Santa Maria, Isabela

Santa Maria, a former barrio of San Pablo, is named after Doña Maria, the firstborn child of Don Pablo Marasigan, a Spaniard, and Doña Masid, a native.^[6]

In 1703, the hamlet of Santa Maria de Luzon was established as a pueblo and detached from Cabagan (now San Pablo town), with Don Martin Masigan serving as governor. The establishment of the town was credited to the influential Masigan family, whose roots were in the place and have served as the town's chief executives for most of its history.^[7]

On December 4, 1879, a royal order legally split the historic town of Santa Maria from Cabagan, with Dominican Fray Exequiel Pinilla serving as cura parroco. The Masigan family's influence led to the town's secession.^[8]

As it neighbors the Cordillera mountains, the town served as a starting point for Spanish military expeditions to conquer the Kalingas, who nevertheless continued to trade in the town.^[7]

Santa Maria is 50.93 kilometres (31.65 mi) from the provincial capital Ilagan, 468.59 kilometres (291.17 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Santa Maria is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. ^[9] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

In the 2024 census, the population of Santa Maria was 25,919 people,^[16] with a density of 190 inhabitants per square kilometre or 490 inhabitants per square mile.

Poverty incidence of Santa Maria

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]}

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials at the provincial and municipal levels are voted by the town. The provincial government has political jurisdiction over most local transactions of the municipal government.

The municipality of Santa Maria is governed by a mayor, designated as its local chief executive, and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the municipal councilors are elected directly in polls held every three years.

Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

Santa Maria, belonging to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela, is currently represented by Antonio T. Albano.^[26]

The Schools Division of Isabela governs the town's public education system.^[27] The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region.^[28] The Sta. Maria Schools District Office governs the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality.^[29]

• Buenaventura G. Masigan National High School
• Naganacan-Villabuena National High School
• Santa Maria High School