The name of barangay SANJA, was derived from an ibanag word “SANKA” that means a creek. It was known that barangay was just a creek located in between the river bank of barangay Paruddun Norte and Calintaan . In the early 20’s there were only eight Ibanag families lived and dwelled here.

Fishing, farming and cattle (carabao raising) were the main sources of their livelihood. Aside from those, some members of the families gathered “ANANA” a growing weeds along the river/creek bank. They dried the long stalks and weaved them into mats, baskets and hats. These were of great helped for the families to buy their needs when they sold these products. Aside from these, in the stalks and twigs many shell fish called “BALITTUKAY” grew. People learned that this is edible and they usually picked them and sold it per salop. After classes, the school children could also go and pick “balittukay” for them to sell and have “baon” when classes start.

The location of Sanja could be very dangerous but easy to adjust with. Whenever there was bad weather, the place was usually be flooded, carrying along the river flows a” GAVA” dried twigs and branches of cut trees, bamboos from the up streams. People gathered all those dried branches and twigs and cut them to be used as firewoods. Some of the people also have those firewoods and sell them in the town proper using “barangay” a boat with paddle which is the mode of transportation during the olden times.

At the western, northern and southern part of the place is a vast meadow where grasses grow, some of them gathered grasses and sell these to the operators of “kalesa” a mode of transportation hauled by a horse in town. Technology improved as years passed by, they invented gadgets like “tavukul” a kind of fishing net to catch fish and shrimps and the like. “Takkiyaw” also to catch crabs and these made the community earned a living because the lace had an idle land they learned to till the land during rainy season.

Migrants from the Ilocos region came to Cagayan Valley to barter their goods on a “ biray” big boats and brought their goods. They introduced “rakem’ a material used to harvest palay and some of them even came during harvest season. There was an intermarriage made between these migrants. There was an increase of population that caused a problem on the education of their children.

At first, the school children held their classes under the shady trees and there were times classes were held in the bigger houses of some residents during bad weathers.

In 1929, the late Tenyente del barrio offered his lot for them to build a classroom. Children then, enjoyed to learn though it was only a one classroom shared by pupils from Grade I up to Grade III. Multigrade classes were rendered until World War II broke out. Classes were totally closed and resumed in 1946. The building then was destroyed and there’s a need for a reconstruction of another school building. The school children did not push to study and enroll in a nearby barrio because of distance. They were hard up because there was no road to follow not even a wide trail to walk through.

That problem made the Barangay Officials including the community people thought of putting up a school building. Again. Mr. David Paje, an evacuee of place thought of the plight of Sanja people. He offered his lot for them to build a classroom. They were able to construct a one-room building for the multigrade of Grades I up to IV children. From 1950’s the school was recognized as a Sanja Primary School up to 1977.

Population grows so fast, classrooms were needed for more conducive for learning. The late Tenyente del Barrio Vicente Lucero and PTA President Vicente Leste and other barrio officials showed their love, enthusiasm and perseverance in acquiring another building for the school children, they were able to talk to the town mayor, Hon. Miguel C. Say and town officials also helped in acquiring the buildings needed by the school children.

In 1979, the school was recognized as Sanja Elementary School with complete grade from Grade I to VI. Education nowadays is much easier unlike the olden times. The school is equipped with materials needed for learning and complete industrious teachers worked hard together with the officials for its improvement.

Iniatially, Sanja Elementary School was a part of Aparri West District, but on September 2006, the Municipality of Aparri was divided into three Educational districts namely Aparri East District, Aparri West District and Aparri South Educational Zone . Sanja Elementary Scool became a part of. Sanja Elementary School now became an inspiration for all the next alumnus and next generation to come.#