Santa Maria, Bulacan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santa Maria
Santa Maria de Pandi
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| Municipality of Santa Maria | |||
     (From top, left to right): Población skyline • Paso Bridge • Immaculate Conception Church • Philippine Arena • Municipal Hall at night
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| Nickname(s):
Chicharon Capital of the Philippines
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| Motto(s):
ONE Santa Maria, Lahat Kasama
(English: ONE Santa Maria, All Together) |
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| Anthem: Bayan Kong Mahal (English: My Beloved Town) |
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Map of Bulacan with Santa Maria highlighted
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OpenStreetMap
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.svg)
 Santa Maria
Location in Philippines
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| Country | Philippines | ||
| Region | Central Luzon | ||
| Province | Bulacan | ||
| District | [[{{#property:P7938}} | — Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1804: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]] | ||
| Founded | 13th century CE (part of the Kingdom of Tondo) |
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| Incorporated | . | ||
| • Barrio | circa 1647 | ||
| • Hacienda | July 4, 1699 | ||
| • Pueblo | November 26, 1793 | ||
| Founded by | Fray Francisco Javier OFM | ||
| Barangays | 24 (see Barangays) | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 90.92 km2 (35.10 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) | ||
| Highest elevation | 62 m (203 ft) | ||
| Lowest elevation | -1 m (−3.3 ft) | ||
| Population
(2020 census)
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| • Total | 289,820 | ||
| • Rank | 5 out of 1,489 Municipalities | ||
| • Density | 3,187.64/km2 (8,255.9/sq mi) | ||
| • Households | 70,619 | ||
| Demonym(s) | Santa Maríans | ||
| Economy | |||
| • Income class | 1st municipal income class | ||
| • Poverty incidence |
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| • Revenue | ₱ 889.1 million (2020) | ||
| • Assets | ₱ 1,757 million (2020) | ||
| • Expenditure | ₱ 668.9 million (2020) | ||
| • Liabilities | ₱ 157.3 million (2020) | ||
| Service provider | |||
| • Electricity | Manila Electric Company (Meralco) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) | ||
| ZIP code |
3022
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| PSGC |
[https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/{{#pro000®code={{&provcode=
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| IDD : area code | +63 (0)44 | ||
| Native languages | Tagalog | ||
| Catholic diocese | Diocese of Malolos | ||
| Patron saint | Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception | ||
Santa Maria (/ˌsæntə məˈriːə/ SAN-tə-_-mə-REE-ə), officially the Municipality of Santa Maria, is a busy and growing town in the Bulacan province of the Philippines. It's considered an urban municipality, meaning it has many people and businesses. In 2020, about 289,820 people lived here, making it a very populated area.
Santa Maria is located near the Santa Maria River, about 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) north of Manila. It has been a lively place for almost 400 years. It started as a small village (called a barrio) of Bocaue in the early 1600s. It became its own independent town on November 26, 1793. This was thanks to a Spanish friar named Francisco Dominguez Javier.
The town was once known as Santa Maria de Pandi. It is named after the Immaculate Conception. The main part of the town, called the Poblacion, is its historic center. It is surrounded by four rivers and has kept its original size of 2.88 square kilometers since the Spanish Colonial Era.
Santa Maria is the most populated municipality in Central Luzon. It is also the 7th most populated municipality in the whole Philippines. In Bulacan, it's the second most populated local government unit, after San Jose del Monte City. The town's downtown area is very active, with three busy barangays: Poblacion, Bagbaguin, and Sta. Clara. This area handles more than half of all business activities in Santa Maria. It is also a major financial hub in Bulacan.
Santa Maria has a good standard of living. Only about 4% of its people live in poverty, which is one of the lowest rates in the country. This makes it one of the richest municipalities in Bulacan.
Many famous people come from Santa Maria. These include José Corazón de Jesús, a poet known as "Huseng Batute", and Francisco Santiago, a composer. The town has also produced three Bulacan governors and several representatives in the Philippine Congress.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Santa Maria gets its name from the Immaculate Conception. It was once called Santa Maria de Pandi. The word "Pandi" comes from the Kapampangan word pande, which means "blacksmith." This is similar to the Tagalog word panday.
A Look at Santa Maria's Past
Early Days (Before 1521)
Before the Spaniards arrived, Santa Maria was mostly a wild forest. It was home to many wild animals and thick trees. Some Aetas and Dumagats lived there a very long time ago.
Spanish Rule (1521–1898)
Santa Maria started as a small village of Bocaue around 1647. It was part of a large estate owned by the Dominicans. This estate stretched across several rivers.
On November 26, 1793, a Franciscan friar named Francisco Dominguez Javier made Santa Maria an independent town. He started building the town's church, which was finished in the early 1800s. This church helped spread Christianity in the area. More people moved to the town, and local government began to form. The first village leader, Andres dela Cruz, helped establish Poblacion as the center of Spanish rule.
People used to rent land from the friars. They paid their rent at a large convent in what is now Sta. Clara. Later, people could buy their land from the friars. At that time, the town was called "Santa Maria de Pandi."
American Era and Japanese Occupation (1898–1946)
When the Americans took over, the title "captain" for the town leader changed to "presidente." Maximo Evidente was the first presidente from 1899 to 1900. Other notable leaders included Agustin Morales, who built the town's first main water system. Fortunato F. Halili, who later became the Governor of Bulacan, also served as presidente.
During World War II, when the Japanese occupied the Philippines, Dr. Teofilo Santiago became mayor. He encouraged people to plant cassava and helped start the poultry industry. This made Santa Maria known as "The Egg Basket of the Philippines." He also helped create the Santa Maria Dairy Plant.
Modern Times (1947–Present)
After World War II, Conrado Ignacio was the first elected mayor of Santa Maria. He served from 1947 to 1955. Many other leaders followed, helping the town grow.
After the People Power Revolution in 1986, Reylina G. Nicolas became mayor. During her time, Santa Maria received many awards. The town also grew from a third-class to a first-class municipality. In 2001, she became a representative in Congress.
Later, Jesus Mateo became mayor and helped establish the Santa Maria extension campus in 2005. Bartolome R. Ramos then became mayor again in 2007.
Where is Santa Maria?
Santa Maria is located about 32 kilometres (20 mi) northeast of Manila. It is in the eastern part of Bulacan. The towns of Angat and Pandi are to its north. San Jose del Monte City is to the south and east. Norzagaray is to the east. Marilao and Bocaue are to the west. Santa Maria is 18 kilometres (11 mi) from Malolos City, the capital of Bulacan.
The town covers about 9,092.5 hectares (22,468 acres) of land. It is mostly flat, but becomes hilly in the northern parts. The Santa Maria River is the main body of water.
Most areas in Santa Maria have a low risk of flooding. However, some parts near the Santa Maria River and its smaller creeks can experience moderate to high flooding.
Land Use in Santa Maria
Santa Maria is mainly an agricultural area. About 29.02 square kilometres (11.20 sq mi) of its land is used for growing crops. Most of the rice fields are rain-fed, meaning they rely on rainfall. Some areas are also irrigated.
Natural Resources
Santa Maria has rich natural resources. It is known for its large amounts of gravel, sand, and volcanic tuff. Volcanic tuff is a type of rock used in construction. Quarrying, which is the process of digging up these materials, is an important way for many locals to earn a living. These resources are used for building and other projects.
Santa Maria's Climate
Santa Maria has a climate similar to Manila. It has two main seasons: a dry season and a wet season. The dry months are from November to April, with very little rain. The wet season is from June to September, with a lot of rain. The temperature usually stays within a small range, from about 19 °C (66 °F) to 35 °C (95 °F).
| Climate data for Santa Maria, Bulacan | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) |
30 (86) |
32 (90) |
34 (93) |
33 (91) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
31 (87) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) |
20 (68) |
21 (70) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
21 (70) |
23 (73) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7 (0.3) |
7 (0.3) |
9 (0.4) |
21 (0.8) |
101 (4.0) |
152 (6.0) |
188 (7.4) |
170 (6.7) |
159 (6.3) |
115 (4.5) |
47 (1.9) |
29 (1.1) |
1,005 (39.7) |
| Average rainy days | 3.3 | 3.5 | 11.1 | 8.1 | 18.9 | 23.5 | 26.4 | 25.5 | 24.5 | 19.6 | 10.4 | 6.4 | 181.2 |
| Source: Meteoblue | |||||||||||||
Barangays: Santa Maria's Neighborhoods
Santa Maria is divided into 24 smaller areas called barangays. Each barangay has its own smaller sections called puroks and sometimes sitios.
| Barangays | District | Population (2020) |
Area (km2) |
Density (/km2) |
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| Bagbaguin | Downtown | 7,839 | 7.6358 | 1,026.61 |
| Balasing | North | 9,732 | 6.3713 | 1,527.47 |
| Buenavista | South | 2,821 | 2.4647 | 1,144.56 |
| Bulac | East | 10,015 | 5.2009 | 1,925.63 |
| Camangyanan | South | 5,019 | 2.4761 | 2,026.98 |
| Catmon | East | 15,938 | 8.2860 | 1,923.49 |
| Cay Pombo | North | 32,674 | 4.1626 | 7,849.42 |
| Caysio | West | 14,979 | 3.1198 | 4,801.27 |
| Guyong | West | 16,909 | 3.6191 | 4,672.16 |
| Lalakhan | West | 2,319 | 0.3354 | 6,914.13 |
| Mag-asawang Sapa | North | 10,381 | 1.1327 | 9,164.83 |
| Mahabang Parang | South | 5,140 | 1.0466 | 4,911.14 |
| Manggahan | West | 2,779 | 1.6386 | 1,695.96 |
| Parada | East | 9,419 | 4.0669 | 2,316.01 |
| Población | Downtown | 12,871 | 2.8032 | 4,591.54 |
| Pulong Buhangin | North | 41,218 | 14.3817 | 2,866.00 |
| San Gabriel | South | 9,630 | 3.6787 | 2,617.77 |
| San Jose Patag | West | 13,985 | 2.5218 | 5,545.64 |
| San Vicente | East | 24,451 | 7.2537 | 3,370.83 |
| Sta. Clara | Downtown | 12,419 | 2.1470 | 5,784.35 |
| Sta. Cruz | West | 11,364 | 2.2705 | 5,005.06 |
| Silangan | North | 2,102 | 0.9387 | 2,239.27 |
| Tabing Bakod | South | 5,410 | 1.2530 | 4,317.64 |
| Tumana | South | 10,406 | 2.1202 | 4,908.03 |
People of Santa Maria
In 2020, Santa Maria had 289,820 people. This makes it the largest municipality in the Central Luzon Region by population. The most populated barangay is Pulong Buhangin, with 41,218 residents.
Religion in Santa Maria
Most people in Santa Maria are Christians. About 91% are Roman Catholics. Santa Maria has eight parishes and one quasi-parish. These include the Minor Basilica and Parish of La Purisima Concepcion. Most villages also have their own chapels and patron saints.
Other religious groups in Santa Maria include Members Church of God International, Iglesia ni Cristo, and United Methodist Church. There are also Jehovah's Witness, Jesus Is Lord Church, and other evangelical groups.
Homes in Santa Maria
There are about 45 housing developments in Santa Maria. These homes cover about 1,360 hectares of land across 12 barangays. These areas are growing, and new developments are expected to make Santa Maria a mix of urban and suburban areas. This means more housing, jobs, and public services for the people.
Santa Maria's Economy
| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority |
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Santa Maria's population is growing quickly. This growth helps create more businesses and trade. The main industries in Santa Maria include farming, food processing, making crafts, banking, and producing textiles.
The public market in Poblacion and a private market in Pulong Buhangin are key places for buying and selling goods. In 2003, the Santa María Industrial Park was made a Special Economic Zone. This helps attract more businesses.
The town has many factories. There are 28 pyrotechnics (fireworks) makers, 5 textile factories, 87 garment factories, and 9 rubber industries. In 2022, Santa Maria was ranked highly for its strong economy and good infrastructure.
Farming and Food
Rice, fruits, corn, vegetables, hogs, cattle, poultry, and freshwater fish are the main farm products. Santa Maria also has about 36 food processing businesses.
Agro-Industrial Growth
Many businesses in Santa Maria are related to farming. Over the past 20 years, poultry (chicken) and hog (pig) farming have grown a lot. There are now over 150 poultry and pig farms. This growth has also led to many feed mills and trading centers for animal feed. There are also 20 rice mills in Santa Maria to process the farmers' harvests.
Local Crafts
The town has 10 businesses that make furniture. This is part of its cottage industry.
Shopping and Trade
Santa Maria has a public market called Pamilihang Bayan ng Santa Maria in Poblacion. There are also private markets in Cay Pombo and Pulong Buhangin. The town also has a mall with a supermarket, department store, cinemas, and restaurants. Many convenience stores are also found throughout the neighborhoods.
Fun Things to Do in Santa Maria
Santa Maria has ten resorts where people can relax and have fun. These resorts are located in barangays like Pulong Buhangin, Balasing, and Catmon. They are popular spots for people from Metro Manila and nearby towns, especially during summer. The resorts offer swimming pools, meeting rooms, hotels, and large parking areas.
In 2005, over 138,000 tourists visited Santa Maria's resorts. Sitio Lucia Resort was the most popular, followed by 4K Garden Resort.
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Historical Places to Visit
- La Purísima Concepción Parish Church
- Huseng Batute Marker (for the poet José Corazón de Jesús)
- Francisco Santiago Marker (for the composer Francisco Santiago)
Festivals and Celebrations
The town fiesta of Santa Maria celebrates its patroness, the Purisima Concepcion. This is a month-long event in February. It includes Masses, processions, musical shows, sports events, and concerts. During this time, you can also find "Tuge", a special root crop sold by vendors.
Sports and Recreation
The Philippine Arena is a huge indoor stadium located in Santa Maria and Bocaue, Bulacan. It can hold up to 55,000 people. It was built for the 100th anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo church in 2014.
Popular sports in Santa Maria include basketball, softball, bowling, badminton, tennis, and chess. Most schools and barangays have basketball courts. There is also a tennis court and a gymnasium at the FFHNAS campus in Barangay Guyong.
Getting Around and Services
Bridges
As of 2004, Santa Maria has ten bridges. These bridges cross rivers and other waterways. They are all made of strong concrete and are in good condition.
Communication Services
Santa Maria has many ways to communicate. These include government telegraph and postal services. Phone companies like PLDT, RACITELCOM, Digitel, and Converge ICT provide landline services. Major mobile phone companies like Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Dito Telecommunity also operate here.
Water and Electricity
The Santa Maria Water District, supported by LWUA, provides water supply. The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is the only company that provides electricity in Santa Maria.
See also
In Spanish: Santa María (Bulacán) para niños
