History

CLASSICAL ERA

In the classical era, Lal-lo was used to the home of hunter-gatherers who were specialized in hunting mollusks. These hunter-gatherers

have to stockpiled their leftover mollusk shells in numerous sites in Lal-lo and neighboring Gattaran, until eventually, the shells formed into the

largest stock of shell-midden sites in the entire Philippines.

SPANISH ERA

The first European to set foot on what is now the town of Lal-lo is Juan de Salcedo, the Spanish conquistador and grandson of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, in 1572. Don Juan Pablo Carrion established it as a pueblo (municipality) in 1581 and named it Nueva Segovia. The reason is currently unknown, as the hometown of this Spanish soldier was Carrion de los Condes (Palencia, Spain), as his last name, Carrion, suggests. The is mentioned by Juan Manuel Aguilera and Angel Miranda in their book “Espadas del Fin del Mundo” (2016).

DIOCESE OF NUEVA SEGOVIA

In 1595, Pope Clement VIII created the Diocese of Nueva Segovia and in 1596, the Dominicans accepted it as an ecclesiastical mission. Nueva Segovia had three churches: the cathedral that was under the secular clergy, and the parishes of Centro and Tocolana under the supervision of the Dominicans. But because of its distance from Manila and the constant threat of the Cagayan River’s rampaging waters, the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred to Vigan in Ilocos Sur province in 1758. The diocese’s went along with the transfer to Vigan to avoid confusion.

Bishop Miguel Garcia requested that Nueva Segovia and its suburbs renamed back to Lal-lo. The seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia

remains in Vigan till today where is now elevated as the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. The transfer affected the closure of the cathedral

and the merging of the three churches into the single parish of Centro. The two other churches were abandoned and eventually destroyed

because of neglect while the church of Centro, dedicated to Santo Domingo De Guzman (Saint Dominic) became what is now the church of Lal-lo. The remains of the three bishops are interred in the church: Bishop Miguel de Benavides who was Nueva Segovia’s first bishop and later of Manila where he founded the University of Sto. Tomas, Bishop Diego de Soria who was the second bishop of the diocese, and Bishop Diego Aduarte who was the sixth.

PROVINCIAL CAPITAL

Lal-lo used to be the capital of Cagayan province until 1839 when the provincial seat of power was relocated to Tuguegarao. The decline of Lal-lo is the transformation of Tuguegarao as the most important town in Cagayan. It was accepted as an ecclesiastical mission by the Dominicans in 1604, 23 years after the foundation of Lal-lo.

RESTORATION OF CITYHOOD

The first attempt of the restoration of Lal-lo’s city status was made during the first term of Mayor Florante C. Pascual, CPA. The historical document originally signed by King Philip was not found, even after sending a research delegation to Madrid. Pascual determined that the restoration of Lal-lo’s cityhood be made through an earlier bill. There was a move in the Philippine Congress to regain its cityhood as a component city, and also rename the municipality back to its original name, Nueva Segovia. Renewed attempt of city status restoration was carried out in January 2012. Board Member Maria Olivia B. Pascual said that researchers had found a Spanish document through the efforts of First District Representative Juan Ponce Enrile, Jr.

As recently as 2018, vice mayor Oliver B. Pascual has said that the establishment of Northern Cagayan International Airport in the municipality would be a “great boost” in its bid for the restoration of its city status.

MODERN ERA OF HARVEY DESEO

In 2006, the shell-midden sites of Lal-lo and Gattaran were included in the UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage Site inclusion, a step closer to becoming a world heritage site. The shell-midden sites are currently being conserved by the local government from looting to preserve its outstanding universal value.

Sta. Maria is in the municipality of Lal-lo, in the province of Cagayan. Its population as determined by the 2015 Census was 2, 247. This represented 5.05% of the total population of Lal-lo.

HISTORICAL POPULATION

The median age of 29 indicates that half of the entire population of Sta. Maria are aged less than 29 and the other half are over the age of 29. The positive growth rate of 0.19% or an increase of 22 people from the previous population of 2, 225 in 2010.

LOCATION

Sta. Maria is situated at approximately 18.1346, 121.9059, in the island of Luzon. Elevation at these coordinates is estimated at 692.30 meters or 2, 271.30 feet above mean sea level.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

The ardent and burning desire of the original settlers of Sta. Maria served as driving force for the establishment of school in this barangay. Way back in 1935, this school was established of which teachers and learners used to reach and leave the school through the road right of way beside Bulan’s Rice Mill. Reaching the school was made more accessible when Mr. Mariano Doniego, husband of one of the pioneer teachers of SMCS donated the lot beside the national highway which is adjacent to the original lot of the school. The school was managed by previous school heads enumerated in no particular order of the year they served as school managers: Mr. Daniel Danguilan-Head Teacher, Mrs. Fiipinas Ziganay-Head Teacher, Dr. Basilio Bacuyag-Principal, Dr. Vicente T. Manibog-Principal, Dr. Loretta Invierno-Principal, Dr. Cecilia W. Torres- Principal, and Mr. Faustino E. Waña-Principal who was recently installed last January 2021.

As years passed by, this learning institution metamorphosed thereby producing quality learners and graduates as well wherein many of them became successful and are now holding prominent positions both in private and government entities. Based on available records, SMCS made its name known not only in the municipal, division, and regional but in the national level because of the numerous awards/citations received for its exemplary performance both in curricular and co-curricular activities.

SMCS will continue to serve and deliver quality education anchored with the DepEd’s Vision, Mission, and Core Values to its primary clientele- the learners.