bolos, bows and arrows and fought the pirates boldly. Sporadic battles ensued for hours.
As the battle went on, the missionaries brought forth an image of St. James the Greater which they bought with them from Spain, and held it high to face the seashore - praying the rosary fervently for the safety and victory of his Christian followers, The Moros retreated and fled southward in their kumpits leaving behind their dead. After the battle, a solemn mass was held in the church. The missionaries told the people that due to the great intercession and miraculous protection of the image of St. James the Greater from the Moro Pirates, this pueblo was saved and in his honor, this town was named Santiago (Spanish for Saint James).[citation needed]
Geography
Santiago is situated 48.20 kilometres (29.95mi) from the provincial capital Vigan, and 355.92 kilometres (221.16mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays
Santiago is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.[7] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Santiago, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, 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 councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.
The Santiago Schools District Office governs all public and private education system within the municipality.[24] The Schools District Office (SDO) oversees the operations of private and public elementary and high schools.
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