Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

Santa Fe, officially the Municipality of Santa Fe (; ; ), is a municipality in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

It is the municipality in which the notable Battle of Balete Pass where Brigadier General James Dalton II was killed during the Second World War.

Etymology

According to the official website of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, the town's former name "Imugan" derives from the combination of "imug", a Kalanguya word and "gone", an English term, both of which have the same meaning, while the current name was derived from the town's patron saint San Jose de Santa Fe, Spanish of "Saint Joseph with holy faith."

History

The town's original inhabitants were the Kalanguya, an ethnic minority belonging to the Igorot people then later on followed by the Ilocanos, Pangasinenses and the Tagalogs.

Spanish era

Santa Fe was formerly an Igorot settlement during the Spanish era called Imugan. It was one of the settlements discovered during the mission of Ituy, which later became part of the jurisdiction of the Commandancia of Kayapa. It became part of Aritao before it finally stood independently as a town.

Japanese occupation

During the Second World War, the Japanese Imperial Army established a puppet government in the country. Two strategic locations, Dalton Pass in Tactac and Salacsac Pass in Malico, witnessed significant combat between the retreating Japanese Army and the pursuing Allied Forces. Brigadier General James Dalton II of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) lost his life in the battle of Balete Pass on May 16, 1945, which is now known as "Dalton Pass" in his memory. Similarly, a shrine was built in Salacsac Pass to honor the unknown soldiers who displayed heroism during the war.

thumb|Historical Marker commemorating the Battle of Balete Pass

thumb|Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Salacsac Pass

Post-war era

On 9 November 1950, Executive Order No. 368, signed by President Elpidio Quirino, abolished the municipal district structure in government and attached Imugan to Aritao and Kayapa. The place gradually developed to become a progressive municipal district. Republic Act. No. 2179 was enacted on May 6, 1959, recreating the Municipal district of Imugan and changing its name to Santa Fe in honor of the Patron Saint San Jose de Santa Fe. By virtue of Executive Order No., 77 dated July 18, 1967 it was converted from a municipal district to a regular municipality by President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Geography

Santa Fe is located in the southwest part of Nueva Vizcaya and is borders the municipalities of Aritao in the northwest, Kayapa in the northeast, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija in the south, Itogon, Benguet in the east, San Nicolas, and Natividad, Pangasinan in the southwest. The Nueva Vizcaya provincial board passed a resolution on September 21, 2022, urging San Nicolas officials to respect a memorandum of agreement between the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Pangasinan, and Nueva Vizcaya about twenty years ago. On the same day, the Nueva Vizcaya provincial board held a special session in Barangay Malico and issued a resolution requesting San Nicolas officials to refrain from building infrastructure projects within the barangay's boundaries. Said resolution also instructed San Nicolas officials to "respect the boundary" of Santa Fe as well as "the rights of the Kalanguya tribe and their ancestral domain rights."

In July 2024, the Pangasinan provincial government has allocated for projects and services in Malico. Governor Ramon Guico III asserted Malico's affiliation with Pangasinan, emphasizing the province's commitment to enhancing local infrastructure and services regardless of the territorial dispute. Nueva Vizcaya Governor Jose Gambito warns of potential legal repercussions for Pangasinan's investments in the area. He also said that the two government agreed to pay

for every NAMRIA survey but Pangasinan allegedly did not fulfill its promises.

Climate

Demographics

According to the 2020 census, Santa Fe has a population of 18,276 in 4,496 households, the 13th most populated and 3rd least populated in the province of Nueva Vizcaya just higher than Ambaguio and slightly lower than Diadi. The population has grown by 2.42% compare to 2015. The population density of the municipality is 46 people per square kilometer (120/sq mi).

Ethnicity

Kalanguya (Ikalahan)

The municipality is one of the contiguous areas where the Kalanguya people, part of the Igorot people currently living. They are noted for production of basketry and brooms. In 1972, they founded the Kalahan Educational Fundation (KEF) to secure their ancestral lands. As of 2015, Kalanguya is the largest ethnic group in the municipality amounting to 14,500. As of 2000, there were 368 Iwak in the town. and Santa Fe is one of these places. Ilocanos mostly settled in the lower territory of town specifically along the rivers and roads. majority of the people of Santa Fe adhere to some form of Christianity. There were 62 people adhering to folk/tribal religion.

Roman Catholic

Santa Fe has one Roman Catholic Parish Church named "Church of Our Mother of Perpetual Help". The church is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Bayombong. As of 2000, there were 4,296 people adhering to Roman Catholicism. and "Local of Baliling" located in Barangay Baliling. As of 2000, 622 people adhering to Iglesia ni Cristo. Pangasinan language is spoken along the boundary areas w/ Pangasinan.

Culture

Kalanguya Festival

Kalanguya Festival is a town fiesta held every March to promote Kalanguya culture. It features activities such as dance competition by various ethnic groups in the municipalities, float completion, beauty pageants, and various traditional Kalanguya games such as arm wrestling or hanggol and dapapnikillum or pig catching. The Santa Fe Schools District Office governs all public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality. There are the schools in Santa Fe are:

Primary and elementary schools

Agape Kiddie Center
Atbu Elementary School
Bacneng Elementary School
Baliling Elementary School
Bantinan Elementary School
Baracbac Elementary School
Buyasyas Elementary School
Cauco Elementary School
Genato Elementary School
Imugan Elementary School
Lawed Elementary School
Sinapaoan Elementary School
Sta. Fe Central School
Tactac Elementary School
Tan Yan Kee Elementary School
Unib Primary School

Secondary schools

Canabuan National High School
Kalahan Academy
Santa Fe National High School

Tourism

Imugan Falls

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Imugan Falls is a two level waterfall located from the barangay proper of Imugan.

Balete Pass National Park

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Balete Pass National Park also known as Dalton Pass is a national park where the famous Battle of Balete Pass between the US army and the Japanese Imperial Army happen in 1945. It features the white cross in the Japanese memorial site with the text "Peace Forever."

Gallery

File:SantaFe,NuevaVizcayajf6739 03.JPG|Municipal hall

File:SantaFe,NuevaVizcayajf6658 06.JPG|Public market

File:Sta. Fe Nueva Vizcaya.JPG|Municipal hall complex

File:SantaFe,Nueva VizcayaBirdgejf6762 26.JPG|Town proper

File:Santa Fe Forest Park (National Road, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya; 01-26-2020).jpg|Forest Park