The Municipality of Sta. Cruz’s Role in Filipino History Essay Example

encountered coastal villages displaying banners on the shore to extend a warm "welcome." One of these villages was Tuban, where the visitor spent enough time to persuade the locals to adopt Christianity. In 1873, Fr. Quirico More arrived in Davao and continued his missionary efforts from Darong all the way to Balut Island. Fr. Matthew Gisbert, a Society of Jesuits missionary, initiated a "reduccion" (a resettlement and subjugation area for the natives) in Labo in 1882. Approximately 9 Bagobo Datus relocated to Labo with their families and sacopes. There is limited information on how Sta. Cruz received its name, as records and testimonials are not conclusive.

In 1880, as pioneers tell it, the Spaniards tried to convert resistant settlers. Failing to do so, they planted a cross under a shelter and left, cursing "forever the people in this area shall sacrifice in the name of the cross". Some years after, another group of migrants settled near the cross, which was close to the present Municipal Hall site. This led to the place being called "SA CRUZ," meaning "at the cross". Official records from Manila Archives, however, reveal how the town got its official name during the Spanish Civil Administration.

On October 4, 1884, Angel Rodriguez, the Spanish Governor General of Mindanao Province, arrived on the warship "Gardoqui". He was accompanied by a sergeant, a corporal, and 12 people from the capital's detachment. The arrival was celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians who greeted them with banners embroidered with the word "Sta. Cruz". The following day, October 5, 1884, Rodriguez blessed the town and named it "Sta. Cruz of Mindanao". As a result, Darong became the largest Spanish

community in Southern Philippines, if not in Mindanao.

Spaniards who came to Davao eventually acquired large fertile lands, became prosperous, and settled in Sta Cruz. In 1890, Antonio Matute, whose parents owned the Agencia de Empenos in Manila, arrived in Davao and established a trading company. In 1895, he married Sul-len, the daughter of B'laan Datu Cagnap from Saranggani, in a small chapel in Darong. The ceremony was solemnized by Fr. Saturnino Urios, S.J., with Don Damaso Palacios and Don Benito Saavedra as witnesses. Matute established his ranch and farm in the nearby Sibulan. His success served as inspiration for other Spaniards to come to Darong and try their luck.

Among the notable individuals were the Gutierrez brothers from Santander, Spain. Restituto arrived in 1904, Domingo in 1921, and Manuel in 1927. They transformed 1,400 hectares of land into a coconut plantation and cattle ranch. These properties are currently owned by Ayala Agricultural Development Corporation, SODACO, and San Miguel Corporation. Other significant figures from Santander include Don Damaso Palacios and his nephew Don Marcos Saez. Luis Surrochi settled in Astorga, the Gomezes resided in Sibulan, Eugenio Aznar in Padada, and Maria Villa Abrille (who married Prudencio Chicote) purchased Patulangon from a Bagobo Datu in 1882.

During the Spanish regime in Sta. Cruz, there were other well-known families including Don Mariano Regino. In 1891, Don Mariano was awarded the "Cedula de Cruz de Plata del Merito Naval" by Madrid's Ministro de Marina. He was also honored with the "Medalla del Merito Civil" by Governor General Don Ramon Blanco Y Erenas in 1896 for his contributions to spreading Catholicism in the island of Samal, Davao District. Don Mariano

is the great grandfather of the Tancontian and Regino families in Sta. Cruz. Additionally, Japanese nationals had already established abaca plantations in the municipality during the Spanish period.

The Spanish-American War or World War I occurred between 1896 and 1898. The Treaty of Paris resulted in Spain giving the Philippines to America. Upon the departure of Spanish officials, Angel Brioso, a teacher, was appointed to the Provisional Government of Sta. Cruz. In 1899, American forces arrived in Davao.
During the American period, three significant events took place in Sta. Cruz. Orville Wood, a teacher, introduced education in the area. Additionally, the Thomasites, led by Rev., an American missionary, played a role in Sta. Cruz.

Robert Black is credited with introducing Protestantism and being the first to preach the gospel to the Bagobos in Melilia in 1904. This led to Melilia becoming the stronghold of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), and from there, the founders of Brokenshire Hospital of Davao and Silliman University emerged. Additionally, Cadastral Survey No. 275 surveyed the entire area of Sta. Cruz, which resulted in the granting of property rights. The families of Lim Juya, Tan Kim Kee, and Tancontian were the first to be recognized by the American Commonwealth as rightful owners of cadastral property in Sta. Cruz. In 1905, Francisco Tancontian purchased a 100-hectare property from the family of Datu Bantang for P150.0, a portion of which is currently occupied by Franklin Baker Desiccating Plant in Coronon.

In 1909, the Robert Black Mission School was established in Melilia, with Maximiano Tongcaling becoming the first Bagobo preacher. At the same time, Vandermieren introduced irrigation on his abaca plantation which contained

50,000 hills. The following years witnessed an influx of migrants from abroad, Luzon, and Visayas to the Land of Promise according to pioneering residents. In the 1920s, General Paulino Santos of the Philippine Army led migrants from Luzon and Visayas to settle in Mindanao, with the majority being Ilocanos.

In 1918, property records indicate that Don Mariano and Dona Josefa Marcos, the parents of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, resided in Sta. Cruz and acquired property there. Matea Almendras-Ralota, who migrated from Cebu, remarried to Bendigo and became the matriarch of a political clan that included the Almendras, Bendigo, Ralota, and Cagas families, among others. During this time, a second wave of Japanese migrants arrived, with Yoshizo Furukawa coming in 1914. He later established plantations for abaca, coconut, maguey, and ramie in Darong and Inawayan. Some of the migrants became tenants on the Diaz family's abaca and coconut plantations in Sitio Lacube.

The Vandermierens expanded their plantations in 1928 to include abaca and coconut. In 1935, these plantations were leased to the Japanese. The Vandermierens' plantation was acquired by S. Schlinger in 1940, who converted it into solely a coconut area. During the development of these agricultural estates by foreigners, more migrants from Cebu, Bohol, and Iloilo arrived and settled in the municipality. After the foreign plantation owners departed, pioneering migrants who had succeeded in Sta. Cruz acquired their properties. Matea Almendras purchased the Schlingers' property.

The Reids sold their property in Tuban to the Tan Kim Kee family. The Japanese Imperial Army occupied Davao during World War II, leading to the surrender of USAFFE on May 10, 1942 due to the superior Japanese firepower. As a result,

the residents of Sta. Cruz evacuated to the mountains and municipal officials went underground. The period of Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1944 was characterized by terror, anguish, poverty, and physical exhaustion. After the war ended in 1945, Plamin Diangco was appointed as the Mayor of the Philippine Civil Authority Office (PCAO).

The municipalities of Digos, Bansalan, Magsaysay, Matanao, Kiblawan, Hagonoy, Padada, Sulop, Malalag and Sta. Maria were originally barangays of Sta. Cruz in Davao Province. In 1949, Executive Order No. 236 established the separate municipalities of Digos and Padada. Then, in the mid-60s, President Diosdado Macapagal utilized an Executive Order to create the Municipality of Roxas. This new municipality was formed from the barangays of Inawayan, Sibulan, Darong, Astorga, Coronon and a portion of the Poblacion area extending to Latong Creek.

Mayor Higino V. Somoza and other local officials spent eight (8) months establishing the new municipality, with Darong as the seat of government while using the temporary municipal hall in Astorga. Mayor Jesus A. Ralota and the incumbent officials of Sta. Cruz opposed the Executive Order, as it would result in a reduction of Sta. Cruz's jurisdiction. Vice-President Emmanuel Pelaez raised concerns about the President's authority to create municipalities via Executive Order, leading to a legal challenge before the Supreme Court. Eventually, the Executive Order was abolished, marking the end of the short-lived municipality of Roxas.

The declaration of Martial Law in 1971 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos had a detrimental impact as it led to a surge in insurgency, causing Sta. Cruz to be known as the "Red Area or War Zone" due to the extensive infiltration of the New People's Army.

Until the post-EDSA period in 1986, development in Sta. Cruz remained stagnant until the town's leadership was transferred to former school-teacher Alfredo B. Orpilla, who became the OIC Mayor. It was during this period that the people's movement for peace, known as NAKASAKA (Nagkahiusang Katawhan Alang Sa Kalinaw), arose in Davao del Sur.

The support from Mayor Orpilla and the Provincial Government, led by Governor Douglas R. Cagas, effectively reduced the insurgency problem. Mayor Orpilla's administration brought improvements in infrastructure, delivery of basic services, and local governance. They also encouraged industrialization, highlighted by the establishment of San Miguel Corporation's largest and most modern brewery in Darong. The current mayor, Atty. Joel Ray L., has continued this progress.

Lopez exhibits an open and supportive attitude when it comes to receiving development assistance from both foreign and national agencies, including the private sector. His administration not only focused on enhancing the capacities of the people, but also formed strategic alliances with various stakeholders in order to achieve municipal development goals.

Presently operating industries in the area include:
- Franklin Baker Company Phils., which was established in 1968 and produces 20-25 million pounds of desiccated coconut annually.
- Aquamines Prawn Farm, which operates a large brackish water facility.
- Ayala Agricultural Development Corporation, involved in coconut plantation and cattle production.
- Coco Davao, Inc., a manufacturer of desiccated coconut for export.
- Filinvest Farms Corporation, engaged in sugarcane plantation.
- GSL Food Enterprises, a leading producer of banana chips for export.
- HEDCOR Sibulan Incorporated, a subsidiary of Abortiz Corporation, devoted to developing a four billion hydro-electric powerplant.
- Maharlika Agro-Marine Ventures Corporation, a new producer of poultry products.
- Pontmain Resources, Inc., specializing in coco coir processing to

produce coco fiber and peat, geotextiles, and bio-logs.
- Pryce Gases, Inc., involved in LPG refilling and distribution.
- San Miguel Brewing Philippines, Inc., operating the most modern beer manufacturing plant in Asia.
- San Miguel Yamamura Packaging specialists, Inc.The text below describes various businesses and their activities, along with their respective locations and products:

- Senorita Farms, located within the San Miguel Industrial Estate, specializes in large-scale hog-raising projects, particularly for polyethylene beverage packaging.
- SODACO Farms engages in cattle and dairy production as well as durian plantation.
- Queen's Delight manufactures Catsup, Soy Sauce, and Vinegar.
- Tagum Rural Bank Sta.

Cruz Branch * CJ TOYOTA TSUSHU Philippines, Inc. – manufacturer of Xylose, a food sweetener extracted from Coco Shell * Prime Xynergies Food Corp. – producer of Banana chips * International Pipes Industries Corp. – involved in the fabrication of Steel Pipes. Tourism Destinations/ Attractions include: Sibulan – Mount Apo Trail, Tudaya Falls, Sibulan River White Water Tubing, Tibolo Cultural Village, Bato and Tagabuli Seascape. Resorts and facilities available are: Balay ni Nonoy Pension House, Bernadette Snack Inn and Resto Bar, Crash Landing Resort, El Grande Travel and Tours, Municipal Training Center, My Paradise Beach Resort, Tabing Dagat Resto, Tajos Beach Resort, Talisay Seafood Houses, Carlo Angel Traveler’s Inn, and Habra Covina Restaurant. History of Sta. Cruz was submitted by Jocel L. Sandoval to Mr. Charles Suarez on Jan. 12, 2012.